Because We're Not North Enough To Be NOVA, We're Just Stuck Between the North and the True South

THIS.

I apologize as I cant remember, but do you plan to wheel and stuff? If so, you might want to familiarize yourself with more products/ask more questions, etc. Many of our brotheren have been successful with the bilsteins as well as the fancy coilovers like icon, king, and fox. I can shed some light on the fancier stuff, but this is a component that is worth your effort and time to get right. Suspension can have a pretty good return on investment, but unless you like constantly buying new stuff, it would be good to get a strong understanding of what capability you want to honestly achieve for yourself. Suspension is one of the components that you get what you pay for...doesn't mean to go all out on coilovers, but if you cheap it you might regret it sooner than later...

 

Like I said earlier, your biggest challenge will be to disassemble the struts and you need a really good spring compressor. A suitable spring compressor would cost too much to use just once so your best bet is to have that part done professionally. The rest can be done with hand tools.

 

To further elaborate on myself, I know @Fish12South has my old king coils that seem to be an enjoyment for him. I think @Salty_Dog has Icon coilovers, Im sure some others might have some bilsteins that are local to you. At a minimum, it might be advantageous to wait until the next meet and see of some of these fine folks in this thread might be willing to let you ride in their rigs to feel out their suspension set ups. I know I would be looking into that if I was on the fence about what I wanted.

 

I have been timed at right around 10 to 12 minutes per side on the front... @Lots2Learn58 @Coot83

And about an hour to hour and a half for an aal.

 

Yea no shit...this man makes a passion about breaking records. No hype at all here either.

 

No clue why I'm not getting notifications, but I've got a lot of experience at a lot of the stuff you guys have been talking about, so I'm going to try to hit it all...

I just bought the 52 qt. (something like that) Ozark Trail cooler. I've been cussing at and about a $20 cooler for the last 3 years, every time I used it, every time I had to put ice in it every 12 hours (or less), and I had been eyeing a stainless Coleman (my dream cooler, weird, I know). Well, I ended up with the OT. So far:

The girl and her son used it all weekend at Cub Scout camp a few weeks ago during that heat wave. Once the thing was cooled down by an initial 20 pound bag of ice (in the cooler's defense, it was left in a hot ass car for an hour and a half while they were in Walmart), one 20 pound bag of ice lasted from Friday afternoon until Monday, and it was in the trunk of a car all day Sunday sitting in the driveway after she got home waiting for me to unload it. Matter of fact, Wednesday that week, I grabbed a bottle of water out of it, and it was still cold enough to be refreshing even though all the ice was gone.

When I went to drain it, I had to open the lid, because if I didn't the water would just trickle out of the drain plug and "glug". So I know it's sealing well. Seems sturdy, as you guys know, I'm not a small guy, and I can sit on it with no lid deflection. Yet another reason I ended up with it over the stainless Coleman I had my eye on. So far the only thing I'm nervous about is the rubber handles. But they ALL have them. So, can't really knock off points for it.

Overall opinion? I'd buy it again.

I was actually thinking about suggesting a weekend trip up there in fall when it cools down, like when the leaves change, and all that mess. You know, pretty nature shit.

I have a set of 5100 Bilsteins sitting in my garage right now. I ran them for quite a while, until I scored the deal on the Kings. They were ok, and I'm going to agree with everyone else that from what you've said, they'd be all you need.

Also, as far as the install, don't worry about a shop. Hell, don't even worry about getting them assembled. I've got access to a spring compressor. A friend of mine up the street has a badass one I can use whenever I need it. And I've had the front suspension apart on mine so much I could do it blindfolded. I'm not doing it in 12 minutes though... That's just crazy talk.

I'm definitely enjoying them. About to get a set of stiffer springs for them though. After I put the sliders on, the 600#s are way too soft. They were on the edge of too soft before, and I still have a full set of skids to throw on. Just trying to decide on 650# or 700#. Plus I need to sort out the rear. That HC rear bumper squatted the back BAD. Poor factory leaves are hating life. I'm thinking a 3 leaf progressive AAL. I just don't have the coin at the moment for a complete pack, and I really need to do something with it.

 

Appreciate your insight brother! This def helps to add some perspective and possibly opportunity with your old set up. I def would be down for a trail run with you guys as well. I like fall weather personally much more over this steamy stuff we got currently.

 

Yeah man. I did the same thing as @Choco_Taco. I think we all have. There's just so many choices. In the end, even though it cost a little more money than it had to because I did it twice, I don't regret it, because it was an experience to learn from.

I'd definitely like to do a fall run. The only problem I run into is with my work schedule. I work two Saturdays, then off one. But I can look at a calendar and figure out a few Saturdays off and we can go from there.

 

I have the Wheeler's 3 leaf aal in mine and can only attest to it. I have had quite a bit of weight in the truck and pulled a couple of heavy loaded (albeit small) trailers with it and haven't had them droop yet. They also ride well for me. Maybe not as good as a leaf pack but way cheaper and work well so far

 

That's what I'm going for. I just need something before my leaves end up inverted for good. I keep hearing the 3 leaf AAL ride decent, and I'm thinking with the amount of bumper I have back there, they should ride better than a stock bumper truck.

 

I would imagine so. Mine have always ridden better than jst stock leafs, especially when I had 2" blocks in the rear. Whenever I've put weight on them they have seemed to ride even better. I haven't put anything in them yet that has made them squat

 

Yeah, but what fun is that???

 

Oh it's a lot of fun messing with the suspension and everything as long as you have the money to do it.

 

What are you doing with said set?

 

Sorry for the slow reply. Yes I did my install in the driveway all by myself. Also installed a set of TC UCA. Which added a little extra time. All said and done I would say it took me 5 hours with lunch and beers in between. A lot of good pointers above on the proper set up and getting the coils preassembled. I have no air tools. A lot of good people in this thread willing to help so I would try to set up a mod day. After my 2.5-3" lift I think my 265s look small.

 

Ha! Time to go bigger! I keep tell no my wife bigger is better and she keeps telling me to go on a diet

 

I am going to run these tires until I need new ones. Then I will go up in size unless someone wants to trade???? HAHA
Plus my wifes RAV4 needs new tires soon

 

Oh I am down for a fall camping trip depending on the weekend. Fat people hate sleeping in the heat.