3" Body Lift, what y'all think?
- Thread starter Joshua.O.Brown7
- Start date
Joshua.O.Brown7
New member
Like I said lean to the desert and want mild rock crawling, the ability you know?
psraff
New member
Re-gear to 5.29.
East Coast Gear Supply
I'll be doing mine, I hope this winter or next spring. I'm only going to run 33" but I'm heavy and an Auto, plus pulling a off road trailer someday. Maybe 35s" some day, but doubt it.
UnderFire
New member
Been there done that, 3" body lift gave me all the room in the world of course, but was shitty looking, way too tall for 35's and negatively effected multiple aspects of performance and comfort. dropped down to a 1", still clearing 35's the proper way, and it drives and looks much, much nicer.
Save all the headache with 4crawler's options and go with the simple effective Toytec 1", or run a smaller 35 and go with no body at all.
Save all the headache with 4crawler's options and go with the simple effective Toytec 1", or run a smaller 35 and go with no body at all.
Joshua.O.Brown7
New member
What do you run suspension wise in the front? You don't run L/T do you
I believe what the OP is wanting to do is avoid the fiberglass fenders as he doesn't want the look and wants minimum trimming. Personally I understand what the look of fiberglass does to a vehicle and I've seen a few with out and like the look, just gottta do some trimming. OP is asking for opinions and we are all giving our insight and personal suggestions which he wants and is getting (which is awesome of this community).
I know my dad runs a 3" BL on his truck with 63 chevy springs. His truck is setup for rocks more than anything but can still do the over landing and high running. It's super soft and he even has custom twin sticks. Now he did this to minimize trimming and his setup is as wide as LT. This is where having a higher Center is bad, yes he's lighter than us, but he has only laid it on the side twice and only because he was in the early stages of learning (back in 2008 when I purchase the truck stock and he was learning as he built it).
Hopefully this offers some insight..Love this community and all the energy we give, couldn't pick OR want a better one.
I know my dad runs a 3" BL on his truck with 63 chevy springs. His truck is setup for rocks more than anything but can still do the over landing and high running. It's super soft and he even has custom twin sticks. Now he did this to minimize trimming and his setup is as wide as LT. This is where having a higher Center is bad, yes he's lighter than us, but he has only laid it on the side twice and only because he was in the early stages of learning (back in 2008 when I purchase the truck stock and he was learning as he built it).
Hopefully this offers some insight..Love this community and all the energy we give, couldn't pick OR want a better one.
rideexileex
Senior Member
Basically, I figured at first I could get away with the supercharger and the lack of gears when I first went to 35's. I have an auto, and 4th gear became useless. It was awfully slow with acceleration. I bought gears the following week because it was so bad.
you'll need 4.88's or 5.29's most likely, depending upon your own driving habits.
IMHO - 305/70r16's are the best all around tire out there for the 4runners, stock gearing, and still maintaining easy clearance, all while keeping the stress of 35's off the drive train. Had I known all the work and pain that 35's would have been, I'd have kept it at 33's. Dont get me wrong, the 35's kill offroad compared to the 33's, but the highway driving, etc aren't all that worth it.
PWD4R
New member
Yeah that's what I think when I see people say rock crawling. What's their definition... Like Moab style or hidden falls style because there's a big difference and I never really considered hidden falls rock crawling.
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snivilous
Senior Member
Build your truck how you want, I frankly don't give a shit, just wondering what the logic is? You're going to get a suspension that costs $7000 and is inherently 7" wider overall, then you're going to throw another 4" total width from spacers on it, then you're going to use that suspension to lift it PLUS add a further 3" body lift to it?
Ummm why? People with that kind of suspension usually want to be super low because high CG = bad, especially when you're going fast which is 98% of the people who buy a LT setup. There's lots of arguments for/against body lifts, but usually that pertains to 2" or less, 3" is huge especially for only running 35s. Enough shit breaks trying to go fast, even with LT, why add a massive puck lift (and you didn't even say you would lower the suspension lift, to keep the ride height CG low while gaining clearance which is the only reason I would ever consider a body lift) plus add two huge spacers?
Like I said, do whatever you want, but that's a lot of money and then adding things that are kind of the "cheap" way out and don't really make much sense with the theme, though this is all imo.
