any more 4" lifts?

[yoshie]

sure i read somewhere on here that there could be problems with the shifter?
know i didnt imagine it. and definitely something about moving radiator. but is this only a problem on 2.4, and not 3?
if you lot have had no promblem with either, (and i have no reason to doubt you), then why are these things said elsewhere?
2" suspension lift raises EVERYTHING 2" (obviously) and 2" body lift, lifts body away from chassis. again, obvious. giving a total ground clearance of 2" extra.
4" suspension lift raises everything 4" giving a total of 4" extra clearance (as far as fuel tank etc is concerned.
or i'm really stupid and missed something somewhere?
can somebody straighten all this out for me?

No it doesn't

[Apache]

Very concise. I already said that in way too many words

[RodLeach]

That point wasn't lost on me.

When i was typing it, it did feel a bit like teaching you guys to suck eggs!

Yes Rod, the belly of the truck will be higher, the diffs will STILL get stuck on the high bit between ruts just the same as it will on a standard truck.

I know. But In fairness... it would be better to have the belly higher an then then add tyres to help the diffs. less chance of catching alot then. Growler caught his transfer case bash plate the other day didn't he?!

While im saying it is better, There is no way i can hint that its a nessesity. Other then Linda an a handful of others, no one here has a procomp lift kit. An all the trucks perform pretty damn good offroad.

the cheap way offers better bang for the buck.

Agree 100%. I personally wouldn't consider forking out for the procomp kit. I appreciate its a quality bit of kit but it is far to expensive. Even if you factor in getting it from somewhere like summitracing. It is i believe a complicated kit... If you want to fork out for L.A.S to fit it that will cost at least half as much again i would think.

[nero279]

SFA? wasn't nigel offering them for around a grand, then lift the rear to match for a couple of hundred quid more. If it's articulation your after that'd be the way to go, big tyres ain't no good if they ain't touching the floor.

Equally though, for the same money you could have a cheaper, smaller lift and lockers, then it doesn't matter how many wheels you're waving (well unless it's all 4 )

[Apache]

If I was building the truck for something serious I might consider it, but then, I'd probably start with a better vehicle for something serious. Solid axle pickup maybe.

Sorry, but the lowest bit of the truck is the limiting factor, and the lowest bit is the rear diff. The only way you can raise that is bigger wheels (and change gearing) or portals.

The way I see it, unless your made of money like Tony N, or astronauts then you may as well do it the cheaper way and spend the rest of the money on other nice stuff, or beer, or an old pickup. Or learn to live with the Surf's limitations and go only to 95% of the places that a 'serious money' offroader would go to.

Not a bad tradeoff I think you'll agree.

BTW, there was a set of 35" BFG MTs' on wheels on eBay the other week at £350. I was seriously tempted

[Apache]

If it's articulation your after that'd be the way to go, big tyres ain't no good if they ain't touching the floor.

Equally though, for the same money you could have a cheaper, smaller lift and lockers, then it doesn't matter how many wheels you're waving (well unless it's all 4 )

Yup. I didn't spot anything about articulation though, only about not scraping anything, and as I've said, the rear diff is the limit there as it's height is about 5" less than 1/2 the diameter of your tyres, so a max of 14" on a 33" tyre equipped truck.

A deep rut will stop you however big your sus or body lift in that case.

Like I said, academic mostly, unless you're pay and playing every weekend, or competing. In which case, your weapon of choice probably wont be a Surf. If he's got a grand to play with for suspension, good on him. If he's remortgaging for it, there's more cost effective options. Difflocks, as you say, being one.

[RodLeach]

SFA? wasn't nigel offering them for around a grand, then lift the rear to match for a couple of hundred quid more. If it's articulation your after that'd be the way to go, big tyres ain't no good if they ain't touching the floor.

Equally though, for the same money you could have a cheaper, smaller lift and lockers, then it doesn't matter how many wheels you're waving (well unless it's all 4 )

That is a bl**dy good point mate! I know IFS is better on road etc but its a damn good suggestion...

If I was building the truck for something serious I might consider it, but then, I'd probably start with a better vehicle for something serious. Solid axle pickup maybe.

Sorry, but the lowest bit of the truck is the limiting factor, and the lowest bit is the rear diff. The only way you can raise that is bigger wheels (and change gearing) or portals.

The way I see it, unless your made of money like Tony N, or astronauts then you may as well do it the cheaper way and spend the rest of the money on other nice stuff, or beer, or an old pickup. Or learn to live with the Surf's limitations and go only to 95% of the places that a 'serious money' offroader would go to.

Not a bad tradeoff I think you'll agree.

