Overland Suspension

The more I read about suspensions the more I keep second guessing myself. So needing some recommendations.

Truck is a DCSB. Will have demello steel front bumper+winch. CBI bedrack with a RTT. 2 adults 230&110lbs. 1 70lb dog. General camping gear and tools. And haul a trailer with a sxs on it.

Daily I plan on removing the RTT but still carry about 500lbs of tools in the bed. Sometimes more.

Don't want more than 2.5" of lift. and would like to be able to drive gravel fire roads without knocking the fillings out of my teeth.

Help.

 

Is your budget like $3500 in parts? Otherwise Old Man Emu with HD Dakars and probably some other rear suspension aid.

 

Overland suspension or off-road suspension?

Two completely different things.

It really depends on what kind of wheeling you are going to be doing. If you want the best of both worlds I would go with a quality set of coilovers (King, ADS, or Radflo) on all 4 corners and Dakars or AllPro Expo leaf pack.

For hardcore wheeling, If you really want to increase travel on the rear, do a shock relocation inboard towards the diff and run 12” shocks. Requires some welding but it’s definitely worth it.

 

Depends on how far you want to take this, but you’re planning on carrying a lot of weight so...

2.5” coilovers in the front with 700# springs

Springs are what is going to control your rear setup primarily and 500# daily is a good amount of weight so you’ll need something beefy. If you’re planning on varing weight, removing RTT for trips, then adjusters in the rear would be be beneficial.

Lots of valving work...

 

I kind of feel that you contradicted yourself in saying that off road and overland are two different setups, yet recommend a relocation in the rear.

A relocation is great if you want/need the travel but most are fine with a quality shock in the factory location.

Did you really say Radflo was a quality manufacturer and not mention Fox?

 

Old Man Emu was designed for this sort of thing. Get a complete kit with Dakar’s. I went ADS because the ride was too stiff for the little weight I carry, but your description sounds ideal. Should be nice and smooth on washboard roads

 

Interesting. I'm curious on the TW members responses.

 

Not contradictory, I made mention that they were 2 different things but didn’t elaborate.

I didn’t mention Fox because Fox doesn’t sell their race quality stuff to the public like ADS or Radflo. King doesn’t either but they are far superior in all facets to Fox. Personally, I will never put anything Fox on another vehicle. They just can’t withstand the type of wheeling that I do and Fox is kind of “bro” off the shelf big box retailer quality crap.

 

I have 300 pounds of armor up front between my bumper, winch, and skids and my ADS with 700# springs are great. My OME nitrochargers couldn’t handle the weight.

 

12” shocks? Isn’t that short? My ADS are 14”

 

If you are relocating inboard, it’s not too short at all.

This is with my current relocation using Ford shock towers and 14” travel shocks.


When I relocate inboard, I’ll be able drop it further.

 

True. You don’t really get that good of quality with FOX without spending BIG BUCK$$$. That’s why I went ADS. They are amazing

 

You’re correct. I misread. You mentioned that they are different things and then gave a solution for one. My bad.

I’m interested to hear your thoughts on saying one manufacturer is far superior to another yet King is the leading competitor in the “bro world.”

Fox has a broad range of product qualities and their valving off the shelf is not known to be as good but I don’t think it’s a quality issue as much as a ride perspective difference.

Does anyone run FOA anymore?

 

Surprising unless you were running the heavy springs, but I agree, ADS is friggin awesome stuff

 

I see. Nice

I’m also running the extended travel (front only) at the moment.

Can’t wait to get the rears. Honestly ADS is so under appreciated. Their quality is beyond comparison

 

What are you cycling?

A 14” shock doesn’t do you any good if you’re only cycling 11ish”

 

Not sure what you’re asking. The shocks seem to articulate well in the front I don’t have the rears yet

 

Southeast style overland. So gravel roads, washboard, and crappy highways. I leave the true off-roading up to the side by side.

These are the type posts that have been confusing me. Some say OME are the perfect setup. Then I hear peoples have been sagging after a year of use.

I don't want to do any relocation. Already went down that rabbit hole with a jeep so trying to keep the Taco more factory. Just want a little better performance and not be sagging in the rear after adding weight.

 

Gotcha, I think there is some confusion. @Trident904 is referring to his rear shocks being 14” due to a relocation.

You probably have 14” springs on your front suspension but only have 5-6” of shock.

 

Well with a full HD Dakar pack you will be surprised. I put 1000lbs in the back of mine and it sagged 3/4”....25 (40lb) bags of bark chips