well folks, its happened again... right when i get my list of stuff to buy planned out, i find something that makes my plans sound like a bad idea... first i was gonna get the calmini 6 inch combo... "no, calmini has horrible customer service and the springs are made for heavier zuks" (i don't think i want to put a winch and bumper on mine)... so i change to rocky road.... "no, they've been working on a 6 inch combo system for 50 years now, and there's no sign of it becoming a reality, plus, their customer service sucks too" (ok, i know the 50 years is an exaggeration, but you know what i mean...)... now i'm looking back at the calmini because it seems as if the guy from RRO is a liar... he makes a huge fuss about his parts fitting perfectly, and having everything you need to install it, but people say that his stuff has parts missing, and then he doesn't want to send the missing stuff....
on a related, but different subject, can someone help me out a little bit?  i don't even know if i definately want the 6 inch lift... all i've seen is pictures, and the 6" seems way too high, but anything less doesn't even look lifted at all... just fatter tires...  ... anyway, my question is this : is there really a noticable difference between the different lifts? like i said, all i've seen is pictures...  i'm expecting someone to say "just buy the 3 inch suspension (or body) lift, and see if you want to add to that"... but that will cost more money, and a lot of time stuck with something i don't like... (have to wait for the tires to wear out before upgrading...)

First I would not let someones complaining keep you from building what YOU want.  I have both their 2 and 3" suspension lifts and love them both (and the service that has come along with them). If you are wanting a little lift for moderate off roading and daily driving the 2" will work great for you, but if you are looking towards more difficult trails and dont mind a little  rougher ride for alot better off road performance, go for the 3".

Zig

My suggestions ...

1) Body lift.
Either get the 2" one from sky (http://www.sky-manufacturing.com/sidekick.htm ... same as the RRO). You may need a few extras like longer PS hoses if you have power steering, and if you can't extend the shifters yourself, might be another $25 at a welding shop.
BDS also has a 2" lift that is more $ but also more complete (http://www.bds-suspension.com/bodysystems_imports.html)
Could also do the 3" DIY body lift (http://www.zuwharrie.com/content/view/11/27/1/3/)

2) Suspension lft.
If you dont mind the price tag, the calmini 3" lift will get you just about the most you could want. I've also heard it's stiff, I haven't run one so can't confirm. $850 tho ... ouch.
Could also just get the OME springs from RRO, run stock strut and some generic longer shocks in the rear. Add in the 2" strut spacers and diff spacers from suzukhunter. Total this would run around $400 and should give a nice riding 2" lift. I'm giving some serious thought to buying the OME springs myself since I've heard great things.
Also could just get a set of coil spacers (1.5" or 1.75"), add in the 2" strut spacers and diff spacers from suzukhunter, and you'll get around 2" of lift. Some longer genric shocks in the rear, and it'll total maybe $200. (I run this and have NO complaints).

 i would go with the 3" calmini suspension lift and the rocky-road 2" body lift. the calmini body lift is not put together very well and u have to modify alot of things ( shifters, extend steering linkage, extend fuel filler and breather hose, and raise bumpers). in my opinion if u have the ability to install all that properly u can build ur own body lift at whatever hight u want. if u have a welder u can make a 4" body lift that will be much more reliable than the calmini.

BUILDING UR OWN BODY LIFT
weld what ever size lift block to the frame you want and mount the tracker on top of them. extend all the pre-mentioned things except lift the gas tank and skip the extended fuel hoses. for the front of the body lift us boat traler rollers they r rated to hold 3800lbs they work great just cut to lenght. to extend the shifters get some old shifters and cut them to fit on top the originals. i found that works beter than the stuff calmini sends because the bottom of the sifter is larger than the bottom and once u cut it it will slide over the top of the other shifter and weld it. order the shifter exteder from rochy road or make ur own.

i've heard that replacing a 2 doors coil springs with a 4 doors it will give the 2 door a 2 inch or so lift. is that true?

ok, as far as extending the shifters and stuff, does anyone know where i can get a screw on extension?  instead of having to weld?  i want this to be a project done by myself, or with a little help from friends or whatever... but i have no welding skills...  also, i don't want to get into cutting and fabricating pieces...  that's why i want a kit that is fully bolt-on..  and complete... i don't want to have to go to the parts store saying "I think this is what i need"... i thought the calmini BL was complete, as far as all new hardware, the gas filler thingy, and everything else... so is it like a "sometimes its tthere, sometimes it ain't?"   

