Long Travel BS Thread

Saw a post talking about them. They are supposedly designed in house by dirt king but they outsourced the manufacturing to elka. I’m sure there was some collaboration to help elka manufacture them using their existing tooling and some components but the piston, valving and what not all specd by dirt king

 

I'm sure that's not just marketing speak... From that picture, every part is off the shelf. Could be that they have their own flow rates etc for the piston. Couldn't know without having one in my hand.

 

They’re 100% Elkas. DK provides the requirements so the shocks fit their kits but the parts are off the existing Elka catalog.

I’m sure they’ve been tuning the shocks on shop/customer trucks for months now and have taken feedback from reputable sources. The problem with shock valving is it’s very subjective and can change per application. There are also set variables such as piston flow, etc that changes per manufacturer. Only time will tell what peoples feedback will be.

 

Interesting. So Elka uses 3/4” Shafts instead of the traditional 7/8” shafts most of us have on our 2.5s. Does it really matter? Not sure how much force (leverage) the shafts are subjected to. Probably varies a lot with use-case. DK is mostly IFS setups.

 

I don't really agree on one point honestly... I don't think shock valving is subjective at all. A better shock tune will give more traction, more control and more comfort regardless of who's driving. You just need to tune for the terrain, vehicle and speed you plan to drive.
that said, I've driven with shocks that were tuned poorly and they were terrible at mid speed and couldn't even get to high speed, where as I've driven other shocks on the same truck that were great mid speed and could hit high speed as well pretty comfortably.

I guess I just don't see it as subjective, as it doesn't matter who you are, you'd instantly know which shocks were better.

I'd like to know why so many people see shock tuning as subjective when a truck tuned well is objectively better than a truck tuned poorly

 

https://youtu.be/S4xEGx1g2dA?si=CoIysy-1Iggbeccy

 

Everyone has a different driving style and likes a different feel of the truck so it is kind of subjective. Doesnt matter how well its tuned for someone else if its not tuned for your driving style it wont be perform to its potential.

My example is like asking what the best shock specs are is like asking what the best tire is.

 

I just don't really buy that honestly. Driving style doesn't change the way a truck absorbs bumps. There's going to be a specific setup between the vehicle and the terrain that performs the best, and either a driver can maximize that potential, or they can't. Driving style is like, what kind of lines you pick, how late or early you get on the throttle or brake. Driving style isn't that one person likes a rough ride and the next person likes a comfortable ride.

If you like to hit big jumps, then yeah your suspension won't be tuned optimally for hitting whoops, but I don't think that's a driving style type of deal, that's just the use case that the truck is being tuned around. There's just a tune that will hit big jumps the best without bucking, and be able to absorb the landing. Driving style doesn't really play a part in that.

I'd be willing to bet that you could put anybody into a truck with poorly tuned suspension, and then a truck with well tuned suspension, and they would be able to pick out which one was better, because there's an objectively better setup, regardless of driver style.

 

Installing PRP seats right now with solo kit. Do you put the stock cross bar back on? Or leave without

 

If you have Instagram you can ask Solo or @TKOffroad who works for Solo

 

thanks for the reply. I messaged him. I also called but its Saturday

 

I love the internet, he answered me. you keep the cross bar on 08s

 

Moving along to driver now, gotta figure out clamping the weight sensor better. I clamped the two the rears but still isn’t sensing the weight. Not sure if I have to do all four. Thread on here didn’t show that

 

The ones I’ve seen they usually do all 4. Probably found out like you have that 2 wasn’t enough.

Did you go with the dd highbacks?

 

Yep, DD high back. Going to clamp the others two to see if it solve my issue. Otherwise no airbag lights

 

The guys over at JD fab are seriously stand up dudes. My tie rods were a hair to short for my slide rack and they’re taking care of me and lengthening them for me 9 ish months later.
Phenomenal guys over there.

 

Debating on what to get next. Do I go with some steering upgrades or do I finally get fiberglass. What is everyone’s thoughts on this kit?

 

The reality is that the a Howe steering pump should be the first mod done to our trucks. It’s a quality of life mod. So much better on and off road than the stock pump. But it really shines off road. I literally drive faster because of it.

 

That is good to know. I’ve been on the fence far too long about it.

 

Very happy with mine
Its hooked up to a 200 series rack and 37s