Yes the self proclaimed hater of the body lift is actually asking about one.
The body mounts on my truck are wasted and looking at pricing for new stock ones vs. a body lift from various manufactors, the prices are about the same.

So my question is what are the major down sides to a body lift?

My whole goal with the Toyota is to keep it as low as possible, around 3-4" of lift. I'm worried that coupled with a body lift that this will make my truck too high and throw my COG all to ☺☺☺☺. Opinions on this?

If I do this, I will only run a 1" body lift, no more then that.

 

by body mounts, do you mean the rubber bushings?

if so, I'm pretty sure that most body lifts re-use the bushings you have, and simply put a block between them and the truck/frame (not sure which off the top of my head).


that said, from my research and experience, a mild body lift can be very beneficial. good way to get a couple inches of fender clearance for very little investment, and without sacrificing the CG too badly.

also, on toyotas, this makes a drivetrain lift possible. I think the combination of a 2" drivetrain lift and a new tcase xmember (whether it be budbuilt bolt-on, or something more fancy) can be invaluable on the trail. I haven't been able to do any serious wheeling in my toyota yet, but in my experience, the clearance under the tcase can make or break your rig, and the toyota tcase xmember hangs down sooooo far.



I plan to use a 2" body and drivetrain lift. that, coupled with the budbuilt xmember (which I also plan to use), will gain me about 4" under the tcase. not to mention the extra clearance gained from the bigger tires that would then become available.

 

Body mount bushings are separate and independent from a body lift:
http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/...Kit.shtml#Body



You can replace the body mount bushings without doing a body lift or as part of a body lift. But a body lift by itself will not replace the body mount bushings, the lift blocks simply go on top of the bushings, whether they be stock or replacement bushings. On some vehicles, like Jeeps, mfgs. combine bushings with lift blocks (by supplying a 1" taller than stock body mount bushing).

Some Frequently Asked Questions (and answers too):
- http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/...tKit.shtml#FAQ

I like the added clearance around the engine and drivetrain of even a 1" lift, makes getting to the starter, tranny bolts, EGR valve, etc. oh so much easier than w/ no lift. Also lets you mount sliders higher/more solidly and lift bumpers up for greater approach, departure and breakover angles.

 

I recently installed a 1" BL from 4Crawler, and see no "major" down sides at all. It was an easy install, and like stated above, involved using the original bushings. Like you, I went with the 1" BL lift just to give me a little extra clearance, on top of my 3" suspension lift. Seems to be a good combo for me.

That's my two-cents...

 

Big thanks for clearing this up Roger.
I sent you an e-mail about this today, thanks for the quick reply.

Do you happen to carry the rubber bushings too?

 

I carry replacement bushings in polyurethane that can be ordered with a body lift kit or separately and with or without new mounting bolts.