from my experiance with calmini all my parts have always been there the body lift does require welding of the shifter extension. a steering shaft extension does not come as part of the kit ,atleast it didn't when i ordered it, i would recomend a steering extension. however if u r looking for a simple body lift i would go with a 2 inch lift like Rocky-Roads as long as it has some sort of bolt extension not two setslike the calmini. also a 2" kit does not require any extending so it is by far the easiest. u should be able to run 33 to 32" tires with a 2" body and 3" suspension with fender triming. if u r not experanced in fabing and welding a body lift is one of the eisiest to start with. if this is beyond your means go with the 2" body it is also stronger.

... now i'm looking back at the calmini because it seems as if the guy from RRO is a liar... he makes a huge fuss about his parts fitting perfectly, and having everything you need to install it, but people say that his stuff has parts missing, and then he doesn't want to send the missing stuff. ...

First off welcome to the board Twan013. I'm sure you'll find plenty of helpful advice here on the forum. For right now, I'd like to encourage you to read the "Welcome to the ZUKIWORLD BBS Forum." paying particularly close attention to the "Open Letter to Forum Users From the Admin" contained in the middle.

Thank you, Eric

my 2" BDS body lift came with everything needed - t-case extension, bumper brackets(f&r), steering shaft extension, p/s hose,good instructions with lots of pics. about the only thing it didn't come with was a extension for the shifter(kit was for an automatic). was easy to install and then the only thing extra to do would to extend the shifter with something.

sorry for the bashing to RRO... and wow, believe it or not, i think i've decided what kind of setup i want... i THINK... it will change by the time i get the money to pay for it...lol....  3 inch susp. from calmini, and some coil spacers from sky...  that will be the same 4.5" lift that ya get from RRO, but full suspension, right?  of course, it will cost more, but i'm not too fond of body lifts... not that they're wrong or anything, but i just don't like the gap between the frame and body...  if i'm not satisfied with 4.5, then i'll get a body lift later... or soemthing....  ok, question on bodylifts, and other things that are year-specific.... on BDS, on the chart for the body lift, it only goes to 95... on RRO, the body lift goes up to 98.... is there a difference?  i've found this on several other things as well... one, for instance, was a front grill from erebunicorp.com... it says it fits a sidekick up to 95... would it fit my 96 tracker? i thought the only differences between the years was stuff like 8v and 16v, and different interior touches....  thanks guys for the help, and when i get all this stuff, i'll post some pics!

wel time to change ur mind because if u use those coil spacers ontop of the calmini lift u will put ur CV's at a criticul angel for operation and u will have lots of CV failure. that is the reason the max suspension is 3". u may be able to get away with a 1" spacer but that is pushing it.

yea, you can't add spacers to the calmini lift and get the 4.5 ...

3" with the calmini is the max you can get for suspension (without doing wilder mods). This is why many settle for 2" with spacers or new springs. 2" isn't that much less, and adding a BL get's big enuf tires to have lotsa fun.

The calmini kit lowers the front diff 2" while raising the front end 3". You might be able to use 1" spacers on it, but I would just use the 3" kit the way it is, otherwise you might be asking for cv problems very frequently...

OK, OK,.... I have a 3" body lift I made myself but I did not extend my shifters. They just sit  lower now and I dont use the console anymore so there wasnt any problems there.

I have the Calmini suspension lift on mine also and for another $120 or so you get alot more parts with the calmini kit. The ride is alittle stiff but after wheeling a while it seemed to soften up a bit. My friend has a sammy with stock springs and a shackle reverse kit and my Tracker rides like a caddy compared to his rig!!

Hope this helps,
Bill

AHH, i can't win can I??  the stupid part is, is that i already knew that about adding the coil spacers to the suspension lift... i guess i was thinking that since RRO has both of them together, then any combination of that was possible... so i guess i'm stuck with a body lift either way i go to get the lift i want, huh?  i'm starting to wonder if i should have tried to get that sami that was rotting in a yard a while back..  i probably could have gotten it for free, but i'd have to put a bunch of money in it just to get it running...  then again... size is an issue, i'm tall and husky, and the tracker is even a bit small... yeah yeah, seat bracket relocation, but still...