Rough Country comes out with 6" and 4" DB Lift Kits

You do now that you have to cut out a frame crossmember to install a 4" or 6" lift, right?

I'd rather trim some plastic than cut into my frame.

 

But the crossmember that is bolted in is alot stronger than the factory one.

 

Does one often encounter stock crossmember failure?

 

Not hurting anything at all by cutting the crossmember and adding a stronger piece to it. Just amazing how so many think that its bad to do this to install a db lift and try to deter others from it .

 

The guy John was responding to mentioned he HATED trimming, especially on a new truck... His point was that if you can't stomach trimming some plastic, are you really going to have the balls to cut out a structural cross member?

 

In order to install any 4" lift that is what you have to do.

 

No shit... Once again, the member John responded to didn't even want to trim plastic because he has a brand new truck, do you really think he's going to want to cut a cross member? He was just making him aware that you have to cut the cross member in case he didn't already know...

 

I would not consider this a reason to cut a crossmember out. I especially would not trust a RC budget bracket lift stronger than something madeby Toyota.

This.

See below.

Indeed

 

Yes, but like BORNWILDGUY mentioned, you're actually replacing the cross member. With trimming you're just hacking and cutting aesthetic, visible materials off of a truck that is being upgraded (most likely) for looks.

IMO, those more catered to upgrading for off road performance would rather trim a ton and tuck the bigger shoes under a 3" lift. Those doing it for looks would rather avoid it the trimming , and have the nice shiny body, uncut, under a 6" lift that gives them plenty of room to show off their tires. Nobody looks at the crossmember. OP mentioned that this is his DD and does some occasional off-roading.

Also, if the RC lift doesnt require 18+ size wheels, and doesnt screw with VSC, ATRAC, whatever... then there is value to it. These are the main things holding me back from going 6" (Ill still probably do it anyways)

I'm probably just blabbering though. Too much coffee this morning!

 

So the inner fender well is aesthetic?? The trimming isn't anything you see, even the cab mount chop isn't visibly once you're done. You might want to do some research on what actually gets trimmed to fit 285's on a 3" lift. The worst of it is the cab mount and companies are making filler plates to cap them off also. You don't trim anything you'd be able to see.

 

I would not buy a drop bracket lift!! Iam goi g to be getting bilstein 5100s and eibach coils to lift my truck the right way

 

It is most likely not the same with Tacomas. But i do remember having to heavily hammer my pinch weld on my old 4runner, and did need to remove some of the asethetic body parts for my BFG A/Ts to fit...this was after a 3" OME lift setup. I still rubbed a full lock, but didnt want to shave any more of the inner well...just dealt with the noise every once in while.

Every setup is different I suppose.

 

I could easily challenge this statement. Also when you consider materials, there’s a big difference here as well. Thicker and bigger steel doesn't always equate to stronger especially when said steel is questionable. This and not to mention the addition of new weak points created by cutting and adding, you are definitely compromising the structural integrity here.

That said I have nothing against a DB lifts and have had one, I'd just be pretty picky on which manufacturer I buy from. Remember anyone can say there product is made in the USA and meeting the standards of quality imposed upon them, but is this truly the case.

 

Like I said, you should read through the threads on what people have had to do to clear 285's. It's not overly difficult and not as intensive as what you're describing with your 4Runner. The worst part is cutting the cab mount but none of the body panels are affected. If you stay narrower, you can clear taller tires without trimming.

If you want the drop bracket, go for it, but if all you want to do is clear 285's, a drop bracket lift isn't necessary and is much more labor intensive (and you still might end up having to trim the same bits I mentioned above including the cab mount).

 

I fit 285's with 2" of lift on my 4th gen with minimal trimming and NO rubbing, lock to lock.... All the trimming you don't usually notice anyway... Passers by don't stare at your fender liners, no, they say "ohhhhh a lifted truck! That looks nice!"

You wouldn't notice trimming at all, but if you want to believe that it'll stick out like crazy, be my guest and get a useless lift. Raise your roll point excessively and reduce your clearance between the ground and the cross member, unless you use 35's. At that point, you're already increasing the stress on your gearing, CVs and half shafts. You will most likely have to regear, and while you're replacing ring and pinions, you might as well throw ARB lockers in there, just so you can handle the weight of the new oversized tires that you got just to fill in the massive gaps in the wheel wells.

So uhm....
Lift: $1,000
Good coilovers for the lift: $1,500+
Ring and pinion front and rear: $1,000
ARB lockers front and rear, plus compressor: $2,000+
Install/setup costs of the gears and lockers: $400+ easily

OR, you could just take a razor to your inner fender liner and chop your body mount like a big boy and deal with "how bad it looks", even though its not noticeable at all...

 

OP wants 33's, not 35s. and the RC lift is drop bracket so no need to worry about CV angles. I'm just saying if the OP wants 4" lift, the RC package might not be a bad choice considering the lift costs as much as the OME lift with all of the components necessary for "full 3' lift".

As for myself, I have the locker that comes with the TRD off road package...not sure why you are bringing up that stuff anyways...

 

You would have to regear if running the tire that is intended for this lift kit. While regearing you might as well throw a locker in.

Also you can get a diff drop kit for cheap to reduce your CV angles and run a real suspension setup

 

Exactly

 

I suppose I would be hesitant to get the RC lift (heard negative things about rough country) with RCD offering the 4"...BYTOR has a VERY good deal on the RCD 4" lift right now. Flat rate shipping and 10% off with the toyota world code.