Wisconsin Tacomas and bad financial advice

Edit: I'd love to go to 8112's, but holy fuck are they expensive!

The MT64 looks like a very good value, being a little more beefy than the 6112, and priced similarly. And, the reviews seem good so far.

I'm pretty sure the mid grade Dobinsons are more expensive than the Bilsteins. But, I'll be looking into them as well .

 

From all the stuff I've read, the 8112's would be lower on my list. Bilsteins provide great value for the low/mid grade stuff. The knock on the high end stuff like the 8112's is that Bilstein was making them difficult to rebuild by not selling the individual parts (or having long lead times, something to do with one of those). Maybe that's better now but I don't know because I stopped looking after I did my own upgrades. I think the shock main tube and reservoirs are made of zinc steel which don't handle the road salt well. I also didn't coat my 6112's when I had them and it took about five minutes of winter weather to wreck that finish. My Fox 2.5's don't have that problem at all, zero coating, zero concern. Most other manufacturers have seen the light and are moving to aluminum bodies now to improve on that. Aluminum dissipates heat better so bonus points there too.

Those OME 64's seem like good bang for the buck for a non-res shock. I don't know what beats it right now in that tier. Dobinsons MRR are nearly the same price with a slightly smaller 2.2 piston but you gain a reservoir with more oil and an adjuster. Pick your poison, they both should work great.

Above those is all the other 2.5" big money shocks: Fox, King, Bilstein, blah blah blah. Dirt King makes their own now to compete. Ride Shocks is a new project from AccuTune that are also in that space and if I had my choice to do it again they would be an intriguing option (aside from my own personal bias with that company). Couple other new brands but I haven't read much on them. Not a bad time to be buying shocks, way more options than we ever had before.

 

Well, my body was recovering from the bumper work this weekend, and then as I was about to leave work for home I get a text from my wife. A low pole in a parking lot jumped out at her and messed up her Tiguan.

The rear passenger wheel is all wonky. I took it off and took off the caliper to get at some upper stabilizer thing that I thought I might be able to straighten, but no luck there and there appears to be a bit of a twist to the LCA.



I know I could source the parts and fix that stuff and just get an alignment, but the real issue is the body damage...



Appears to be just the door panel and a bunch of busted trim clips. That piece over the wheel well was half off. The body work will put this over the insurance deductible, so we've started a claim and will just have a good shop take care of everything including tow and alignment. Insurance will get her a rental car too.

Not the relaxing evening I had hoped for, but she's fine and it's just bent metal and bruised ego.

 

That's weird. I've had the 6112's since April of 2020 and they're still OK. They're not pretty anymore, but they're not completely rotted away.

The newer aluminum FOX shocks custom valved from AccuTune is a strong consideration. I've had mixed feelings about them, but they really seem to know their stuff.

 

D'oh that sucks! At least it's minimal damage.

 

@AccuTune Offroad definitely know their stuff.

10/10 highly recommend

 

The insurance deductible is $500, but I'm secretly hoping that the cost is over $2000 so I can claim that she's done more damage to her car in a parking lot than I've done in all of my off roading.

It's probably ill advised to taunt both my wife and the off roading gods though...

 

Dang that sucks but glad everyone is safe. I think you should upgrade your wife to a 4Runner, probably won't twist an LCA like that and with some sliders you wouldn't even have damage lol.

I have the newer aluminum Fox PES shocks with custom valving ("adventure tune"). Quite happy with them except I was an early adopter and my DSC adjusters have been either wonky or broken from day one. Waiting until they need a rebuild to get fully fixed. If I were buying again today, my decision would be much more nit-picky as there are competing options now.

Edit: I should have said my 6112's didn't rot away but the nice steel finish turned terribly ugly pretty fast. Only later did I read threads on TW showing people coating them with clear spraypaint as protection which I wish I did. Mine are still functional and sitting on a shelf, will probably clean up OK with some Scotch Brite pad buffing.

 

You make a good point, but I think a Rav4 is more her size and style. Something like this maybe...?

 

Glad to hear she is ok and that's just some bent metal. If you do file an insurance claim see if you can get depreciated value as well. Basically it offsets the resale value being lower having been in an accident. Should help make the truck mods more reasonable by comparison.

 

That would tear up the Trans-Wisconsin and any other gravel or maintained forest roads.

 

Dammit! I've already started going down the rabbit hole.
Ironman 4X4 make not only suspension but a whole overland kit for the Rav4.

@Taco-Grinder I think your wife's needs some upgrades.

https://ironman4x4america.com/build...Tooal5Odj78y4MGxHCDL_pX1XHw57jQnoFWesfM7tS60O

 

I'm just worried about her in parking lots!

 

I already suggested a lift for the Rav4.
She was not for it.
Better luck getting a 4Runner.

 

Trail Gear has/had the best price on the MT64's.
This is my 1st set of shocks that weren't stock so I won’t be much help in comparison to other brands.
I can say they are a vast improvement over stock.

 

I've also suggested a lift on the wife's Jeep Trailhawk.
Only 1" higher and the mother-in-law wouldn't be able to swing her leg in.
Better luck w/ a 4runner...

 

Keep hanging around these roughnecks and I'll have some 33's in no time.

Cutting chunks of meat out.

 

That's why the tread blocks are so big!

 

Keep lingering around this neck of the woods and I'll be looking for that 2nd battery in no time.
(not yet)

That Prime guy is alright.