kawazx636

iTrader: (3)

I just purchased a 3" Rough Country Lift kit (part # 700H) for my 83' Pickup. It comes with front leaf springs, all 4 shocks, u-bolts and blocks for the rear.

What are your thoughts on Rough Country suspensions? I have heard not great reviews on Rough Country, but that has been primarily from the wheeling community, of which I am not involved in (Sorry to disappoint). My truck is a daily driver that I occasionally take to the beach, off-road, hunting, etc so I'm not super concerned with off-road strength or performance. Not to mention that some kids grow up wanting Ferraris, Lambos and Porsches...I wanted a first gen Toyota Pickup so I would probably become mildly suicidal if I rolled it!


The truck rides stiff as a...well you know... and I'm just looking for a better ride around town that could still hold it's own on light off-roading. Would the Rough Country be suitable in your opinion??


Here's a little background info:
I bought the truck about a month ago with 131,000 miles on it from an idiot that was stupid enough to make the truck run like crap but not do anything thing that did permanent damage. He had 33x12.5" Futura Dakota tires (AKA cheap Pep Boys rubber), a 4" body lift, a 7" suspension lift with Rancho shocks, a 3.5" Flowmaster exhaust (yes 3.5 on a 22R!), a horribly "tuned" stock carb getting a whopping 6 MPG and timed over 8 degrees retarded!! It wouldn't even go above 40 MPH on the speedo!

In the short time I have had it I have:
-Completely de-smogged the engine
-Installed a Weber 32/36 carb
-Installed a fuel pressure regulator and gauge
-New headers and 2.5" exhaust
-New timing cover gasket (chains and guides were good)
-New water pump gasket
-New oil pump gasket
-New valve cover gasket
-New PCV valve
-Added a breather filter
-New oil pan and gasket
-New wires
-New plugs
-New distributor (Cap and rotor too)
-New fuel pump
-New grill
-New bumper
-New tires - Falken WildPeak 31x10.5 (GREAT TIRES for a DD at a great price)
-Removed the 4" body lift
-Replaced body mount bushings (boy did that make a difference!)

AND I'm such a night owl that I have not missed a day of driving it since I bought it! Now I'm getting around 20 MPG and cruising the highways at 70 MPH.

I'd like some feedback on this Rough Country kit so thanks for looking!

kawazx636

iTrader: (3)

See my photo album for pictures. . I'm looking to get a stock short box for it

redsyota

if your looking for a simple swap DO IT! It was my first big purchase and it served its purpose. If I were to do it again I would of gotten different shocks and moved the rear shackle hanger forward. The rear springs are a tad short and unless you have alot of weight in your bed all the time it just plain wont work (doesnt flex well or ride worth a crap). you can't beat the price and its a simple swap so i'd still recommend it.

donomite49

i had the rough country 3" lift on my 79. worked ok. did not flex very well, but was probably because of the stock rear springs. later i put some soft valved rs 5000 rancho shocks [not available anymore] and it rode and handled really good.

kawazx636

iTrader: (3)

How do the Rough Country shock ride on the road? The Ranch RS5000 beat the living crap out of me on every bump in the road! I feel one of those low rider tools that has his "suspension" sitting on the frame and the driver is just taking every bump! Will the Rough Country shock at least come close to a smooth factory ride??

redsyota

No. Just order the kit without the shocks and get some quality dampers like bilsteins or an adjustable type like the procomps or ranchos.

uglymudder

You have to remember that you're still running the old rear springs...upgrade and get new springs all around, its not that much more...I had good results putting RC lifts on several vehicles, but their shocks are mostly crap. Order without shocks and source some quality units...I actually had some cheaper monroe shocks in my jeep, they worked great.

83Toyota88

iTrader: (1)

I purchased the RC 3" lift for my truck but it came with new leaf springs for the rear also. I plan on putting it on in the next few weeks. Gotta fix a leaky transfer case first when I get back home.

83Toyota88

iTrader: (1)

I also just put 33x12.50 on my truck. Should I change the gear ratio?

Bingle

YES! You can get away with 31's if you beef up the engine enough but 33's need some taller gears. Lots of info on this site if you search a little. I'd go with 4.56's at least.

kawazx636

iTrader: (3)

I installed the rear shocks, blocks and bushings tonight. Instructions say 4-6 hours to install the entire kit... Apparently the folks at Rough Country don't take into consideration that the truck is 28 years old and nothing disassembles easily!! It took me4 hours just to remove the old rear shocks, rear leaf springs and rear U-bolts alone... and several bandaids. The old bushings were chewed up (Because the previous owner was an absolute idiot when it came to doing anything on the truck!) and most of the bolts were seized up. But once all that crap came off, it only took 45 minutes to install the new stuff.

I plan on doing the front end on Friday, but so far it is riding better already.

83Toyota88

iTrader: (1)

This makes me wanna put on my lift. I might try and do it Saturday the wife will be out of the house most of the day. Curious how long it will take me to get all the old rusty stuff loose. Maybe I should shoot it with some pb blaster before hand....

kawazx636

iTrader: (3)

I would definately BP blast it! I still ended up cutting the old u-bolts off with a die grinder. Make sure you hit the shackles and old bushings really well. Good luck!

83Toyota88

iTrader: (1)

Yea I will do that I think I have a can of pb blaster somewhere. Do I need a torque wrench for the the u bolt nuts or just tighten the piss outta them? I havnt looked the instructions yet if there even is any.

kawazx636

iTrader: (3)

Instructions, what are they?? I tightened mine with just a deep socket and ratchet. The u-bolts will stretch and settle slightly so you'll have to tighten them again after a hundred miles or so.

BTW, the kit only comes with leaf spring bushings and shock bushings. I would get a bushing kit for your swaybar, torque rod and steering to put in while you have every torn apart.

83Toyota88

iTrader: (1)

Yea mine are all worn out I need to replace them.

kawazx636

iTrader: (3)

I finished installing my Rough Country 3" lift, It wasn't to0 bad of a project. The truck rides a whole lot smoother now and so far I'm happy with it.

83Toyota88

iTrader: (1)

So you dont have any vibrations of any kind after putting on the lift you didnt have before? There is another thread where a guy put on the same 3" lift with rear springs in the back and he got a vibration. Just curious before I put my lift on.

kawazx636

iTrader: (3)

I've only got good vibrations my friend! LOL

Nope, no vibrations, shakes, wobbles, etc. My steering wheel isn't straight, but it's because I haven't adjusted the drag link yet. Alignment was still good too.

Generally shakes and vibrations can come from unbalanced driveshafts, loose u-bolts, loose front end allignment, bad steering dampener, worn hubs or when somebody doesn't know what the hell they are doing.

Just use your common sense and you'll be fine.

kawazx636

iTrader: (3)

Oh, and make sure you install all new bushings and grease them well!