EXPOSED! Are bigger suspension lifts better? Experts show what really happens when you lift your 4WD 

Have any questions? Let us know!

Simple answer is yes. The mother in law cant climb up into my LandCruiser.

Factual and didn't try to cram every part out there down my throat. I love it. We need more content like this

Thanks for this video. Was considering 3" but sticking to 2" now. It helped me better understood the whole concept. You guys rock man!

I so agree! Live in the US and it’s a money making scam to lift your vehicle bigger then 2 inches. These shops swear to you that you need to put bigger tires to go over things better. I made the mistake on listening to a highly recommended shop on installing a 6inch Procomp lift on my FJ. Even though it rides great because of the cvc joints are perfectly level it was not necessary to do and I only run 33s. To run 35 or bigger I would have to re-gear and that another $3-4,000.00 + tire cost. I wish they had more of this stuff on the internet back in 2012. I tell everyone do what the Aussies do, they have been doing it longer and better then us!

Austrailian lifts: change every suspension part so the 4x4 works perfectly. American and Canadian lifts: PUT SOME SPACERS ON AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS YEE YEE

Finally the video I’ve been waiting for

Excellent advice about maximum viable tyre size for a given lift. Ideally, you want to run the biggest tyres you can safely use with the lowest suspension lift possible while maintaining or increasing travel. Maximizing tyre diameter, ground clearance and usable travel while minimizing center of mass height.

My wife said she can make 2” work. Idk how to feel right now

Been waiting for this video all day!! Hello from Houston, TX, USA. I'm ordering my 3" lift for my fzj80 now. Thanks a bunch guys. Yall rock!!

It's times like this I love living in the USA, depending on were you live you can go rediculously high, but big lifts,big tires means nothing if you don't have good and proper shafts and angles and almost equally important a axle that can handle the tires with breaks that can stop them.

This is a great video loaded with useful info. I have a '93 GMC Suburban with IFS. I would like to lift it to get bigger tires but now I know not to go over a two inch lift (as I suspected). The vehicle has 31" but I would like to fit 35" tires. I have learned that anything bigger such as 37" or more would be a mechanical nightmare for this particular truck. Thanks guys down under for all your great advice.

Thanks mate as a 53 yr old grandfather I still learnt from this Vid...cheers 😀

I’d love a video on all of the snorkels you guys run on your different rigs and why.

This video has made me realize that I need to think about more than just lifting my 4wd. I'm turning my bog stock 1995 TF Holden Rodeo into a work ute and a mad 4wd. I now know what I need to do to make it as good a car as I can thanks to you guys your such an inspiration to me. Can't wait to see if I can meet you guys one day and show you my 4wd.

3" and 35's perfect for every patrol and cruiser

Brilliant video as always! Don’t forget though ever inch you lift on a live axle vehicle, without castor correction it also shorten the wheel base.

2" lift in the 80 series with King springs and it fits 35" tyres pretty easy. Although measuring it up it's probably closer to 3". The arb cheat buttons help it go most places.

G'Day All, I have fitted a 2in Suspension upgrade (TJM) on my 2019 D-Max running 265 AT's, I'm very pleased with the ride, before the upgrade and the ute was fitted with all the extras front and back the standard suspension was flat lined, since fitting great ride, cornering is better, and around better off road, Thanks for the upload can't wait for the next, cheers.

If I wanted to lift my truck 4", I'd just chuck the missus out...

Best lifting video for offroad in RU-vid. Great job!!

If you live on the Gold Coast you NEED a 6”+ lift if you’re a real man on your financed dual cab that never goes off road.....

for a young bloke, jocko has got heaps and heaps of very use full knowledge that can help so many people

ive been in the offroad empire for more than 30 years this is a great video and explains these topics wonderfully..i found one thing id like to point out jock said ( all these vehicles have 2inch lifts and go all over AU with no issues) now depending on how you look at it ..one might consider winching to be an issue and you guys winch alot usually from what i can see its because the vehicle got hung up on something. where as if you all ran lockers and a 4 inch lift and bigger tires it would not happen as much..but like was stated in your video its all about what you wanna do off road.keep the videos coming i love watching your guys adventures..me personally my off road truck is a 1983 f150 4x4 long wheelbase with a 4 inch suspension lift and 3 inch body lift rolling on 35's working dual fuel tanks lockers front and rear front bumper and winch mount made by me with a warn 12k winch among other things on board air a bit of water and on board welder.

That was an amazing video! Great information, well paced, and really well presented and produced. Great work :)

One of the best videos I have seen on explaining all of the necessary modifications needed for a proper lift.

