4x4 / Off-Road TechThis section contains all discussion related to taking the FJ Cruiser in Off-Road situations, 4x4 applications and any armor modifications.
There is the break over measurements and approach angles that is greatly affected by a bigger lift that are very important too. And to get bigger tires on the FJ you have to lift the body and chop some out of the fenders. I will have to cut some things to fit
37"s to still have useful range of articulation. I have 9" of lift and with 37"s all points of the body will be 12" above stock. The tires will only affect my pumkin and front cross member and diff by maybe 3" but everything else will be up!
as you state the lowest point on your rig will only be 3" higher then stock, actually the front cross member should be less since you have the drop bracket. That is your ground clearance not the cross brace at the trans or frame rail.
Like some one suggested for those of you at the summit this year find some rigs with the same tires (brand, type and size, not all brands measure out the same) but different "lifts" 3" (any of them and all of them) and 6" lifts (any and all of them) and park on a level spot with all the tires at the same PSI and start measuring (front cross member, transmission cross member and rear pumpkin). Let me know what you find.
Ground clearance (front cross brace) will be better on the 3" guys but break over will be better on the 6" guys (middle of FJ) rear will be the same.
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www.corva.org "Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must undergo the fatigue of supporting it."
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Ground clearance (front cross brace) will be better on the 3" guys but break over will be better on the 6" guys (middle of FJ) rear will be the same.[/quote]
This may be true with some lifts but not with the Fabtech, I know this for a fact! My kit you chop the center cross member out and mount theirs with a upper curving beam, giving greater clearance than stock regardless of what type lift you use on the springs or coils.
__________________ Fabtech 6" Lift + OME 3" 20" BBS rims Nitto 35"s AT,1.25 spacers,Bushwhackers, VR3 The Toy Outfitters bumper ,55 watt fogs,TG sliders, Manik tailight guards, Stallion Light bar,55 watt Baja lights, Cobra 19 SXIV PA, Bandi 4' fire stick, K & N filter, Locker on demand, ATrac hack, VSC & DRL switches, TRD Cat back, Scuba Mod, Garmin Nuvi 200 BlueSeas 6 fuse Interior: leather seats, dual arm rests, dual factory DVD players, Diamond interior trim, Source 10lb, Rubber mats. TT and FJC Badge.
And we do have some deep water around here and the higher you go the deeper you can go. IMHO
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Ground clearance (front cross brace) will be better on the 3" guys but break over will be better on the 6" guys (middle of FJ) rear will be the same.
This may be true with some lifts but not with the Fabtech, I know this for a fact! My kit you chop the center cross member out and mount theirs with a upper curving beam, giving greater clearance than stock regardless of what type lift you use on the springs or coils.[/quote]
This is very true. And the thought of the good 3" over a good 6" is a waste of time. On a trail, or slope, the 6' wins. The road, well the stock is king, but a 3" is better then 6". Hell, a lower FJ would work wonders on the street, in 4X4!
This stuff is way old school...
I dont want to burn any bridges here but i was at the 08 rubithon, and i watched all you guys go through that first part, and i remember seeing a sick blue FJ with the RC 6 inch lift and 315/70/17 nitto mud grapplers (and yes, all the fjs there looked sick) make it look easier than the OME set ups. If there are some areas on the underside where clearance is the same with both lifts then fine. But dont tell me that a three inch lift and 33s or 35s will out wheel a 6 inch lift with 35s, u guys already addmitted that approach and departure angles are better, and clearance in places is also better. You may loose a little power, but people wheel with less hourse power than an FJ all the time.
There were some good points made, i agree the smaller lift is more practical if u commute...and maybe the ride is better. I love the ride on my FJ with the RC 6 inch lift, the rear as a little stiffer but im used to it. And as far as more stress on the suspension because of the higher lift and larger tires, well, i havent had any problems yet, and if u wheel any FJ hard, somthings gunna break, 3 inch lift or 6 inch lift. I dont wheel mine as hard as some of u guys(i wish i did!) I get 230 miles on my tank before my light comes on, so the gas milage is manageable. Like i said, i didnt want to offend anybody, im just tired of people saying the 6 inch lift isnt neccasary, because i love mine.
