Old Man Emu setups on 1st gens

883. In a few months I'll be adding either a elite or relentless bumper

Haha. Sometimes he acts like it. First time I've owned an English Bulldog. They're awesome, although they fart, ALOT.

 

I didn't even notice the dog....

 

Awesome. Same setup as me then. I ordered a plate bumper in October. Still waiting on it to arrive...

 

Maybe I should just order it now. Don't most vendors just ask for half up front and the rest before shipping?

 

I got the 881's, originally didn't think that I would be adding that much weight so soon but the damn TW got my money and now I need to swap them out for the 882's. I just added around 140 lbs of skids and the front dropped over an inch good luck with the install.

 

Thanks. Couldn't you just add 10mm spacers or would that be too stiff for you?

 

Yeah most require half up front. Or whatever cost of materials are. Keep in mind Elite isn't taking orders for a while until he's caught up in the group buy orders. Most of the vendors have a pretty long build time unless you're looking at the allpro apex.

 

I put 10mm's on thinking they would compensate for the bumper I intended on getting, but nope, once the bumper was on they just limited the travel of the compressed coils more. If I was just rolling stock the 881's would be perfect.

 

…wish I would of put the AAL on too

 

Good to know.

After reading through this thread, most wished they had as well. That's why I bought one.

 

I'm running 882s and had to add a 1/2" top plate spacer to account for the Elite bumper and BudBuilt IFS skid. I've got an expensive feeling what's going to happen once I add a winch and belly skid.

 

Damn it, I don't want to hear that.

 

Haha. I have those expensive feelings all the time

 

Just my 2 cents but if you are planning a plate bumper, winch, full skids, sliders I would just buy some good coilovers or go with eibach 650# springs. My 883s were overloaded with all the weight I added to my 4cyl reg cab. They were fine with bumper/winch alone but skids and sliders put them over the top. original lift was around 2.75-3 inches. After adding all the weight I was at 2 inches.

 

That's why I've been putting off the winch purchase. Figure it is going to blossom into a big bill.

 

Obligatory dumb question:

If I get 881s and the Dakar leaf packs in rear... and add an AAL to them, how much more lift does the AAL provide?

I want a little rake because I run a topper pretty much all the time, haul weight for work sometimes and get pretty loaded down when wheeling/camping.

Don't ever foresee running plate bumpers, or tons of skids (Jon and I are going to build a bolt-on/off transfer case skid) or a winch. I do have sliders.

 

881's by themselves will give 2" +-. The Dakars will give 3"+-, the AAL will increase that as well. I can't say how much as I am not running the AAL, but I do have a topper and it doesn't sag the rear...yet.

You can add top spacer's to the front to raise it where you want and maintain the rake you're looking for. Spacers seem to come in 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" thickness and they will provide lift double their thickness.
IE: 1/4" spacer = 1/2" extra lift approximately.

 

I have no experience with the Dakars but my truck is a 99 manual extra cab 4x4. I have 881 on nitrocharger shocks and wheelers 5 leaf pack on nitrochargers in the rear. I have a little rake and my truck rides smooth and hndles very well. If I had a topper I would still go with the whhelers leaf pack but add the add a leaf. My rear end is very smooth over bumps way more so than any truck I have ever owned ( 97 chevy 1500, 94 ranger, 78 Bronco, 86 vw rabbit truck, 94 samurai, 96 pathfinder, 2002 xterra)

 

I need some opinions... I have spent countless hours reading about the OME coil options and am still undecided.

I have a DC 4x4 with a stock front for at least another year (even then would probably only got tube in the front, no winch). This will remain my DD for the next two years, so on road comfort/handling is important. I have a full-time job (50+ hours/week) and a family at home so not a whole lot of time to be under my truck swapping CVs.
I will be going full OME w/dakars and either 881s + 10mm top plate, or 882s w/D6XL. I will be running 265/75/16s while the truck remains my DD. I spend most of my time on road, but in the warmer months do take the truck offroad (mostly trails, nothing too technical).

So... 881 + 10mm top plate, or 882s? I'm concerned that the 882s will over lift look bad with 32s. On the other hand, I am afraid I will not be happy with the 881s after they settle.

Will also be replacing steering rack bushings, LBJs, and TREs at the time of install.

 

882's for double cab imho.
I would only run 881's on a stock xtra cab with no plans for added bumper or winch.