Just got my 2011 SR5! Need help on a lift/suspension choice...

[TimberGuy]

I need to raise the clearance on my SR5. About half of my miles are on gravel/logging roads. I don't do any hardcore offroading, but I do encounter quite a few obstacles like waterbars, downed logs, and rutted roads. I was thinking about purchasing the OME kit from Rocky Road for my lift. Has anyone purchased this kit? How easy is the install? What about performance? Positive and negative aspects of it?
Or maybe OME is not the way to go; any advice would be helpful!

 

[tlflow]

Ow

The Overland Warehouse offers a a HD kit with Radflo components, and they can tune it for your application. You can check out the Radflo site for the details on shocks, pretty decent. I contacted overland and they set my kit up for towing offer-road, since most of my off-roading is around deer-leases (logging road in east Texas, or Hill country out west). I have been very please with the performance.

 

[sandcrawler]

well i, for one, hope you do go with the OME setup, timberguy. it's what i'm hoping to install in the not-too-distant future, but so far no one here has taken the plunge; they only released the part numbers very recently. Hawkdog has some OME components, mingled with Toytec i believe, on his Trail.

OME makes good stuff and it's typically an excellent value. depending on the off-roading you do, it's usually an adequate setup for most requirements... apart from high-speed desert running etc. you can't rebuild OME like you can with true coilovers, of course, but if it does what you need it to do (and from your stated needs/conditions it sounds fine to me), at that price point who cares? :shrug:

good luck with your decision. let us know what you decide... and post pics!

 

[1traildriver]

Definitely use the search function on the forum with various key words, there is a ton of info out here on the different types of lifts. I would also say take your time since there are several types and variations to choose from, but it seems nobody has complained about the any of the kits installed thus far.

I am going to purchase the Radflo 2.5" kit from Overland Warehouse. Their tech, Andries, has been the most helpful of any company I have contacted with all of my questions. He also sent me the installation guide for the front and rear so I could see if it was something I could handle. It looks pretty straight forward for even a novice in his home garage. Others with this set-up are really happy and I like the price for a 2.5" kit.

Good luck!

 

[iDRiVaT4R]

+1 for Overland, as stated above Andries is extremely helpful and will set up the best suspension for your needs.

My buddy has OME coils and rear springs on his 08' 4Runner and it rides pretty decent. Can't go wrong with either really, The OW kit's shocks are rebuild-able so they will pretty much be the last shocks you'll ever buy though, Same with Icons which many people have and are quite happy with as well.

OW's kit performs awesome off road and has great on road manners.

 

[ciaz]

I'm happy with my Toytec Ultimate Lift.

I was worried at first that it was too stiff, but all it took was a couple weeks to settle and loosen up. It now rides much better than stock, albeit slightly firmer, and looks great!

 

[sandcrawler]

I am going to purchase the Radflo 2.5" kit from Overland Warehouse ... Others with this set-up are really happy and I like the price for a 2.5" kit.

thing is, the complete OW 2.5" kit is $1750; OME is only $800. not knockin' the OW setup, just sayin'.

 

[SeattleMike]

thing is, the complete OW 2.5" kit is $1750; OME is only $800. not knockin' the OW setup, just sayin'.

OW will custom valve your set-up to meet your needs and send out rebuilt shocks when yours needs to be replaced without needing you to ship your shocks in first, so can swap them out in one day.

I'm not knockin' OME, but how many of their distributors are willing to do any of that?

 

[sandcrawler]

none, i'd wager. but in view of the fact that you could buy 2 complete OME setups for less than the price of a single OW kit, that level of service is just not going to matter to some people.

if rebuildable is a must-have, it does sound like Andries/OW have a great product; again, not knocking' it. but if that's not a priority, OME offers a great value.

fwiw, there's already quite a few OW and Icon lifts on this board already. i'm just hoping that the OP opts for OME so some additional options get documented/discussed here.

 

[iDRiVaT4R]

OP, If you don't want to spend more than $1k, go OME. If you want or are willing to spend more than $1k on suspension, check out OW and ICON. In the end your 4Runner will ride WAY better than stock either way.

Each one of us will persuade you to go the route we went or are planning, I have OW, I'm gonna push you towards the OW kit, SandCrawler has OME components, he's gonna persuade you towards the OME kits, SeattleMike will persuade you towards the OW kit as well. Also, Harper and Mr.Grimm and a few others will persuade you to go with the ICON kit cause that's what they are running. In the end, whichever one of "these" methods you choose will provide a great ride.

Depending on how much "off-roading" is in your future, having re-buildable shocks might in the end save you some money. Not so much today but in the years to come.

Good Luck!!

edit: one of the reasons I never really looked into OME was that their shocks are Twin-Tube and when your off road working the shocks, they cannot cool as quickly and easily as a mono-tube style shock and will start to fade. The Toytec kit that uses the Bilstein 5100's, those shocks are mono-tube and as far as I know will hold up better in offroad conditions. Of Course Coilovers are the best for off road conditions. 2.5" diameter, and mono-tube style design offers plenty of fluid and cooling surface. I hope this info is accurate, if not someone correct me. It's just what I remember reading while doing research in the past.

 

[sandcrawler]

:iagree:
any of these options will give you the improved clearance and handling you're seeking. it's all about what your needs are and how much you're willing to spend to get it.

Nathan has the right spirit. i wish he'd expressed it without casting me as the low-rent OME pusher... but he has the right spirit! :jk:

 

[SeattleMike]

My truck still has the stock suspension, actually. I just like being able to tune it to the actual weight I'm carrying and I haven't finished loading it up yet. So far, the OEM (not OME) on my TE has been fine.

 

[iDRiVaT4R]

:iagree:
any of these options will give you the improved clearance and handling you're seeking. it's all about what your needs are and how much you're willing to spend to get it.

Nathan has the right spirit. i wish he'd expressed it without casting me as the low-rent OME pusher... but he has the right spirit! :jk:

LOL, sorry. Thanks for catching that though. I re-worded the first section. ;-) I was rushing out of work when I wrote that.

 

[Firefighter EMT]

What size of tires do you want to run? How important is ride quality? I installed the OME 883 front springs and 895E rear springs and used factory struts / shocks. Plenty of clearance for 275/70/17's and I'm sure 285/70/17 would fit too. Great ride, just slightly firmer than the stock SR5 set-up. Purchased from Wheeler's Offroad for $300. If you want a full 3" lift, go with 884 fronts and 895 rears.

 

[sandcrawler]

LOL, sorry. Thanks for catching that though. I re-worded the first section. ;-) I was rushing out of work when I wrote that.

no worries. i thought it was funny, actually. and your point was spot-on.

 

[hamiltonj2w1]

Myself and Hawkdog21 have been running the OME setup for awhile now I like it and like has already been mentioned the OME setup is way cheaper and with the money I saved I got my rocksliders. I honestly don't think there is bad liftkit out anymore it all depends on what you want to do and it sounds like the ome kit will do just fine. I have had mine on for a few months it isn't a full OME kit I have toytec coils in the rear with OME sport shocks and toytec top plate spacers and OME 884 coils up front for the full 3" as toytec puts it. I also agree with everything that has been said about the other kits as well it basically boils down to how much you want to spend.