- Joined
- February 13, 1999
- Messages
- 7,100
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- Location
- Tampa, FL
- City, State
- Chief GPS'um and Still Lost Native Texan
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- '99 EB 4x4 "Herc" RIP
Perry, I got your email concerning the body lift issues and understand you've already searched and found my previous posts. If something still isn't clear just let me know.
There have been several posts on many threads lately agonizing over what to do about choosing between a 2" and 3" body lift, especially since the 3" could bring more problems into the modification. We are losing focus here.
When you make the decision, get back to the basics. A body lift does NOTHING but allow more clearance for bigger tires. It is the radius of those tires that gives you greater clearance under the vehicle. It does not raise the undercarriage of the vehicle for more clearance.
That being said, the REAL question between deciding between a 2" or 3" body lift is this: can going to a 3" body lift help me get bigger tires under my rig? If you end up having to use the exact same diameter tires whether you choose a 2" or 3" body lift, then naturally you should choose the 2" which has a lot less problems. If the 3" can get you the ability to go up another size in tires, then it would be worth it.
I can only speak for new models ('95+) which seem to have more clearance stock than early models to clear tires. I have an Eddie Bauer with all the extra fenderwell trim for goodness sakes -- 2" body lift + 2" torsion/shackle/addaleaf -- and clear 285/75r16s though admittedly with a LOT of trimming. My next tires will be 295/75r16. If I went to the trouble to mess with a 3" body lift I would be faced with the steering column binding issues and additonal expense of Flaming River shafts etc and that extra inch would not allow me to fit bigger tires, so why in the world would I want to do it? The ONLY reason for me to upgrade to a 3" body lift would be if it helped me clear 35's and it's not enough to do it.
Think about what you are trying to accomplish. If the mod won't do the job don't tackle the headache of messing with it.
Just my extry peso.
[Edited by GJarrett on 12-13-2000 at 07:00 PM]
There have been several posts on many threads lately agonizing over what to do about choosing between a 2" and 3" body lift, especially since the 3" could bring more problems into the modification. We are losing focus here.
When you make the decision, get back to the basics. A body lift does NOTHING but allow more clearance for bigger tires. It is the radius of those tires that gives you greater clearance under the vehicle. It does not raise the undercarriage of the vehicle for more clearance.
That being said, the REAL question between deciding between a 2" or 3" body lift is this: can going to a 3" body lift help me get bigger tires under my rig? If you end up having to use the exact same diameter tires whether you choose a 2" or 3" body lift, then naturally you should choose the 2" which has a lot less problems. If the 3" can get you the ability to go up another size in tires, then it would be worth it.
I can only speak for new models ('95+) which seem to have more clearance stock than early models to clear tires. I have an Eddie Bauer with all the extra fenderwell trim for goodness sakes -- 2" body lift + 2" torsion/shackle/addaleaf -- and clear 285/75r16s though admittedly with a LOT of trimming. My next tires will be 295/75r16. If I went to the trouble to mess with a 3" body lift I would be faced with the steering column binding issues and additonal expense of Flaming River shafts etc and that extra inch would not allow me to fit bigger tires, so why in the world would I want to do it? The ONLY reason for me to upgrade to a 3" body lift would be if it helped me clear 35's and it's not enough to do it.
Think about what you are trying to accomplish. If the mod won't do the job don't tackle the headache of messing with it.
Just my extry peso.
[Edited by GJarrett on 12-13-2000 at 07:00 PM]
