RCD 6" Lift Explanation

I am looking for a little help in understanding how the RCD 6" lift works for our first gen tundras. I am considering such a lift for more clearance to put on some possible 35" tires. I do mainly overlanding, but occasionally hit a tough obstacle that I want more clearance for.

How does lift scenario achieve its height, and is it considered "substandard". I am not a lift expert so need a little help understanding before I consider more.

 

I consider subframe lifts substandard because you dont get extra travel, and the rear usually uses blocks. Im sure they’re fine for the mall crawler crowd that just wants big tires, but moving the suspension further from the chassis seems like more leverage for wiggle.

i had a buddy with a 8+” subframe lift and big wheels and tires on his mid 2010’s 1500 silverado, and he was constantly replacing bushings, bearings, steering bits. Then, when he took it through water ‘helping’ during hurricane harvey his rear axle seals failed, and the diff filled with water. He also had a body lift, so you could see alot of chassis.

 

I believe the RCD lift is discontinued by the manufacturer so you'll have to buy used or find a vendor that still has stock.

The RCD is a drop-bracket lift which will require you to cut out your cross member and "permanently" modify the truck, but with this type of kit you can use your stock upper control arms and coils, maybe shocks. They use taller spindles (knuckles) which connect to your lower and upper control arms. The taller spindle accommodate for the lowers being brought down by the drop bracket. A good quality suspension lift can be used in conjunction with a drop bracket lift.

The drop bracket allows you to get more ground clearance mainly via the bigger tires. A good quality suspension lift will have the added bonus of a better ride and increased suspension travel (helpful for those tough obstacles you describe). You can easily take off a suspension lift and return the truck to stock if you want to sell it that way, they're not permanent.

But on a first gen Tundra, fitting 35's using only a quality suspension lift will require you to cut into the cab (see here: https://www.tundras.com/threads/big-booty-judy-pic-heavy.30593/page-11#post-2671010)

 

So are you running 34s now or 35s? I looked at your build thread - nice truck! We have a lot of similar items, including KB voodoo rack, skid row full plate set, etc. I am running a 2005 AC.

 

That's @Casper421 's truck, but I agree it is a nice truck.

 

Ha! I got confused. Thanks. @Casper421 - are you running 35s now? If so, I am curious on your experience. I am thinking of going the same route... Not sure what shop you used / if you tubbed yet, but I am guessing you are on Socal, and so am I.

 

I will be tubbing the firewall after the suspension is rebuilt. Not on 35’s yet but will be before T2S. Im in NorCal and Rock and Road is rebuilding the icons and doing the tub. I don’t have the time to do it at home.

 

I've got the RCD "6"" lift and I'll tell you , it's not actually a 6" lift. The lift came on my Tundra when I bought it. They say you can have a 4" or 6" lift from the same system. They say all you have to do is adjust the front shocks to either have a 4" or 6" lift. I always found that puzzling. What about the rear? I even e-mailed RCD about it and they never got back to me. It's a 4" lift with an option to level the front, which they consider the 6" lift option. The kit comes with 4" blocks for the rear. There's no 6" option. All that being said, without long arming it or going full custom, it's the best 4" kit out there. The only things they could do better would be to offer tubular upper arms and supply lifted springs, instead of blocks, for the rear. I like the proper front diff drop and the supports for the dropped subframe. The knuckles are beefy too.

 

Probably dumb but saw on website says fits tundra 2000-2003 but it should fit 04-06 too yeah? and doesnt matter if 4dr or extra cab right?

 

It matters a lot.


Also a 6" body lift doesn't raise your diff. Any higher. Trying to stuff 35's for off-road use is gonna require a good amount of body work a replacing basically every suspension component. I would recommend looking into solomotorsports and their LT options. It'll be wayyyyyy less of a headache

edit: also, you'll be lifting your truck about 10" high from where you enter. If you do 35's and a 6" body lift. Possibly higher.

I'm not saying don't do it, I'm just saying prepare yourself

 

ftfy.

@flash989 you may want to check out the "Suspension, wheel and tires ..." section over here for a good chunk of input with lifting/tires/etc. That thread isn't just me talking, I worked with others to assemble it based on the experiences of dozens of other community members.

 

All I know is it fits my '05 DC. It works well, rides really nicely and I think it looks good. I'm getting close to needing new tires so I'll be having to decide some things when that goes down.

 

35's on the 1st gen are a pretty serious commitment. I'd make sure you really need 35's before you go down that road. 33-34 especially the skinny tires can get you pretty close with a lot less work (255/85/17).

 

285/75/17 here.....if I went off-road, something from the fender well would get ripped out 100%

 

I'm running 275/65R20 right now and they've been great. I've got some 17" snowflake rims that I'm going to go with when it's time for new rubber. I'm planning on going with something as close to the same size as I can.

 

I'm just gonna assume you got spacers. A 34" tire w/ +whatever offset stock snowflakes are will not be fun. I'm currently at -37 (-12mm wheels and 1"(25mm) spacer and rubbed the pinch weld. At compression/off-road use, lights out fender liner/windshield fluid res.

I'm also 2WD.

 

No spacers. Just the RCD lift. To be honest, I'm not sure the offset of my current rims. The came on the rig when I bought it.

 

Take a wheel off and look for a stamp. Most wheels have the specs stamped on them somewhere. Usually inside the wheel on one of the spokes

there's already a LOT of threads on wheel size info. But the low down is this.

Our trucks prefer tall over wide. But a 33" will probably be the absolute max you use for street AND off-road use without it being a clearancing nightmare.

You also risk rubbing frame or front bumper with the wrong offset.

a lot to read up on my guy.

 

I don't think anyone here is talking about a body lift. The RCD lift, surely isn't one.

 

So now that the 4-6” KIT is discounted for the 04-06’ does that mean there aren’t any replacement parts for it if it breaks.? Or are there parts available.. I want to buy an 06’ with it already installed but not if it isn’t fixable if it breaks.. thanks for any help folks

 

Main thing in the kit that hypothetically could break or bend and be an issue to replace is the knuckle, but that's not a common failure. The Bilstein shocks have their own part number, and Icon also makes shocks that are meant for this kit.

 

Thanks for the info.. does anyone think that the kit may go back into production.? I did a little researching and it sounds like the spindles and the yolk are two thinks that wouldn’t be available now.? There is a 00-03’ kit tho so not sure if any of those parts would work too

 

Highly doubt it will ever go back into production. The "steering yoke" is an extension and you could probably make something work out of parts that are made for a body lift if you had to.

The spindles from the 00-03 kit won't work unless you change over to 00-03 lower ball joints (weaker) and lower control arms, possibly outer tie rods as well.

 

So would it be a no go for you to buy such a truck.? Or is this not that big of a deal.? Can’t decide if it’s worth it. Thanks yall

 

How hard are you going to drive it offroad?

 

Not hard.. I won’t be wheelin with it.. just light off-road around the farm. I would think under normal driving conditions it wouldnt break these irreplaceable parts.? I guess the last concern are the spindles which sound like there are no replacement parts for

 

Personally, I think you'd be fine.

 

From the way you've described how you'd use the Tundra, you'll never have a problem with the parts that will inevitably become unavailable.

 

curious if anyone knows of any other lifts on the market that compare to the 06' RCd 4-6" lift..?

Yeah I agree.., seems like a quality setup. how has it been holding up since this post.? Any pictures of it.?. I’m in the same boat and want to purchase one with it already installed.