I know i may seem stuborn, but i feel like i have to defend us FJ owners with larger lifts. Thanks everyone
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Rough country 6 inch lift
315/70/17 geolander a/t
Rock crawler series 97 black steal wheels
But dont tell me that a three inch lift and 33s or 35s will out wheel a 6 inch lift with 35s, u guys already addmitted that approach and departure angles are better, and clearance in places is also better. You may loose a little power, but people wheel with less hourse power than an FJ all the time.
I will tell you that. As I mentioned, I experienced the opposite as you did doing Rubithon '08. I've been on the same trail with more than one "type" of 6" lift and watched them not make a section. This was in a large group and many were surprised to see the 6" lifts have trouble.
All I can tell you is my anecdotal experience, what I've seen with my own eyes. I know more than one person who initially had and FJC with a 6" lift change to ICON's or other on their second FJC but NOT a 6" lift kit.
Get the tape measure out and show us the numbers that make it better...
I just told you why i would rather have a 6 inch lift for off road, better departure angles, better clearance in places...i cant speak for the people u wheel with. I cant tell your experienced and know your fjs well, i also know that i higher lift with bigger tires gives you a better advantage. Can u tell me why the 6 inch lift guys had more trouble?
Im looking at ur FJS specs and you have the whole package, gears, swampers, lefty, frontlocker ect....i would defenitly put ur FJ up against anyone. Even with my set up i wouldnt be able to go where u can. You have to understand that i put alot of work into mine and i have nothing but support for this forum....i will not stand for people saying my lift is not necasary because its not true. Thats the whole point im trying to make here. And if i am wrong about which fjs wheel better with which lifts then im okay with that. I dont mind being wrong. But i dont want to come to this forum and regret the mods i have done to my FJ.
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Rough country 6 inch lift
315/70/17 geolander a/t
Rock crawler series 97 black steal wheels
I just told you why i would rather have a 6 inch lift for off road, better departure angles, better clearance in places...i cant speak for the people u wheel with. I cant tell your experienced and know your fjs well, i also know that i higher lift with bigger tires gives you a better advantage. Can u tell me why the 6 inch lift guys had more trouble?
Im looking at ur FJS specs and you have the whole package, gears, swampers, lefty, frontlocker ect....i would defenitly put ur FJ up against anyone. Even with my set up i wouldnt be able to go where u can. You have to understand that i put alot of work into mine and i have nothing but support for this forum....i will not stand for people saying my lift is not necasary because its not true. Thats the whole point im trying to make here. And if i am wrong about which fjs wheel better with which lifts then im okay with that. I dont mind being wrong. But i dont want to come to this forum and regret the mods i have done to my FJ.
You forgot the "tummy tuck", IMHO a hugely beneficial modification.
I didn't say your lift "is not necessary" and I appreciate the work necessary to make your rig how you want it. As I said in a previous post in this thread, its your money, your time and your rig, do with it as you wish.
The thread was started as "the official 6" vs 3" lift debate", don't be offended if opinions vary. As you titled the thread, it is a "debate" and will have differences of opinions. I'm sure your rig can go just as many places as mine can, I've watched the TTT members drive their rigs everywhere with a Revtek lift and 33's.
I'd only suggest that if you are happy with how your rig is set up, be content with that. Its my OPINION that, for the FJC, bigger isn't necessarily better...
Fabtech 6" Lift + OME 3" 20" BBS rims Nitto 35"s AT,1.25 spacers,Bushwhackers, VR3 The Toy Outfitters bumper ,55 watt fogs,TG sliders, Manik tailight guards, Stallion Light bar,55 watt Baja lights, Cobra 19 SXIV PA, Bandi 4' fire stick, K & N filter, Locker on demand, ATrac hack, VSC & DRL switches, TRD Cat back, Scuba Mod, Garmin Nuvi 200 BlueSeas 6 fuse Interior: leather seats, dual arm rests, dual factory DVD players, Diamond interior trim, Source 10lb, Rubber mats. TT and FJC Badge.
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