fabtech 6"
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steezemcqueen
Moderator
the only information i have is that i would recommend avoiding it
Whats wrong with this type of lift?
steezemcqueen
Moderator
Drop bracket lifts require you to cut the crossmember and the frame. You cannot easily go back to stock after you put the lift in. Also, they do not increase your ground clearance like a coil/shock lift would. All you are doing is lowering the front end to lift the rest of the truck.
Why exactly do you want to lift it that much?
Why exactly do you want to lift it that much?
So a 3" coil/shock lift would have more clearance than a fabtech 6"????
If you do a 6" suspension lift, wouldnt you get 6" of ground clearance?
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sn0wrunner
New member
Because he's from Hawaii! Thats what they do!
I believe FLEXincRunner is selling his 6" drop bracket lift if you are looking to find one used.
Haha. Different places, different styles. You say bro, i say brah. Ive never heard anyone from hawaii talk about there newly lifted 2-3" toyota. No disrespect out to you guys. To be honest, i was thinking about going sas but i cant weld and the money is not all there. Ive never stopped to think why we want such high lifts. Than again, why would you want to lift a truck??? Its has enough clearance as it is.
Pikeman
New member
The 3" lifts most of us run not only lifts the frame but also the front differential. This provides higher ground clearance in the front and also better break over angles(height of frame between axles.
A drop bracket lift you cut out the cross member and lower your differential. This actually keeps your front ground clearance the same or lower then stock. You will however end up with better break over angle then just the 3" lift because your frame will be even higher. It will also be harder to get the rear to the same height as the front. Another issue you have with drop brackets is the stress caused on the frame and brackets themselves when off-roading, people have been known to sheer/ tear their frames.
If you search there are a few people that have done this with either the 4" procomp or fabteck drop bracket kit. To each their own as far as use and lift they want. Even here on the Main Land there are different styles based on region. I can say that the lifts I have seen on many Island trucks is more looks than function but also has to do with the type of driving that is done there.
A drop bracket lift you cut out the cross member and lower your differential. This actually keeps your front ground clearance the same or lower then stock. You will however end up with better break over angle then just the 3" lift because your frame will be even higher. It will also be harder to get the rear to the same height as the front. Another issue you have with drop brackets is the stress caused on the frame and brackets themselves when off-roading, people have been known to sheer/ tear their frames.
If you search there are a few people that have done this with either the 4" procomp or fabteck drop bracket kit. To each their own as far as use and lift they want. Even here on the Main Land there are different styles based on region. I can say that the lifts I have seen on many Island trucks is more looks than function but also has to do with the type of driving that is done there.
brian2sun
Elite Member
Steeze is absolutely right that a 3" coil/shock lift will give you more ground clearance than a DB lift. And a coil/shock lift is much more functional for off roading than the Fabtech lift. With a DB lift, you actually lower all the bracketry for the front end suspension (crossbar, LCA attachment points, etc..) to get more wheel well clearance but all that bracketry will be closer to the ground than your stock bracketry was. You can make up that difference with bigger tires, but then your ground clearance just goes back to about where you were stock.
The whole point of a DB lift is just to make room for bigger tires, but it defeats the purpose when you cancel out the ground clearance gained from those bigger tires. In other words, I have more ground clearance (and a much lower center of gravity) with 33s and a 3" coil/shock lift than someone with 35s and a 6" DB lift. The reason it's not as good off road (besides having less clearance) is that 4runners are already tippy vehicles. Your ultra-high center of gravity with a 6" DB lift will limit you from doing a lot on the trails because the risk of flopping over is soooo much higher. If I had a DB living in CA and doing the trails I do, I would not be able to run about 1/3-1/2 of the trails that I can do with my 3" susp. + 1" body lift. For a great off roader, the biggest tires you can fit with the least amount of lift is the best, whether you're in Hawaii or Alaska. That's why most of us settle on 3-4" coil/shock lifts with 33s. It's a good compromise and that setup will get you farther and get you there safer than a 6" DB lift and 35s. Plus 35s can be hell on your CV axles.
The whole point of a DB lift is just to make room for bigger tires, but it defeats the purpose when you cancel out the ground clearance gained from those bigger tires. In other words, I have more ground clearance (and a much lower center of gravity) with 33s and a 3" coil/shock lift than someone with 35s and a 6" DB lift. The reason it's not as good off road (besides having less clearance) is that 4runners are already tippy vehicles. Your ultra-high center of gravity with a 6" DB lift will limit you from doing a lot on the trails because the risk of flopping over is soooo much higher. If I had a DB living in CA and doing the trails I do, I would not be able to run about 1/3-1/2 of the trails that I can do with my 3" susp. + 1" body lift. For a great off roader, the biggest tires you can fit with the least amount of lift is the best, whether you're in Hawaii or Alaska. That's why most of us settle on 3-4" coil/shock lifts with 33s. It's a good compromise and that setup will get you farther and get you there safer than a 6" DB lift and 35s. Plus 35s can be hell on your CV axles.
