Re:Gen4 lift options and queries

I suspect it depends on the springs in each kit.

Jimnybits tends to come out slightly higher than advertised (we once fitted a 2" kit and it came out nearer 3")

Trailmaster tends to only just make the advertised spec (ie 50mm is just about 50mm).

So I would guess that in test fitting their kits each manufacturer had a difference experience of the precise fit of their lift and what changes if any were needed.

The Trailmaster kits were fitted in conjunction with a Suzuki dealer in Germany, indeed the test model was for sale on the dealer forecourt for a while so I believe that it does not need the extra parts. I will see for myself when we fit ours.

Obviously I can't speak to the gen4 or really to the trailmaster comfort dampers but I do have the sport ones on my none lifted gen3 and they are very firm. They rule the suspension with an iron fist. When empty and just pottering around they are too much really. However if you have a loaded back they make perfect sense and control the movement of the body perfectly. Equally if you are empty and driving assertively then they really come alive, the whole system becomes perfectly predictable and uniform, in the dry in controlled circumstances it is very possible to embarrass some quite serious performance vehicle in terms of handling. You're welcome to have a gentle demo in October if it helps.

Some great posts in here, now thinking that a Trailmaster comfort kit will be the way to go once I've got some money. Hopefully by then Martin will have [strike]been a guineapig[/strike] had his fitted :laugh:

A lady on FB has had the Black Raptor kit fitted and it looks too high to me, now needs bigger wheels!

Having done a little re-search on 4x4 lifts & damper extension etc, am I right in saying the following?

1. The gen.4 Zook cannot handle a damper extension of more than 45mm. "Note the jimny needs longer brake hoses on the front and a new cross member if the shocks are longer than 45mm in extension, so this kit only has 1" longer front shocks to stop this problem "

2. If the trail master kit remedies this problem by supplying front dampers that are only 25mm longer than the stock dampers, however maintains 50mm lift springs, so vehicle stance is unaffected but the shocks are far more likely to 'top out' during off roading? I mean we're only talking an inch here.. splitting hairs I know, but for people considering the trail master kit its a worthy consideration. You'd affectively be loosing a small amount of articulation and potentially "topping out" your setup which isn't healthy.

3. Roam overlanding fitted a set of Gabriel dampers & 2" lift springs - they looked considerably longer than the stock dampers but he didn't allude to any issues.

Little bit disappointing to hear the gen.4 needs "more work" in order to give it a traditional 2" + lift, long term hopefully more kits will become available and there will be some clearer demo photos/videos shared with fellow owners on the varying options out there! Replacing the stock X brace cross member will be a little disconcerting for some with a new vehicle I'm sure.

EDIT: For all those interested, there is a video on youtube walking through the installation of the trail master kit, all be it in german..... lol. Anyone mechanically minded can see what he's referring too. It's a useful insight! and hey you may learn some german..

Words of wisdom from Dagzook. All this stuff sounds familiar, I once had a great interest in lift kits but I'm not so keen anymore. I have spent a lot of time under Toyotas trying to compensate for all the issues arising from a good lift.
I remember some advice given to me years back,
Rule 1 Be sure you really need a lift
Rule 2 See above
Many people lift a car to improve its appearance but the trade offs in general usability can be huge. In the case of the Gen4 I suspect this vehicle is just too new to the market. Give it another 12 months and the check the Australian kit makers, they seem to get it right more often than not.
Chris

Some suspension news from ARB (and Old Man Emu)

www.arb.com.au/suzuki-jimny-2019-present...-emu-4x4-suspension/

Looks like a great quality kit, clearly a lot of work has gone into it. No price specified on the website as of yet.. neither is there any info on whether us plucky brits will be able to get our hands on them easily either.