First modification suggestions

[Moleyman]

My wife has been driving a stock 2002 LC, but it's time for me to take it over and start making some off road modifications. It needs some new suspension so I'm trying to decide on 1.5" or 2.5" susp kit. Any suggestions?

 

[wpsfan]

Can't answer the suspension question but I've recently changed my views on mods from "the more the better" to baseline it, sliders, skids, 33's, recovery gear, and spend the money saved on awesome trips instead of stuff I don't need. Those mods should take me anywhere I want to go, just depends on how extreme your offroading is.

 

[bucfl]

Agreed...

Start with what is NEEDED. Then work from there. For me right is the PM stuff. First mod will be tires and recovery gear.

I have climbed 45 or more degree Hill sides with almost bald HWY tires.

 

[Sandroad]

There's lots of good info on mods in the forum FAQs to get you some ideas. Some searches will get you gobs of additional info on suspensions. Then you'll have to decide, based on intended uses, what's important to you.

100 series LC/LX FAQ and Featured Trucks

 

[White Stripe]

1.5 is hardly worth it. Go for a 2.5 lift.

 

[Manhattan]

Not sure I agree with...

1.5 is hardly worth it. Go for a 2.5 lift.

... that. What you put under your 100 will depend on what you put on (bumpers, winch...) and in (drawers, frig, aux tank...) and where you take the 100.

I'd take some time and mine the info here (via a whole lotta searching) and plan out the build. If you're itching to do some quick mods - it'd be hard to go wrong swapping the running boards for sliders, turning the stock TBs a bit (maybe .75" of lift) and getting some 275/70 ATs.

Building is fun. Builders remorse sucks.

 

[Moleyman]

Lots of good info here. My long term goal is not heavy duty crawling, but a good camping vehicle for the family. Eventually, new bumpers, winch, and rack. LC needs shocks so thinking of starting with the medium duty lift and then when I change bumpers, I will just need to swap springs.

 

[jLB]

If you're talking about OME, it is my understanding that the only difference between the kits (1.5 medium/2.5 medium/1.5 heavy/2.5 heavy) is the rear springs. The torsion bars and shocks are the same.

If it were me, (assuming PM is up to date) I'd start with sliders and tires (285/75R16 AT), then drive/use it for a while. As you use it, you will figure out which additional upgrades would be most useful to you.