I just bought a new CVT Rainier model and am pretty excited about it as we do quite a bit of camping as a family. My question is how horribly top heavy am I going to be? I have a complete 6" Slee lift on 37" tires. The tent weighs 125 lbs I believe. I plan on going to a 4" spring in the future at some point but not now. When the tent is on we will be doing more mild off-roading/over landing/camping/driving on the highway. If I'm really wheeling the tent won't be on. My wife will be driving/using it without me also. I bought the tent but haven't had a chance to mount it on the cruiser and drive around and then had to leave town for work. So what is everyone's thoughts? I know it's going to be pretty tippy but if I'm not wheelin it hard is it doable? Would you let your wife drive it?
6" lift + RTT?
- Thread starter beachboyy
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It won't be as bad as you think. I just got a CVT Mt. Shasta and have it on my LR4 and didn't really notice it being top heavy while camping and on some mild trails. Best advice I can say is to take it easy and run some easy trails with it and get the feel for it before you go into anything crazy. I would let my fiance drive it around town for sure, but I wouldn't let her drive it even without a RTT on the trails 
I ran a JB Grand Raid EVO on top of my HDJ81. I definitely noticed the extra weight when I was in pitch/roll situations, but for the most part it wasn't a huge deal. I'm running stock suspension on 33's, so your truck will be significantly higher than mine.
I would follow Bama4door's advice and get out for a test drive on some trails.
I would follow Bama4door's advice and get out for a test drive on some trails.
I was at a hospital the other day and saw a lifted truck with a rtt stuck in the parking garage. Just something to think about.
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If you stick to "mild" as stated your fine. Beyond that proceed with caution.
i have a Slee 6" kit and 35's, with an XXL RTT. it was wobbly on stock sway bars.
on the highway on ramps and such you get some fun tilt, so I put on the redline HD sway bar in the rear and it drives like a go cart again.
My shocks are the Icon stage 2 set up. I run it pretty firm since my rig is loaded up with extra gear and kitchen stuff all the time.
Frankly, I notice it more when i play with the pressure in the tires. I run Toyos and they are usually a small flat spot when i start in the morning, but warm up and get round again pretty fast. probably 45% of their life left.
I have a front sway disconnect and should probably get the Redline bar to match, but for now i'm living with it as it is.
my tent is 145#, rack is another 80# and awning is maybe 10#.
MPG went up, i swear.
on the highway on ramps and such you get some fun tilt, so I put on the redline HD sway bar in the rear and it drives like a go cart again.
My shocks are the Icon stage 2 set up. I run it pretty firm since my rig is loaded up with extra gear and kitchen stuff all the time.
Frankly, I notice it more when i play with the pressure in the tires. I run Toyos and they are usually a small flat spot when i start in the morning, but warm up and get round again pretty fast. probably 45% of their life left.
I have a front sway disconnect and should probably get the Redline bar to match, but for now i'm living with it as it is.
my tent is 145#, rack is another 80# and awning is maybe 10#.
MPG went up, i swear.
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
Dang, Pablo. You bringing that set up to Utah?
I'll be very interested to see that rear sway bar.
I'll be very interested to see that rear sway bar.
#1 why in the world would you run a 6" lift on an 80? I ran a 4" on two different 80's (one slee, one ironman) and ran 38 and 40 inch tires respectively. #2 why not look into a trailer to mount your tent to rather than running it on the truck? Having ridden in a 100 with a mild lift on 35's with a RTT, I can't imagine why anyone would even consider them on a truck that will see even mild off road use.
my 2 cents worth, take it how you will.
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That's why I said I going to go o a 4" spring. But when is unknown. I know you did quite a bit of fender trimming on the vehicle you ran 40s on too. I just didn't want to cut into the vehicle when I first bought it so I went 6". You live and you learn and yes, to do it over I would go that tall.
As for the trailer I have definitely thought about it. It's not gonna happen for this summer but possibly in the future it will. The biggest draw back at this point is that the wife will be using the set up often without me and is intimidated at pulling a trailer (mostly just backing up). So maybe just some driving lessons are needed.
I'd probably look at some stiffer valved shocks (or the OME's that typically come with the Slee lifts) if you're really wanting to run the tent on a 4" lift.
Have you run a trailer with the lock and roll hitches? If you have a chance to, try one out and have your Mrs. drive it around. They're fantastic and if you have the tongue length correct in relation to the 80, your wife should have no issues getting it about.