3" - 6" which lift and why?

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FJTex

FJTex

Joined
Feb 25, 2007
Threads
16
Messages
255
Location
bat country
well hopefully in the next few months i may be able to scrape enough change together and buy a lift kit, i'm still not 100% on where i wanna go though, i've obvioulsy read alot about the OME lift and heard nothing but good news and am strongly considering this. however with the new rough country 6" lift comming out i'm tempted to save the few more dollars and pull the trigger on that instead. from what i've seen their quailty looks pretty good, so my question is quality aside which lift would be most preferred for the weekend mudder/DD/semi-annual expidition rig i'm lookin to build. i'm definitly going 35"s and if i get the 6" i'll think about 37"s
additionally any feed back on why you would go with one over the other for your own personal use would be appreciated. consider this the little lift vs. big lift fourm. please give your opinion and WHY??
 
Lifting is nothing more then a means to allow for fitting bigger tires (unless you’re going for looks). If 35's will fit with only 3" of lift (and with a little trimming of the fenders and the right wheels, I believe they will), then there's no need for the 6" lift. That's my opinion anyway.

35's will get you down just about any trail, and I think 37" would be a bit hard on the joints; especially off-road. You'll likely just end up braking stuff more easily. The extra 1" of clearance you'd get won't make as much of a difference as some body armor would.

If you really want it to be a good DD, then I'd suggest not lifting it, and putting 33's on it (again, just trim the fenders a little, as needed, with the right wheel off-set). Then lots of body armor.
 
FJTex said:
well hopefully in the next few months i may be able to s****e enough change together and buy a lift kit, i'm still not 100% on where i wanna go though, i've obvioulsy read alot about the OME lift and heard nothing but good news and am strongly considering this. however with the new rough country 6" lift comming out i'm tempted to save the few more dollars and pull the trigger on that instead. from what i've seen their quailty looks pretty good, so my question is quality aside which lift would be most preferred for the weekend mudder/DD/semi-annual expidition rig i'm lookin to build. i'm definitly going 35"s and if i get the 6" i'll think about 37"s
additionally any feed back on why you would go with one over the other for your own personal use would be appreciated. consider this the little lift vs. big lift fourm. please give your opinion and WHY??
Click to expand...
Here is a pic from someone I know who had a Rough Country 3" (first pic) and then went to the 6" (second pic). It was actually the first FJC to get the 6" lift. They go by Tennessee Squire on the FJC forum.
UrbanWheelin003.jpg


RoughCountry6inch009.jpg
 
If you really plan on using this as your daily driver, I'd probably stick with a 3" lift. Even at 0" lift, it's like driving a boxkite. I can't imagine it would be any better stuck 1/2 a foot higher in the air. Besides, you can do AMAZING things in this truck with little or no lift at all.
 
Oh, BTW. I would not put "quality aside". Buy the best, and never look back.
 
quality aside because a) nobody really has THAT much experience with either the OME or the TC ifts yet and i dont need ppl spouting off their own opinions in an area that they dont have any solid ofundation of reasoning and b) both OME and TC make notoriously good quality products so sombody saying the OME is better b/c its more durable dosent help me really. certainly quality is of utmost importance.
 
FJTex said:
quality aside because a) nobody really has THAT much experience with either the OME or the TC ifts yet and i dont need ppl spouting off their own opinions in an area that they dont have any solid ofundation of reasoning and b) both OME and TC make notoriously good quality products so sombody saying the OME is better b/c its more durable dosent help me really. certainly quality is of utmost importance.
Click to expand...


True that
 
well FWIW CruiserLarry on FJcruiserforums made some valid assertions that have convinced me to hold off on the 6" for now. i do love the height, i think it's perfect, but the fact that it uses the stock coils and shocks, and isint compatible with any current skids will prolly make me keep it to a 3" OME for now. perhaps down the raod sombody will make a 5" or so that is more effective and more in line with what i'm looking to get out of it.
 
Good idea tex ! Some of the 6" lifts out there are downright scary, and to my knowledge they still fit 35's. OME is a sure fire way to go, but i do love my AP. Youre gonna love it.

FJTex said:
well FWIW CruiserLarry on FJcruiserforums made some valid assertions that have convinced me to hold off on the 6" for now. i do love the height, i think it's perfect, but the fact that it uses the stock coils and shocks, and isint compatible with any current skids will prolly make me keep it to a 3" OME for now. perhaps down the raod sombody will make a 5" or so that is more effective and more in line with what i'm looking to get out of it.
Click to expand...
 
Go with OME Medium, I just put it on yesterday. AMAZING difference in ride quality on road and off-road today for about 15 miles.
 
The Donahoe "Stage 1" kit is terrific. Great off-road and on.
 
FJTex said:
well FWIW CruiserLarry on FJcruiserforums made some valid assertions that have convinced me to hold off on the 6" for now. i do love the height, i think it's perfect, but the fact that it uses the stock coils and shocks, and isint compatible with any current skids will prolly make me keep it to a 3" OME for now. perhaps down the raod sombody will make a 5" or so that is more effective and more in line with what i'm looking to get out of it.
Click to expand...

I struggled with this question also, I went with the All-Pro set up and love the performance...I drive my Fjc eveyday 40+ miles and run a 315 (35") MTR...Do'nt skimp on the skids or rails...I run blue/black trails with very good sucess...
 
When it comes to a “lift” also think of suspension performance and not just height

First off with the independent suspension we can physically extend it so much and 3” is about it. The limits are the arms and ball joints holding the knuckles, replace those and you have a long travel set up, but a wider truck.

1. Spacer lifts. Cheep but they work by compressing a spring and putting pre-load on it to make the lift. This does nothing for you suspension wise and actually decreases performance. (Less articulation, loads coils beyond what they were made for ect.)
2. Spring lifts. A bit more $ but are a true suspension lift. This increases the height of the truck yet maintains full travel distance since it if a full size spring. Good example of this is the OME lifts, Sway-a-way (coil overs etc.)
3. Drop brackets or body lift: Basic body lift is spacers that raise the body up off the frame. Drop brackets lower the mounting points for the stock suspension, thus raising the frame/body/engine etc. up. These are half of the 6” lifts.

The 6” lift I have seen is a combination of a 3” spring lift and a 3” drop bracket. So for suspension performance you have a 3” spring lift. Then the entire weight of the frame/engine/trany/body/gear/occupants are lifted another 3” in the air. This is not the best thing for your CG and off road performance.

3” with 33’s or 35’s and body armor (need body armor anyway) is the best ticket right now. Guys are braking front axles on 33’s and 35’s so running 37’s on the stock set up off road would just be asking for axle failure.

Mark
 
Not all spacer lifts are created equal either.....the new offering from Daystar actually uses stud extenders and moves the front strut physically down, rather than just compressing the spring. Better system, IMO...but still with some limitations.

However, that said, I'd take a true ~3" suspension lift any day, and some 33-35" tires. Spend the $$ you save on some GOOD armor...sliders first, then full underbelly skids (including gas tank), then a front bumper/winch, then rear bumper, then....well.....exotube ;)
 
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