MY VX gets a healthy dose of 4x4 roads as I make my way to trailheads to climb 14ers twice a week.

I have one thing to say. CRAWL! The VX will crawl around on rocks in stock 18" form all day long. I have been on some pretty hardcore, backcountry roads in my VX and it is definately worthy.

You ever tighten your face up and cringe at the scraping you might hear only to have clean sailing past a rough section? I do it all the time and the VX just crawls over the rocks (picking a nice line is essential)

The VX is also very small. This allows for a great choice of lines up the harsh stuff. I have done miles and miles of slow climbing over very harsh rocks. The VX in 4LOW seems to suck it up without a care. In reality I think it sort of likes it. I think my milage actually likes it as well.

If I was to lift my VX... and I have certainly wanted to, it would almost be for look appeal rather than for 4wheelin'. If you want to get super-swordy angular, go for a lift and do it right. Then, go find the terrain that will really test what you have.

I do miss my '76 FJ40 with 35's. The only reason I do is that I would inform passengers to tighten up the kidney belt and hang on. After that it would be a 40 mph bouncing rampage up the craziest terrain. It is the type of terrain and exposure that can make an uninclined passenger puke on the spot. (I have seen it twice) The FJ40 is as close to a tank as I have ever seen. A very fast moving tank on rough climbs if that is your mission. I heard a wheel bearing explode like a shotgun only to drive it for 3000 miles before I replaced it. The bearing was in pieces upon removal. The FJ40 did not care one bit. What a front end.... the entire ball-wipe, mega joint system is incredible.

The VX in stock form is not about that. It is about the slow speed crawl, and it does it well. I wonder what "lifters" would say about speed. Can you go faster with a lift, or is the VX still very tight? (If you want to move fast over rough terrain, remove all change from the ashtray, and remove any key attachments.... turn the CD player off. I don't suggest speed. It is not what the VX is about)

I say this because for me, while climbing mountains.... speed is essential at 4 in the morning while trying to get an early start at the trailhead that is 6 miles of hellishly awesome "road" away.

I know what dealers might have to say about the lifting, but what has been the direct experience of anyone wanting warranty work while presenting a lifted VX?

I want to lift. I want to lift. I want to lift.... but I don't want to lift.

3-1

I guess a lift is in order!

darsh