Hello Guest

Gonna do a Bodylift.... Need some opinions

  • 15 Replies
  • 3064 Views

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

*

Bandit02

Gonna do a Bodylift.... Need some opinions
« on: December 21, 2007, 08:26:33 AM »
Hey guys. I've ran bodylifts on all of my tow rigs (f150's and f250's), but all they had to do was look pretty and pull a trailer (Mall Crawler  ::) )... I said that I wasn't gonna put a bodylift on my tracker, but I've come to realize that I'm beating the bottom of my rockers up and I need the clearance in my rear fenderwells for when I'm stuffed. Also, I figure when I get my sliders, I wont lose any ground clearance under my rockers.
     
         My question is which body lift have you guys ran and had the least trouble with? I only wanna run a 2" because I'm not a fan of the big gap between the frame and body. I think that the Rocky Road looks to be the best designed and simplest to install, but i just wanted to see if any of you were running it, or any other body lift for the matter, and what you thought of it, and how well it's holding up after some time of use and abuse.... Normally I would go the homemade route, but this time I'm just gonna pay a little money and save myself some headache...

Thanks in advance guys.

*

Offline sidekicksrock

  • 416
  • 1
  • Gender: Male
  • Lil Suzys Dad
Re: Gonna do a Bodylift.... Need some opinions
« Reply #1 on: December 21, 2007, 09:02:20 AM »
Sweet Jesus! You want opinions about body lifts? Well you have come to the right place brother.

Ok I'll Start off the argument, I put the first body lift on a Sidekick back when everyone was saying it couldn't be done because of the body studs. I used 2X3 box tube cut 3 inches long. I have looked at the kits available today and I think the Sky Mfg kit is the best way to go today. By the way, The body lift I put on lil Suzy back in the 90's is still on here and holding up well.
Student of Now Master of Then

*

Bandit02

Re: Gonna do a Bodylift.... Need some opinions
« Reply #2 on: December 21, 2007, 10:10:24 AM »
Yea I know. I surf the boards daily and read pretty much every topic that comes about... I know that there is a large array of body lift ideas. Some people swear by them, other swear to NEVER use one, haha... I'm hoping not to start that old arguement, I was just curious about "product review" I suppose... thanks for your response

*

phloop

Re: Gonna do a Bodylift.... Need some opinions
« Reply #3 on: December 21, 2007, 11:37:47 AM »
Go with the Sky kit. I believe his is the only one that is designed with studs. I used one on my Sammy and it worked out well.

*

Offline olija

  • 770
  • 2
  • Gender: Male
    • Check out my cardomain
Re: Gonna do a Bodylift.... Need some opinions
« Reply #4 on: December 21, 2007, 05:58:49 PM »
I have Sky's kit as well. It is a pretty good kit for the money, but he didn't give me enough spacers for a 4 door so I needed to grab some 2x3x3 tubing from work to finish it off. Also, if I recall correctly, the front bolts weren't long enough but I had some longer ones sitting around from when I tried to make my own body lift.
97 Sidekick 4door 5 speed, 1.5 spacer lift, 2" body lift, CJ rims, locked rear, 31's, 4:1 low <SOLD>
01 Vitara 2.0L 5 speed, 2.5" Calmini lift, 2" body lift, Sidekick rims, locked rear, 31's, 4:1 low, 5.13 diffs <SOLD>
03 XL7 2.7 5 speed, 4.5" AE lift with OME springs, 2" AE body lift, 5.13 diffs, 3:1 low, 235/80R17 BFG AT's on Ultra 17x8 with 1" spacers, skid plates, Balmer Fab front bumper

*

Offline tipover

  • 422
  • 4
  • Gender: Male
Re: Gonna do a Bodylift.... Need some opinions
« Reply #5 on: December 21, 2007, 07:52:06 PM »
I have Sky's kit as well. It is a pretty good kit for the money, but he didn't give me enough spacers for a 4 door so I needed to grab some 2x3x3 tubing from work to finish it off. Also, if I recall correctly, the front bolts weren't long enough but I had some longer ones sitting around from when I tried to make my own body lift.

