[toubabokoomi]

i want to go with the 6in fabtech lift..but i was wondering what other options i had out there that might ride better or be better offroad.but i would like atleast 6in lift.

 

[synovus]

i want to go with the 6in fabtech lift..but i was wondering what other options i had out there that might ride better or be better offroad.but i would like atleast 6in lift.

For 6" of lift besides the Fabtech, you have the following options (in no particular order):

1. TrailMaster 6" kit
2. Tuff Country 5" kit + 1" body lift (BL)
3. Pro-Comp 4" kit+ 2" BL

Those will all ride about equally to the Fabtech and offer similar off-road performance. The Fabtech and Tuff Country kits seem to be the most durable.

4. Coilover set for 3" of lift + 3" BL
5. 3" spacer lift + 3" BL

The coilover setups will vary in ride quality according to the brand used, and their ride is generally comparable to the drop-bracket kits, though with the possibility of less down-travel when cranked to a full 3" of lift, which could result in a harsher ride. Spacers will result in the harshest ride of all the available lifts (generally).

For rear lift options, you're looking at either replacement leaf packs (most expensive, but may provide the best ride), or a combination of AAL and shackles (generally a harsher ride than stock). You could use blocks, but you could also swallow razor blades... neither is a good idea.

 

[toubabokoomi]

For 6" of lift besides the Fabtech, you have the following options (in no particular order):

1. TrailMaster 6" kit
2. Tuff Country 5" kit + 1" body lift (BL)
3. Pro-Comp 4" kit+ 2" BL

how good are the trialmaster,tuff country and pro-comp lift kits?? i have heard people saying they dont like the trailmaster or that they are not very well designed..

 

[synovus]

how good are the trialmaster,tuff country and pro-comp lift kits?? i have heard people saying they dont like the trailmaster or that they are not very well designed..

Of those three, the Tuff Country seems to be the strongest kit, but it's still relatively new and not many people are running it, so that could change with time. Right now, though, I'd say the Tuff Country and Fabtech seem to be the most durable of the drop-bracket kits.

The TrailMaster kit is notorious for its weak second-strut design. The second strut apparently fails quickly and regularly. The TM strut can be replaced with a Gabriel aftermarket strut that appears to last quite a bit longer, though how much longer I've never really heard. Up until the Fabtech lift came out, the TM kit was easily the most popular drop-bracket lift, and many people wheeled theirs pretty hard and rarely had issues outside of the second strut. But TM popularity is way down now that the Fabtech kit has been out for a while and proven itself.

The Pro-Comp lift, from what I've seen, is the least popular of the drop-bracket lifts. I've heard of their kit having issues with the crossmember cracking/breaking with moderate off-roading. Additionally, I think most people looking to do a drop-bracket lift tend to want more than 4" of lift, especially when the 5" and 6" kits cost pretty much the same.

 

[taco2kjay]

i want to go with the 6in fabtech lift..but i was wondering what other options i had out there that might ride better or be better offroad.but i would like atleast 6in lift.

I went with the Procomp 4" lift, a 1" body lift, and a 1.5" coilover lift - Total lift = 6.5". I run 35" BFG AT KO tires with the tiniest bit of rubbing if I turn and tilt "just so". I really like my setup. No problems at all.

The Trailmaster kit has many users that are happy with it, but you do read quite a few complaints about the previously mentioned strut problem.

The Fabtech 6" kit seems OK, but I really liked the fact that I can use coilovers other than those made by Fabtech with my setup. I have Sway-A-Way RaceRunners right now. The Fabtech struts are fine BTW. I think they may even be made by Sway-A-Way for Fabtech. The early versions of the kit looked like Sway-A-Ways painted Fabtech blue. Another nice thing about the Procomp 4" kit, is that your driveshaft angles are a little less steep. The Procomp kit doesn't replace your spindles. This is good, and bad. The good, is that the install is less involved, the bad is that they might not be as strong as a complete new extended spindle. I have zero problems with my Procomp "extended" spindles in the two years I've been running the kit. I've wheeled in it several times, but mostly the truck is used as a daily driver.

The Fabtech kit is pretty expensive. I paid much less than it would cost for the 6" Fabtech kit for my Procomp 4" kit, my 1" body lift, and my Sway-A-Way coilovers COMBINED !!!

I don't know anything about the Tuff Country 6" kit.

I did my lifting in stages. 1) body lift, 2) adjustable coilovers, 3) Procomp 4". Then I replaced the Procomp blocks with a set of custom rear springs from Alcan, then I did a U-bolt flip, then I relocated the shocks, then I added rock sliders, then I ...

Warning - Once you start, the mods never end.

 

[muddypenguin]

There is alot of options and it took me forever to decide aswell. I finally picked up a used fabtech and used the savings for some coilovers. Most people think you can't use coilovers or std. length struts with the fabtech. I just bought some 6" strut spacers as crash parts that came with the trailmaster lift. People that ride in my truck can't believe the ride quality and handling, its a great setup. Another issue is uptravel with the fabtech 6. But an easy remedy is to trim your front rubber bumpstops. I've done so, and with the coilovers set at no lift I have no preload on the coils. Because of that, this setup has provided the most amount of uptravel compared to my previous ones.

