Body Lift???

My memory lane also includes seeing many big all suspension lifts that were far more dangerous.

 

So I'm really looking at doing a 1" 4crawler, but would like to go 1.5-2" to cut less to stuff 35's. Is there a way to lift a front bumper without weakening the bumper-to-frame connection? I hate the "gap" look, but these bumper brackets I see look weak as shit, and I use my winch a good bit. Am I better off leaving bumpers at stock points for strength?

 

The brackets that came with the kit are steel, the factory brackets they replace are aluminum.

 

I got a plate bumper thats bolted straight to the frame rail. Aluminum bumper reinforcement is long gone. I don't think you read my whole post. I'm concerned that when I apply substantial pulling force from the bumper, through the mount point, to the frame, that the body lift bumper bracket will not hold up, ending in a big kaboom and a lot of blood. Looking to see if anyone has any experience with this or if I should nix the bracket and ignore the gap.

 

I have an aftermarket bumper with the body lift, it bolts right to the frame no issues. No bracket is required

 

You're right I'm in the 9 out of 10. I just don't see all the separation he is referring to. Your side step bars seam to descise the frame pretty well to me. I don't see the gap guards so they must hiding a gap at the inside of the wheel well, is that correct? Kind of a novis here. Home much lift do you have suspension wise? Looks like your're running toytec up front maybe 2" lift up front? In the rear are you running stock leaf packs, or AAL, leveling blocks?

 

Hey guys this is the perfect thread to ask. Just bought a project 2012 tacoma. It looks to have 4 inch blocks out back and suspension spacers plus a body lift. Can i jusg measure the spacers under the bed since they a are easy to see to get my suspension lift height? Guessing its as simple as that. 2 inch spacer is a 2 inch body lift correct. Trying to buy new shocks so i need to get my lift height minus the body lift. Plan to measure feom cebter of hub to bottom of fender then minus the body lift from what i get and buy shocks that match that amount of inches im left with as my lift. Does this sound correct.

 

Last body lift i installed was on a 85 4 runner. The lift should be the same as a box bed spacer on that lift. Im sure a 2 inch block should be a 2 inch body lift. Im curious how what your shifter looks like as a spacer is usually welled into the stick to keep the original height.
Is yours an auto or stick? Also a mod was needed to the radiator height, steering system, rear bumper and fuel tank filler hose.

 

I believe there was a spacer also where the radiator mounts on each side. Its an automatic, shifter looks normal and standard. Looks like the idiots before just let the fuel filler neck drop through the whole where it usually locks in. It still sticks up but not flush and secured qhere its supposed to be. Seems to steer fine, what is the modification tk the the steering? Is it extending the steering shaft?

 

Has anyone installed the 4Crawler 1.5" body lift?

 

Been thinking about a body lift. And yes I had good luck n bad luck in the past. 76 k20 blazer. Lifted it in 87. In 89 it punched through the front cab mount. After looking closer it was my fault. I live in the rust belt. Front cab corners were shot. Fixed them and reinforced them zero issues till it rolled down devils staircase.

 

I had a Gen 1 Tacoma (Bought it new in 1996) Access cab that I installed a 2" Performance Accessories body lift kit on. Had to bend some AC lines just a hair and had to cut the fuel filler tube and splice it with rubber hose and clamps to extend it. Kit didn't have provisions for the bumper, so I had to fabricate my own out of plate. Other than that it was pretty simple to do, just took a ton of time. After about 60K miles the left rear cab mount punched through. After looking it over I felt like having some kind of additional plate or larger-diameter 'washer' of some sort between the puck and the body would have helped spread out the pressure on the sheetmetal.

This experience didn't sour me on body lifts. I built a Jeep Wrangler YJ rock crawler with 5.5 inches of suspension lift and a 2" body lift. The extra 2" gained by the body lift was only to clear larger tires, so it made sense to me to go that route because the 5.5" susp lift was already making it tippy, so going 2 more inches only with the body would result in a better/lower center of gravity. I also trimmed fender sheetmetal to fit bigger tires. Once you have a decent amount of suspension travel/articulation, beyond that, it's a matter of getting bigger tires to gain additional ground clearance.

I think body lifts are fine, and especially good when used in combination with suspension lifts. I now have a gen 2 Tacoma and just finished a 3" suspension lift and planned on doing another 2" body lift. I like this combination better than a bracket chop lift. Just my 2cents based on my experiences and what I've learned from others.

Can't seem to find a good 2" Body lift for gen 2's. Still looking. If anybody has a lead on 2" body lifts, help a brotha out

 

Hello @The Field Archer. Your truck looks great!

I’ve been looking at the Toytec 1” lift for my ‘15 DCSB O/R 4WD. I found your post and I have a question. How did you line up the bumpers?

I saw Toytecs thread here:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/new-product-release-05-15-tacoma-1-inch-body-lift-kits.373887/

Look at Post #16. See the bumper gap? I don’t see that with yours. How did you move the bumper up? Also, the front bumper ad well.

Thank you!

 

The front bumper has no gap, enough play for the 1" lift. The rear we just drilled new holes 1" lower on the stock brackets.

 

Thank you @The Field Archer ! That is GREAT NEWS!

I just finished looking under the rear bumper of my truck. I see the that hitch receiver has 5 silver colored bolts & 2 black colored bolts. I assume that I have to drill a hole 1" above each black bolt hole. Is that correct?

 

It is my sons truck and we did it a while ago, I know he doesn't have a hitch so you may have some extra fabricating there.

 

OK. Thank you for the info!

 

I have a 2017 Tacoma TRD Off Road, and recently had a Readylift 3/2 kit installed, and 285/70R17 Nitto Ridge Grappler tires put on. I find that the only time my front tires rub is when I turn into a parking lot. The bounce of the incline seems to make them rub a little. I was thinking that a body lift might take care of this issue. I would love to hear others opinion on this. Thanks for any information.

 

What are your alignment specs and have you done any trimming yet?