Ford Territory Lift and Tyres?

[BadMav]

The family car is a Territory Turbo Ghia. The territory, as most know is quite lacking in the ground clearance department.

Has anyone seen or done a suspension lift in one? I have found a few spring manufacturers around that do a 35-40mm lift. I would like to know whether there are any unforeseen issues with raising the suspension.

Also, does anyone know of a chunkier 18" tyre, I have searched the net for tyres and everything I look at is a poxy road terrain.

I'm not out to do comp rock hopping or go climbing vertical cliffs, just a bit of camping etc.

PS. 18 inch is the smallest wheel you can fit to the TTG due to the brakes.

[YNOT]

Modifying the suspension on cars like that can have negative effects on the stabillity control system, so can changing tyre types and sizes.

Tony

[BadMav]

Thanks for that Tony,

The tyre size I don't want to mess with, just something a bit more chunkier and robust. On the suspension, I remember a few years back ford was talking about releasing a genuine suspension lift kit for the territory. Haven't heard anything since. 175mm just isn't enough when driving up some of the rocky tracks out west of Gladstone here.

I don't mind taking the mav, it'll go anywhere, but just not as nice ha ha

[YNOT]

I heard that rumour about a factory lift kit when the Territory's were first released, it never happened. Aftermarket suspension or a good set of bash plates are about the only options.
Your tyre options are going to be very limited (as you've already found out) because no one is really modifying Territory's to go offroad.
As for the Mav not being as nice as the TTG, not as fast either! I've driven a few TT's, very nice. Although I preferred the earlier 4 speed auto to the 6 speed that you would have.

Tony

[Sand plough]

Although I preferred the earlier 4 speed auto to the 6 speed that you would have.

Curious why you prefer the BW auto over the ZF, not that I really hate the BW, it is an underrated auto, one thing they did make a big mistake with is the 2.4 first gear, if they chose something between GMH's T700 3.06 and that ratio they would have made many more Falcon sales for Ford, choosing a similar ratio to GMH would have made them to easy to spin a wheel standard, great for boy racers but not a sensible idea for the normal person, plus you would get that shocking gap Holdens are known for.

[YNOT]

I just preferred the way the 4 speed felt to drive, more positive gear changes.
The 6 speed is a good auto, the short first gear is great for getting off the line quickly, but the gears just slur from one to the next. The 6 speed also has a gear hold function that's preety cool, when you accelerate hard then back off for a corner, it will hold the lower gear, so it's ready to play when you boot it out of the corner. Conventional auto would change up as soon as you lift off, then have to kick down when you boot it.
You could get the 4 speed to do the same thing (holding gears) by putting it in tip tronic manual mode.

Tony

[Sand plough]

I just preferred the way the 4 speed felt to drive, more positive gear changes.
The 6 speed is a good auto, the short first gear is great for getting off the line quickly, but the gears just slur from one to the next. The 6 speed also has a gear hold function that's preety cool, when you accelerate hard then back off for a corner, it will hold the lower gear, so it's ready to play when you boot it out of the corner. Conventional auto would change up as soon as you lift off, then have to kick down when you boot it.
You could get the 4 speed to do the same thing (holding gears) by putting it in tip tronic manual mode.

Tony

The only thing I don't like was the last time I looked into the Ford's ZF there was no aftermarket support and access to modify TCM etc unlike the BW has since the turbo Falcon was released.

[pmturnbull]

Have you looked at coopers not a hugh fan of them but had them on a tucson years ago and they were fine as it isn't a rock hopper anyway. Coopers seem to be bringing out more of the bigger rim size tyres everyday.

p.s I would love to get the wife in turbo terry be awesome for pulling the van and you can't get a more comfortable vehicle for towing for the price.

[BadMav]

Thanks for that, I'll check em out. Oh yeah the turbo territory pulls very hard and after de bunging the exhaust, even harder!!!!!!

[pmturnbull]

the turbo terry is lower then standard isn't it if so then a 40mm lift for a standard terry maybe more on your turbo terry

[flexytj]

i have fitted 255/55/18 general grabbers to a territory before

[BadMav]

i have fitted 255/55/18 general grabbers to a territory before

Cool, I just had a look at them on the site. How did you find them? Noisy? Good mileage?

the turbo terry is lower than standard isn't it if so then a 40mm lift for a standard terry maybe more on your turbo terry

No, the ride height is the same 175mm clearance On a lighter note tho, we just went up to Kroombit Tops NP yesterday from the Mungungo end and there were plenty of sedate creek crossings that a few goolies rolled along the bashplate underneath. The capabilities of the AWD system (and raw power) that it offers didn't worry me as the traction control in the mud was awesome, the ground clearance was the issue so we stopped when we got to a BIG long mud puddle. Will definately be going back up there in the Maverick, the terrain is right on the edge of what the terry is physically capable of, but it did surprise me.

PS I would love the power train out of the TTG in the Mav

[Jccck]

Sixcharacters!

[BadMav]

Woo hoo. Are you going to retain the terry's driveline tho? Good luck on the engineering side too, I'm keen to see this one happen.

Rowen