2005 T4R Lift Options (3")

[Penguin]

I just purchased a 2005 4Runner Sport Edition (stock).

I am wanting around a 3" lift to gain much needed ground clearance for moderate off-roading. I also plan to tow about 5,000 lbs on 5+ hour trips (I am very into motorcycles).

What are my options for kits? Pros/Cons of diff kits and setups.

A local shop offered a 3" front 2.5" rear lift, installed and vehicle aligned for around $400 (old man emu I believe).

Please offer different products, setups, and opinions. (keep my towing in mind).

 

[A10MileHusker]

I just purchased a 2005 4Runner Sport Edition (stock).

I am wanting around a 3" lift to gain much needed ground clearance for moderate off-roading. I also plan to tow about 5,000 lbs on 5+ hour trips (I am very into motorcycles).

What are my options for kits? Pros/Cons of diff kits and setups.

A local shop offered a 3" front 2.5" rear lift, installed and vehicle aligned for around $400 (old man emu I believe).

Please offer different products, setups, and opinions. (keep my towing in mind).

I have a 2005 4R with a 3" Toytec lift and 1" Body lift from Toytec.

I went with the spacers but I'm actually about to purchase the adjustable coils so I would suggest just buying the Toytec Ultimate Lift Kit.

Here is before the BL.

And after the BL

 

[A10MileHusker]

Also, I should mention that I tow boats during the summer. Before the BL and upgraded rear springs I had major sag in the back.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

A10Miles setup is sweet, no doubt. The OME stuff is pretty good too, $400 installed would be a steal. OME kits are a smorgasbord of components. Before anybody can really comment what springs, what shocks does this OME kit have?

Another thing to consider for towing is some airbags for the rear suspension.

 

[Penguin]

Also, I should mention that I tow boats during the summer. Before the BL and upgraded rear springs I had major sag in the back.

Any ideas how to prevent this?

Also, why did you decided to go with the shocks? Are the stock ones incapable?

 

[A10MileHusker]

Any ideas how to prevent this?

Also, why did you decided to go with the shocks? Are the stock ones incapable?

Like i said, I upgraded to better coils in the rear from Toytec - the ones that come from Ultimate lift from Toytec.

When you ask why i decided to go with the shocks do you mean the adjustable coils? The spacers are fine it just adds that more stress to the coils and I'd rather just get the ultimate lift.

 

[Penguin]

Like i said, I upgraded to better coils in the rear from Toytec - the ones that come from Ultimate lift from Toytec.

When you ask why i decided to go with the shocks do you mean the adjustable coils? The spacers are fine it just adds that more stress to the coils and I'd rather just get the ultimate lift.

I see what you were saying now...

(I might have neglected to mention I have ZERO truck/suv experience)

Once you upgraded the rear springs, how does your T4R perform at towing? How many lbs are these boats and trailers?

 

[A10MileHusker]

I see what you were saying now...

(I might have neglected to mention I have ZERO truck/suv experience)

Once you upgraded the rear springs, how does your T4R perform at towing? How many lbs are these boats and trailers?

No worries! I didn't mean to sound negative.

The boats are about 2600 lbs. So with a trailer is approximately 3600 lbs.

I haven't towed anything yet with the springs I've just loaded the boat on the hitch and there was sag but not NEARLY as much

 

[Penguin]

Would I be better off to upgrade using heavy duty rear springs? (OME 895 or 896)?

How would those affect off-roading and road performance?

Same question with airbags. How would those do for off-road and on road performance?

 

[A10MileHusker]

Would I be better off to upgrade using heavy duty rear springs? (OME 895 or 896)?

How would those affect off-roading and road performance?

Same question with airbags. How would those do for off-road and on road performance?

When I was trying to fix the sag problem I bought the 896's from Toytec and when I got my truck lifted up and the spring out they were too small. The coils that comes with the Ultimate kit is what I ended up going with and I'm very happy with it.

 

[G.I.G.]

I am thinking of doing the OME lift on my '07 4Runner. The Toytec ultimate lift is also killer, but a little more $$$. I know several guys running the Toytec and the OME stuff and all of them have been pleased with the performance.

From what I have read and heard, any lift outside of a spacer lift (which just adds height and doesn't really change ride quality) will improve your suspension performance, both on and off road. I have read that the OME is a bit stiffer on smaller bumps, but that it really soaks up the big stuff, especially if you off-road.

Both options should also improve handling and performance if you tow. The stock suspension is susceptible to sagging in the rear end, especially if you don't have the air bags. If you tow a lot or hall a lot of gear around, I would go with the OME medium duty springs at the minimum. Potentially the heavy duty springs. The trade off would be that the heavy duty springs would be very stiff when your 4Runner is not loaded in the rear end.

 

[Penguin]

When I was trying to fix the sag problem I bought the 896's from Toytec and when I got my truck lifted up and the spring out they were too small. The coils that comes with the Ultimate kit is what I ended up going with and I'm very happy with it.

They were too small? Can you elaborate?

 

[A10MileHusker]

They were too small? Can you elaborate?

They were shorter than the ones I was running. When you put them side by side the ones I had were still taller. The ones now are a little taller than my last ones and they have more coils in them making them stronger

 

[Penguin]

They were shorter than the ones I was running. When you put them side by side the ones I had were still taller. The ones now are a little taller than my last ones and they have more coils in them making them stronger

I thought you went:

Stock > Spacers > Ultimate Lift

What coils where taller? The stock ones?

 

[A10MileHusker]

I thought you went:

Stock > Spacers > Ultimate Lift

What coils where taller? The stock ones?

Sorry I didn't explain it well. So yes, I started stock. Then I went with a Spacer lift from toytec. That next summer I started hauling boats and couldn't stand the sag so I talked to toytec and they gave me some different springs but when i went to swap them out they were too short. So I went to the shop and they gave me new ones that I thought were the Ultimate but they're actually OME 891's. They are super stiff so its bumpy on road without any rear weight but when you have a lot in your cargo its better. And now I'm about to upgrade my front shocks to the Adjustable Coils that come with the Ultimate lift.

Sorry, I know its confusing. I just can't stop modding!! :hungry:

 

[Penguin]

Well I talked with a local shop and they recommended the OME full suspension instead of the Ultimate set once I told them my needs (Daily driver, with off road and towing ability).

It's a full 3" in the front and 2.5" in the back (so it will level for me as well). These come with the 895s (or 896s) in the front and rear.

The 895s are 1/2" taller than the 891s (as I can tell by the kits available)

OME Full Suspension Kit

P.S. You said the shop gave you OME 891s which you THOUGHT was the ultimate, were these too short as well, or did they suite your needs well?

 

[A10MileHusker]

The 891's are definitely suiting my needs. Looking at some websites today the 896 does say that its for carrying approximately 350-400 lbs of extra equipment and provides approx. 2" lift when loaded. The 891s provides a firmer ride, great for towing and more advanced off road use under load giving approximately 2.5" lift.