Another PW lifted with Blocks and Spacers

[myoung84]

Finally installed my lift spacers this weekend. Went with 2" up front and 1.5" in back. I know a lot of you frown upon spacers, but it works for me. Already have bad wheel hop in sand so it's not the end of the world if it gets a little worse. And I hate driving in sand anyways. The axle is off centered a little so I'll be buying a new adjustable track bar soon, either Carli or Pure Performance. Don't really see a need to go with longer control arms just yet since my tires clear just fine, but they are on the list. On road manners haven't changed a bit, haven't had a chance to take it off road yet.

This is as high as I am going. I'm at 83" to the top of the cab lights, and that gets a little close in parking garages. I was in a 7' parking garage this evening at the hospital and it was scary close! It also just barely clears my garage door so I can still change my oil in the garage, can't spare another inch though. I can also easily clear 35's if I want in the future.

Pictures aren't the best. I'll get more later after it's cleaned up a little.

[vanished]

I learned the hard way that just because the clearance lights clear doesn't mean the satellite antenna will.. just saying.. and I'm stock height with 35's... sign said 7', but I still don't believe it!

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[myoung84]

LOL. Driving on the level parts wasn't bad but it got REAL close going up the ramps!

[Throttle 8]

I was at a touchless car wash this week. The clearance bar said 83". I opened the sunroof and saw that I cleared it by 1/2". That puts my truck at 82.5" with stock suspension and 35's.

[VA_Wagon Man]

Nice looking truck. Where did you get the rear blocks?

Sent from the middle of nowhere.

[myoung84]

Topguncustomz. They are the best designed blocks I have found. They have three pins on the bottom side to make sure they stay located. Also, no chance of them cracking like cast iron blocks.

[myoung84]

Carli Track Bar has been ordered!

[GunniPWguy]

Nice truck man. looks like a mod my wallet could live with. What brand are the front spacers?

[myoung84]

Thanks! Spacers and blocks are both from Top Gun Customz.

[myoung84]

Thanks! Spacers and blocks are both from Top Gun Customz.

[dmclaughlin11]

Finally installed my lift spacers this weekend. Went with 2" up front and 1.5" in back. I know a lot of you frown upon spacers, but it works for me. Already have bad wheel hop in sand so it's not the end of the world if it gets a little worse. And I hate driving in sand anyways. The axle is off centered a little so I'll be buying a new adjustable track bar soon, either Carli or Pure Performance. Don't really see a need to go with longer control arms just yet since my tires clear just fine, but they are on the list. On road manners haven't changed a bit, haven't had a chance to take it off road yet.

This is as high as I am going. I'm at 83" to the top of the cab lights, and that gets a little close in parking garages. I was in a 7' parking garage this evening at the hospital and it was scary close! It also just barely clears my garage door so I can still change my oil in the garage, can't spare another inch though. I can also easily clear 35's if I want in the future.

Pictures aren't the best. I'll get more later after it's cleaned up a little.

Hi there, I just joined this forum specifically so I can ask more about your truck, as I have a 2012 stock power wagon.

I am looking to get new tires and was entertaining the idea of maybe putting a leveling kit on, but have read a lot of pushback when it comes to modding these power wagons, as you mentioned in your post.

My question to you is, how do/did you like that 2" front spacer? do you think the ride would be okay if I only this the front spacer and not the back? I use this as my daily driver and don't go offroading (except for hunting and camping a few times a year, but I am not really flexing the suspension a bunch at all). But I would like to figure out how to get larger tires on this ride.

Also I am planning on keeping my stock wheels for the next set of tires, what's the biggest size do you think works best if I just leave the suspension alone? And same question for if I added the front spacer?

I have read that a lot of people even run 35s with stock suspension, and get a little rubbing when going offroad. But as I mentioned, I don't do a lot of offroading.

I have been leaning towards the 285/75 r17's but im also wondering if the stock suspension has rom for more.

hope to hear back from you soon! thank you.

-Dean

[Ducky's Dad]

have read a lot of pushback when it comes to modding these power wagons

There is no resistance to modding PWs. Any resistance you may have sensed is to dumb mods. There is a difference.

[dmclaughlin11]

have read a lot of pushback when it comes to modding these power wagons

There is no resistance to modding PWs. Any resistance you may have sensed is to dumb mods. There is a difference.

That is precisely why I am inquiring about this subject on this forum. I am turning to you experienced Power Wagon owners to see what constitutes a "dumb mod". For instance, does installing a leveling kit a dumb mod? What about increasing tire size while keeping everything stock? What about increasing tire size AND installing a leveling kit? Etc.... thanks

[Ducky's Dad]

Mine is a 3G so somewhat different from a 4G. My usual opinion is that leveling kits are a dumb mod and not useful for anything but looks if you don't really need the clearance for the tires you want to run. Most 3G and apparently 4G PWs will easily run 35s with stock suspension, so you probably don't need a leveling kit for that. On the other hand, a leveling kit will shift the weight of the truck a tiny bit toward the rear tires, so can help mitigate understeer on a empty truck. On the third hand, raising the nose is not at all helpful on a truck that actually hauls stuff. Example: Second generation Tundras understeer horribly on stock suspension, even with good tires and shocks. My 2008 Tundra was so bad that I put on a leveling kit to make it handle better on the road, and it worked. Toyota actually figured it out on the more recent Tundras and included a small front-only lift on the TuRD Pro package and it helps a bunch on the new Tundras. PWs don't usually need that kind of help. Heavy loads in a lot of Tundras with the CrewMax cab are a non-issue because the bed is so damn small. Also not an issue on a PW. So, if all you want to do is run 35s on stock suspension and wheels, skip the leveling kit and save your money. Stock PW wheels are fine with 35x12.50 Toyos.

