Police querying my lift

[drogue7 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close drogue7]

My 2003 GX diesel has been modified by having Bilstein shockers, Lovells springs and Polyairs fitted giving me a 2" lift. This to improve the ride and handling as well as to give me better ground clearance when off road. The fitment of wider alloy wheels and BFG TA's also helps with the "lift". However, a police officer has said I need an Engineering Certificate to prove the vehicle is roadworthy, and carry it when driving in case I'm stopped by the police over it. He said something about side intrusion in an accident and that the lift may have compromised it. Said there are members in the side and doors of a certain hight that would now not be in the best position in a side crash. Where do I or anyone else stand in these circumstances? What advice, if any, is there to follow?

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Welcome to the forum,
Up to 50mm(2 inch) is legal, no cert required. Most lifts aren't anymore than this. If you did before and after measurements it might be more but given the age of the car it would have sagged somewhat. If your wider alloy and tyres r outside of the guard that is an issue or depending on tyre size that could be an issue, not sure on NSW rules in qld we can only go up 15mm.

You might want to read the tyre and suspension threads for the 120 as this has been done to death already.

[MUMSRIG Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close MUMSRIG]

You could look at getting it permitted if you wish. Simple trip to the licensing dept and pay for the inspection which will note all of your modifications on a permit that can be produced if required. It's as simple as a roadworthy inspection and doesn't need the cost and time of applying for an Engineering Cert.

[ozwapet2 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close ozwapet2]

Ok so has this officer given you an infingement notice or was it just a "quiet word" ?

It's possible your wider wheels have drawn his attention to the vehicle and it's gone from there. ( those wheels, depending how wide, may actually be the illegal bit )

Most of us with 2" lifts don't get a second look from the police - there's hundreds of them out there.

I reckon his lunchtime souvlaki was probably giving him grief and he decide to take it out on you !

[tassie tiger Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close tassie tiger]

I got the impression the officer was someone he knew just giving advice.

And agree, it will be the tyres that may be causing the issue, not the lift.

[winniliss Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close winniliss]

I went to the MVR in Darwin and they have informed me that we can do lifts up to 100mm without TAC inspection. Anything above 100mm requires engineers cert. As far as adopting national stands they informed me not in the near future. For any mod advice for the NT refer to the MVR website. http://www.nt.gov.au/transport/mvr/v...ds/index.shtml

[Auss15 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Auss15]

Unfortunatly not all States have uniform vehicle regulations so seeing as drogue7 is NSW based he should check with the NSW RTA

[Peterpilot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Peterpilot]

In NSW, the 50mm lift would not be an issue. Almost any tyre other than standard is an issue.

The complete RTA Vehicle Standards Information Sheets are here:
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati...i/vsi_dl1.html

The RTA Vehicle Standards Information Sheet specifically for Wheels and Tyres is here:
http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registrati...vsi09_rev4.pdf

In a nutshell:

Wheels up to 26mm wider than the largest optional wheel recommended by the vehicle manufacturer for the vehicle can be fitted without the need to notify the RTA.

The outside diameter of the wheel and tyre combination must be no more than 15mm over the largest diameter wheel and tyre combination specified for the vehicle and not more than 15mm below the smallest diameter wheel and tyre combination specified for the vehicle.

The upshot is that 265/65/17 and 275/65/17 are both OK. The 265/70/17 and anything taller is not.

It is a shame that Toyota did not include the 265/70/17 tyre on the Prado tyre placard, like they do on the FJ Cruiser.

[drogue7 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close drogue7]

I live on the Central Coast of NSW. Who do I see for that?

[Peterpilot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Peterpilot]

drogue7, what size tyres are you running and what is your ride height measured from bottom of the wheel rim to the lip of the guard?