Anyone ever hesitant to take their lifted vehicle on a long distance road trip? Not including the additional gas that a lifted vehicle will require, just in general does anyone ver hesitate to take their lifted 4runner on a 7+hr road trip? Vehicle dynamics are different with a lift and bigger tires, but does this make anyone hesitate to take their vehicle?
Being lifted and road trips
- Thread starter Brad2064
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A10MileHusker
New member
I've driven my lifted 4th gen from CO to NE to MN to MI back to MN then to NE to CO to CA and up to OR. Not one issue except for gas millage. And that was only one of my road trips. I drove back and forth from CO to MN quite a few times.
This is the one that I'm going to be watching everything now with my 35s and more intense lift when i drive back to CO but I'm not too worried of anything happening. You should be good!
darkie3495
Moderator
Nope. Driven from Seattle to Oakland then to Lake Tahoe/Mammoth Mountain a few time with no issues. If anything, I prefer to take a lifted truck with capable tires.
Have not seen your truck in a while ..... what a monster !! Lookin good man .
Road trips is also one of my concerns since any modifications heighten the chance of something failing . Then again something could fail you completely unrelated to the lift with any vehicle.
1engineer
Moderator
Umm, a lifted vehicle punches a larger hole in the atmosphere, thereby adding an effective frontal area equal to the additional lift. Usually reduces mpg 3-5%.
harper7
Senior Member
I wouldn't hesitate a minute.Like any vehicle, you get used to what your driving and becomes an extension of you.
I drove on a 6300 mile road trip last summer with my 4Runner lifted and with mud tires as I take the whole month of July off every year. Drove from Texas to Pennsylvania by way of North Carolina and back to Texas.Washed clothes,changed oil ,rotated tires and 2 days later left for Arizona ,up thru Utah and back across Colorado.Enjoyed every last mile of it.
This summer heading west after flying to Pa for the first week to be with family for the 4th of July. Hopefully around 4000 mile trip planned to the left coast and then back thru Utah.
With a 3 inch lift ,why wouldn't it be punching the same size hole 3 inches higher?With a IFS suspension your lifting the whole truck,which gives precious ground clearance and more air is going underneath. True.. bigger tires with more rolling resistance almost always goes with a lift though and that's where the mpg's are lost.
The factory 2 inch rake is built in to accommodate being level with a fully loaded vehicle which is pretty rare.With a 3/2 lift the rake is only 1 inch. You would think it would give a smaller hole punching thru the atmosphere and a better profile.
03_4x4Runner
Senior Member
When I did my lift on my 03 I lost 1.5-2 mpg but I did the lift and bigger tires at the same time. My freind lifted his 07 3" and left the stock tires on. He said he did not loose any mpg. I agree it is heavier taller tires that cause most of the mpg lose.
Overland Warehouse
New member
Yeah well I get 10-11 MPG on the highway, but I normally do 80MPH or so, at lower speeds it improves a bit and 15MPG is possible when doing the 65 or so.
I do have a 3" lift, 1.5" body lift, front bumper & roof rack, but the biggest hit was adding 35" MT tires
If you stay with a suspension lift, roofrack and reasonable tires the impact willl be far less, and the ride, etc will be fine.
I do have a 3" lift, 1.5" body lift, front bumper & roof rack, but the biggest hit was adding 35" MT tires
If you stay with a suspension lift, roofrack and reasonable tires the impact willl be far less, and the ride, etc will be fine.
STLDAVE
Member
Adding a 3" lift causes the suspension components to be exposed instead of being tucked in under the body causing a slight increase in what aerodynamicists call "flat plate frontal area." That will cause a slight increase in aerodynamic drag. However, the primary increase in drag is the increased turbulent airflow under the vehicle. The bottom of the vehicle is the least aerodynamic part of the vehicle and raising it allows more airflow underneath which increases the amount of turbulence. Turbulence equals drag. Add to that the increase in drag caused by both the larger flat plate frontal area and the turbulence created by the now more exposed suspension components and you have a significant increase in aerodynamic drag.
Drag increases as the square of the speed. In other words, if the speed doubles, the drag quadruples. So you can see the aerodynamic affects of the lift will be even worse at higher speeds.
