1997 RA Rodeo suspension lift and tyres

Check with ARB as I'm sure OME have shocks for you. I added leaf to my 2000mdl and wouldn't go down that path. Great load carrying but harsh ride unladen. In my research I would of gone with Enforcer 50mmm lifted leaf packs. I told this to my mate and he put them on his Rodeo. Nice ride good load carrying and 50mm hight to boot! I would recomend greasable shackles and give them a squirt every couple of months. Would try stick with the rubber bushes. Those nolothene (sp??) are too harsh also and the grease seems to dry up very quickly then the bush starts wearing. Don't wind the torsion bars up too high. 30mm max for reliability. I have gone all the way with up to 70mm but CV's beware....
Get some 31*10.5*15 tyres on Navara offset rims ($45 each...cheap as chips and they look good) I found the BFG tyres in a 31" were a larger diameter than the coopers (you would think they were all the same...but No) On the std 16 rims you may consider 235*85*16 which is equivalent to a 32" tire. I haven't tried this pesonally but have seen a couple of Redeos getting around fine with these tires. I had a V6 petrol and mates have diesels but none have probs with gearing and you wont either. Do a search and you will find heaps. Make sure you select 'Both' in 'Swithch Post View' when you do your search so you can search the archives.

Leroy

Could I just do the old trick of putting the rear axle assembly under the standard leaf springs instead of on top as it currently is and winding up the front torsion bars?

Utemad

Check the archives, there was a bloke lookin at a Calimini one, $3500 and he thought it was cheap + fitting that was too....

Utemad,
I can see your problem here. But you will find it hard to get real help with a 1997 RA Rodeo. I also believe the 2.6's had been dropped for the RA's. You must sure have one unique RA if it is a 1997 model.

Cheers,

Dion.

I looked into enforcer suspension and they are still in business.

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I think January 1997 brought the new shape however it was not until early 1998 that the new shape got the new V6 engine. I actually avoided the V6 as friends of mine had them (I bought my '97 in 2000) and said the fuel economy was woeful. Some of them actually sold their V6 Rodeos because of it (although the money they lost on the sale probably would have bought a lot of petrol). One guy also had a HSV Maloo ute and reckoned that it got better economy than his V6 Rodeo.

Utemad

Check out the Air Bag Man site for Firestone inflatable air bag kits. Much stronger looking than the alternative polyairs. Either way you get adjustable load carrying capacity & may be able to remove a leaf if using the air bags (bout $700 I think)