Body Lifts And Lifting Bodies

[BT]

Hello Retro Rides yet again.

I am in need of some help and some advice, Once again.

I have really started getting into this off road lark, have really been enjoying it. Last outing I was struggling a little bit and got tugged out a few times, at one point I got pulled out by a chap in the same truck as me, we got talking and he suggested a few alterations to make the truck a little more capable. One of which was a body lift.

I had done a lot of reading about the body lift before he mentioned it to me, but after having a chat with someone who had done it he said it was super simple and well worth doing. My reading suggests that 3" is the most that you can run before you start hitting problems with brake lines needing lengthening, shifter extensions and other such issues.

Now the other owner showed me his body lift, it was a poly like section, cylindrical and 3" long secured between the chassis and the body by a long shanked bolt and a Nyloc. Think he said the 2" lift is £60, 3" is £100.

Now I work in a fabrication role, I have access to quite a lot of materials, machinery and other such helpful stuff.

This now brings me on to my next question. Can the body lift spacers be made out of metal? I can only assume that the rubber type material is used to absorb vibrations and make the whole experience a little less bone shaking, but does it really absorb that much? I assume that the biggest concern would be it transferring stress up into the body and helping to uncover those areas of rot or rust that I don't really want to know about just yet.

Reason I ask if it can be done out of metal is because if that is possible then it would be free. I have seen some things with 12" body lifts, this can not be a rubber cylinder with a 13" bolt passing through it, surely it something a little more sturdy.

In penance for a question that may be a little foolish, have a photo of a cool truck.

[v8brick]

The Yanks commonly use hockey pucks as a budget method.
Available cheap used there but dunno about here?

[BT]

Interesting! There is an ice rink on my industrial estate. So are they stacking them to the desired height, turning them down to a suitable diameter in a lathe, hole down the centre and doing it like that?

Think I will have to have a google, never heard of that, thanks for sharing.

[composimmonite]

Biggest problem is diff clearance and other brackets on axle. No body kit or suspension lift will increase that so you need to look at bigger dia tyres to gain clearance. That in turn CAN mean suspension lift and then body lift MIGHT be needed.
Body lift on it's own will just raise centre of gravity.
My old Range Rover Vogue had a 3" lift on when I bought it and despite new shocks it drove terrible so I quickly returned it to standard height and an amazing improvement in on-road stability.

[optimusprime]

I would fit extended brake lines as a matter of course.

If you have a 3 inch body lift ( not you,the truck) and you flex the axles so a wheel drops,you stand a good chance of pulling a brake line.



Also remember,a body or spring lift will not increase clearance under a solid axle,only bigger tyres can do that.
( don't know what axle set up your has)

(Beaten to it by compo)

[gostin]

I have bought 1" body lift spacers (poly) for my yj and 2" suspension lift.
I also have to drop the transfer mounts by 1" to reduce the prop angle and buy extended brake lines.
Not checked the pitman arm length yet and now will need 31" tyres to fill the arches correctly.

[BT]

Thanks very much for the replies chaps, I seem to have gone around this a bit back to front. Let me try again as best as possible via my phone.

Our conversation started on the subject of tyres, mine were very poor and was a factor (combined with many others) that resulted in me getting continiously stuck. The friendly chap that had a conversation with me after pulling me out of the bog said that larger tyres were required, something of the 33" variety. I currently have 30"s and they catch on full lock at standard ride height. This then lead to the discussion of body lifts and suspension lifts.

I do certainly require larger tyres, I could see where my sump guard and diff were hitting the ground and making gouges in the soft mud. Larger tyres should help reduce this. I also got beached once or twice which is where I am hoping a larger shackle and suspension wind would be a positive idea.

My usual plan of action is to make a little stash of all the parts I need, free off all of the bolts I need to get to and then spend a weekend peicing the puzzle together. It just so happens that the body lift was the first thing on my mind having been working with a potentially suitable material earlier today.

Thanks for all of your help, and the suggestion of longer brake lines is something I will sure look into, I'm pretty sure I work with a chap who made his own quite cost effectively, as apposed to the £300 some places charge for blocks and lines.

[composimmonite]

My Mahindra had shackle mounts increased by 2" (since removed) and that required gearbox rear dropping to keep prop UJ's at a sensible angle.

[BT]

Interesting and something I need to read a bit more about.

