Lift advice

Titan1241 · 01-24-2005, 09:21 AM

I just purchased a 2005 Titan 4x4 Crew Cab and am interested in putting a lift kit on it.

This is my first 4x4 and I'm completely ignorant of what is involved in installing a lift. Can anyone give me an idea of what parts I need to plan for? For example, when installing a lift kit, do you also need to change tires, shocks, etc.? Are there any performance/handling downsides to a lift?

Thanks for the help!

DStewart · 01-24-2005, 11:03 PM

How big do you want to go? Scroll down a little there is talk of the PRG kit, and a couple of 6" lifts. You can also search for the CST lift.

Titan1241 · 01-25-2005, 02:01 PM

I'd like something in the neighborhood of a 4" to 6" lift on the suspension for the added ground clearance on rocky trails.

MaxPowers · 01-25-2005, 09:56 PM

Fabtech and procomp both offer a 6" lift. Not sure what the ride is like on those since not really that many people have gotten that yet.

No Life Form · 01-26-2005, 09:45 PM

Hi,
I have lifted two vehicles so I have little knowledge on this subject.
First thing, like others have said research! If you do not want to spend a lot of money you could do a 3 in. body lift and a pre-runner greg's level kit. If money is not really a concern go with the fabtech or the procomp suspension lift. I had a procomp lift and was very happy with it. As far as some of your questions, I will try to answer.
Usually the lift kit springs/torsion bars are designed to have a stiffer ride than stock. Most of the Titan lift kits use spacers and retain the sstock strut, so there should not be a stiffer ride. You do not have to go with a bigger tire but, that is why most people lift their trucks to fit bigger tires. Bigger tires+ lift kit= more ground clearence. If you switch to a bigger tire, you may experience a little less torque on take off. You can also expect a slight mpg loss and will lose some aerodynamics. You might notice it on an interstate where speeds are higher. I am neither trying to sound positive or negative with this information. I loved my lifted vehicles and will lift my Titan when money becomes available. If you have any more questions, I or someone else will definetly answer it for you. If you might be curious, my lifted vehicles were a 1994 Ford Ranger with a 5 in. lift and a 2002 Xterra with a 3 in. susp. lift + a 3 in. body lift. My Titan has the Pre runner greg leveling kit with 2 in. blocks on the rear. I want to lift my Titan 10-12 inches in the future. Sorry if there are any typos, its late and I'm tired.

DStewart · 01-26-2005, 11:15 PM

Seeing all these lift kit threads always sends me spinning. I want to lift my Titan sooooo bad, but I don't want to loose all the towing capabilities. I bought the truck to tow with, but these trucks look great lifted. I'm so torn...... I think another reason I want to lift it is because I just sold my lifted 4Runner. I'm missing the lifted ride.

rfrench102 · 01-27-2005, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DStewart

Seeing all these lift kit threads always sends me spinning. I want to lift my Titan sooooo bad, but I don't want to loose all the towing capabilities. I bought the truck to tow with, but these trucks look great lifted. I'm so torn...... I think another reason I want to lift it is because I just sold my lifted 4Runner. I'm missing the lifted ride.

I'm not sure why you can't tow. You will have to beef up the rear with a add-a-leaf or air bag but that's about it.

DStewart · 01-27-2005, 10:28 PM

I know I can still tow, I'm just worried that with the larger tire size I can't tow as much.

MaxPowers · 01-27-2005, 11:35 PM

If you swap out your gears to offset the larger tires it should be almost back to stock.

PrerunnerGreg · 01-28-2005, 06:58 AM

Let me see if I can run through the whole lift kit scene from mildest to widest. The leveling kits are first on the list, from about 1.5" to about 3" form myself, or daystar (skyjacker, rancho, ect). These are all inexpensive kits that are relativly easy to instal usally from $130-200. Followed by nothing or an add-a-leaf in the rear.

Next you move to the newest height of 4-6" lifts from Fabtech, Rancho, Procomp. These require a subframe drop and a taller spindal upright and are all very similar in design. They are all so close to each other in design I think the color is probably the biggest difference. They all use the stock shock/spring assembly so the ride should be the same as factory. Although with any of these they have a 2.5" coil-over upgrade, im gonna assume that you could even upgrade to another manufactuer's coil-over on a different kit, although they will say you cant. My point is they are that closely designed. With the coil-over upgrade the ride height is variable +/- a couple inches. Kits will run you around $1200 w/o the coil-overs, probably $2400 with. Most often the rear is raised with a simple 2-4" block and or add-a-leaf.

Now you get into the CST 7 to 8" kits. They are just like the kits mentioned abouve but are taller. And they offer a coil-over upgrade, but an aftermarket shock (king, sway-a-way, fox, etc) but word on the street is they will have a shock designed specifically for thier lift kits soon. A rear block or upgraded spring pack is usally used for the rear. Kits run around $2200 with additional $600 or so for race-quality aftermarket rear spring pack and $1200 for race-quality front coil-overs.

Next is the 12" kit from Bulletproof, it is like the others but even taller. The only kits Ive seen from them have an afermarket race-style coil-over. I dont know the price but im sure its not cheap. It is HUGE and, like all the others, looks very well made.

Last on the list is the long-travel kit from CST, it's only for 2wd Titans though. It widens the front 6-7 inches and you must use afteramrket shocks and cut the coilbucket out of the truck. Those kits run about $4500 and you should have an additional $3000 just in the front shocks. But its the best handling kit out there for Titans.

TitanicDJ · 01-29-2005, 11:00 AM

Wow, That's a lot to think about.

Greg- If I wanted to use your kit to level my truck, can I lift the front 3" and then raise the rear a bit to level the entire truck? BTW it's a 4X4 with an off road package. I guess that would make it a 3" lift?

Titan1241- Sorry about asking a question on your thread.

ruah_23 · 01-29-2005, 10:10 PM

Ok this is my first truck too...So here are a couple of questions.
If u lift the truck up using your stock struts, will the struts last as long as the stock ride?I know that if you lower ur car w/o an aftermarket shock, ur shocks will be blown in a few months.I was wondering whether the concept is the same except this time it's lifting it up?

How abt tire wear?Does it wear out the tires?or it doesn't have any effect on them?

How's the ride goes anyway?Does it have the same level as comfort as stock??

PrerunnerGreg · 01-30-2005, 07:08 AM

Any of the kits mentioned above, with the exception of the coil-spring insert type, "should" keep the same ride as stock as they use the stock shock and spring. Since the shock and spring are mounted as an assembly, you really cant vary thier relation (unless you put somthing inside the assembly to change spring rate). As for alingnment and such, they all should be easy to align and not max-out any of the ball joints or cv's. Notice that all these kits are pretty expensive, I just went to a "suspension manufacturer lecture panel" last weekend, and the days of poor-quality/ cheap lifts is hopefully over. Im pretty sure any of the kits out now are of high quality and should work great. They are also so simalar that color may be your deciding factor.

JASHELL1562 · 01-31-2005, 02:38 PM

I Bought The Pro Comp Lift With The Coil Overs It Is Awsome

rfrench102 · 01-31-2005, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaxPowers

If you swap out your gears to offset the larger tires it should be almost back to stock.

Ahh, but where do you find the gears? I've had no luck.