I've had my 99 4runner for little over a year now, and I just got around to removing the running boards, and putting a roof rack on with a set of Hella's. But I'll be needing some new rubber soon, and I'd like to get some 285/75/r16 on there, but I'll be needing some sort of a lift to do that. I've been reading about body lifts but from what I've seen I'm not interested in those, and I'm look at toyotec's 3 inch coil lift, but since I'm hugely new to this not quite sure what's best for me. My lift will largely be for show and to clear larger tires, I'll be doing some occasional offroading but nothing to serious. any help on different lifts would be great.

 

We have lots of options for your truck.
http://www.wabfab.org/96024Runner/96024Runner.htm

 

I would suggest the 4crawler body lift. It will give you decent results for your plans and it will leave your front CV angles stock level (which is the best thing to do). The 3rd generations do well with body lifts and the frames don't show all that much either when compared to other SUV's.

I've had a 2inch BL with NO ISSUES. Love it. Not to mention they are CHEAP compared to other lifts especially for just looks.

Good luck.

 

When the Wabbit speaks...listen.

 

There seem to be 2 camps on this board regarding body lifts: Love 'em and Hate 'em. I am in the pro group. What are your objections to a body lift? Maybe we can give you further advice as that would be the quickest, cheapest, least complicated way to accomplish your goal.

 

As time goes on I'll eventually want to put in a lift that's going to be more functional, and I'll proly replace my bumpers with some trails ones, and from what I've read one here, some people's major objections to body lifts were that the trail bumpers won't be completely flush with your body, along with your trailer hitch, and I've read that it makes it unsafe do to the raised center of gravity? I don't know anything on this for sure, but It just seems like a suspension lift would be more for me since I do some offroading, I just have hardly any time and don't get to do alot of it, so most of the time my lift will be for looks.

 

http://www.sonoransteel.com/store_co..._liftkits.html
Read the FAQ very carefully (bottom of page) and then look at his kits. You'll learn a lot of vauable info that been covered and gathered from numerous
threads here.

 

Whether you lift your truck with a body lift or suspension lift, your rigs center of gravity is changed. You need to keep that in mind before you change your stock ride height. Aftermarket bumpers do need some tweeking to fit after a BL but it will work. Some guys turn their rear hitches upside down to increase rear clearance too.

Beware of the 3 inch front coil spacers. Alot of guys end up having the front CV's puke. A safer bet would be 2.5 inch spacers if you go that route...it seems there aren't many problems if any with the 2.5 inch. (with a diff drop kit).

I went through a few lifts and my biggest recommendation would be to SAVE your money and do it right the first time. I didn't and I spent more money by switching things out. (spacers, different coils, etc).

Check out the above link!

 

Thanks for the help and advice.

 

IMHO Sonoran Steel has the best, most complete, most thoroughly tested 3rd gen kit on the market hands down.

I should know, I've tested many of their components on many of the toughest trails in the SW (trails where I can still keep my sheet metal and glass).

 

As ROOFGOOF notes, any lift will raise your COG. Roger Brown of 4crawler hypothesizes that since you lift the light body rather than the heavy drivetrain and frame with a body lift, you have less effect on COG with a BL.

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/BodyLiftKit.shtml

And as stated, bumpers can be made to work with a body lift. However if you're absolutely set on a supension lift, I'll third the opinions of Rocket and Jim regarding Sonoran Steel.

 

X 2...

[hijack] Jim, tell 80proof to get some updates posted. [/hijack]

 

i decided to go with the old man emu 3" susp. lift and ill decide how much body lift i want after that.
i have a 96 with the oem suspension. the ome setup will ride so much better im sure of it. i think you'd be happy to do the same even if you decided on a 2 inch susp lift.
check out www.toytec.com

 

after doin some extensive research on sonoran steel, it looks like I'll be going with one of their kits in the near future,

 

Sonoran Steel put to the test again this past weekend. Miner's Revenge, AZ





On Martinez Canyon



You won't be sorry.