crushers said:This is where i have my dilemma. I like 35” boots, I have run that size for years BUT I also like low and stable. I love to side hill my trucks and I want stability. To fit that size tire on the LJ78 I think you will need quite a lift, at least 2 ½” or maybe even a bit more.
You're thinking entirely inside the box. The problems with lift to fit larger tires are exatly as you say, but a lift is the lazy man's way to fit larger tires. The way to properly install larger tires is to trim the fenders, and if necessary, tub the body to fit the tires. You've got a plasma cutter, a wealth of experience with restroing Land Cruisers and no day job to get in your way, so go for it!
crushers said:You know as well as I that tire size is the only real clearance gain and that lift is to fit bigger tires to the body be it a spring lift or a body lift. Now that being said a lift will improve the break over angle and the departure angle but not ground clearance under the axles, only larger tires can do this.
I would beg tp differ. In my opinion, a spring over, not applicable to the LJ series Toyota trucks of course (note my hesitation to say Land Cruiser), offers three substantial benefits in addition to the extra lift to fit larger tires. For the sake of this discussion, the germain issue is that it removes the leaves from under the axles, which DOES improve ground clearance without lift.
And of course, there's always other ways to increase ground clearance without lift... portal axles, using lighter duty axles with smaller differentials, independant suspensions... You're assertion as a trusted advisor on this board that ONLY larger tires can improve ground clearance may unecessarily limit others to think of options that you' may not choose yourself. It would be unfortunate if this board ever developed a reputation for having a limited scope of meaningful discussion.
Peter Straub