8" gets all the Shiella's, I'm talking lift

This video has me re-thinking what I am going to do with my Jeep YK .. thanks for the knowledge guys.

Need jock and his hilux in more videos

Excellent tutorial! Well done, really good visuals that explain things clearly, that us newbies wouldn’t get from just verbal descriptions. Thanks!

"Are bigger lifts better?" Answer: Buy a solid axel truck.

I learned so much! Thank you Im only lifting my truck a little less than 2 in. Just heavy duty leaf springs in the rear, then even it out in the front with new Bilstein shocks

Running a 3" OME suspension and 33's on my 2004 Toyota Tacoma and I love it! Handles great on the road and amazing on the tracks!

2" Dobinsons coils with Bilstein shocks, guard chop and hello 33s for the Discovery 2.

i'm running an Old Man Emu lift in a Suzuki Samurai. 1.5 inches, spring under. Love it! Handles really nice still, better ride than factory, and flexes nicely. That with some rock sliders, auto lockers front and rear, a set of bumpers and a winch. It will go places that I wouldn't dare take a spring over samurai. All that on 29" tires to keep from breaking axle shafts.

2:47 I live in the States here in Oregon, we don't have severe lift laws. My neighbor has a crew cab Powerstroke on 54" Swampers and sometimes daily drives it. Highway speeds at 65mph easy.

Great video! - much needed, thank you! 35's on a 2" lift seems to work fine on the Nissan Patrol GU 2012. So far off-road, the wheels haven't scrapped body or guards. Has Tough Dog suspension.

Excellent video! I now understand what I need to do to my 18 F150! I was gonna do the dumb thing and go for the 4 inch lift (which involves lots of cutting and cash) but now I can actually look for a 3 in setup that can do well, if not better! Keep the great vids coming👍

these videos you do are insanly good and informative, explanations are so clear, keep it up !!

6" and 40s get amongst it

Bonjour, hi. From saint-hyacinthe, Québec, Canada. Hi have a 2004 toyota 4runner v8 (prado120) with a OME 2.5 inch hd coils lift and it rides like a charm. For better clearance i had a 1.5 inch bodylift. Lots of space for the 255/80r17 (33x10 inch). I Listen to every of your youtube videos. Brings a little bit of heat, joy and sun in this cold winter here !!!!

my n60 get me everywhere with 2 inch lift 32s and rear looker I wish I could sas it but not worth 8g+ to do so it works good as it is and good on road so just send it

Good info Jocko, finally some mention of the legalities. Too many many people put large lifts in vehicles and call it good without proper engineering.

I've got 4 inches and 35s on my 80... handles great and flexes like a mad dog offroad 👌

Great video folks. Has helped me make some decisions with regard to my new Ranger. Much appreciation from this Canadian.

Thanks Jocko that was excellent.

Most infomative vdo ever .... i waz confused abut lifting my SUV ... how much should i go 2 or 4 or 6 ... now i understnd d pros n cons of lifting ... thanks bro ...

Get some GU’s in your videos please @4WD Action, id love to see more of the camera car nulon rig👌

good coverage of the issue though also very specific to Australia. The most common lift size on trucks in the US is the 6 inch lift, which usually allows 37inch tires with plenty of travel. We don't have your extensive engineering laws. It's also much cheaper here than in AUS. You can put a 6 inch lift on most full size trucks for under $3000 US, but these are also leaf spring vehicles in fact a lot convert from front coils to front leafs. Also travel isn't nearly as important as it is for AUS, lifts are mostly a vehicle for getting clearance for 35inch and up tires to deal with soft ground and snow.

WHATS with THE audio SWITCHING between SHOUTING & whispering BETWEEN each SEGMENT?

My sequoia is 2.25” front and 3.24” rear. No sway bar in the rear, solid axle in the rear, long travel socks with limit straps. Helps make up for some flex lost with the lower lift IFS. A locker in the rear makes it ver capable for overlanding.

I run 2” lift and 31’s. I’ve yet to be stopped on a trail because I’m not tall enough.

I'm on a 3.5in lift with 33in hybrid at/Mt tires. 2003 jeep wj , long arms , 4.10 gears, transfer Case clocked for additional 2 in of clearance, low profile tc cross member for additional 1.75 in of clearance, cut off radiator support and made a high clearance support for 2.1 in of extra clearance, heavy trimming of front and rear wheel wells and grind off pinch welds for more clearance, washer bottle relocation, gas tank lifted 11 inches for more clearance, cut out all rocker panels and weld in place 1x 4 in rectangular tube for additional 1.8 inches of side clearance, high clearance steering flip kit . I'm probably missing a few things I did for more clearance but that's what I can remember right now. Oh and all control arm mounts were cut of for more clearances after my double triangulated rear 4 link suspension and front 3 link was installed.