[Colibri]

35’s on factory wheels should be completely fine for you. I wouldn’t worry about a leveling kit at all.

The thing about a leveling spacer is you also need to extend your bumpstop so you’re losing a bit of travel.

If you find you want it leveled after you get the 35’s on there I’d suggest getting some Thuren front coils. It will ride better than stock or stock+spacer and they’re not much more costly.

A lift won’t help clear big tires, if you’re still using factory bump. That’s what determines what fits. Unless you lift 6” and do the corresponding bump drops a lift won’t affect your tire choice really

[dmclaughlin11]

35’s on factory wheels should be completely fine for you. I wouldn’t worry about a leveling kit at all.

The thing about a leveling spacer is you also need to extend your bumpstop so you’re losing a bit of travel.

If you find you want it leveled after you get the 35’s on there I’d suggest getting some Thuren front coils. It will ride better than stock or stock+spacer and they’re not much more costly.

A lift won’t help clear big tires, if you’re still using factory bump. That’s what determines what fits. Unless you lift 6” and do the corresponding bump drops a lift won’t affect your tire choice really

Thanks to both of these latest posts. I couldn't find a straight answer on the existing forums to answer my base question unless I asked it myself. I look forward to being a part of this forum, and soon I will post in the newbies section to tell you all a little about myself and my PW

[Momstmg]

If you install the thuren front springs, do you have to add a new track bar or anything else? Thanks in advance

[13powerwagon]

https://www.thurenfabrication.com/tech/ ... tment.html

The link above has a fairly detailed explanation on tire fitment.

[Low_Sky]

Finally installed my lift spacers this weekend.

Hi there, I just joined this forum specifically so I can ask more about your truck, as I have a 2012 stock power wagon.

.....

hope to hear back from you soon! thank you.

-Dean

Welcome, Dean. You replied to ~6 year old post. Myoung84 doesn't post on this forum any more, so don't expect a reply from him. You should be able to get some useful info from other 2009-2014 owners, the suspension is the same through those model years. Best of luck.

[Bill2014]

Finally installed my lift spacers this weekend.

Hi there, I just joined this forum specifically so I can ask more about your truck, as I have a 2012 stock power wagon.

.....

hope to hear back from you soon! thank you.

-Dean

Welcome, Dean. You replied to ~6 year old post. Myoung84 doesn't post on this forum any more, so don't expect a reply from him. You should be able to get some useful info from other 2009-2014 owners, the suspension is the same through those model years. Best of luck.

Suspension changed from '13 to '14. My '13 Power Wagon had rear leaves and my '14 has coils.

[TommyG]

Dean I have a 2012 and am on 37s with no lift or leveling kit. I did do the Thuren control arms to move the front axle ahead as much as possible. I rub a tiny bit at the rear of the fender well with the 37s on the factory wheels. I think you should be fine on 35s. I would echo others and say skip the leveling kit. It will not help with tire fitment and has some downsides. There are some reasonable options for getting a little more lift and improving the ride of your truck in the process down the road if you still want to.

Welcome to the Circus! Glad you are here.

[RustyPW]

If you install the thuren front springs, do you have to add a new track bar or anything else? Thanks in advance

If you install Thuren 3" springs. You will have to add a trackbar to get the axle centered under the truck. The length would be about 39 1/4".

[Low_Sky]

Hi there, I just joined this forum specifically so I can ask more about your truck, as I have a 2012 stock power wagon.

.....

hope to hear back from you soon! thank you.

-Dean

Welcome, Dean. You replied to ~6 year old post. Myoung84 doesn't post on this forum any more, so don't expect a reply from him. You should be able to get some useful info from other 2009-2014 owners, the suspension is the same through those model years. Best of luck.

Suspension changed from '13 to '14. My '13 Power Wagon had rear leaves and my '14 has coils.

Typo, good catch.


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[adeluca73]

have read a lot of pushback when it comes to modding these power wagons

There is no resistance to modding PWs. Any resistance you may have sensed is to dumb mods. There is a difference.

That is precisely why I am inquiring about this subject on this forum. I am turning to you experienced Power Wagon owners to see what constitutes a "dumb mod". For instance, does installing a leveling kit a dumb mod? What about increasing tire size while keeping everything stock? What about increasing tire size AND installing a leveling kit? Etc.... thanks

I run TRUXX PW 1.5” spacer blocks on top of my front springs. My truck is essentially level, maybe ½” rake. I don’t tow very much & my PW is NOT my DD. My truck is used for recreation, a few camping trips, a 2-wk deer hunting trip in N. Mich every fall, and weekend bird hunting trips in the winter.

I don’t purposely off-road, race, or jump my PW, but I don’t avoid any off-road situations either when I’m using it for recreation and have had no issues running the spacer with my truck locked-up, in 4H/4L, or with the sway bar unlocked. The stock shocks suck & the springs are a tad stiff & the front bump stops are painful...if $ is tight, I’d run it, I have for nearly 2.5 yrs...But I did buy the Thuren kit, the spacers were always just a temporary place holder for me.