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Thanks for the responses guys. What the truck already has should be adequate enough for the type of driving i want to do. It currently has 3" coils with Billstiens. The rear also has an air lift 1000 load support system with compressor and load controller. 16x10 mikey's with BFG a/t.
Just looking for alternatives, didnt know much about the fabtech lift and im glad i asked.
Aloha
Just looking for alternatives, didnt know much about the fabtech lift and im glad i asked.
Aloha
sn0wrunner
New member
:lol:
Down there big fella! Why would you take offense to me saying that people lift their trucks big like that in hawaii? I'm confused.
On top of that I even told the OP where he could buy the lift he is looking for.
And I visited Kona once.
Down there big fella! Why would you take offense to me saying that people lift their trucks big like that in hawaii? I'm confused.
On top of that I even told the OP where he could buy the lift he is looking for.
And I visited Kona once.
Dous
New member
I drank Kona Coffee once. It was gross.
YotaZach85
New member
I dont think he meant any disrespect. I would have said the same damn thing, when I think of an Island truck I think about a really tall lift with relatively short, really wide tires. Is it a stereotype? Probably. But if I were to say anything along those lines it wouldnt be out of disrespect to the people or the way of life by any means.
Avarice
New member
Hahahahaha, man it's a good thing your not from Canada. You'd have to deal with half of America cracking bad jokes that don't even make sense. Actually, there are some really funny ones because they are true, but most are so off base I'm not even sure how they got started.
PS. "Kind hearted" people aren't usually so quick to anger.
If it helps you sleep at night, just assure yourself that people say rude things because they are jealous they don't live in Hawaii. It's probably true half the time.
brian2sun
Elite Member
Holy cow! You can't really deny that the "style" for lifting trucks in Hawaii is all about huge lifts and extra wide tires can you? If so then I have to wonder where in Hawaii do you live? Because snow is right, that's how they do it down there. He wasn't saying it to be offensive, and he wasn't saying that the mainland way is better even, but I've seen dozens and dozens of rigs lifted like 6-9" from Hawaii. That doesn't mean every single person in Hawaii does that, but the steroetype isn't that much of a stereotype.
As a matter of fact, I just saw a Tacoma in my mechanic buddy's shop 2 days ago that was lifted about 8" and was basically a death trap for the type of off roading we do in CA. I asked my friend, "where did you find that thing". Of course he pointed to the license plate which said Hawaii and he told me the guy just moved out here. Neither he nor I thought anything bad about him, but we both snickered at his truck. I asked the owner later if he'd like to play "follow the leader" on the trails with my 4runner and he said "no thanks". Hawaiians are as good-hearted as any other Americans, but I do agree they have a wild sense of how to lift a truck.
now Canadians... that's a different story, haha. Just kidding a bunch of my family is Canadian and the best comedians in the world are from Canada!
As a matter of fact, I just saw a Tacoma in my mechanic buddy's shop 2 days ago that was lifted about 8" and was basically a death trap for the type of off roading we do in CA. I asked my friend, "where did you find that thing". Of course he pointed to the license plate which said Hawaii and he told me the guy just moved out here. Neither he nor I thought anything bad about him, but we both snickered at his truck. I asked the owner later if he'd like to play "follow the leader" on the trails with my 4runner and he said "no thanks". Hawaiians are as good-hearted as any other Americans, but I do agree they have a wild sense of how to lift a truck.
now Canadians... that's a different story, haha. Just kidding a bunch of my family is Canadian and the best comedians in the world are from Canada!
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simmonsauto
New member
I think if 6" lifts were as cheap as 2.5-3" lifts we would be seeing many more of them. To each their own.. I say go for it.
glenyoshida
New member
Lol, if you knew Sn0wrunner the thought of him trying to be a jerk would have never crossed your mind. He's one of the few guys that I personally know that's genuinely a good person.
It's such a bummer that there aren't more trails to run out in Maui, there are a lot of nice rigs out there, especially for such a small place. Lots of private land keeps the trails from being used by just anyone, understandably. I was seeing a friend off and had to take this shot for my bro's back home. I saw lots of nice rigs out there like this one but this bradda made me compelled to take the pic. Compared to my tiny lift most of the island guys seemed like they started with a 12" lift. Big ole lifts with big ole tires and power. I was in awe and loooooooooved seeing it. Sometimes the wheeling community really is cool.
