Shocks suggestion for occasional off road use?

Are those 255’s? Looks great

 

Thanks, They are 275/70 r17
Falken Wildpeak AT3

 

Just measure from the center of your hub to fender front and back, then compare to stock measurements. 21 inches in the front and 22 in the rear are stock heights for 3rd gen - approx.

 

I’d personally go with the 6112’s. I don’t have much of a reason why other than that they are good quality and not going to kill the bank, but that’s what I would pick.

 

What about softening up the on-road ride of a OR? I do occasional offroad, but the potholes and hwy ride could be better. Not interested in a lift unless it’s only an inch or two.

 

If you get the 6112/5160 and only set clips at 2/3 you’d get about an inch lift and ride would be better then stock

 

here are my measurements with ARE Cap on

hub to fender
F 23”
R 23.5”

ground to fender
F 39”
R 39.5”

 

Looks good! around 2 inches in the front for lift and 1.5 in the rear, give or take a bit.

 

I would definitely recommend the tennis ball lift for op if he is only going off-road occasionally. The on road feel is pretty close to stock, and off road is a clear improvement. Also the most bang for the buck.

 

I am off road 50 times per year, harsh conditions. Normally 100 miles off road or more per trip. Meaning lots of 4-low, first gear., old riverbeds, etc. I am on my 4th 4x4. First Taco for me, a 2016 TRD Off Road. The stock Bilsteins worked well even for 6,000 miles of hard off road in just the past year, but due to the amount of bad washboard, the shocks started to leak at only 30,000 miles on the truck.

I installed the 5100's front and back, not lifted. I have never needed a lift on any truck in 35 years of off roading. I know some think a lift is critical, but here in the mountain backwoods of BC Canada, you will never see lifted trucks deep in the bush. Here, there are a lot of lifted trucks but typically going out in a group or part of a 4x4 club. They tend to stick to familiar trails for outings, rock climbing, mudding, etc.

Me, I never see another truck on my travels as I am looking for very remote lakes where no one else fishes, which requires a lot of deep woods driving and a lot of searching. One lake took me 30 years to locate! Now that I have found it, I can't stay away as it is so beautiful but a horrible road. Eighty miles of logging road, then another 15 miles of 4x4 old riverbed. I hate the road, but the lake is irresistible! Blew 2 of my stock Goodyear Wranglers in one day getting to that lake. Next day had K02s installed and they have worked very well.

Me, I have driven the entire BC province fishing about 130 lakes in my time. All the 4x4s I see deep off road are almost always stock. Even the guys who work in mines high in the mountains or work as loggers, all use stock trucks and get decades use from their trucks.

If you want a lift because it looks good (which it does), or you are regularly out doing hard core rock climbing, then a lift is a good idea.

For most back country drivers, a lift is not required. I am solo remote normally 40-50 trips per year, so having a truck with another 2 or 3 inches clearance will just get me into even deeper trouble. Don't want to walk out 150 miles, no cellphone access, etc and alone. Have done 30 mile walk out and it was not fun. Then getting a ride back to same spot with u-joints for some in the bush repairs. Once took 8 hours and my chainsaw to build a 100 foot long road under my truck to get out of a tough deep snow spot. A hard lesson to learn, but teaches you where not to go when you are by yourself.

The 5100s on for only 2 weeks now, and no off road test yet as all the mountains under 2 feet of snow. On pavement is a huge improvement, night and day difference. No more nose dives on braking, cornering is tight and no roll, and the largest steepest speed bumps, don't even slow down now. Before, the front shocks were bottoming out on the biggest speed bumps. Cost only $800 CDN for the 4 shocks and a $600 install and that included the alignment.

If I get a couple years out of them before they start to leak again, no problem. Low cost replacement. The 6112 and 5160 here in CDN dollars were about $3,000 parts, compared to the $800 I paid for 5100s. I can't see getting 6112 and 5160 if you are occasional off roading. I have spent more time in the bush with four different 4x4s in 35 years than most ever will, and each truck had a pair of "heavy duty" shocks installed and better tires and that was it for "mods". Worked fine for each truck despite heavy off road use.

 

That is good experienced insight...thanks for taking the time to post it

 

You’re welcome. Although it’s really just other people’s diy lift solutions.

 

Thanks The rear has settled quite a bit plus i have the ARE Cap and about 150lbs of tool in the bed.

 

This thread... oi.


Someone said it pretty good earlier. Get yourself some taller tires and a good skid plate. I’d run with that first.

 

There’s a good reason most haven’t taken this thread seriously, once the main points were made.

 

Do the install yourself. Save tons of money

 

Absolutely. Did them myself on the first three 4x4s I owned. Not any more, back is seriously screwed from multiple injuries from a career as a heavy duty carpenter and high seas commercial fisherman. Every solo remote trip in the bush now is like walking a tripwire. Never know when I am going to get stuck because of my back no matter what the truck can do.

Reality is, a lot of guys new to off roading these days are pretty short on hands on skills. I sure miss those days of DIY on my trucks and muscle cars. Rebuilding carbs, brakes, all that stuff.

I still crawl under the truck for a full inspection after every off road trip, but staying bent over working the tools is way too risky now, my back tweaks every day. Built a lot of houses, even built a 40 foot west coast commercial troller, the one you see in my profile pic. Soon as I finish this post, off to the floor for some back stretching. Got to get my back straight so I can get out for another 30 trips this spring and summer!

 

+1 for eibach.

IMO, Best bang for your buck with an AAL. I went with wheelers 2". Netted 3" in the front and 2" in the rear. Front sits about 1/4" lower

 

Completely agree. I've done everything on my last 3 trucks myself. With the exception of the steering rack on my tacoma, not because I couldn't, but because I just didnt have the time. Plus, it let's me know it's done (wont say properly, lol) but I'm not getting screwed on people claiming to do certain things that never happened.

 

Yeah, it is VERY hard to find a good mechanic these days. So many are basically oil change jockeys, and/or diagnose everything with a computer. Zero troubleshooting skills. I typically end up resolving most vehicle issues on my own.

My father at age 75 changed the full set of leaf springs on his 92 F250, laying on his back with jacks under the axle. At 77, he started to build another house. He did all the work himself, other than electrical and plumbing. So he did all the forming, concrete, tie-rod, framing, floors, roof, tile work, brick laying, etc.

The house was 300 miles from where he lived, so he hauled all the materials on his homemade trailer behind his then 20 year old F250 up to the property. Lakeside, but a 150 foot straight drop down to the lake. He hand built a switchback trail down that straight drop to get down to the dock he made for his boat. The switchback braced by 80 foot long cedars he put in place with a come-along. He cleared the property himself, and used his chainsaw guide to make a lot of the lumber used for the house.

He and I built a 40 foot west coast troller we fished together for many seasons on the west coast of Vancouver Island. Here is our boat being launched, before we had mounted the rigging/mast/poles. Putting her in the river to bring her dockside to finish the rest of the work.

A father who is jack of all trades teaches you a lot. Not something most kids experience.

I worked in one job where of 100 guys aged 19 - 30, only a couple had ever changed a spark plug or changed a tire. A few of those had 4x4's but were not capable of going in the wilderness. Accident waiting to happen. It's a different world today.