Didn't mention drop boxes? I personally run full superior engineering 4" hyper flex kit with 7" shocks bump stops to suit. Drives beautiful on road and off road. They aren't race cars so don't drive it like one. You get what you pay for. And knowledge is power. Do you research.

Excellent. Finally someone documenting and explaining why solid front axles are superior to IFS.

Should've gone to Superior Engineering mate!

this is really, really good. Extremely thorough but concise, the visuals are superb. I've been reading and watching on this topic for two years and I understand more about what goes on from the first half of this video than all the rest combined. I mean, there's a lot of good stuff by good guys out there but you boys nailed it.

Great vid, but needed a cooking segment in the middle with Gaz and Shauno pissfarting around drunk as usual

Your an absolute LEGEND BRO!! Thoroughly explained, planning on doing a 3 inch lift on a chevy 56 truck and putting 32 inch tyres. Hope all goes well

Got a 4" lift in my ifs hilux for over 2 years, Heavy 4x4ing and long trips with next to no issues, 2" cost $990 3" is $1100 and the 4" was 1300 so when you said each inch is an extra $1000 is a bit over exaggerated

I have fox shocks 2.5" lift with 33s on my 4 runner it does everything I need

Summarize: independent suspension should not be lifted more than 2" - or it gets really expensive. Solid axle can be lifted to 4". But don't do it because it is expensive and makes the vehicle handle like poop. LOL

I run a 2.5 inch OME on a 2018 Jeep JKU and 35 inch tires. I have had to ad a 2 inch spacer on top of the rear spring to help with sag, as it is pretty heavy when loaded. I works great, wife drives it to work 80 miles every day.

3 inch with 33s all day every day

I've Got a 2014 N70..I am running 2 inch lift both front and rear from OME...running 285/70r17 mud tyres...it drive so damn perfect out on the road and off-road 💯💯💯

Laying in bed here in the US and i noticed the lack of leaf spring lift info

Running 3” lift on 31s on my ‘96 Jeep Cherokee. Rode horrible until I deleted the front sway bar. Now rides like a cloud and gets amazing flex offroad

2” lift and 37’s in my series 4 gu patrol, feels a lot better on 37’s than 35’s.

Excellent video Jocko! I own a 2015 Ford F150 (Canadian) with a 3" lift. The lift kit I bought came with a heavier control arm with the angle changed to keep my CV's at or very near where they are from stock. The 3" kit was just under $150 more than a 2" kit was thus why I went with a little more, I figured $150 wasn't bad for an extra inch. But the 4", very expensive & whoever does it has to buy quite a few extras to make the IFS F150 steer, handle, etc., it's nuts!! And the kit itself is over $1000 more than a 2" lift kit is without getting a whole lot more. My kit came with heavier shocks, struts, the upper control arms & bits & pieces for brake lines and such. Anyway, that's why I only lifted my pickup 3", it was an affordable option ($800 in my case) & it gives me enough lift with the new rims & 33" tires I'm easily satisfied with it.

4.0" lift and 31" tires on a TJ, arms changed, unlokers for off-road and it feels very good, a lot of flex and I can drive fast in the road with out any problem

Imagining living Australia and needing a permit to lift your “ute” lol

Absolutely the best suspension video I’ve seen. Great info and very well delivered. Nice work.

I'm running 9 in lift with 38s on my bronco in the usa no problems no hassles from Jonny law

Don't forget in Queensland, that legal 2 inch lift has to include any lift you get from taller tires. If you put on springs that give you 2 inches lift, then put on bigger tires and end up being 2.5 inches taller, you're going to get defected for it eventually.

4 inch lift with my 80 and love it run sway bar rear none in front and twin locked it’s a beast 1HDT love the 80 life

Prado OME 2” Lift with standard size 17” BFG K02. No problems to date and handles better than stock on and off road. 👍🇦🇺

New Zealand 4x4 modifications are more relaxed than in Australia. I have a Jeep TJ on 35s with 3” lift and some body work so the tyres fit. All certified and legal over here.

