Terrain Tamer suspension upgrade transforms the HiLux into the ultimate all-rounder

Given my success using Terrain Tamer front Smart coils (progressively rated coil springs) and rear parabolic leaves (progressively rated leaf spring packs), matched with their twin-tube shocks on my Troopy for nearly 10 years, it was an easy choice when it came time to fit suspension to my HiLux. 

Yeah, I know there are plenty of higher-spec shocks on the market – monotubes, remote resi’s, bypass and adjustables – but I’m happy with the ever-reliable jack-of-all-trades twin-tube design. They work, and they’re reliable… simple!

Nope, there’s no way I’d step back in time to a standard semi-elliptic leaf spring pack, as per a horse-and-cart setup. Nor would I settle for a constant load rate in the coils. Having that progressive rate on both front and rear suspension helps iron out the smaller, low-speed thuds just as well as the heavier, high-speed hits, keeping the HiLux on track at all times – taming the terrain, as such!

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Why I chose Terrain Tamer 

The Terrain Tamer kit I chose is rated to provide a 40mm lift with a load range of 400 to 700kg for the rear parabolic leaf packs. I also opted for the heavier-duty coil kit up front, rated for a 50–100kg load, to account for the bullbar and winch – more on that later.

When I purchased the HiLux, the condition of the existing aftermarket suspension was unknown. Yes, it was a quality Old Man Emu kit, but I didn’t know its load ratings or overall condition. Plus, it all looked low for my liking, suggesting it may have been a standard-height kit installed by the previous owner. Either way, the Terrain Tamer upgrade delivered a noticeable improvement in both ride height and stance.

Yeah, I know I should have added all the heavy gear to my HiLux before fitting the suspension. No, that didn’t happen! See, it turns out I’ve got a fair old wait ahead for my chosen bullbar to arrive. Same goes for the winch I wanted to run and test. Plus, the dual-battery system and general storage still need to be installed in the canopy.

Given that I know exactly what I’ll be adding weight-wise to both the front and rear, and how the HiLux will be used, I figured it was a safe bet to let the suspension jump the fitting queue. Besides, how long can a fella stare at mechanical presents sitting on the shed floor? The temptation was too much!

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Heavy duty upper control arms

As well as the coils up front, I opted for a pair of heavy-duty Terrain Tamer upper control arms to be fitted at the same time. Put simply, they offer superior strength over OE, incorporate greaseable bushes, and enable the wheel alignment to be set correctly.

While it’s a whole article in itself, in brief the upper control arms allow caster and camber to be properly tuned to suit the new suspension height. They also provide increased articulation and help maintain an optimal tyre contact patch through correct wheel alignment, both on- and off-road, improving tyre wear and grip.

I believe upper control arms should be fitted to any independent front suspension vehicle at the time of a suspension lift.

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How does it now perform on- and off-road?

Considering my HiLux is still empty in the canopy and doesn’t yet have the weight of a bullbar or winch, the ride is astonishingly good for a dual-cab ute – albeit a little firm without the load to settle it down.

Within 10 minutes of leaving the workshop, I spent an hour testing it on my local dirt tracks. Along with a stint on the freeway, medium-speed corrugations, dips and ruts, and some slow-speed crawling were all covered to ensure the ride quality and off-road ability met expectations.

The real test will come once the HiLux is fully kitted out and driven daily around town, along with the bigger trips out bush we have planned. So stay tuned for updates on how the Terrain Tamer gear fares with all the weight on board.