i would like to know what the maximum clearance can get on a beetle, with 10r's all round, i have beeen told all that is possible is 14 inch's which i doubt.
i want to know as if i cant get my ute high, i mean real high, i will cal look it, which will be a waste in my opinion. 15 inch's at least is needed

mmmm of course you can..... I have 540mm of clearance under my Buggy to the lowest point which is the lowest bolt on the rear spring plate cover.

So what's that ??? about 22"

If you put 10r's up front then you ain't gunna turn real well.


Theo's baja has around 16" of clearance


There is a 20L bucket under his baja


and here is the clearnace to it.

Why do you think you need 15" of ground clearance ? Are you building a Ricer Rig ??

Ground Clearance is useless without wheel travel, no travel no traction ....



Here is my Buggy Side one with the wheels 3" from full up travel. So from here I have about 7" of down travel. When at ride height I have 4" down at the front and 5" down at the rear. I may change this when I build the new pan as I have some better ideas now ..

well in that case how do i get good clearance and still maintain travel?
and if i will have trouble steering with the 10r's on the front, what size tyres would you recomend
i need the clearance coz my mate has a jacked gq patrol i.e. 10 inch lift and digs nice mud holes everywhere to stuff everyone up

I am running 285 x 85 x 16 rears and 215 x 80 x 16 fronts.

To get more clearnace you build a tougher pan.... Type 181 front spindles, longer rear arms, 933 CV's clearanced bump stops, longert shocks etc etc etc

Buggies are fine ya just need to learn to drive them ......:P

how does something that high (baja at top) do on the highway travelling at speed? Do strong winds affect it? How would it handle? The centre of gravity etc? ...... watching the buggies hoon on hwy, seems nice, wide and square, like a raised go cart! (i am aware mine is ratty but the winds out my way do sometimes push it around a little...) how high is too high? (apart from monster truck excentricity)

f it was really windy i would be pushed sideways in mine, but, nothing to major

I wouldn't want mine any higher than it is. It already handles like a landcruiser.

Brad's buggy is different, it is also heaps wider in the track, which gives the stability back.

Mine normally runs around with about 12" of clearance. That's more than the diff / axle depth of most 4WD's, so that will keep you above most of the trouble. 12" is relatively easy to get to, going higher is when it starts costing big $$$

If you try going through ruts made by 44" swampers then your gunna get stuck no matter how much clearance you have, the ends of your trailing arms are still going to rub in the mud.

I am putting on thing front spindles, not for more clearance, but to regain some drop travel on the front end.

whats the best way to raise the rear on a swing axle baja without getting too much negative camber? or is it impossible?

Sorry to highjack:P

[Edited on 1-6-2004 by Anthiron]

info ???? My hilux had no problems at all..... then again that locked Patrol with big ass mud tyres seemed to be a litlle stuck in it :P

Ahh, so there's two sides to the story.

That's a suprise.

:cry thought u guys were the hardcore buggy gods..... why didn't u just weld a quick bridge over it? Or even better a ramp? or computerised hydraulic height lifting mechanism? excuses exscuses:P

hey anthirion, don't muck round wif dem axils, raised mine once and ended up in a big fence late one rainy night..needed new body as result.... also had some seriously close calls in traffic......

I put some coil overs on festy, that helped a bit

Hey Daz.....nobody forced you to drive through that mud hole....there was plenty of room to drive around the Kombi as evident with Wes driving past without stopping........:P

stock height it is then:party .......just need some bigger wheels than 14s and some all terrains..............