I was also missing the same stuff for my four door.  I called and they told me I was wrong about the bolts; so I used some bolts that I had in my pile o bolts.  Not bashing though.  He has a good product.
Wheeler-87 Samurai JX. 7" lift, 1.6 TBI, lockers hybrid rear, 33" Swampers, 6 to 1s in a billet housing.
RV Dingy-2003 2 door tracker
Tow-97 PSD F250 Crew SB Dana 60 conversion
87 samurai-spoa ZookEV electric conversion.
RV- 31' Monaco Mckenzie

*

Nine Pine

Re: Gonna do a Bodylift.... Need some opinions
« Reply #6 on: December 22, 2007, 07:57:57 AM »
   Bandit02,

   The only thing I have to add on this subject is a preference for the 3" over the 2". The only reason being that the 3" lift allows for lifting the fuel tank. The fuel tanks on these vehicles are rather low and exposed. The factory skid plates are about as stout as a tin can. After raising mine I didn't reinstall the skid plate (very rusted), and haven't had the need for one, the tank is well up and out of the way.

   If you are running an aftermarket skid plate (fuel tank), or plan to do so it should not matter. There are some very nice aftermarket plates available, although they are very expensive.

   Sincerely,

   Nine Pine

*

Offline Uncivilized

  • 1469
  • 1
  • Gender: Male
    • Car Domain
Re: Gonna do a Bodylift.... Need some opinions
« Reply #7 on: December 22, 2007, 08:57:17 AM »
BDS Suspension makes a body lift too, it's very similar to the Sky and RRO kit, but it includes all the bumper lift brackets(not that you couldn't make some) It's just a more complete kit for the bolt-on users.
I have the Sky kit too, just haven't put it in yet, I really don't like the size of the blocks, they're only 2" diameter, I'd rather something bigger so I'm going to cut some 4" diameter ones out of MDPE/UHMW with my hole saw. People will say that the body lift blocks will go up through your floor after time, that's because you'r going from a 4" bushing pad to a 2" hard plastic block, I'm hoping keeping the same size will help.

*

Bandit02

Re: Gonna do a Bodylift.... Need some opinions
« Reply #8 on: December 22, 2007, 10:14:41 AM »
   Bandit02,

   The only thing I have to add on this subject is a preference for the 3" over the 2". The only reason being that the 3" lift allows for lifting the fuel tank. The fuel tanks on these vehicles are rather low and exposed. The factory skid plates are about as stout as a tin can. After raising mine I didn't reinstall the skid plate (very rusted), and haven't had the need for one, the tank is well up and out of the way.

   If you are running an aftermarket skid plate (fuel tank), or plan to do so it should not matter. There are some very nice aftermarket plates available, although they are very expensive.

   Sincerely,

   Nine Pine


I had actually considered this. I was hoping that I could find a way of tucking the gas tank up a little higher with just the 2" kit. Is this not really do-able with the 2" kit??

*

Nine Pine

Re: Gonna do a Bodylift.... Need some opinions
« Reply #9 on: December 22, 2007, 04:28:12 PM »
   Bandit02,

   When I did my fuel tank lift I just followed the write up by Mike Hagen, found on this site. I tackled this project, because it could be performed with just a drill, and saws-all (no torch and/or welder). Here is Hagen's write up.

http://www.zukiworld.com/month_080102/feature_hagen_gastanklift.htm

   It was even easier than I thought it would be. I followed his instructions to the letter, except for modifying the skid plate and reinstalling it (mine was too far gone).

   I am certain that a lift could be done with the 2" body lift. Net gain would be less. In Mike's write up we are instructed to cut off the the drop brackets for the tank flush with the crossmember. To achieve less lift I imagine one could cut the drop brackets off at any distance between crossmember and the stock end (attachment point). A new end plate would have to be welded to the brackets that could be drilled to recieve hanger bolts. This would take care of the front hangers. The problem that remains is what to do with the rear. The rear brackets basically do not drop (not much more than nuts welded to the crossmember). In Hagen's lift the tank is raised by moving the tank flange from the bottom of the crossmember to the top.

