Toughdog Suspension and Lift Kit — Toyota LandCruiser 79 Series Dual Cab

This Toughdog lift kit typically provides 40-50mm of lift at the front and 50-60mm at the rear, depending on your chosen spring rates and the weight of accessories you're carrying. The exact ride height achieved will vary based on constant loads — vehicles with heavy bullbars, winches, and roof racks will sit slightly lower at the front, while rear height is determined by your tray or canopy weight and the leaf spring rating you select. After the 500km break-in period, springs will settle by approximately 10-15mm from initial installation height. For precise lift measurements for your specific accessory configuration, contact our suspension specialists who can calculate expected ride height based on your setup.

Your shock absorber selection depends on your primary vehicle use and budget. The 41mm foam cell shocks offer excellent value for recreational tourers with moderate loads and predominantly highway driving. The 40mm adjustable shocks suit drivers who want to fine-tune ride firmness for different load conditions or switch between touring and daily driving modes. The 45mm big bore adjustable shocks are ideal for heavy-duty applications including regular towing over 2500kg, constant heavy loads, or frequent corrugated road travel where heat dissipation is critical. The premium 53mm ralph shocks deliver maximum performance for extreme touring, competition use, or vehicles that spend extended periods on brutal outback corrugations where shock absorber durability is paramount.

Yes, this Toughdog kit is excellent for towing when configured with appropriate spring rates. For regular caravan towing between 2500-3500kg, select the constant 300-500kg or 700kg rear leaf spring option depending on your permanent tray accessories and whether you carry additional cargo while towing. The heavier leaf springs eliminate rear sag, maintain proper tow ball weight distribution, and keep your headlights from pointing skyward under load. Pair heavy-duty rear springs with adjustable or big bore shock absorbers for optimal sway control and stability at highway speeds. If you only occasionally tow, consider the lighter spring rates with supplementary airbag suspension that can be inflated when towing and deflated for improved unladen ride comfort.

The included 2-degree castor correction bushes address most steering geometry concerns for the moderate lift this kit provides, making immediate control arm upgrades optional rather than mandatory. However, if you're running a heavy front-end setup with large bullbar, winch, and accessories, or if you're installing larger tyres beyond 33 inches, upgraded control arms can further improve castor angle, reduce CV joint operating angles, and enhance steering feel and high-speed stability. Many 79 Series owners install the Toughdog lift kit first, assess the vehicle's handling and steering characteristics after alignment, then add control arms later if desired. Our suspension specialists can recommend whether your specific configuration would benefit from concurrent control arm installation.

Yes, a full four-wheel alignment is absolutely mandatory after installing any suspension lift kit on your 79 Series. Changing suspension height alters the vehicle's castor, camber, and toe angles, which directly affects steering feel, tyre wear patterns, handling stability, and braking performance. While the included castor correction bushes restore proper castor angle after the lift, a qualified suspension shop must measure and adjust all alignment angles to Toyota specifications using the new suspension geometry. Driving without proper alignment can cause rapid inside or outside edge tyre wear, steering pull to one side, and unpredictable handling that compromises safety. Budget $180-280 for a quality four-wheel alignment as part of your total installation cost.

Your front coil spring selection should match the permanent weight of your front-end accessories, not occasional loads. Comfort/medium rating suits 79 Series vehicles with alloy or light steel bullbars (under 60kg), no winch or a lightweight winch, and minimal roof load — typically under 80kg of total added front weight. Constant load rating is designed for vehicles with heavy steel bullbars (60-80kg), large winches (40-50kg), long-range fuel tanks, upgraded batteries, and loaded roof racks — generally 100-150kg of permanent front accessories. Installing springs that are too soft will cause excessive front-end sag and reduce headlight effectiveness, while springs that are too stiff for your actual load will deliver a harsh ride, reduced wheel articulation off-road, and can accelerate wear on steering components.

Yes, this 40-50mm lift combined with the 79 Series' already generous factory wheel arch clearances typically allows 33-inch tyres (285/75R16 or 285/70R17) without any trimming or modification. You may achieve clearance for 35-inch tyres (315/75R16) with minor trimming of plastic inner guards and potentially rear wheel arch opening at full compression and steering lock. Tyre clearance also depends on wheel offset — more aggressive negative offset pushes tyres outward and may cause rubbing on upper control arms or inner fenders during compression and articulation. Always test-fit new tyres at full lock and full suspension compression before committing to a size, and consider that larger, heavier tyres will affect ride quality, braking performance, and may require recalibration of your speedometer to maintain accuracy.

Toughdog suspension components are backed by a comprehensive manufacturer's warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship, with specific warranty periods varying by component type — typically 12-24 months for shocks and springs under normal use conditions. Warranty coverage requires professional installation with proper torque specifications, mandatory wheel alignment after fitting, and adherence to recommended service intervals including periodic shock absorber and bush inspections. The warranty does not cover wear items, damage from accidents or improper installation, modifications to components, or failures resulting from operation beyond manufacturer specifications such as extreme competition use. Keep all receipts and documentation of professional installation and alignment, as these are required for any warranty claims, and register your kit purchase with Toughdog within 30 days of installation.

Absolutely — Toughdog engineers their suspension systems to deliver excellent on-road manners for daily driving, commuting, and highway travel while maintaining off-road capability when needed. When configured with appropriate spring rates for your constant loads (not oversized springs for occasional heavy loads), this kit provides a comfortable, controlled ride quality that equals or exceeds worn factory suspension. The adjustable shock absorber options allow you to tune ride firmness to your preference, setting softer damping for empty highway cruising and firmer settings when loaded or towing. Many 79 Series owners report improved ride comfort compared to factory suspension after installing Toughdog, particularly when upgrading from fatigued original components with 100,000+ kilometres. The key to daily driving comfort is honest spring rate selection based on your actual permanent accessory weight, not oversizing for hypothetical maximum loads.