+SconnieHailer's Build & BS+

Marc have you had much time without the tent or extra weight and the Expo leafs? I think with the tote we picked up for the annex and all our gear I'm going to be riding the bumps all the time lol. I'm not to concerned with the ride I just dont want it to be 2" higher in the rear for the winter. Maybe their standard pack would be a better happy medium.

 

I wouldn't get the standard pack. I would get the Dakar pack with the added leaf in it before the standard pack. You can always pull leafs from the dakar to lower it. The expo pack will give you a bit of rake no matter what.

This is with nothing in the rear on broken in expos. my front is lifted about 2.25 over stock maybe a bit less.

t-ROD by Marc Mayer, on Flickr

1-1 by Marc Mayer, on Flickr

2-1 by Marc Mayer, on Flickr

99 by Marc Mayer, on Flickr

 

Thanks, that looks about perfect! I think mine has settled down to about 2.5, so it should be similar.

 

Right on

 

Got my speed fix today

http://youtu.be/d5OxugFtql0

 

New tires look good Marc! If i got back to AT tires these will definitely be them. I have heard nothing but stellar things about the redesign/new sidewall. Love the vid!

 

Thanks Jason! So far they have exceeded expectations. 1300 miles on them already.

How's your truck been treating you with the new front end? Still daily well?

 

Have perked my interests.

 

Alright, so after almost 2,500 miles I've got some feedback on the KO2.
Even though those miles were mostly all highway I did get a lot of mixed surface in there.

On the way east I saw a bunch of coold dry black ice conditions, the ko2 did much better than the mud tire obviously but not as well as some snow tires i've driven on those conditions. I'm fine with that though since id rather not have a false sense of security that the snow tire such as a blizzak can offer. I could tell it was slippery before it was too late...

On the way back to WY I ran into a bunch of wet slippery blown over the road slush/snow. This is the stuff that the ko2 really impressed me on. Transitioning from dry pavement to this crap was confidence inspiring. The slipping of the tire was progressive (meaning you can control it), unlike the mtr (which once slipped it was over).

I got them in some deeper snow too, like 6-8 inches worth. No complaints or comments really other than I didnt get stuck and grip was abundant...haha. I can see how an MTR may do better when the snow gets deeper/more mud like in consistency when clearing the tread is good for traction.

The ko2 has a subtle hum to it on the highway compared to an all season car tire. Not noticeable at all if you have a semi noisy exhaust.

The sidewall stiffness of the E rated is similar to the MTR E rated. Steering inputs feel the same at speed. The ko2 feels solid in higher speed corners. I'm comparing the ko2 to my work truck which has a similar AT tire (hankook at-m) also in an E rated. That hankook on the work truck feels gooey in faster corners...not confidence inspiring.

Overall I am very impressed with the KO2 so far. The 295 size has been perfect. Time will tell if it's just as competent off road. Based on how it's been so far i doubt it's going to be bad.

 

Also, stock gears and the 6 speed with 295's is great on the highway. Turned 2700 rpm at 82 mph in 6th gear for 4 hours straight. Hardly downshifted for any hills. Being able to go that fast comfortably for that long was nice. Makes me cringe at the thought of 4.56...

 

Till you're in the rocks..

 

Yes then it would suck.

 

Well if 35s aren't a possibility maybe just 4.30s will be the way to go. Or 4.10s

 

Yea we'll see how this spring goes. May just get 456 so I have to go 35 next round

Also I got a free MIG while I was at home! It's just a no name 135 MIG but its still a free welder! Gonna start practicing this winter in my spare time.

 

I like that idea haha

Nice! 120v I assume? Better then nothing. What Jon used for ever. If it'll do 220 I highly recommend doing that. Helps a ton.

 

Yea just 120v. Figure if I can get good with a pos welder I should be good with a nice one some day!

 

Hey can do a bunch of little stuff with that! Be nice to have for sure.

 

It's more difficult to learn to weld with a 120 welder than a 220.

 

Bring it on!!

 

Awesome! Thanks for the 2,500 mile review as well!

The truck has been driving great. I have been on different adventures since putting the suspension on there (rocks, snow, mud, ice) and everything I have put it through it has performed great. Really can't say anything bad about the new All-Pro Long Travel. Still driving it daily with no issues. The one crappy thing that keeps happening is my CV clamps break and disappear! Spilling grease everywhere and I have had to rebuild 2 axles since putting the kit on and another clamp broke this last weekend while off-road.

I don't blame the kit at all, its gotta be the sh*tty clamps I keep buying. Going to replace all the clamps with proper CV ones and the problem should be fixed!

---

This year the wife and I are planning to take a 10 day trip in the beginning of July up into Idaho, Montana, and hopefully through Wyoming. Would love to meet up and hit the trails if we have the chance! Ill keep you posted on the dates when it gets closer to see if we can link up.