Ummm why? People with that kind of suspension usually want to be super low because high CG = bad, especially when you're going fast which is 98% of the people who buy a LT setup. There's lots of arguments for/against body lifts, but usually that pertains to 2" or less, 3" is huge especially for only running 35s. Enough shit breaks trying to go fast, even with LT, why add a massive puck lift (and you didn't even say you would lower the suspension lift, to keep the ride height CG low while gaining clearance which is the only reason I would ever consider a body lift) plus add two huge spacers?
Like I said, do whatever you want, but that's a lot of money and then adding things that are kind of the "cheap" way out and don't really make much sense with the theme, though this is all imo.
SnowLizard
New member
I only mean this as an experience to learn from...
opinions are fly'n, everyone says that you "shouldn't" do a 3inch body lift. its not that it hasn't been done, but because everyone knows that a 2inch body lift gives ALOT more body roll, and 3 inch, don't think anyone really was thinking that.
My First car was a i6 200ci 65 mustang, people said to swap a v8 into it, and put v8 spindles and suspension in it, it's bolt on and beefier... they also said do the suspension and brakes first... but I didn't do any of that... I spent too much rebuidling a 68rwhp i6 to produce 145rwhp i6, then I did a auto to manual trans swap, then I did A/C, then I did brakes, THEN i did suspension, THEN I did steering... all keeping it 4 lug i6 setup... the aftermarket hub/spindle housing BROKE on the freeway when I slammed on the brakes at 85mph, and the suspension was rock hard, hurt my back. I spent over 22k on that mustang, and I loved it, but hated that it was still breaking on me the whole time... (cause I didn't do what's been tried and tested and true)
IF people say that a 2inch body lift is high sway in high speed desert runs, then it probably is... I also had a 75 bronco, 5.5inch SL + 2inch BL + 35's... that thing was awesome off the road, flexed crazy, and was a beast when ever I showed up, but that SWAY, was horible, I changed it quicky to 2.5 SL + 2 inch BL + 33's... that 4 inch drop WAS AMAZING!!! I still tore it up EVERYWHERE, but I felt so much more confident on the trails...
My point is, do what works... learn from others mistakes and improve on them, the path least explored in building rigs is that way for a reason, someone tried it, and we don't hear about it and now there are too many people say'n don't do it...
opinions are fly'n, everyone says that you "shouldn't" do a 3inch body lift. its not that it hasn't been done, but because everyone knows that a 2inch body lift gives ALOT more body roll, and 3 inch, don't think anyone really was thinking that.
My First car was a i6 200ci 65 mustang, people said to swap a v8 into it, and put v8 spindles and suspension in it, it's bolt on and beefier... they also said do the suspension and brakes first... but I didn't do any of that... I spent too much rebuidling a 68rwhp i6 to produce 145rwhp i6, then I did a auto to manual trans swap, then I did A/C, then I did brakes, THEN i did suspension, THEN I did steering... all keeping it 4 lug i6 setup... the aftermarket hub/spindle housing BROKE on the freeway when I slammed on the brakes at 85mph, and the suspension was rock hard, hurt my back. I spent over 22k on that mustang, and I loved it, but hated that it was still breaking on me the whole time... (cause I didn't do what's been tried and tested and true)
IF people say that a 2inch body lift is high sway in high speed desert runs, then it probably is... I also had a 75 bronco, 5.5inch SL + 2inch BL + 35's... that thing was awesome off the road, flexed crazy, and was a beast when ever I showed up, but that SWAY, was horible, I changed it quicky to 2.5 SL + 2 inch BL + 33's... that 4 inch drop WAS AMAZING!!! I still tore it up EVERYWHERE, but I felt so much more confident on the trails...
My point is, do what works... learn from others mistakes and improve on them, the path least explored in building rigs is that way for a reason, someone tried it, and we don't hear about it and now there are too many people say'n don't do it...
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I was trying to say the same thing, but you did it way better. Sometimes one's vision isn't able to be seen as one likes it. I know personally that I learn more from what I do versus always reading. Now that being said I still read and research a ton, look at what others have done before I do a lot of my work/modifications. One person's setup, may not be for someone else. I also know that some people tend to jump on others and we all get frustrated about ANOTHER thread of something that has been beaten to death. Now that being said, just because it's been asked 100000 times, doesn't always mean they didn't look or search. Guess in my 'old' age I do understand both sides and as someone who's in a difficult position I have learned to be a lot calmer and nicer than jumping on someone.
