2011 expy lift options

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maxpedition11

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Hey there!
I have a 2011 XLT that I'm interested in leveling/lifting for improved off-road performance.

I ski a lot in the winter and hunt/fish year-round, so I often find myself in snow and rough forest roads most weekends. And I'm usually hauling a full crew of passengers. I want a bit more clearance and some beefier tires, but since I've never lifted or done any suspension work, I'm unfamiliar with the options. I don't want a ridiculous lift that puts excessive stress on other suspension parts, decreases handling/towing capacity etc. Just want more clearance and a smoother ride in the boonies.

Looking for recommendations on lift setups etc. cheers.
 

drankinatty

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I'll play that little voice in the back of your head asking the tough questions like "Do I really need a lift?" If you do, then I'm sure others will be able to provide a good kit review or suggestion, but here is why the questions from your little voice are important.

SUV's have a high center of gravity to begin with. Years of engineering have gone into minimizing rollover risk. The primary contributor to the risk is the ride-height of the vehicle. When you lift the vehicle, you obviously raise the height and unless there is a corresponding increase in the width, you have made the problem worse.

After starting to lift vehicles in high school metal shop in the early 80's, and in the 40+ years of vehicle ownership since, I'm a firm believer in preserving the stock ride-height, wheels and tire sizes on any highway vehicle. For a hunting-only vehicle or offroad-only vehicle, sure, go nuts, that's what they are for. But not for your daily driver.

I've never had a lifted vehicle that didn't have decreased ride comfort or increased tire wear to some extent. Some kits are quite good, and quite expensive, and they resolve a majority of the additional steering and drive-line angle problems caused by a suspension lift.

A body-lift is simply a shift of the center-of-gravity skyward. But a small body lift for tire clearance leave the rest of the drive-line and suspension geometry unchanged.

If you decide you need a lift, then carefully consider how much lift is required. More isn't always better. A 1" body lift to cure a tire clearance problem comes with less risk and fewer problems that a 4" suspension lift.

It's up to you, but there have been years of engineering that has gone into resolving the SUV rollover problem, and many expensive lessons learned. That's why it's worth listening to that little voice in your head and answering that nagging question of "Do I really need a lift?".

(of course at 16, I'd of just grabbed the cutting-torch, the arc-welder, a 2-foot bar of 2x4 cold-rolled steel, cut it on the ban-saw, milled the axle cup, and gone to town :)
 
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