Jack up Kits

[RedRunner]

Limitations!!!!!!!!????????

I dont mean to sound like a prat, but i like to drive fast(ish), and i dont want to make my driving unsafe to the nice people who shop at tescos.

(jus kidding about the tesco thing), its not about showing it of, its not really much to look at at the mo anyway, i dont mind putting a bit of elbow grease in to it, and even a bit of money.

I just want to know that its capable of taking a bit of a pounding. I cant be doing with body roll either!

Is there any such thing as a front diff that you can lock and unlock, rather than it just being solid??
It wouldnt really work on road too well if it was solid would it?

I'm planning on taking it off the road for a few months in the summer, and working my ass of on it! hopefully with enough time left to go out in it and break something off!

[Apache]

Limitations? Yes, loads. Heavy, less stable than a typical 'ordinary' car. Underpowered. There's a few to start with.

Depends what you mean by 'a bit of a pounding'. Off road they'll take a reasonable bit of abuse.

Driving fast isn't what they're about. If you wanted to drive fast, why did you buy a 2 ton underpowered truck with plasticene brakes???

A locked diff wont work on the road, but then, a Surf in 4WD wont work to well on the road either.

[RedRunner]

conceded

I didn't really do enough research before buying my runner, but since owning it ive sort of fallen for it, even though it is all of the things u so eloquently mentioned.

But i still drive it fast, ( i don't mean i rag the motor, i just drive it fast), and it doesn't mind too much!

However!!!!

I will be buying a motorbike for my primary motor soon, and so can afford to not drive the runner as much, and can taylor it to its god given purpose of being abused off road, and can release my adrenaline on the bike instead!!

http://www.supertrux.com/acatalog/4_..._Lux_Surf.html

This sound good (bit pricey), but manageable. does anyone have anything similar?

Can i get it cheaper? or am i getting a good amount for my money here?

[RodLeach]

Personally driving a lifted truck myself an from what you said you want - i dont think any large lift would be very well suited to your needs at all mate.

If you go tall you'll want larger tyres to fill in the gaps an that will slow you down plus you'll be constantly warping brake discs as you'd be doing a lot of heavy breaking!!

If you want fast - well you have the right Surf for that but if you wanna be tall aswell as fast, put it back in the autotrader or something mate cuz it really aint going to happen!

My advice, get a 2" suspension lift. http://www.roughtrax4x4.com/ go there an order the +2" springs, then go to http://www.explorerprocomp.co.uk/aca...rs_ES9000.html an order 4 +2 Procomp ES9000's to give a decent firm ride so it wont sag like f**k going into a bend!

Then - i'd look at getting some 16" alloys http://www.4x4tyres.com/index.php?sh...s&mid=1&mod=57

wrap them in some decent tyres - in size 265/75/16 that way you'll have a lifted truck - bigger then stock an you'll retain some half decent speed/handling!

[RedRunner]

[QUOTE=RodLeach;426654]Personally driving a lifted truck myself an from what you said you want - i dont think any large lift would be very well suited to your needs at all mate.

forgive me for sounding like a complete wazzak, but i am new to the whole world of making cars higher, rather than lower.

I really appreciate all the advice/criticism (everyone).

I like 'RodLeach's advice best so far, sounds like a happy compromise.

Ive just found out that i already have ES9000's. but i will still have to buy the longer ones to allow for the springs, is that right??

Also what about the front? isn't it a torsion bar? do have to buy "Front 2" Lifted Torsion Bars" from

http://www.roughtrax4x4.com/?doc=11&cid=665

in order do get the lift on the front?

Also would this affect the anti roll bar?

[RodLeach]

forgive me for sounding like a complete wazzak, but i am new to the whole world of making cars higher, rather than lower.

I really appreciate all the advice/criticism (everyone).

Everyone has to start learning how to do things an what effects they will have on the truck - So in my opinion you dont sound like a wazzak mate - just someone whos interested in there truck! which is cool! So no worries on that!

Right - stock torsion bars will easily do the 2" lift, so no worries on buying them. The reason for the longer shocks is to let the suspension achieve full flex. You basically dont want a shock absorber stopping the truck from getting its feet on the ground. If your only going up 2" then i wouldnt worry about it too much mate. Maybe in time new ones would be nice.

Anti roll bar is cool with only 2" aswell. no major mods needed on that.

[Apache]

Different shocks wont stop the truck leaning in a bend, they'll just change the rate at which it leans. Stiffer springs will be what you're after for less roll, but all that is at odds with good offroad performance. As Rod says, a small suspension lift will be OK with standard length shocks though.

[RedRunner]

how do i raise the front?

Different shocks wont stop the truck leaning in a bend, they'll just change the rate at which it leans. Stiffer springs will be what you're after for less roll, but all that is at odds with good offroad performance. As Rod says, a small suspension lift will be OK with standard length shocks though.

Ok, point taken.

However, I'm confused, because i don't have springs on the front do i? its a torsion bar.

