Towing with a body lift?

[imtheant]

New member here, and what a great site. I've been poking around the forums for hours now and have learned a lot so thanks.

My question is I have a 2001 SR5 Sport that I recently aquired and would like to lift. Only catch is that I will be towing a 3000lb boat a few weekends a year and wondered how this should (if at all) effect my lift type I purchase? Would I be better with a BL or spacers? I will be doing mild off roading (beach and light trails) and I dont need tons of lift, maybe enough to fit 33's would be great. Any suggetions to get me started? Thanks.

 

[techno]

A body lift will have absolute zero effect on towing. A body lift simply raises the body away from the chassis and is good for creating more room for larger tires and/or increased suspension travel, and for body ground clearance (not chassis or running gear clearance).
I would recommend you investigate a suspension lift (new coils and shocks) first rather than spacers. Spacers will help with looks and fitting bigger tires but will not improve your towing performance.

 

[Big J]

I agree with techno, look into a suspension lift! Body lifts IMO are pointless and make your vehicle look funny, i.e. gaps between your body and bumpers, and you can see frame like no other.

 

[Big J]

You know another thing I failed to mention about getting a body lift, moving the body away from the frame, you're also moving your body away from everything else, like your transmission. Now you're gonna have to make the hole that your shifter comes out of bigger and extend the shifter itself, if you have an automatic then that makes things more difficult. Once thats done, now you have to extend your steering column, I don't think I have to explain why, do I?
Towing is the least of your worries.

 

[techno]

Now you're gonna have to make the hole that your shifter comes out of bigger and extend the shifter itself, if you have an automatic then that makes things more difficult. Once thats done, now you have to extend your steering column, I don't think I have to explain why, do I?

Well that all depends on how much lift you go for. For up to 3" lift on a 2001, the shifters are fine (linkages may require some adjustments) and the steering column is easy to extend (just put a spacer in the joint). Body lifts are easy and the available kits have all the brackets and stuff you'll need in them. Certainly no need to make any holes bigger.