In recent light of doing my own bodylift, and now having it combined with the suspension lift i installed myself, i want to see what opinions are on body lifts....

here is the deal, the general conscensus is that body lifts for wheeling is bad. However i have seen a lot of vehicles that are subjected to hardcore wheeling that have bodylifts.... i know all about the pros/cons of both lifts and why they are that way... i just wnated to get an idea of what other people thought about them when used in a real world wheeling situation and not just for looks....

having done mine, it doesnt even look like the body was lifted at all until you see the huge silver bolts sticking out of the mounts, my frount bumper up high and the gap under the bed.... but from the frame perspective, the toyota truck platform really tucked the frame under the body... now it actually appears the body sits on the frame....

 

For wheeling in particular: increased approach/departure angles, airbox is raised, body is raised (water crossings), etc.

I was able to swap in a 4.30 diff in 60 minutes vs. the non-BL donor rig, which took 4 hours. Big difference. Headers were easier to put in...bigger tires without rubbing. Shocks were easier to put in, rear axle was easier to swap.

I think you get the point. The BL helped me improve my rigs' off-road prowess with relative ease. One of the best mods I have done thus far!

 

I think they look fine on 1st gens. Especialy when the gas tank is lifted up also. That is a huge bonus. I personally dont have one but kinda wish I did so I could raise the tank out of the way.

 

with relation to the gas tank, mine barely sticks down lower than the frame, i have a pickup though, i have heard the 4runners have them hanging down a lot more because of the lower floor of the truck...

 

I just have a 1" BL. An inch is an inch and helps out with my bigger tires which is why I did it.

 

I've thought about one ever since I got my car. I just can't get over the infamous gap. Can someone take a pic of the gap it gives on a 3rd gen. That would be a huge help.

 

Are you taling about the gap between body and bumper? I know at least the Roger Brown kit you can get brackets that lift the bumpers as well. I chose not to since I was planning on gettting some new bumpers made for me.

 

Click on my sig...no gap.

 

No gap unless you leave your BL project half done. There is a lot more to it that some spacers and long bolts... Done properly you wouldn't even really know it was lifted. Mine (3") has been done for 2 years now with no problems. Here: http://www.pcez.com/~pcollins/90Toyo...280008_BIG.jpg
Looks normal enough.
Nuther pic - no gaps. http://www.pcez.com/~pcollins/90Toyo...P4280015sm.jpg

The gaps in the fenderwells can be filled, the tank filler and vent extended, resecure wiring harness that stretch, brake lines extended, all that stuff that most people just streeeetch, with a little thought and application can be taken care of.

 

As I said, I havent personally done it but "Bain" (a member of this board) has.
You may want to PM him and ask how he did it.
I have also seen some write-ups about it but as luck would have it I cant find them right now.

 

haha mines half done right now the bolts are all in and tight, have the steering issue resolved, ordered new shifter seats today, and enlarged the opening in the floor for my shifter and also had to modify my truck and the bumper brackets a little but they are on...... time to get some lift lips the only place you can really tell there was a bodylift is right above the wheelwell where the bed support spacers are... otehr than that, its un-noticeable.. the frame is still recessed under the body....

 

I'm not really for body lifts, but i had to do one on my '84 to clear 36's, i would have gone with all suspension but much after 4" you have to get a longer front driveshaft, i did a 2"

 

I think as long as you stay within 1-2" you will be fine. Those 3" body lifts scare me!

I am looking to doing a 1" BL later this year (wife wants a house first)

 

Make sure you keep the bolts tight. I noticed a couple of mine loosened up a little. I need to crank them down a bit...

 

I'll be doing a 2" by the end of summer. I have been debating between the 1.5" and 2" because of previous mods (TJM and Sliders), but I figure it will make me get (Make) some stronger bumper mounts for when I get a winch and why go 1.5 when your paying for a 2"? I'm also tired of rubbing and it will be really nice to get that gas tank out of the way. It's kinda scary looking at the pathetic piece of metal they call a skid plate. Thats another mod on the list...

 

So my fuel tank went up an inch with the BL? Seriously, I didn't know that.

 

Seriously, body lifts aren't THAT expensive...

 

+/- $135 for a 2" from RB I believe...

It didn't go higher, it allows room to raise it...

 

I belive the tank is mounted to the frame. The BL gives you the option to lift the tank. Correct me if i'm wrong though.....

 

You are correct.

Gives you the room. I took a quick look at mine, but it looked like a major pain.