Suspension changes the entirety of how your vehicle preforms offroad... I just installed OME 886 up the front of my tacoma and its way too stiff!!!! it rides like crap compared to the old stock 3rd gen (sport!) coils. And thats on my 2nd gen! Probably some really great coils, I just applied them wrong. Down-sizing to 885's up front will soften my world! not to mention bringing it back down to the desired 2" over stock Great video!

Yoooou don’t neeeed a sway baaaaar

Thanks boys that's the video I've been waiting for I'm running a 2inch lift and 35s my 79 it's a good ride but over year the previous owner has had some big weight on it and has made it sag so now I'm going to a 3inch lift to clear the 35s and keep the rd driving at it's best

Stupidest lift I’ve seen. Jeep Cherokee on a 3” lift with 20” rims and low profile tyres. Here in Perth. Spent the rest of the day laughing my head off.

The brake or release is feed under pressure, but supplied max range by corner only supply.

So glad I didn’t go big lift on my FJ. I just switched to the trail teams edition set up with level to maybe 2 inch lift on adjustable bilstiens. Handles better than stock.

Super handy visually seeing what happens with a lift in real time.

Best way to fix the panhard rods is to actually drop the towers so the rod sits relatively flat, that way even through travel the diff has bugger all movement

One of the best setups I used to run was on my Jeep cj7, 3.5" lift,31"x11.5"-15" rims, 15"x8" wide with 3/4 center offset to the inside ( sorry I didn't use metric, I'm feeling lazy today), 4 speed trans,258 inline 6cyl. With a little torque modification and around 3:90 something rears or 4:11 ( I can't remember which). She went everywhere,drove great in city and hiway. Now I just have just under 4" custom lift and 33" rubber on my 85' dodge w-150.

I have a quality 2" inch lift and 32's on my dual cab, handles and drives better than ever. Cheers for the tips.

This is true of IFS. However, with some vehicles, such as the Nissan Xterra, you can also widen the stance be length if the LCA, UCA, tie rods, and drive shaft. This is known as a “Titan” swap. This helps lower the extreme angles of doing a 4” lift on an Xterra. A Titan Swap, is taking the entire front end of Nissan Titan and putting it under the Xterra. My 2012 Nissan Xterra I run 4.5” lift. Titan Swapped. 35” tires. USA) My 2021 Ford Bronco Sport 2” lift, 31” tires.

From what I got from this video is 2" is best overall unless you rarely drive on the streets. 2" is cheaper, less aftermarket parts, and will still get you where you want to go.

My newly installed tough dog leaf springs on my Pajero are only giving 1.3" lift. Not 2" lift as I had expected. Disappointing but it seems to be doing good with 31" tyres

This is why I like lift spring vehicles. Usually most factory vehicles are leaf under axle so you can easily gain 3- 3 1/2 in by doing spring over and requiring me to have to fabricate and weld on new perches where the pinion angle will be reset anyway not becoming an issue. As far as steering goes I build a custom Z bent drop link to tie into the center link for steering. Brake hoses are tossed and new stainless flex goes in with proper strain brackets. Awesome3-1/2 in build for the cost of a few pieces of steel and some longer shocks and brake hoses. I understand not everyone is capable of fabricating their own parts and welding them on. Those who can have a cost saving advantage 👍

I have a 4" Zone sus on my 2015 Ram Ecodiesel. I like it, just don't get the heavy duty upper control arms because the angles on your ball joints will be all wrong.

Great video Jocko we need to see you more in the videos mate 👍

I’m a workshop owner that’s also a wheel alignment specialist If you want to break cv joints , bend steering knuckles and wear out your steering rack on any independent front suspension vehicle simply raise your vehicle higher that 50 mm.

Dude... this video has fantastic tips. Thank you for this, you point out lots of things to think about that most people wouldnt. Liked Subbed

Fantastic Explanations. Simple and concise! Thanks for putting this together

Doing big independent suspension lifts well means using longer suspension arms and associated driveshafts, brake lines, etc. Much more work and cost, of course, but this gives a great opportunity to reenngineer the suspension for superior travel, kinematics, etc. The wider where track adds much needed stability to compensate for the higher center of mass.

Great clip boys. 50mm lift kit from TJM with 31" tyres. As yet Untested on technical tracks.

3" and 38's with Marlins rclt. 3rd gen taco. Perfection.

I actually left my jeep stock lift.. it goes everywhere i wanna go and has a great ride on and off the trail. Im not a rock crawler or mud bogger so i dont need all that extra lift and really big tires , i went up in tire size to the manufacturer recommended largest size and its perfect no rubbing and 19 inches of ground clearance on the body...