If there was ever any doubt about how low my TEP skidplate sits...
- Thread starter MasonCO
- Start date
Didn't take to long with the shovel to remove the snow underneath and get backed out, but the second picture provides a nice image of how low that my KDSS skid hangs down...
Register to hide this ad
mteolus
New member
Stock KDSS height on mine when new was 8". Pretty pathetic IMHO, thus the reason I got a 3" lift. I measured mine after the lift and it was 12" so I got 4" out of a 3" lift. Not sure if in a non-KDSS with the same lift it would have been 3" or not. I'm happy with 12" and actually with adding 285's it is a tad over 12".
SnowYeti
Member
Wanna be more depressed, a Subaru Outback has 8.7” of clearance. I owned a couple 15-20 years ago and they were surprisingly capable.
So, worst case do a level kit up front to get that front / rear difference of 1.5” under control and get that front end up.
Add some AT tires even the same stock size. Just because they label them the same does not mean they truly are the same size as stock in width and diameter, in fact there can be a significant difference. Tire Rack does their own measuments of actual tires so you can see the real size in the specs. (Sadly they don’t sell Falken)
So many options for a real lift though, and picking the right lift is so much more. Better handling, less body roll, less nose dive, better off road. Bang for the buck, it seems like Bilstiens options are hard to beat for those of us not rock crawling or with KDSS.
So, worst case do a level kit up front to get that front / rear difference of 1.5” under control and get that front end up.
Add some AT tires even the same stock size. Just because they label them the same does not mean they truly are the same size as stock in width and diameter, in fact there can be a significant difference. Tire Rack does their own measuments of actual tires so you can see the real size in the specs. (Sadly they don’t sell Falken)
So many options for a real lift though, and picking the right lift is so much more. Better handling, less body roll, less nose dive, better off road. Bang for the buck, it seems like Bilstiens options are hard to beat for those of us not rock crawling or with KDSS.
Last edited:
Gclark949
New member
I was bashing my front skid into everything before I got my lift. The KDSS really hurts the clearance and it was not even remotely acceptable from the factory. The funny thing is, the front drive line is actually straight now with 2.5" lift compared to factory. I think the bean counters lowered the front for better fuel economy or better soccer mom appeal. Something didn't add up.
williamlv282
New member
Wheeling in a rocky desert pretty much guaranteed that I would need a lift. The stock clearance was a total joke and I went through two front skid plates before the lift.
Weird. My Stock 2018 TRDOR with 265/70/17 AT3Ws sits at about 9.25" measured at the very lowest point on the KDSS front skid (it's actually at least a quarter inch higher on most of the skid, but sits lower on the passenger side).
I'm guessing that's about 0.25" from the bigger stock-size tires (radius only, as bigger tires doesn't chance height by diameter, just radius). But still, that's 9" at least.
Guessing someone with a sunroof and a bit of weight or a front bumper and some sag over the years might bring that down into the 8s... but still.
Perhaps Toyota also updated the front springs over the years to give a bit more stock lift in front?
Edit: Having low tire pressure could also bring the number down a bit.
I'm guessing that's about 0.25" from the bigger stock-size tires (radius only, as bigger tires doesn't chance height by diameter, just radius). But still, that's 9" at least.
Guessing someone with a sunroof and a bit of weight or a front bumper and some sag over the years might bring that down into the 8s... but still.
Perhaps Toyota also updated the front springs over the years to give a bit more stock lift in front?
Edit: Having low tire pressure could also bring the number down a bit.
