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Tracker/Sidekick lift ideas

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Offline djlantis57

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Tracker/Sidekick lift ideas
« on: October 15, 2010, 11:49:46 AM »
First off, for the price, Jeff's and Mudchild's lifts are completely kick-ass!  Getting 2" of lift for just a couple hundred bucks, awesome!  I'm going to start getting serious about this second tracker I picked up pretty soon, once it's running great I will want to lift it somewhat
I lifted my first tracker with the 3" Calmini suspension, I love it, but I was working on it the other night and it just doesn't seem tall enough ::)...it was a pain in the ass to just change the gear oil in the t-case because it's still so low to the ground...
I want some feedback from you guys running like the spacer lifts as mentioned above, versus like combination of those with 4door springs, etc...
But now I'm ALSO re-thinking doing a 2" lift altogether on the other one, and starting to think about SAS and yota axles.  Problem is, I'm completely new to the toyota axle thing, and I wouldn't even know what to be looking for...and whether or not I'd be buying a turd axle, or an axle that's in good condition.  I don't have the time, experience, or skills to create my own kit from scratch so I'd realistically be looking at spending the big bucks $$$ and buying Trail Tough's TrailSlayer kit.  Or, what other pre-designed kits are available out there?
« Last Edit: October 19, 2010, 10:34:34 AM by djlantis57 »
God put me on earth to accomplish a certain number of things.  Right now I am so far behind, I will never die.
90 Tracker LSi 2dr tintop 5spd: slow toy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08 Pontiac G8 GT: fast toy
90 Tracker LSi 2dr 5spd: SOLD.......95 Tracker 2dr 5spd: parts..........90 Sidekick JX 5spd: HI, my name's DJ and I have an addiction.........93 Tracker 2dr 2wd 5spd: PS donor/poss. 4x4 swap from 95 parts

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Offline djlantis57

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Re: Tracker/Sidekick lift ideas
« Reply #1 on: October 19, 2010, 10:28:26 AM »
No thoughts?  I kinda condensed it so there's not so much to read :)
« Last Edit: October 19, 2010, 10:35:52 AM by djlantis57 »
God put me on earth to accomplish a certain number of things.  Right now I am so far behind, I will never die.
90 Tracker LSi 2dr tintop 5spd: slow toy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08 Pontiac G8 GT: fast toy
90 Tracker LSi 2dr 5spd: SOLD.......95 Tracker 2dr 5spd: parts..........90 Sidekick JX 5spd: HI, my name's DJ and I have an addiction.........93 Tracker 2dr 2wd 5spd: PS donor/poss. 4x4 swap from 95 parts

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Offline KJMac

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Re: Tracker/Sidekick lift ideas
« Reply #2 on: October 19, 2010, 11:00:53 AM »
Dj,

I agree with you! 3" lift and they still look like the wifes grocery getter. I met a guy this last summer that has the trail slayer kit and he loves it. He is not the most mechanical with limited resources(he is on here too, not sure of name), not trying to say he doesn't know anything, I just gathered that from talking to him but he seemed knowledgeable. He really likes it and he said he beats on it up at Browns Camp when he gets the chance. He bent one of the links but he couldn't believe how minor it was considering what he had done.

I think if you have the money that would be a nice way to go! my 4dr `95 has the Ironman lift which is suppose to be a 3"? or so. It is really stiff with OME struts and their rear shock the use. My brother ran this on his 2dr with spacers and a small body lift with home made diff drop and a-arm drop. way too much work, I wouldn't recommend that! he could run 33-10.50's on it.
I guess you could just decide on the tire you want to run and then do the lift that will allow you to run it.

sorry I couldn't be much help.
1994 Kick, 16v,header.2.5" exhaust,ported MAF,home made mufflers, K&N filter,5" lift with jeep LJ front springs on the rear and Ford ranger springs on front with 2 3/4 spacers,OME struts with 3" strut spacers,31/10.5 Hankook Dynapro MT on 15x7 black D's.

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Offline bentparts

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Re: Tracker/Sidekick lift ideas
« Reply #3 on: October 19, 2010, 07:19:26 PM »
Seeming "low " and looking like a grocery getter are two different things. A lower center of gravity is a far better thing to have , imo, than being jacked up to the moon with no effective suspension, ie stiff. Some of the most awesome and rugged rigs I've seen were actually not that tall. Big rubber yes, but the suspension was designed to droop, or drop out from under the rig with just enough ground clearence under the frame and diffs ( again wheel and tire size related ) as needed. Bigger, well much bigger wheel wells, but check Eric's Liberty Overland built rig. That is about the nicest, big tire'd , streetable sas job I've seen. On 37's I believe, and sure don't look like any grocery getter.
The usual stuff, and 2nd generation Air to liquid intercooled TURBOCHARGER

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Offline KJMac

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Re: Tracker/Sidekick lift ideas
« Reply #4 on: October 20, 2010, 09:53:03 AM »
I agree bentparts
I was referring to my kick! basic 3" lift some 235/75 tires and absolutley no wheel well hacking. Not everyone has the same taste. I will not cut up my wheel wells to fit big tires, However i will do a little trimming and/or modifying.
I'm very impressed with the way my `kick gets around with a small lift and Wal-Mart 70 per tire Goodyear Wranglers!
I have looked at Erics build and it is sweet and doesn't look like a grocery getter but it isn't that low either. Somewhat apples to oranges but a great point and opinion, he may want to copy that build? if i had a second tracker I would build the same rig.

