new guy looking for lift advice

[irmcgreg3519]

So, I have been driving my parents land cruiser for a while now and have been saving up money with the intention of buying a cherokee and building it into a rock crawler. I have recently decided to use the money to do that to the land cruiser as they don't have a problem with me driving it for the next 3-4 years through grad school. That being said, i'm rather new so I apologize ahead of time for any stupid questions I may end up asking. My plans are to lift my truck to fit 33" tires and to install a locker in the front within the next couple months.

But first things first, where would be the best place for me to purchase a suspension lift? Also, how high should I lift it to fit 33" tires? (keeping in mind I plan on wheeling in the mountains) Any other kinds of advice would be appreciated.

here's a couple pictures

 

[2000UZJ]

Welcome!

You do not need a lift to fit 33" tires. There are many places to purchase lifts for the 100 Series. Slee Off-Road, Metal Tech 4X4, Just Differentials, Nitro Gear and Axle, 4 Wheel Parts, etc. If you aren't adding bumpers and a winch anytime soon I would not purchase the OME Torsion Bars, the OEM ones will be enough. As for the rear coils, you will need to plan ahead with those, if you are adding bumpers, drawers, etc you will need a stiffer spring. Since you are adding 33" tires, I would take the lift money and apply it to a set of sliders. These trucks are very long, and a blow to the door panel or rocker panel will be expensive. Another way to lift the 100 Series is purchase 30MM coil spacers. That will net you a ~1" lift while costing all of $60. When you are ready to upgrade bumpers and add weight, you can simply swap in springs that are rated for the addition weight.

Please note...the 100 Series will NEVER be a XJ off-road. It's not a rock crawler, it's a full size luxury SUV with IFS. They can play in rock gardens, but the shear size of them means you will be leaving with body damage. I'm past the point of return with body damage, so I enjoy taking the 100 into rock gardens. If body damage is not a concern, you can crawl them...just be prepared to replace CV's, diffs, and tail lights. I've played with XJ's on 40's and ended up caving in some doors and leaving with two broken tail lights and blown steering rack...

As a rule of thumb with building any vehicle like the 100 Series. You need to take a pen and paper and jot down the purpose of the build (crawling, expo, general wheeling, camping, etc) and research the components and whether or not they will suite you're driving style. Buy once, cry once.

 

[irmcgreg3519]

Welcome!

You do not need a lift to fit 33" tires. There are many places to purchase lifts for the 100 Series. Slee Off-Road, Metal Tech 4X4, Just Differentials, Nitro Gear and Axle, 4 Wheel Parts, etc. If you aren't adding bumpers and a winch anytime soon I would not purchase the OME Torsion Bars, the OEM ones will be enough. As for the rear coils, you will need to plan ahead with those, if you are adding bumpers, drawers, etc you will need a stiffer spring. Since you are adding 33" tires, I would take the lift money and apply it to a set of sliders. These trucks are very long, and a blow to the door panel or rocker panel will be expensive. Another way to lift the 100 Series is purchase 30MM coil spacers. That will net you a ~1" lift while costing all of $60. When you are ready to upgrade bumpers and add weight, you can simply swap in springs that are rated for the addition weight.

Please note...the 100 Series will NEVER be a XJ off-road. It's not a rock crawler, it's a full size luxury SUV with IFS. They can play in rock gardens, but the shear size of them means you will be leaving with body damage. I'm past the point of return with body damage, so I enjoy taking the 100 into rock gardens. If body damage is not a concern, you can crawl them...just be prepared to replace CV's, diffs, and tail lights. I've played with XJ's on 40's and ended up caving in some doors and leaving with two broken tail lights and blown steering rack...

As a rule of thumb with building any vehicle like the 100 Series. You need to take a pen and paper and jot down the purpose of the build (crawling, expo, general wheeling, camping, etc) and research the components and whether or not they will suite you're driving style. Buy once, cry once.

Thanks! I really appreciate the sound advice. I think I'm gonna go ahead and do the 33's with sliders. I have had the feeling I should wait on the lift until I decide to get a bumper seeing as though a lot of these lifts are based on what bumpers you have. As far as capability goes, I don't care to have a vehicle that does all of the hardest trails and lines, I just want a vehicle that allows me to go to places like uwharrie and do some of the novice to medium difficulty trails, giving me the opportunity to enjoy all that uwharrie has to offer. But every vehicle needs to be of a certain standard before even thinking about going to places like uwharrie, and I would like my vehicle to meet or exceed this standard.

 

[2000UZJ]

Thanks! I really appreciate the sound advice. I think I'm gonna go ahead and do the 33's with sliders. I have had the feeling I should wait on the lift until I decide to get a bumper seeing as though a lot of these lifts are based on what bumpers you have. As far as capability goes, I don't care to have a vehicle that does all of the hardest trails and lines, I just want a vehicle that allows me to go to places like uwharrie and do some of the novice to medium difficulty trails, giving me the opportunity to enjoy all that uwharrie has to offer. But every vehicle needs to be of a certain standard before even thinking about going to places like uwharrie, and I would like my vehicle to meet or exceed this standard.

I ran Kodak Rock on 33's. I picked up some body damage, but a 100 Series can do the ledges. Sliders are the most important thing for a 100 Series if you wheel it. I think you will be thoroughly impressed by the capability.

 

[irmcgreg3519]

I ran Kodak Rock on 33's. I picked up some body damage, but a 100 Series can do the ledges. Sliders are the most important thing for a 100 Series if you wheel it. I think you will be thoroughly impressed by the capability.

Thank god I posted on this forum. I was about to drop over a thousand dollars on a lift just to go tear up my vehicle at uwharrie. Did you have a lift when you went up on kodak?

 

[2000UZJ]

Thank god I posted on this forum. I was about to drop over a thousand dollars on a lift just to go tear up my vehicle at uwharrie. Did you have a lift when you went up on kodak?

I had a 2" lift composed of 30MM spring spacers and cranked torsion bars. I did have sliders, skids, and bumpers, but drive-train and suspension was essentially stock at the time. I will admit a proper lift, paired with the correct shocks is always going to be the best route. If you are starting your build, and not quite sure which way you are going to take the suspension (remote res, mono-tube, big springs, etc) than starting with 33's and sliders is going to give you a feel for what needs to be replaced/upgraded to suite your needs. Nothing sucks more than spending $1K on suspension only to find out you need a little more travel, you don't like the performance and the load rating is too soft for towing. I'll be at URE in the next couple months hopefully.