3rd Gen 4Runner Body Lift
3rd Gen 4Runner Body Lift: What Makes a Quality Body Lift Kit?
If you're looking for a 3rd Gen 4Runner body lift, there are plenty of kits available, but they aren't all built the same.
A body lift is one of the most affordable ways to gain additional tire clearance on a 1996 to 2002 Toyota 4Runner without significantly changing the factory suspension geometry. A 2 inch body lift can be combined with a suspension lift to create additional clearance for larger tires.
Flatout Offroad manufactures a purpose-built 3rd Gen 4Runner body lift kit for the 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 Toyota 4Runner.
Our kits are manufactured in New Zealand and shipped locally and throughout the United States, Canada and worldwide.
You can also browse our full range of Toyota body lift kits for other Toyota 4WD models.
So, what makes the Flatout Offroad 4Runner body lift different?
Designed Specifically for the 1996–2002 3rd Gen 4Runner
The Flatout Offroad kit is designed specifically around the body mounts and steering system used on the 3rd Generation Toyota 4Runner and equivalent Toyota Hilux Surf.
The complete kit includes:
- 10 solid CNC-machined body lift blocks
- High-tensile replacement body mount hardware
- Splined steering shaft extension
- Detailed installation instructions
- Lifetime warranty
Rather than using a collection of generic lift components, the kit has been developed specifically for these vehicles.
If you want to see the complete kit, specifications and available options, view our 1996–2002 3rd Gen 4Runner Body Lift Kit.
3rd Gen 4Runner Steering Extension
One of the most important differences between 3rd Gen 4Runner body lift kits is how the steering shaft is extended.
When the body of the 4Runner is raised away from the chassis, the amount of spline engagement on the steering shaft is less. With a 2 inch body lift, additional steering shaft length is required to maintain proper engagement.
Some body lift kits use a simple aluminum block-style steering spacer.
Flatout Offroad uses a completely different design.
The 3rd Gen 4Runner steering extension included with our kit is a CNC-machined splined adapter designed to positively engage with the factory steering components.
The design was developed around New Zealand's strict Low Volume Vehicle certification requirements, where modified steering components are closely inspected.
For North American customers, this means you're getting a steering extension designed around a particularly demanding vehicle modification standard rather than simply the cheapest way of adding length to the steering shaft.
Why We Don't Use a Basic Aluminum Steering Spacer
The image below shows the style of aluminum steering spacer we have removed from a previously modified 3rd Gen 4Runner.
This spacer was removed from a vehicle after the steering modification caused it to fail Low Volume Vehicle certification in New Zealand.
The Flatout Offroad splined steering extension shown below was fitted in its place.
The vehicle could then be presented again using the correctly designed steering extension.
Solid CNC-Machined UHMWPE Body Lift Blocks
The lift blocks themselves are another area where 4Runner body lift kits can vary considerably.
The Flatout Offroad kit contains 10 solid 66 mm diameter UHMWPE lift blocks, CNC machined from solid material.
UHMWPE stands for Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene. It is extremely durable and highly resistant to moisture, chemicals, impact and environmental exposure, making it well suited to use as a body lift block material.
Most importantly, our blocks are designed with sufficient diameter to properly support the factory 4Runner body mounting points.
Why Body Lift Block Diameter Matters
A body lift doesn't simply raise the body. Each lift block becomes part of the connection between the vehicle body and chassis.
That means the size and construction of the block matters.
The comparison image below shows a Flatout Offroad body lift block beside a smaller formed block supplied with another kit.
You can clearly see that the smaller block does not provide the same supporting diameter as the factory body mount.
Using an undersized block can concentrate the load into a smaller area and cause damage and cracking to the vehicles body.
Flatout Offroad blocks are CNC machined from solid material and sized appropriately for the 3rd Gen 4Runner body mounts.
This is one of the reasons we don't use generic hollow or undersized lift blocks.
Body Lift vs Suspension Lift on a 3rd Gen 4Runner
A 3rd Gen 4Runner body lift and suspension lift achieve different things.
A suspension lift raises the chassis and changes the operating position of suspension components.
A body lift raises the vehicle body away from the chassis while leaving the suspension geometry unchanged.
For many 4Runner builds, the two can work well together.
A body lift is particularly useful when the goal is creating additional clearance between the tires and bodywork without increasing the center of gravity or changing drive line angles.
This can make a 4Runner body lift a good option for vehicles running larger tires or for owners who have already installed a suspension lift and need additional body clearance.
If you're new to body lifts, our guide explaining how a body lift works covers the basic principles in more detail.
What Years Does This 3rd Gen 4Runner Body Lift Fit?
The Flatout Offroad 3rd Gen 4Runner lift kit is designed for 1996–2002 Toyota 4Runner models, including:
- 1996 Toyota 4Runner
- 1997 Toyota 4Runner
- 1998 Toyota 4Runner
- 1999 Toyota 4Runner
- 2000 Toyota 4Runner
- 2001 Toyota 4Runner
- 2002 Toyota 4Runner
It also fits equivalent 3rd Generation Toyota Hilux Surf models including various RZN180, RZN185, VZN180, VZN185, KZN185 and KDN185 chassis.
Built in New Zealand for 4Runners Around the World
Flatout Offroad has been supplying body lift kits and steering components for more than 10 years.
Although we're based in Christchurch, New Zealand, we regularly ship 3rd Gen 4Runner body lift kits to customers throughout the United States and Canada.
International orders are sent using DHL Express, with the shipping cost calculated at checkout.
We don't add additional international handling charges to the shipping price.
For more information about overseas delivery, visit our worldwide 4WD parts shipping page.
So even though your 4Runner lift kit is coming from New Zealand, getting one delivered to North America is straightforward.