This community is by far the best I've seen with a WEALTH of information that every one has contributed in some way or another with their vision or their personal experience. Above all, its the internet and its tough to always (this comes from me personally) WANT this and realize that maybe you don't necessarily need it, but by god you want it because its your vision/dream. My dream is to eventually get on my 4runner on SAS, 37's and get past getting stuck in snow embarrassingly like it does every year =(. Now could I accomplish this another way, probably. But I run a 3" lift, with 33's and have tried air down to 10 and struggle. My next thing is different tires (hopefully sooner than later), but that money tree is still a seed in the ground.
No it doesn't need to be SAS, 37's but when you see ONE just like yours with that and doing great you see your dream/vision going where you can't get past the stupid snow!!! =D
mountain mike
New member
As others have said it is your rig, your money, do what you think is best and the following is just my opinion.
Body lifts suck IMHO - others like them, I can't stand them. My whole goal is to fit bigger tires and have a low center of gravity. Body lifts will help fit tires but raise you center of gravity a lot. So to me if there is another option to fit the bigger tires and keep the center of gravity low it would be a better option. Not to mention BL's look like crap, by leaving a gap between the frame and body, bumpers, etc, etc. Again, my opinion
You are getting ready to drop a pretty penny on an LT suspension why go the cheap and crappy route for clearing your tires?
Tub the firewall to fit the tires. It will look better and preform better.
Body lifts suck IMHO - others like them, I can't stand them. My whole goal is to fit bigger tires and have a low center of gravity. Body lifts will help fit tires but raise you center of gravity a lot. So to me if there is another option to fit the bigger tires and keep the center of gravity low it would be a better option. Not to mention BL's look like crap, by leaving a gap between the frame and body, bumpers, etc, etc. Again, my opinion
You are getting ready to drop a pretty penny on an LT suspension why go the cheap and crappy route for clearing your tires?
Tub the firewall to fit the tires. It will look better and preform better.
Joshua.O.Brown7
New member
That's why I was spending the money for brackets to get rid of the gap, and yes if there was 5" or 6" suspension lift I would opt for that any day. I haven't ran across tub and will be researching it. And as been mentioned I am looking for people's suggestions that way I can research into them contact companies and then rehatch on the forms my ideas in my head
Also a point was brought up on here about the Spacers well I realized I didn't describe it well enough I meant for the rear however I'm looking at getting a longer axel to match the width of the front
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UnderFire
New member
Read this, the rear of a 4Runner is a completely different story, and will have to be built by you completely one off, there is no bolt on aftermarket anything for long travel rear.
Clearance for 35-inch Tires on a Tacoma at ANY Lift Height | Trails Less Traveled
Konkordmusk
New member
[MENTION=92884]snivilous[/MENTION] is stock height or at least very close to it, and has a custom LT setup and is one of the best examples of a properly built truck which can do almost anything. 5"-6" is a lot of lift, I didn't need near that much for clearing my 35"s with my mid-travel setup.
The only reason anyone does a lift is to gain clearance for larger tires. With a solid axle in the back, the ONLY way to gain clearance for that is larger tires. With IFS it's different, but it has it's limitations anyways.
The long story short is that you really don't need that much of a lift to perform well in any terrain.
Also, there are no brackets available to get rid of the gap between frame and body once you do a body lift. That just comes with doing a body lift, there's no getting away from it short of cutting the hell out of your body.
meRockboost
New member
Are you doing the $7000 long travel setup or the icon/fox/king extended travel shocks with remote resi's for $1500? I get the suspicion you have an idea of what you want but have minimal experience and are using l/t interchangeably with extended (mid) travel suspension.
I'm not tying to be a dick, just trying to figure out what you want. Spacers on top of a long travel is rediculous. 3" BL is rediculous. Mayonnaise on French fries is rediculous.
It's your rig, you asked, do what you want but include pictures.
I'm not tying to be a dick, just trying to figure out what you want. Spacers on top of a long travel is rediculous. 3" BL is rediculous. Mayonnaise on French fries is rediculous.
It's your rig, you asked, do what you want but include pictures.
steezemcqueen
Moderator
:snacker:
mountain mike
New member
I am at work and don't have many pics of my tub. Here is what I was able to find. I will try and see if I can find some pics of it all completed and put back together when I get home.
Attachments
Joshua.O.Brown7
New member
No I am going for long travel is what I want the body lift is to eliminate need for glass fenders and to crazy of a pre runner front.
steezemcqueen
Moderator
Glass fenders are wider to help cover your tires due to your track width being 7 inches wider. Body lift will do non of that.
Sure the glass is also a bit bigger of a wheel opening but thats not the main purpose.