BTW, there was a set of 35" BFG MTs' on wheels on eBay the other week at £350. I was seriously tempted

pretty much agree with everything you've said there mate.

If i was doing the lift part of my truck over again... i wouldn't change a damn thing!!!

Which is good... cuz i dont fancy ripping it out an startign again!!


i think i might have thought about the roofpod a little bit longer....

[nero279]

BTW, there was a set of 35" BFG MTs' on wheels on eBay the other week at £350. I was seriously tempted

i saw them, i haven't got £350 or the 6"+ of lift for em, there's a set of procomp 35s i think still for sale from someone in my local offroad club if you're interested though?

I agree, and in fact hope to take on a project pickup sometime in the next year or so. I'm starting to lean more and more towards winch, air lockers, and staying at just a 2" lift, with some more protection underneath for the smurf, that would make it a seriously capable vehicle anyway.

However if i was considering spending a grand on a lift kit and wanted to gain in terms of offroad ability it'd be SFA for me every day of the week.

[Apache]

So I'm not the only one who thinks Tony N is richer than astronauts then?

[BUSHWHACKER]

Can I just mention, there's a 3rd gen on 39s in the workshop at LASupertrux.

Go see on the site.

[Apache]

i saw them, i haven't got £350 or the 6"+ of lift for em, there's a set of procomp 35s i think still for sale from someone in my local offroad club if you're interested though?

I agree, and in fact hope to take on a project pickup sometime in the next year or so. I'm starting to lean more and more towards winch, air lockers, and staying at just a 2" lift, with some more protection underneath for the smurf, that would make it a seriously capable vehicle anyway.

However if i was considering spending a grand on a lift kit and wanted to gain in terms of offroad ability it'd be SFA for me every day of the week.

I agree.

I aint seriously after 35s, just those on eBay were damn cheap. I'm gonna get a set of 33 ATs shortly which will be on the truck 90% of the time.

Also on your wavelength when it comes to underbody protection. If everything's bombproof, there's no major need to avoid grounding if you can find some traction and drag yourself through. Lower wishbone plates anyone?

[Apache]

Can I just mention, there's a 3rd gen on 39s in the workshop at LASupertrux.

Go see on the site.

No.

Oh... you just did.

bet that's been major money.

[blakarm]

apache, the cv boot thing was a joke?
i said at some point 2" suspension lift raises everything 2". yoshi said no it dont. picky. ya know what i was getting at. already said earlier it leaves diff behind etc.
again apache, diff dragging i'm not to bothered about. thats what a winch is for. brake lines and fuel tanks etc, i do worry about.
and as for cost, i'm selling my mr2 i never use anymore, thats whats paying for it, so i wont notice a hole in my pocket.
you gota know i'm not a mega off roader, and never will be. i'm a mountaineer, and ice climber before anything else, and the surf was picked for a few reasons.
to get me and three or four buds to places where we climb, in relative comfort, and be large enough to carry a stupid amount of camping/climbing gear. also large enough (just) to sleep in, rather uncomfortably, in an emergency.
the higher suspension lift is to clear whatever on trails into the mountains, and particularly deep snow. the more it drags its belly in the snow, the more likely it is to stop, yes? i was prepared to spend good money on decent kit, cos in some of the places we end up, a failure could be a lot more serious than needing to be towed home from the shops.

[Apache]

The rear diff will be the second thing to stop you. The first will be the front suspension, wishbones, front crossmember. Trust me, I've seen it happen. You cant raise those parts significantly - not without destroying your CVs. (I can post a pic of my nearside lower wishbone after a slide over a rock if you like)

Personally I wouldn't want to drag the rear diff far either as you'll find that's where your rear brake lines are. Some protection plates here would be useful if you think you might want to drag yourself along on it.

If you have a look at the fuel tank clearance, and the relative clearance of the diffs / crossmembers, you will ground out well beyond what a winch can get you out of (without damage) long before you get anywhere near the fuel tank etc.

If you have the money, go for it. You wont gain much, if anything, but it's your choice and it looks nice. You could always send the money to me for beer!

Yoshie - man of few words, but has access to good Haggis!

[blakarm]

SO... how about this.
leave the suspension alone, put some proper 31's on, invest a lot of time and a bit of money on some mega, well designed underside protection, and, (remembering it'll see quite a lot of snow) use it as a ski?
and if i did decide to lift it only 2", (suspension, and no body lift), would that be enough clearance for 33's?
OR, spend no money on it, and if i got REALLY stuck, just abandon it and get airlifted out, and buy another one when i got back, with all the money i'd saved.
can't decide what to do now. maybe i shoulda bought a snowplough.