From my reading, the only issue with suspension lifts on my model (L200 crew) is the front driveshaft angle at around 3" worth of lift. Body lifts can require the front bumper lifting along with the radiator and a notch taken out of the centre console to select 4th and reverse.

Something I think I may need to read up on a bit more.

[markgenesis]

Save yourself a load of hassle and buy this

retrorides.proboards.com/thread/188470/discovery-300tdi-offroader-spec-paisley

[thewindscreenman]

As I recall I used a length of 4x2" steel box section cut up into pieces, each piece drilled top & bottom & fitted a piece everywhere there was a bolt on my old Suzuki. Had to buy extra nuts & bolts but it was cheap & easy to do. Can't remember what needed extending but seem to recall making something for the steering column amongst other things.

[BT]

Apr 12, 2016 21:52:12 GMT markgenesis said:

Save yourself a load of hassle and buy this

retrorides.proboards.com/thread/188470/discovery-300tdi-offroader-spec-paisley

I remember you posted this a few months back when I was asking about discoveries. Unfortunately the overall response was enough to put me off, combined with my insurance being commercially only (annoyingly) I went for a truck instead. However I have always liked your disco!

[BT]

Apr 12, 2016 22:07:43 GMT thewindscreenman said:

As I recall I used a length of 4x2" steel box section cut up into pieces, each piece drilled top & bottom & fitted a piece everywhere there was a bolt on my old Suzuki. Had to buy extra nuts & bolts but it was cheap & easy to do. Can't remember what needed extending but seem to recall making something for the steering column amongst other things.

Of course! Me being a total narrow minded numpty thought I could only do it with a cylinder, obviously box section would work!

I'm thinking of making some spacers up and binging them in my tool box until I've done some further research. My prior findings suggest that nothing needs extending or moving but I may have only read what I wanted to hear! I am positive the chap I spoke with on the weekend said the 2" body lift resulted in no negative effects and nothing else needed changing.

[smurf]

One if my old hilux's had a 3"body lift alongside a 6" spring lift, made it super rigid and a proper boneshaker......

Sooooo much fun though,

You're pretty local to me, pm me if you fancy a chat about your lift options and I'm sure we can discuss it at length

[georgeb]

Apr 12, 2016 22:15:18 GMT BT said:

Of course! Me being a total narrow minded numpty thought I could only do it with a cylinder, obviously box section would work!

And to prove it...



Just make sure you paint 'em a contrasting colour so everyone knows!

[composimmonite]

Do a LOT of research, not just on L200 enthusiasts sites, as you might find you can chuck large amounts of money at them yet see little improvement compared to most other 4x4's. I believe they are regarded at too light at rear and perform better with the load bed full !
BTW remember to check with your insurer before you do modifications such as larger than standard wheels / tyres, suspension /body lift as you might find they aren't very happy if they are covering you on a commercial / business vehicle. You might be able to argue they are needed if you are a farmer but doubtful if needed for many other professions.

[BT]

Apr 12, 2016 22:36:00 GMT smurf said:

One if my old hilux's had a 3"body lift alongside a 6" spring lift, made it super rigid and a proper boneshaker......

Sooooo much fun though,

You're pretty local to me, pm me if you fancy a chat about your lift options and I'm sure we can discuss it at length

Thanks very much! Expect a PM shortly!

Apr 13, 2016 6:57:23 GMT composimmonite said:

Do a LOT of research, not just on L200 enthusiasts sites, as you might find you can chuck large amounts of money at them yet see little improvement compared to most other 4x4's. I believe they are regarded at too light at rear and perform better with the load bed full !
BTW remember to check with your insurer before you do modifications such as larger than standard wheels / tyres, suspension /body lift as you might find they aren't very happy if they are covering you on a commercial / business vehicle. You might be able to argue they are needed if you are a farmer but doubtful if needed for many other professions.

Thanks very much for the input.

I will sit down over the weekend and do some reading. It's needed.

Thankfully my insurer is very good. Obviously I need a commercial based policy due to the fact it's a comercial vehicle which is very annoying, however due to the vehicle not being used for a comercial purpose adding modifications has been as easy as any other policy I've had. When I phoned up and asked to change my 1.9 TDI caddy to a 2.9 V6, with aspiration modifications, wheels, tyres, interior and brakes it increased my premium by 10% with no problems at all. the truck is actually currently insured with wheel, tyre and suspension modifications already, but a very good point.

[smurf]

I'm always happy to help where i can, and being in the same sort of trade makes it so much easier to get your options for lifting understood completely