Please help! I need to modify my van for more clearance. Has anyone done this to their 4x Toyota van or can anyone recommend a place to get parts to do this. I am also trying to figure out what is the best shock for this project....lift, and baja Mexico durability.
thanks
BK

 

you don't need to lift it. Here is some videos of a guy named Calvin taking his down some trails at Brown's Camp in the Tillamook State Forest:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iLZDvH9Ihk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iLZDvH9Ihk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHb4v...eature=related

last I heard it was in the same quest as you...He was looking for a transfer case...though I have not seen his van around for a year or more...
I know I was not much help but thought you might get a kick out of the video. Good luck with your project, you are tackling a rather unique vehicle as an expedition rig, seems like spare parts are getting scarce...

 

contact 6xcrew on pirate...and read this thread..its bad ass

http://pirate4x4.com/forum/showthrea...ns+special+kid

 

I used to live in Africa and those vans are everywhere. A lot are diesel. They hold up well to abuse.

 

For specialty lifts, search the UK and japan sites for a Toyota Town Ace from the 80's.

 

that is Calvin's Van, (same van from the youtube vids i posted) i used to see his van at work every once in awhile...I work night, he is on days..but when 6000 people work at one place hard to run into each other...
that thread was a good read...

 

Man I love those vans, came really close to buying one actually. A pain to work on though.

 

I can't believe someone actually wheeled that van down a trail. That video was hilarious.

I guess the wheel base would make it a very capable off-roading vehicle, if it had a little more clearance.

 

i hate the way those vans look, i think they look so gross. but after seeing the videos, i have a new respect for them. i still will never buy one.

 

those vans look tippy as hell on a road - can't imagine waht they would be like lifted!

 

Ooops, just realized that this post was a little old, but I'll answer anyways.

As of now, there aren't really any ways to lift the front end other than cranking the tbars.

The rear, you can find coils that will work or spacers, and others have had good luck with airbags (I'll be adding some soon, as I use mine for work).

No body lifts available either as it is unibody.

They look tippy but they aren't bad. They don't weigh much and you are sitting on top of the motor, so the COG is lower than you would think. I've had mine on some good sideslopes and it feels fine.

It does awesome out at the dunes! Just don't hit a bunch of big whoops at speed unless you like flying, ahaha! Probably the funnest vehicle I've ever driven.