Lift or Locker before MCR5

[Wermz84]

OK, just like it says folks..  I'm going to try and do one of these before the round up and I had been leaning toward a lift kit and tires.  But It had been suggested to do a locker first, so I thought I'd do a poll and see what the consensus was.  I now they are both important but I can only do one before hand, so which one and why?

What I have.

It's an 84 with stock 29"ish tires, worn shocks, and springs that are so worn that they actually bow backwards.  It is my daily driver and I use it for my work vehicle, so I would rather not have it permanently locked for practicallity.

What I am thinking.

4" lift with 33's to start with.
  OR
If I did a locker I am leaning toward ARB with onboard air.  (due to reason above, plus onboard air.)


OK lets see what happens..
thanks

[Ramrod]

2" lift shackles in front and an aussie locker with 33"s and that thing will wheel like crazy and the tires shouldn't rub bad.  I ran that setup and loved it on my first gen

[DTB]

2" lift shackles in front and an aussie locker with 33"s and that thing will wheel like crazy and the tires shouldn't rub bad.  I ran that setup and loved it on my first gen

I like that idea. a combination of both  and spend the rest of it on

[Wermz84]

2" lift shackles in front and an aussie locker with 33"s and that thing will wheel like crazy and the tires shouldn't rub bad.  I ran that setup and loved it on my first gen

hmm    

  You know, you were the one that got me thinking about this in the first place..   

[Wermz84]

  I like that idea. a combination of both  and spend the rest of it on

     

[motorider228]

I agree with ramrod. That would still be way cheaper than an arb and on board air. you should do what he suggested and invest on some good body armor too.

[Wermz84]

I agree with ramrod. That would still be way cheaper than an arb and on board air. you should do what he suggested and invest on some good body armor too.

Body is very, very High on my list.  Problem is I have no welding/fab skills, but I can wrench.  I went to a local 4x4 shop and got a quote to weld on my rocksliders.  $450   No thanks, time to do what I do best..  Figure it out and learn how to do it.. anyhoo


Thanks for the input motorider..

keep em coming!

[DTB]

  I went to a local 4x4 shop and got a quote to weld on my rocksliders.  $450  

I still think that's  :bull crap: mang.  It should cost around $100 to get those puppies welded on at any good shop.   

[Ramrod]

well i should be living in sac by roundup oclock and I have a welder you could just stop by and weld them on the way :driving:but yeah sliders are a must have especially for a lesser built truck and you can pivot on them if your doin more technical stuff.  but besides that your truck wont have a single problem with that setup and a good spotter

[Rocksurfer]

Pull the 3rd member and have it welded, or get a spool for $150.00 bucks. Now go get some shackles not real big ones but maybe inch and a halfers. I've done the Rubicon with pretty much that setup except I had detroits. You should have no problem in the technical areas with those gears you won. There are bypasses for most of the really hard sections.

[motorider228]

he said his only reason why he didnt want to weld it or spool it is because it's his daily driver.

[Rocksurfer]

He should quit whinning about it being a dd and weld that puppy, I welded my dd it was no big deal.

[BLACKDOG]

Another vote for a mild lift, and a locker  as for the sliders, I'm sure you can find someone on the baord in your area that'll weld them on for a case of    $450 is bogus

mabye toss your rears up front, get some junkyard springs for the rear, (or some marlins, if you can swing it) and mabye find some used tires

He should quit whinning about it being a dd and weld that puppy, I welded my dd it was no big deal.

  My locker is in a permanent locked position, so its basically the same thing.  My truck is also a DD, and I promise, its not that bad

[84_yota_4wd]

k man ive got an 84 too ivew got a 6" lift and some 33" aqnd i will be welded front back before the con. dude dont go sackles untill u have springs. do some rears up front its easy and inexpensive. the take some f 150 springs and take ur rear pack apart and use ur top leaf possible top two leafs and add the rest of the f 150 leafs minus the to leaf from those real easy real cheap. if u do go with shackle 2" lift sahckles are $45 bucks at the 4 wheel drive parts store. the real beaFY I GOT EM ON MY TRUCK AS FOR TIRES I MIGHT DONT COUNT ON IT BUT MIGHT have new ones by then and if i do i will give em to ya. 

but 33" arnt thart had to come by ne ways if ur not picky. and where r u located at if ur close to fresno im gonna be doin my sliders soon as soon as i can find a decent welder., and would be happy to help u make em and weld em on for free as long as u bring the material and want to learn.

i just want to se as many people go to the rubicon and would jumpo at the chance to help some1 cause so many people have helped me.

[synwars]

and would be happy to help u make em and weld em on for free as long as u bring the material and want to learn.

i just want to se as many people go to the rubicon and would jumpo at the chance to help some1 cause so many people have helped me.

Now that's positive attitude & feedback I like to see!!! I love this board.

Wermy, I'm gonna have to agree with everyone. You will benefit the most if you do a little bit of everything. Throw a couple extra cut down leaves and 2" longer shackles (5.5"-6") to your packs, and either weld or Aussie the rear. 33" tires will help with axle clearance and approach angles. Sliders are good too. I still don't have any, but I hear they work good.

