To keep suspension stock or not

[STREGA]

Go to the blue room and check out the member builds section. You can get many ideas for your fj. Many purpose built rigs there.

If I was to do it again, I would probably opt for lighter components myself.
Aluminum skids, although not as strong as steel, really cuts down on weight.
The simpler the setup, the easier to maintain.

I highly recommend icon suspension setup but save your money and buy different UCAs and LCAs.

Demello makes great sliders and bumpers.

X2, I will also be lifting my FJ and originally wanted to do the Old Man Emu, but after looking into lift kits the Icon has become the one I like the most although they are alot of $$$. OME will get the job done at a reasonable cost. Changing out the UCA's is critical in getting the geometry correct after the lift, biggest complaint you see is poor handling/alignment issues after a lift kit is installed.

I have also installed a aluminum front bumper and skid plates, I live in a place where deer are everywhere and wanted more front end protection than the plastic bumper could provide, the weight differance is only a 8 lb gain with a grill guard that the stock didn't have. The weight I saved on the bumper will be spent on a winch. The skid plates are almost half the weight of steel, since I won't be doing hard core rock crawling I feel they are up to the task.

Simple is good on a Overland rig.

 

[timmer2008]

I would say higher above axle clearance better shocks and springs with increased travel and a applicable spring rate would be a good thing.
as would an over sized tire and a aftermarket UCA.

getting some 1 on1 time with a accredited or otherwise very experianced off hwy driver or trainer would go a heck of a long way towards enableing you to drive any vehicle more skillfully that includes your stock FJC. over many various types of terrain.

There are many good trainers out there who are professional and well worth the tuition. There are many more who I feel are not. I would only recommend ones for hire who have undergone a stringent examination of their abilities by an national or international overseeing commitee or association.

You mentioned the 9.5 inches of clearance, adding a lift will not change this. Only adding larger tires will change the clearance under the axles, which would probably require a lift. But if you don't change the tires, you have just lifted the body up 2-3 inches. Now, I know some will say that now you have a better approach/departure angle and the rocker panels are a little higher, but really most people get a lift for aesthetics. IMO the main (not only, but main) reason to get a lift is to add larger tires, which in turn, will add more clearance underneath, where it counts.

you have to agree a suspension lift does way more than lift the body up 2-3" and increase your A,D&BO angles otherwise why not just bolt on some hocky pucks ? however it is true that if you want increased UNDER AXLE clearance you need a tire with a larger diameter. (or portals)

I still say the best and most cost effective improvements are to the drivers skill set.

 

[109 Pretender]

FJ Lift options

My first post here as I spend most time on the Rover boards (they need more work on them). I have a 2007 FJ/auto that I purchased new and I have already gone through what you are contemplating.
Stock suspension is great if you want a Corolla... otherwise it needs serious upgrading to be off-road worthy.
Stock shocks and tires are not suitable. I used 285/70 -17 BFG KM2's. I have 33K on them now and they are 1/2 worn. Tracking is great (more on that later) and o/a performance is excellent on and off road. Work well in the snow too! Bit noisy as they get about 20K on them , but it's a mud tire...
I originally used Toytec Bilstein 5100's f&r for about a year w/OME med. springs all around. This provided about a 2.5" lift. Personally, I thought it was a tremendous improvement over stock for about a year - but anything is better than stock. After a year I got tired of the pitching and did a radical change as follows:
All-Pro 2" Fox shocks w/8 way comp. adj. and external reservoirs all around. Kept the OME springs in the rear.
Total Chaos UCA AND stock length LCA's (I thought this might be overkill until I realized how flimsy the stock control arms really are - it'll scare you...)
Man-A-Fre control arms top and bottom in the rear
All Pro has an exclusive valving for their Fox 2.0 shocks so I wouldn't recommend you get those from anyone else - otherwise go 2.5 if you plan on a big bumper/winch. ( I have Lucrum mount w/Warn 9.o rc winch which is light weight).
I also added the All Pro steering kit and sway bar links. I'm not totally pleased with the Steering heim joints as I have one going out now - but the setup is way stouter than stock.
Suspension dialed in perfectly, tracks beautifully and the pitching is totally gone. This so dramatically changed the suspension dynamics that I now fully justify the price - and it's a chunk of change!
I also installed the TRD S/c with the APR X-1 kit. I added the 7th injector, overdrive pulley, JBA shorty headers, URD Y pipe and TRD S/S exh system.
I don't know how much HP (maybe 350-370??) but I can outrun a BMW M series Z1 in any gear anytime I want - by a huge margin! In fact, now I'm going to have to upgrade the valve body in the trans because I'll burn up the trans otherwise ( although I've gotten over having to step up to every race challenge that comes along - but sometimes it's hard not to...)
As I hope you understand - this is NOT an expo vehicle (my 1967 109 Land Rover serves that duty). But as a DD where I can get the best gas available these mods have turned the FJ into a vertiable sports car - I'd say performance wise (handling and engine performance) is almost in the same league as a Porsche Cayenne and that's a very long way away from where it all started.
Ck the Toyota boards and Pirate and read all you can - you can profit from other's mistakes/misgivings. That's what I did and I am very pleased with my results so far. Now I'd like to investigate/invest in changing out the transfer case to a lefty gear drive unit as I am not fond of chain drive units. Yeah, once you start there's no end to it but I really enjoy modding my machines anyway!

Good luck and hope this helps

Cheers!