Maybe somebody could help… Bent my OEM Bilstein shocks on a light-medium trail

5110’s are good economic shocks for offroading. I’ve driven them on Racetrack Playa Road in Death Valley loaded down with gear and an RTT In 108° heat. Same shocks, different summer, up and down Gold Crown Road numerous times while loaded down for prospecting and camping north of Joshua Tree National Park. I don’t “air down”, never do (that’s for jeepers to gawk and chat with each other at the trailheads, best to avoid Actually it’s because I’m too lazy to stop twice to do it). 52k miles on them with no issues. Of course, I don’t drive fast because I hate to put the truck in a lot of stress, and yeah I know, airing down helps relieve that. But seriously, if you have single-walled monotube shocks like 5100's, they do well enough with heat dispersion with conservative driving on long washboard roads and other rough trails, even in the summer heat.

 

How did you finally solve the problem?

 

I went with another aftermarket company….had a manufacturing issue…which they quickly resolved, then decided on another brand. 8 months of bombing around out here and they’ve been bulletproof.

Toyota actually was great. Spoke to an area service rep who explained that the heavily washboard road was causing overheating. Said inspection showed that shock fluid actually got hot enough to melt the rubber.

They put on new shocks, asked that I air down (major pain in the ass to constantly air up and down going into town). Did that…blew out another one. They shrugged and replaced them again. I blew those out and went aftermarket. Toyota checked back regularly to see how things were going.

I have over 12 miles of dirt road to get to my house…the road gets graded nicely in the spring but quickly becomes washboarded by May.

Here’s the thing, my wife’s 2018 4runner has not had any issues on stock shocks…nor has my Ram cummins crew cab.

 

Isn’t this the same OP who’s fuel door busted while on the trails?

edit; yep;

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/gas-cover-popping-off-while-off-roading.712432/

Coincidence? Or pattern?

 

I will say this, I see a lot of chatter around here about the best aftermarket suspension. There are some popular makers that shit the bed out here, and there are some low cost brands that shine.

 

I think that there are some low cost shocks that have a dual internal path, one for short shock stroke and one path for longer stroke. The short stroke path is very open and designed for washboards... open path=less heat.
I agree tho, you really can't go by price when choosing the best components for your specific needs.

 

LOL... Yes, that fuel door was popping off with a bad rear shock. Fixed itself with the shock replacement.