[blackdiamond]

I would suggest a combo lift and locker plan.

For the cost of an ARB you could get a full Skyjacker or Superlift suspension kit (about 4 inches) and put an Aussie Locker in the rear.

My daily driver has a Detroit in the rear and it isn't too bad on the street, I suspect an Aussie Locker would be less invasive since it is a much softer locker (I have one in the front and have played with them on the jack stands to see the difference).  I used to have a full Superlift suspension system on my truck; the front springs are great (still have them) and the rears did ok but were a bit stiff so I upgraded to an Alcan pack.  I think the Skyjacker kit might have better rear springs.

Also, if you want to run larger tires, transfer case gears will help way more than lockers or a lift.  Control is the best way to avoid body damage.

Just my 

[skid]

If I had to chose one, lock it up.  Never seen such a dramatic difference in performance.   Once you do tires, you'll want to do gears.  Plus, when you do stuff on stock tires, everyone's impressed.

[synwars]

If I had to chose one, lock it up. 

I agree, in priority sequence, lockers first.

[Wermz84]

i just want to se as many people go to the rubicon and would jumpo at the chance to help some1 cause so many people have helped me.

  This is why I love this board and do not belong to any others...     The overall attitude on some of the other boards blows!!

Thank you for the offer 84_yota, there are a couple of people from the board who are going to help me get my sliders.  Thing is we are just all busy so it's a matter of coordinating the time to get together for the three of us..

I still think that's  :bull crap: mang.  It should cost around $100 to get those puppies welded on at any good shop.   

The going shop rate was $90 an hour..  Damn Santa Cruz is expensive for everything..   

[Shoyrtt]

Aussie lockers IMO are the best bang for the buck.

[Wermz84]

I'll Right!!  I am glad I posted this up. This is going in a direction I never even though of.     I will get stuck focusing on extremes in one area. 

A little bit of both seems to be the general concensus.   I think I like it.




Running to the Auto wrecker right now, be back later to talk more about it.  and probably ask more questions.. 




thanks Everybody. 

[BLACKDOG]

I would suggest a combo lift and locker plan.

For the cost of an ARB you could get a full Skyjacker or Superlift suspension kit (about 4 inches) and put an Aussie Locker in the rear.
I used to have a full Superlift suspension system on my truck; the front springs are great (still have them) and the rears did ok but were a bit stiff so I upgraded to an Alcan pack.
  I think the Skyjacker kit might have better rear springs.
but yo udon't even have to do that.  Seriously, junkyards are your friends.  you'll be happier with Junkyard springs than with either of these companies IMO.  Skyjacker is for mallcrawling, and everyone I know with superlift is unhappy with them.  Spotter's brother has marlin springs to throw in his truck, to replace his superlift springs


Also, if you want to run larger tires, transfer case gears will help way more than lockers or a lift.  Control is the best way to avoid body damage.

bd, he's already got them, this here is the lucky winner of the gear giveaway!!

Just my 

Overall, I'd say ideally to have it ready to run the 'con, would be about 4"s of lift, some 33"s, mabye 35"s, weld the rear, aussie the front, and throw in your 4.7s and of course, the all important sliders

[motorider228]

It's really not even just a little bit of both because some people have done some good lifting really flexible setups using rears up front and 63 inch chevies or f150's out back and a locker like an aussie. If you had a good flexy suspension using cheap springs, some 33's, sliders, 4.88's and some 4.7:1's in your case that thing would wheel really well actually. You would be able to do all that really cheap too. But for now you could do all that minus the diff and tcase gears for less than the arb.

[couchracing]

I just moved and don't have my shop set up yet, but I'm in aptos and can weld them up for you. I only have a Tig right now, but I think I can get it done. Scott @ 510 719-5339.

[84_yota_4wd]

yea man no prob. ukm yea whatever u do get a locker or weld it cause when u get high centered that locker is a lifesaver

[Wermz84]

OK.    So far we've got 10 to 3 for some sort of locker first..            I can't ignore that.   

Ive been doing a lot of reading, and debating.  This is what Ive dug up so far in addition to what has been said in this thread.

  Anybody have an Aussie Locker

  Locker in the rear?

  whats the deal with this aussie locker?

  Anybody broken an aussie locker yet?

  Degroit vs. Aussie

  aussie locker?

 
So, for around $240 Aussie for Toyota this will definatly be what I do next.      It seems like a good bang for the buck, and I'd just rather not weld it.  Still debating about some sort of lift..

  About six months ago, I bought an 86 Rear axle.  This might be the time to pull it out of start working on that and get the locker in it.  Once I figure out my lift I suppose.

[synwars]

Good call.

[84_yota_4wd]

ya dude good call. like i said rears up front!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! will help alot and r good!!!!!!!!!!! haha cant wait to c uup there man

[84_yota_4wd]

just for sh!ts and gigles here my 84 the 1 im takin to the con cant wait haha

[synwars]

Sorry to go OT on ya, but dang, you're a big kid! I wouldn't want to mess with you in traffic!