Rear shocks on 1st gen.

At static ride height, how much shock shaft should you have showing, 3, 4, 5 inches. Question is in relation to 5100's mainly. I have new leaf packs but essentially not sure if I am at stock or a little above. The 5100 has roughly 8" of travel and I have 4" of shaft on flat ground. I'M wondering if I should lift the rear some so I don't bottom out a shock.

 

It's been a month since your post but if the leafs are new they likely wouldn't have have yet settled, right? The question I'd have, is it OK to be in this situation while you wait for them to settle, and I *think* the answer is that you'd want to take it easy for a while as to not bottom out the shock. Stick to on-road and no trips to the store to get a bed full of rocks?

I'm currently reading some here about rear shock length too. My issue, sorta related to yours, is that I want a replacement shock that works for the OEM, stock-height rear leafs (hopefully not sagging ...) but that also work if I replace my rear leafs with something a little higher, either temporarily or permanently. Say, 2" max.

The rear lengths of the 5100-series (sometimes also referred to as 5125, sometimes not ...) confuse me.

 

I have some lift now, at least one inch. I am planning on going to the mountains tomorrow and will take it easy and watch. I stuffed the tire today with my jack and still had about 2 inches of shaft and about the same to the bump stop.