Squeaky Penguin's (Trip Reports) Build Thread

Do the bottom mounts of your rear shocks have some sort of creeper style joint? Looks like it in the pic. Also a ton of your pics don't work earlier in your build, I assume hosted on FB?

 

I didn't know you you finally got those in. Nice job.

 

Trust me, I hear you on balancing school and hobbies. Happy to be graduating in a month. Anyways, 7100s cost about double what 5125s cost, and only a bit less than fox, king, or icons. I was looking at some foxes before I found a killer deal on these.

Don't order shocks until you break your leaf pack down and measure for exactly what you need. I half-assed it based on flexing measurements, and while it turned out perfect for flexing, I bottom out the shocks on hard hits. So, it's going to get redone the correct way this spring, which may involve different shocks.

Key thing I've learned through all of this, and something you don't hear often enough on here, is while inboarding or angling shocks for flex works, it doesn't always work for complete range of travel when the entire axle moves equally. I think my springs packs have right around 10" of travel, possibly more, possibly less, I need to break them down to find out. Then I can setup the shocks to utilize full bump and droop travel not only when flexing.

The crossmember itself is directly in line with the stock rear mount.

Yeah, I've noticed photobucket has been acting up recently.

Both ends of the 7100s have spherical bearings. Never figured out why the bottom ends like to turn like that.

James and I did that in May. Been wheeling on that setup all season.

 

I saw on the front page there was talk about getting to 4.88s. Have you done that? Just looking to see if you ran stock gearing with the 295s and how that was?

 

Thanks for the tips. I think I will be sticking with my rear 5100s for a while based off the price of those 7100s. I'll need to get new leaf packs also because my stock ones are looking awfully flat

 

Nope. Still on stock 4.10s, which are no fun at all with the 295s. Lots of time spent slipping the clutch on trails. On the street it's tolerable, but still not that great.

Gears and a front locker should be going in this spring. Still debating going 35s and 5.29s though. As much as I would like them, can't really justify them.

Yep, they're pricey, but still about the cheapest of remote resi rebuildable shocks. You might look into building a leaf back too. I'm not too impressed with a lot of the over-the-shelf leaf options for first gens. I'm still super happy with my springs.

 

I'm not sure if I'm up to building leaf packs. I was planning on getting the Dakars with the extra leaf in them at some point

 

Building leafs is both cost effective and relatively easy. Not a big fan of Dakars. All of them I've seen sit really flat and have a poor shackle angle. Main leaf seems slightly too short. Works great for load carrying, but that's about it.

 

nice rear set up. just stopping in to say hows it going and check out whats going on.

 

Basically didn't do anything to the truck since Moab except wheel it a shit ton. Got some plans for this spring though, hoping I can spend a little more on this rig. That rear setup is on the list to get redone, but overall was a vast improvement over my shitty extended shackle setup with blown 5125s.

 

I just don't know anything about it which makes me rather want to buy a pack.

 

You son of a....

 

I learn everything I know through the guess and check method. Even if you do buy a leaf pack, hang onto your old one in case you want to build one up in the future. Really nothing at all you can screw up, just have to give or take leaves until you get what you want.

I think for your purpose they're fine. I just don't think they're designed for what people think they are, or try to use them for. This problem is exacerbated by adding extended shackles.

It's unfortunate there's not more over-the-shelf options for 1st gens. I was really happy with my Wheeler's 5 pack + AAL until the amount of weight I had required more leaf.

 

So now you're calling me a "pussy?"

 

I know you're just giving me a hard time but,

I can tell you my leafs wouldn't be able to haul as much stone as you did with the Dakars. I just hauled my 5 295s and a few other things up to Steamboat and the rear was sagging pretty good. There's different leafs packs for different purposes.

 

To tell you the truth, I'm not so sure I was suppose to haul that much stone either

But I am just giving you a hard time.... other than the stiff ride with no weight in the bed, I love the Dakars. They serve me perfectly for my on road needs and moderate trail runs.

 

James finally posted up a few pictures from our August trip. Probably have to wait another month or two for a proper trip report. Also, after this trip I picked up a external CB speaker so I can hear James' mumbling. Works really good.

This might be my new favorite truck picture. Coming down the hard line on Tin Cup:



All these rookies out there on TW calling themselves EAF don't even have a chainsaw on their swingout....

 

Looks really cool with nary a tree in sight.

 

Touché fucker.

 

I still laugh when I think about you calling Brett a twig today. Got me by surprise.