heavy vs. medium lift questions

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up5799

up5799

10 Year 15 Year
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The Rotten Apple
I am running an stock 100 except for 285/75 tires. I hope to have sliders on by the end of the summer. Front bumper will follow in the indefinite future. In the meantime, I need a new pair of rear springs, and since I am going to be spending the money anyway, I figured I would go with a Slee lift rather than Toyota OEM. Two questions:

1. The Slee website seems to say that you need a 2.5 inch lift if running 33 inch tires. 285/75's are not 33 inches, but are pretty close. With 285/75 tires, should I go with a 2.5 inch lift, or would a 1.5 inch lift be sufficient.

2. I don't have a front or rear bumper, but plan to buy them sometime in the future. Should I get a heavy load lift now, or get a medium load lift now and upgrade to a heavy load lift when I put on the bumpers. Front torsion bars are the same, only difference would be the rear springs - OME860's for the Medium 2.5 lift vs SOF2RH Rear Coil Springs for the Heavy 2.5 lift. How would medium vs. heavy load lift affect the vehicle's handlng? When not using the LC for business, I usually carry 4 passengers if that matters.
 
I have the Slee heavy 2.5 and have not yet added a rear bumper or sliders. I do have 35s, a front bumper and roof rack but no winch yet. I would say I am way underweighted. I don't have drawers, fridge, dual batteries, or 3rd row seats.

Ride is stiff with less body roll but by no means uncomfortable. If I were planning on adding weight in the future, I would go with the Slee heavies or OME equivalent (OME 863s are $80 cheaper).

- Sent from a better phone than an iPhone
 
I would only lift 1.5" if i were to stick with 33" tires.
 
NO lift is needed to run 33's on the 100. I'd not want to drive an unloaded 100 with my Heavy springs. I'd lift via rear spacer and front t-bar crank until you add weight. Once the weight is on then add the OME lift.
 
I second what Shotts has said. I run 33's and did so without cranking T bars or spacers just fine (granted, I did crank my T bars eventually to level out my front). I don't think it's worth the less comfortable ride or the price to put new springs on if you can easily do free T bar's. Save the cash for when you do run heavier bumpers and armor
 
definitely the medium kit, OME 865 or 866 are the rear srpings you want. You don't need OME torsion bars until you get the bumper on.
 
I bought the Heavy knowing that I was going to put Bumpre/Drawers/Fridge etc. on the back end. It rode OK, not great pre bumper and rode great with the bumper. It rides even better when loaded for camping. If you are not doing a rear bumper go Medium.
 
I'd recommend the 866s with air "springs". The progressive rate of the 866 is nice on the highway, and the airbags are there for support when fully loaded and/or with rear bumper.

I'm happy with this set-up's flexibility and on/offroad manners. I have 33s, bumpers/winch, drawers/fridge, RTT etc. and have driven fully loaded across country, up and down the West Coast, and navigated some pretty technical trails.

Good all around solution IMO.
 
I have a front ARB Sahara bumper, 12K lb. winch, 285/75/16 Nitto AT and a Slee 1.5" lift with 865 springs. I WOULD NOT go with heavies. With decent amount of air in the tires the ride can be stiff.
 
Since I've got to replace my rear springs anyway, rather than going with Toyota OEM I think I will go with OME865's medium load, 1.5 inch lift. This should do with 285/75's though Slee's website indicates otherwise (he seems to say you should use a 2.5 inch lift with 33 inch tires, perhaps he means 35?.) Only question now is whether to stick with original torsion bars, or go with OME torsion bars and the Slee Differential Drop.
 
Just curious... I found these spring heights on the board for OEM and wondered if they are accurate.
48231A SPRING, COIL, REAR RH
48231‑6A660 UZJ100; H=486
48231‑6A680 UZJ100; H=498

48231B SPRING, COIL, REAR LH
48231‑6A670 UZJ100; H=492
48231‑6A690 UZJ100; H=504

The OME 865 springs are listed as 460mm on cruiser outfitters site.
Are the 865 springs 30 mm less than the OEM toyota springs?

I also just bought some 30mm spacers and thought about adding them to my 865 springs. Any thoughts here? I have a sahara bumper in route to me so my upgraded t-bars will have some balance in the front.
 
Yes, OEM springs are longer, but those are free heights - no load. The OME are higher load, so compress less when installed, resulting in a "lifted" ride height and the ability to carry more weight without sagging.
 
up5799 said:
Since I've got to replace my rear springs anyway, rather than going with Toyota OEM I think I will go with OME865's medium load, 1.5 inch lift. This should do with 285/75's though Slee's website indicates otherwise (he seems to say you should use a 2.5 inch lift with 33 inch tires, perhaps he means 35?.) Only question now is whether to stick with original torsion bars, or go with OME torsion bars and the Slee Differential Drop.
Click to expand...

You will have an unbalanced ride. Soft up front and stiff in the back. Either add spacer to rear or OME T-bars with 865's.

Disregard Slee's recommendation when it comes to what fits with what. He is very conservative on this (understandably). Believe the results from members on this. No lift is needed (as I said before) to run 33-inch tires.
 
ShottsUZJ100 said:
You will have an unbalanced ride. Soft up front and stiff in the back. Either add spacer to rear or OME T-bars with 865's.
Click to expand...


I don't think this is entirely true. I have 865s with stock t-bars with the new OME sport shocks and the truck feels perfectly balanced and quite comfortable as a matter of fact.
 
Some are more tolerant than others. Over the past 11-years I've had various suspensions on my Hundy...and OEM bars vs 865 rears are just not a match. Front goes SQUISH over the bumps and the rear then goes BUMP. Can't live with that. Add the front T-bars and you have a sportier ride along with a matched spring rate. That equals a proper match.
 
no-pistons said:
I don't think this is entirely true. I have 865s with stock t-bars with the new OME sport shocks and the truck feels perfectly balanced and quite comfortable as a matter of fact.
Click to expand...

Thought! I can see this setup working if you usually carry extra loads in the REAR.
 
Uh oh. Shotts has spoken.
image-1400385445.webp
 
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