My first car was a P306 (big mistake), that had a torsion bar on the back, which meant allot of messing around to lower it.

I understand what your both saying about the shocks and springs, but not sure how i would raise the front?

body lift?

[Apache]

If you fit longer springs, yuo need to increas the tension on tyhe torsion bars, thats all. For a minor lift, just winding the bars up will do. For a bigger one, balljoint spacers isa betta solution.

[RedRunner]

Nice one mate.

thnx for advice.

I'm definitely going for a suspension lift, was gonna change the shocks anyway, as they dont cost MEGA moneys and the ones i have are so so so so rusty, so whilst im under there i may as-well sort.

Then some new wheels (big ones) with road biased tires (need the speed).

Thats my April pay check spent!!!!!

gotta plan for May now.

[RedRunner]

more power.

I really like the looks of this,

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/hottoy/jackson/

dunno if will just be one of those things that I'll regret ever starting when i do.


(if u know what i mean)

[yoshie]

I really like the looks of this,

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/hottoy/jackson/

dunno if will just be one of those things that I'll regret ever starting when i do.


(if u know what i mean)

Well for starters that has a soild front axle swap. Big job and if you pay to get it done it will be around a grand with you supplying the axle.

[RodLeach]

Nice one mate.

thnx for advice.

I'm definitely going for a suspension lift, was gonna change the shocks anyway, as they dont cost MEGA moneys and the ones i have are so so so so rusty, so whilst im under there i may as-well sort.

Then some new wheels (big ones) with road biased tires (need the speed).

Thats my April pay check spent!!!!!

gotta plan for May now.

Whats your defenition of Big wheels? If your going to fit road based tyres mate - i would suggest keeping out the mega deep mud an keep out of it all together if you try an offroad alone!

I really like the looks of this,

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/hottoy/jackson/

dunno if will just be one of those things that I'll regret ever starting when i do.


(if u know what i mean)

That is a nice truck! Its got 35" tyres on - same as mine. (well mine are narrower but still)



If you want speed mate - 35" tyres are NOT the way to go. In fact even a mild lift can make handling total cr*p

Give us a list of EXACTLY what qualitys you want from your truck.

there is a small middle ground of lifted/larger tyres an speed ... but its small an wont really do either 100"

[RedRunner]

Ok,

i'm sure u know but just to clarify, when im talking about the speed, all i mean is that i want to keep the cars daily usability. I comute from Manchester/Leeds quite alot at the mo (only temp tho), and thus i want the car to not lose what little cruising ability it has.

Also, i'll put road biased tires on, to use on the road, i'll also be changing the wheels, so will stick some BIG tyres on the old rims for off-roading.

Obviously i accept now that there will have to be compromise, but i just want to keep a happy medium.

That truck is gorgess, exactly the sort of final image im after (long term).

[Nick V]

I have been contemplating a number of these issues to do with mods, ie suspension/body lifts, springs, dampers etc, etc, and have to agree with Apache that what is done is "horses for courses!" I am not sure why some of the people on this forum modify their trucks the way they do - please understand that I am, and cannot say who/what is right or wrong - but I am not sure if it is for 'pose' or for 'function'!

I have been intending to do some of these mods on my truck, but I have been looking at videos of 4x4's, (inc. many Toyotas), in action as well as having read numerous articles on modifying them. I have decided that I could be modifying my truck for the wrong reason and in the wrong way.

The majority of the 4x4's that I looked at that have been modded to be used for overland use, general offroading, and greenlaning, by the professionals as well as the DIYers, do not have huge suspension lifts - 2'' seems to be the norm, do not have massive tyres - 31" in the main but 33'' are used, but they also include a winch and at least a rear difflock insuring that you could get out of a tight spot if needed!!!

This has made me reconsider what I intend do. I was gonna lift mine at least 5" with a combination of susp/body/spacer etc lifts, and I was gonna fit 33'' tyres, but I have asked myself the following:

Do I want to go off road? YES
Do I want to get in the mud? YES,WITHIN REASON!
Do I want to go through water? YES, BUT NO WET CARPETS!
Do I want to be able to get out of the cr*p f I need to? YES
Do I still want a truck thats still good on road? YES
Do I want to incur any damage to the bodywork? NO (scratches acceptable, dents and ripped off arches not!).

This has made me seriously reconsider my options, but I have decided that if I do want to get very muddy, very wet and incur damage, I will buy a HiLux or one of the Suzukis and build a fit for purpose mud plugger. I still love driving my truck everywhere, and that does include off road, but I do want to keep it in reasonable condition!

So, I will probably still go for BFG M/T's (I find them fine), but I will reconsider the size, I will probably go for a mild lift with the suspension, I do not require masses of articulation so my existing OME shocks should be o.k. and I may go for a body lift. However, I will seriously consider a difflock and winch. I will fit a Snorkel just in case

Well, that's my two pennies worth, and I'm now glad I read this posting - I've actually given something some serious thought before I jump!! Then again, when it comes to me doing it, I will probably go off at a tangent again

Cheers, Nick