Alabama thread!

I guess you could probably drill holes in the plate of your factory bumps, but for the time/effort you could just buy a kit with your preferred bumps that bolt up. Gotta have some type of stop otherwise your shock would be

 

You really want a progressive bump, like Wheeler's or Timbren, instead of a solid one, like the factory one.

Flip your u-bolts, put a good bump on, and be done. Buy once, cry once.

 

I have just shy of $100 in my u-bolt flip and bump stop setup

bump stop size is determined by your collapsed shock length

 

I edited my last post. Bump stop length is ultimately determined my the compressed length of your shocks. Your bump stops should stop your up travel 1/4-1/2” shorter than the collapsed length of the shock. Really only comes an issue that requires extending bump stops when you get into the 11” stroke range (b110) or greater.

 

From AlabamaWX

RAIN ON THE WAY: The sun is partly sunny across Alabama this afternoon with temperatures in the 60s; clouds will thicken tonight ahead of a weather system west of the state.

Tomorrow will be a cloudy and cool day with periods of rain; temperatures hold in the 50s all day. No risk of severe storms, and probably not much thunder. Rain amounts over the northern half of the state will be around 1/2 inch, with lighter amounts for the southern counties of the state. Rain tapers off by late afternoon, but some lingering light or drizzle could linger into tomorrow night.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: Saturday will be a mostly cloudy day, and a bit of light is possible in scattered spots, mainly during the morning hours. But, most of the day will be dry. A CAD (cold air damming) pattern looks to set up, meaning East Alabama could hold in the low to mid 50s all day, while West Alabama sees a high around 60 degrees. Then, on Sunday, the sky will remain mostly cloudy, but any showers should be few and far between. Sunday’s high will be in the low to mid 60s.

NEXT WEEK: Showers are possible Monday, but rain and a few thunderstorms will become widespread Monday night into Tuesday morning with a cold front passing through the state. The rain will end during the day Tuesday, and much colder air will roll into the state. Temperatures will likely fall into the 40s over the northern counties with a brisk north wind.

Wednesday and Thursday look dry with cold mornings; temperatures will drop into the 20s early Wednesday. Clouds increase Thursday night, and rain returns Friday. The rain at the end of next week could be significant with a surface low moving out of the Gulf of Mexico and up into Alabama

Current Visible as of 3pm Central

 

no problem! Happy to help.

Saying a shock supports a certain amount of lift is vague if you want to get full use out of your leaf pack. The Bilstein b110 is 27.28” extended and I think is now the limiting factor in my down travel (still need to check that for sure). A shock at 25” extended will obviously limit your down travel even more, but the shorter collapsed length will reduce the need for extended bump stops.

I ran factory shocks with 2.5” of lift for several months. On the street it was no issue at all, but when the axle dropped the shock maxed out and that was not a pleasant feeling/sound.

 

You need to use a bump stop that will allow the maximum amount of upward travel without allowing any components to contact any other components. Simple, right?

The only way to actually accomplish this is to flex the axle upward under controlled conditions. It's easier when you remove all the leaves in the spring except for the main leaf.

The easier way is to use a known, proven product, such as a Wheeler's bumpstop. I do not know if they have gone to this extreme in measuring their stops, but they do have a lot of experience with their bumps mounted to trucks - so I assume the length is good.

You can always install a bump, and watch it as you drive. If it limits travel effectively, you are good to go. If not, see how you need to adjust it, adjust it, and drive on.

I understand what you are trying to do - it's only a matter of how much time, energy and resources do you want to put into your specific issue? That is the beauty of this forum - the collective knowledge. Learn from other people's mistakes, and all that.

 

Okay I'm no expert but I've got 2" lift in the rear and Bilstein 5100s. I've been fully compressed a few times and the factory bumpstops worked fine. I believe someone was running some Chevy bump stops that are between Toyota and SuperBumps in size.

 

You do want bumpstops, even if they normally do not hit the frame.

In the event of an unexpected extreme movement of the suspension, the bumpstop can/will prevent additional damage. One of my Rangers can attest to that...

 

for OE replacement shocks for the 2-3” lift range, the tried and true tested timbren and wheelers bumps are perfect.

The issue with the b110s is they are included in drop bracket lifts. When you put a 4-5” block under the leaf pack you are reducing the amount the shock travels from eye to eye, thus essentially eliminating the need for extend bump stops in those setups. However, when you use the 110s for a different use than they were intended for, you have to compensate somewhere. Dakar’s are thinner than a factory leaf pack with a big lift block under them.

 

night and day difference when i switched to the wheelers front bump stops from stock. Like it was one of the most noticeable improvements for me.

 

RIP Mors Kochanski One of my idols growing up, so full of knowledge.

 

Yea I could tell more of a difference in my superbumps than anything I’d done suspension wise on the fronts, hoping the back is just as good

 

Mornin Bama!

 

Measured this morning. Currently at 4.75” of lift in the rear with an emptyish bed on the Dobinsons super heavy duty.

@Arrowshot

the axle shims add a 1/4” or so to that number

 

How much lift did you have with just your AAL? 4.75", that's quite a lift!

 

I was at about 2.5” with the AAL and a 1” block. I carry a lot of weight in the bed, so that sagged quite a bit.

mom thinking I’ll be sitting at 2.5-3” loaded for trips and 3.5-4” at daily driving weight when I build the swing out

 

Does that 4" of lift make your 285s look small? Got a pic? Curious to see the rake on your truck. I don't like leveled trucks, I like em with a little rake. Sounds like yours has rake!

 

haven’t had a chance to get a picture on level ground in the sun.

I’m at close to a full 3” up front, so it has rake but not terrible.

i thought 33s looked small before.

 

Time for some 35s! lol