   Hopefully someone who has tackled this modification with a 2" body lift will chime in here. It is possible that Hagen's tank lift will work with the 2" lift ( I do not know). Although, I fear that there may not be sufficient clearance.

   Sincerely,
   Nine Pine

*

Offline SnoFalls

  • 1358
  • 3
  • Gender: Male
Re: Gonna do a Bodylift.... Need some opinions
« Reply #10 on: December 22, 2007, 06:49:29 PM »
here's a writeup of how I did my tank lift ...
http://www.wazuks.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=711
(at the bottom I add some notes regarding doing a 2" version).

my approach involves cutting and welding (but you also get a 2" receiver hitch) ...

I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy it.

Buy-it, Build-it, Beat-it, Part-it

*

Offline sidekicksrock

  • 416
  • 1
  • Gender: Male
  • Lil Suzys Dad
Re: Gonna do a Bodylift.... Need some opinions
« Reply #11 on: December 22, 2007, 10:53:29 PM »
Quote
I had actually considered this. I was hoping that I could find a way of tucking the gas tank up a little higher with just the 2" kit. Is this not really do-able with the 2" kit??

lil Suzy has a 2" lift, probably a little more because of the way the rubber pad sets on top of the 2X3 box tubing. I was able to do the gas tank lift. I moved the back of the tank to the top of the rear cross bar. The front side of the tank needed to be about 1" lower than the front cross bar. I used a couple of nuts on each side to provide the proper spacing. I have essentially the same clearance as those with a 3" body lift and full tank lift, because the part of the tank which hangs lower is in front of the back of the rear tires.
« Last Edit: December 23, 2007, 06:24:43 AM by sidekicksrock »
Student of Now Master of Then

*

Bandit02

Re: Gonna do a Bodylift.... Need some opinions
« Reply #12 on: December 23, 2007, 07:09:14 PM »
Quote
I had actually considered this. I was hoping that I could find a way of tucking the gas tank up a little higher with just the 2" kit. Is this not really do-able with the 2" kit??

lil Suzy has a 2" lift, probably a little more because of the way the rubber pad sets on top of the 2X3 box tubing. I was able to do the gas tank lift. I moved the back of the tank to the top of the rear cross bar. The front side of the tank needed to be about 1" lower than the front cross bar. I used a couple of nuts on each side to provide the proper spacing. I have essentially the same clearance as those with a 3" body lift and full tank lift, because the part of the tank which hangs lower is in front of the back of the rear tires.



Good to know. I figured I could find some way to do a lift with just the 2". Now that I know I can, I'll be buying a 2" lift, most likely from sky. Coupled with my 2" spacer lift, I should get all the clearance I need for stuffin my rear tires into the fenderwells... Thanks guys

*

Bandit02

Re: Gonna do a Bodylift.... Need some opinions
« Reply #13 on: December 28, 2007, 08:04:05 AM »
Okay, I made up my mind that I wanted to go with Sky for my 2" body lift. Problem with that is, I can't find any carriers of the Sky products that accept paypal. I need to make this purchase with paypal because I have money on my paypal account that I would just as well use for this instead of paying them to cut me a check. I have found that RRO has thier body lifts on ebay where I can use paypal, and the design of thier lifts appear to be about the same..... BUT, How is customer service at RRO. I thought I recalled reading a post somewhere that they were selling products that they did not have in stock and it was taking months to get your order. Does anyone know anything about this or if there is any truth to it?   sorry for the long winded post, but I appreciate any replies

*

Offline SnoFalls

  • 1358
  • 3
  • Gender: Male
Re: Gonna do a Bodylift.... Need some opinions
« Reply #14 on: December 28, 2007, 08:51:02 AM »
I don't like the RRO body lift ... the spacers are too small IMO.

And their "customer service" can be erratic ...
I don't suffer from insanity, I enjoy it.

Buy-it, Build-it, Beat-it, Part-it