KJ
1994 Kick, 16v,header.2.5" exhaust,ported MAF,home made mufflers, K&N filter,5" lift with jeep LJ front springs on the rear and Ford ranger springs on front with 2 3/4 spacers,OME struts with 3" strut spacers,31/10.5 Hankook Dynapro MT on 15x7 black D's.

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Offline djlantis57

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Re: Tracker/Sidekick lift ideas
« Reply #5 on: October 20, 2010, 01:06:12 PM »
That's my other option...since this silver tracker needs some body work, I may cut out fenders to fit bigger tires with less lift...I like the "tucked" look without being sky-high.  But, with bigger tires comes gearing problems so I have to consider that, too.
God put me on earth to accomplish a certain number of things.  Right now I am so far behind, I will never die.
90 Tracker LSi 2dr tintop 5spd: slow toy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08 Pontiac G8 GT: fast toy
90 Tracker LSi 2dr 5spd: SOLD.......95 Tracker 2dr 5spd: parts..........90 Sidekick JX 5spd: HI, my name's DJ and I have an addiction.........93 Tracker 2dr 2wd 5spd: PS donor/poss. 4x4 swap from 95 parts

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Offline bentparts

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Re: Tracker/Sidekick lift ideas
« Reply #6 on: October 21, 2010, 03:27:45 AM »
Yeah, it's like a chain reaction, one thing always leads to another. Does it ever end? I doubt it, there's always something to modify!
The usual stuff, and 2nd generation Air to liquid intercooled TURBOCHARGER

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Offline joesteak

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Re: Tracker/Sidekick lift ideas
« Reply #7 on: October 21, 2010, 05:23:50 AM »
I like the "tucked" look without being sky-high. 

Is that a Buffalo Bill reference? Classic.

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Offline Zukipilot

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Re: Tracker/Sidekick lift ideas
« Reply #8 on: October 22, 2010, 04:13:55 AM »
Thanks for the complements on the Kick Eric built for me!  ;D

DJ,
If you are looking to go big, the Trail Slayer kit is definitely the way you want to go. It is pricey, but worth it. You also need to have decent mechanical skills and tools to do the job.

With the IFS and some trimming and tweeking, you can do up to the 32-33" tire range to get the look you are wanting. It will require gearing, and could require beefing up the CV's and axle shafts depending on how you plan on treating the vehicle.

To get a better idea of exactly what you want (lift/look/performance) check out the 'Not your same ol' tire thread' thread. There are quite a few rigs listed in there with lift, mods and tire sizes listed.

Also check out the archives here and at iZook.com (now that it is up and running again). You should be able to find what all is involved with the installs there.

HTH,
Zig
Zukipilot
'92 Liberty Overland Sidekick

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Offline bentparts

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Re: Tracker/Sidekick lift ideas
« Reply #9 on: October 22, 2010, 04:40:27 AM »
Hey Zukipilot, I apoligize for referring to your rig as " Eric's Rig."  Old man CRS kicking in.
« Last Edit: October 23, 2010, 04:53:48 AM by bentparts »
The usual stuff, and 2nd generation Air to liquid intercooled TURBOCHARGER

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Offline djlantis57

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Re: Tracker/Sidekick lift ideas
« Reply #10 on: October 23, 2010, 02:41:21 AM »
Thanks for the info guys.  I've read it all but the feedback is always best, thanks!
yup, definitely, the liberty overland-built rig is sweet, I've read all about it, what all did they modify on the Trailslayer kit?
God put me on earth to accomplish a certain number of things.  Right now I am so far behind, I will never die.
90 Tracker LSi 2dr tintop 5spd: slow toy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 08 Pontiac G8 GT: fast toy
90 Tracker LSi 2dr 5spd: SOLD.......95 Tracker 2dr 5spd: parts..........90 Sidekick JX 5spd: HI, my name's DJ and I have an addiction.........93 Tracker 2dr 2wd 5spd: PS donor/poss. 4x4 swap from 95 parts

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Offline bentparts

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  • I'd rather be Blown AND Injected.
    • mikekallie's flickr photos
Re: Tracker/Sidekick lift ideas
« Reply #11 on: October 23, 2010, 04:54:42 AM »
what all did they modify on the Trailslayer kit?

Zukipilot's wallet!
The usual stuff, and 2nd generation Air to liquid intercooled TURBOCHARGER

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Offline icke

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Re: Tracker/Sidekick lift ideas
« Reply #12 on: October 24, 2010, 03:00:06 AM »
i run 33 12.50 with cut fenders and a set of coil clamps flipped over for now and if you wanna run 33s and only spend like 30 bucks that will get you by. i dont like the coil clamps but they came on my kick. im gonna go with the home made a arm and diff drop since im a welder it should be fun. and also im gonna go with hockey puck body lift. i know my set up prolly the most jankie lift but it works for now. i also just made a lowes snorkel today and it cost $ 37 bucks i think just my 2 cents