 

[ptrautne]

I went with the Procomp 4" lift, a 1" body lift, and a 1.5" coilover lift - Total lift = 6.5". I run 35" BFG AT KO tires with the tiniest bit of rubbing if I turn and tilt "just so". I really like my setup. No problems at all.

The Trailmaster kit has many users that are happy with it, but you do read quite a few complaints about the previously mentioned strut problem.

The Fabtech 6" kit seems OK, but I really liked the fact that I can use coilovers other than those made by Fabtech with my setup. I have Sway-A-Way RaceRunners right now. The Fabtech struts are fine BTW. I think they may even be made by Sway-A-Way for Fabtech. The early versions of the kit looked like Sway-A-Ways painted Fabtech blue. Another nice thing about the Procomp 4" kit, is that your driveshaft angles are a little less steep. The Procomp kit doesn't replace your spindles. This is good, and bad. The good, is that the install is less involved, the bad is that they might not be as strong as a complete new extended spindle. I have zero problems with my Procomp "extended" spindles in the two years I've been running the kit. I've wheeled in it several times, but mostly the truck is used as a daily driver.

The Fabtech kit is pretty expensive. I paid much less than it would cost for the 6" Fabtech kit for my Procomp 4" kit, my 1" body lift, and my Sway-A-Way coilovers COMBINED !!!

I don't know anything about the Tuff Country 6" kit.

I did my lifting in stages. 1) body lift, 2) adjustable coilovers, 3) Procomp 4". Then I replaced the Procomp blocks with a set of custom rear springs from Alcan, then I did a U-bolt flip, then I relocated the shocks, then I added rock sliders, then I ...

Warning - Once you start, the mods never end.

How much did you pay?

Below is a link on e-bay but the pro-comp prices have come down. 1,280 dollars for the kit. I paid 1650 for the fabtech lift so were did you get a body lift and coilovers for 370 dollars.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7950153251&category=33585

 

[Triple BB]

I've had a 4" Pro Comp kit on my Taco for 7 years. Its been wheeled hard at times. Especially during hunting season with no problems. I have a 6" of lift, a Tuff kit and TW SAW's, on my Tundra. The SAW's ride like nothing I've ridden in for a 4 x 4. I think Bill can set these up for Taco's. Personally, I'd go with the Tuff and a coilover set up. You get less driveline angle and you can set the ride height to exactly what you want based on what you have in the back.

 

[JRunner01]

Trimming Bump Stops

There is alot of options and it took me forever to decide aswell. I finally picked up a used fabtech and used the savings for some coilovers. Most people think you can't use coilovers or std. length struts with the fabtech. I just bought some 6" strut spacers as crash parts that came with the trailmaster lift. People that ride in my truck can't believe the ride quality and handling, its a great setup. Another issue is uptravel with the fabtech 6. But an easy remedy is to trim your front rubber bumpstops. I've done so, and with the coilovers set at no lift I have no preload on the coils. Because of that, this setup has provided the most amount of uptravel compared to my previous ones.

How did you trim your bump stops? By how much? Is this something most would benefit by? Pros Cons? I have the stock FT shock in my FT lift and was wondering about trimming the bump stops as Ive heard others doing. Any info greatly appreciated

Thanks...
JRunner01

 

[muddypenguin]

How did you trim your bump stops? By how much? Is this something most would benefit by? Pros Cons? I have the stock FT shock in my FT lift and was wondering about trimming the bump stops as Ive heard others doing. Any info greatly appreciated

Thanks...
JRunner01

I think most would benefit from it unless your purely a street rig. Since your truck kinda rests on the bumpstops while turning you will notice some more lean. But also I noticed just onroad when i'd hit a big bump upfront I'd get slammed. Then come to look and while the truck was just at a stand still there was about 1/8" between the bumpstop and the subframe stop. So its no wonder the truck got jolted like that. Offroad it helped one hell of a lot. I just recently got to test it on some really rutty trails in WV and was quite impressed. I just was messing around and ran the truck with no stops for awhile. My coilovers have 650# coils so its not too easy to really bottom them out. But after discovering the upper balljoint was the limiting factor in uptravel after removing the stops. I put them back in but trimmed to roughly 1/4" in hopes of preventing extra stress on the balljoint. I just stuck them in a vice and cut down the rubber so basicly all thats left is the wide area of the pad. I never reinstalled the rearward bumpstops though. Heres a pic I took while experimenting with the idea http://members.cox.net/grasswhacker/DSC00807.JPG -gives you some idea of the gain potential

 

[joeylead]

i want to go with the 6in fabtech lift..but i was wondering what other options i had out there that might ride better or be better offroad.but i would like atleast 6in lift.

If you get a fabtech 6" go to www. sportstrailerz.com It is an e-bay seller and I got mine for 1650 shipped. It comes with shocks also. If you go any of the other lifts, factor in shipping plus the cost of front shocks if your are toast. Also, if you want to run coilovers, just get the 6" TM spacers like someone else said. All in all, the kits end up costing about the same in the end. The onle extra cost with a fabtech is all of the presswork that needs to be done.

 

[TRD4ME / PARKSOFFROAD.COM]

There is a write-up on the Tuff Country kit on my web site (link below) that you may find interesting. I think we may be doing a write-up on the Fabtech kit in the near future.