Best lift for rock crawling?

[Nay]

Originally Posted by Tools R Us

I must have gotten the wrong impression from a previous review? IIRC in a review it was posted something like: With about 600+lb load in the rear it only sagged less than a 1/2"? On mine ~500lb compresses it ~1", as would be expected from 250lb per inch springs. The above sounds like a much stiffer spring.

My rig started with the 2.5" setup, good setup, much better than stock. Then switched to the J's, much happier with them, for my use they work well. It probably has to do with the slightly longer spring having a longer "sweet spot" allowing for more consistent spring rate through travel. IIRC the FOR springs also appear to have a slightly longer "sweet spot" than the heavies.

Even when running high speed dirt roads I rarely hit the stops. Coming from an off road racing background, I'm a big believer in using all of the available travel. By not occasionally clobbering the stops I feel that I'm leaving some travel on the table, that could net more comfortable high speed ride and allow easier flex in the rocks. Most probably don't have this issue because they carry more weight than my rig.

The spring/shock combo with FOR is a much softer feel than OME, it's really not even close, to the point that if anything I'd firm up the rear a bit (final production kit has slightly stiffer shock valving than mine). I did do some load testing that you are remembering, much of that was centered around how FOR holds load well while being downright supple without any weight. I can get on the bumpstops at speed if I try, but it's not often.

Won't get back into that here, just thought I'd mention if you are really looking for a setup to improve on OME in the "supple" direction you'd probably love those springs. Not sure if FOR is producing them, though.

Report up on those 5.29's with 37's once you install, I'm slowly starting to lean to 37's when I get new tires in a year or so and will be interested in the RPM figures. I'm still hoping Interco will do the trxus in a 36, that would be perfect

[BrotherRob]

Originally Posted by Nay

I loved the 5.29's/35's in Moab, even on the really steep descents like Skyline Drive I could engine brake down to a degree, and the ascents were a breeze. What I hated with stock gears was those really steep climbs that make the torque converter groan, and Moab is full of those. I'd want gears in Moab before lockers, even with 33's, because really steep climbs and descents all day long are all about gearing.

Having said that, there is no doubt you can do it on 35's with stock gearing, I just wouldn't plan that as a long term design because you'd get tired of fighting it.

Plus I got 14.4 mpg driving from 4K feet elevation at Moab back over the Rockies to 7,400 ft elevation at home, so I'm sure in 50 years they will have paid for themselves

I've done Moab 4x on 35s with stock gears, and lockers. I have brakes for the descents. I wouldn't attempt most of that stuff without the lockers (Cruise Moab restricts you to the bunny hills w/o lockers). I have no doubt that new gears will improve the performance, but the stock ones haven't stopped me yet.

[Box Rocket]

I've owned my 80 for almost 7 years, and I bought it with the lift and 35's already on it. It still has stock gears. I don't know any different than driving it with 35's and stock gears. I a Utah local so I've had my 80 in Moab several times and I'll point out that up until this most recent Cruise Moab, all the previous trips were with open diffs. Nobody in their right mind would take a full bodied 80 out to area BFE so I won't even talk about those trails, but other than Pritchett Canyon, my 80 has seen most of the harder (more popular trails) like Moab Rim, Hell's Revenge, Behind the Rocks, Golden Spike etc all without lockers. So just because someone else isn't comfortable tackling some of those trails without lockers does not mean you can't do it in an 80. I am not one to beat on my truck. My 80 is my wife's DD so I can't afford to trash it on the trail so even with open diffs it hasn't required me to be excessively hard on the truck to run those trails.

Lockers will make it a whole lot easier but if Moab is your primary wheeling location, an unlocked 80 with 35's will handle it nicely, and a locked one will make the really hard stuff more like child's play.

[Nay]

I'd agree again with both of you - I wouldn't pass up Moab for either gears or lockers. I ran Spike years ago in a well geared XJ on just 31's and a limited slip with no problem, although I had a lot of lift and excellent flex.

Bottom line: a 3-4" lifted 80 with 35's is a perfect Moab rig. You'll love gears, but can afford to figure that out for yourself, and being locked makes the steeper climbs a lot easier. Trim up your front and rear angles if you don't like to drag.

The 80 is a perfect all purpose rig with this setup.

[rhyary]

When I calculate on discounttiredirect.com the 315/75/16 is comes to 34.6". Is this what you guys call 35"?

[Nay]

Originally Posted by rhyary

When I calculate on discounttiredirect.com the 315/75/16 is comes to 34.6". Is this what you guys call 35"?

No. 35x12.5x16 at 35.0" is what I call 35

315's are generally as big as many tires that are actually labeled "35". 35x12.5x15 MTR's are no bigger than a typical 315.

[rhyary]

Nay,
I am looking at the Nitto Terra 315/75/16. That is 34.6. Are they smaller than 35x12.5x16?
Since I only have 2.5" lift, I actually not looking for a true 35. I just bought 295/75/16 but that did not give me much lift (.5"?). So I wonder if the 315/75 will fit without further modifications to the suspension. (Don't want to open a re-gearing discussion)

TIA

[Nay]

Originally Posted by rhyary

Nay,
I am looking at the Nitto Terra 315/75/16. That is 34.6. Are they smaller than 35x12.5x16?
Since I only have 2.5" lift, I actually not looking for a true 35. I just bought 295/75/16 but that did not give me much lift (.5"?). So I wonder if the 315/75 will fit without further modifications to the suspension. (Don't want to open a re-gearing discussion)

TIA

That size is a "35". Probably slightly smaller than my tires, but if you really wheel that tire will rub on full compression on the OME 2.5" lift.

Here is how much up travel was left on my OME 2.5" kit when my tires hit, and I don't have flares. You could extend your bumstops 2", but that's not much up travel for OME, so if you like to travel fast in rough terrain you may not like it. But they certainly "fit" depending on what other tuning you do.

[Tools R Us]

Originally Posted by rhyary

Nay,
I am looking at the Nitto Terra 315/75/16. That is 34.6. Are they smaller than 35x12.5x16?
Since I only have 2.5" lift, I actually not looking for a true 35. I just bought 295/75/16 but that did not give me much lift (.5"?). So I wonder if the 315/75 will fit without further modifications to the suspension. (Don't want to open a re-gearing discussion)

TIA

Nitto 315's are great all around tires. They have good highway manners and work well in desert/Moab terrain, have no idea how they would work in the northeast? Both of my brothers run them.

For a big tire they fit well on the 80. IIRC 2" is overkill for the bump stops, depending on your tolerance for touching you can probably get away with close to, if not half of that. By adding 1/4" wheel spacers, you may need even less, depending on the rest of your setup.

[Nay]

Originally Posted by Tools R Us

Nitto 315's are great all around tires. They have good highway manners and work well in desert/Moab terrain, have no idea how they would work in the northeast? Both of my brother run them.

For a big tire they fit well on the 80. IIRC 2" is overkill for the bump stops, depending on your tolerance for touching you can probably get away with close to, if not half of that. By adding 1/4" wheel spacers, you may need even less, depending on the rest of your setup.

Agreed - my bumpstops hit at 1.25" of travel remaining with the trxus on OME 2.5". For a slightly smaller tire, 1" of extension would probably suffice given you have to be fully flexed to get it all the way to the bumpstop.

[calstyl2]

Originally Posted by Box Rocket

Nobody in their right mind would take a full bodied 80 out to area BFE so I won't even talk about those trails,.

Wanna play in BFE next year?
Green Day and Minor Threat.......

[Tools R Us]

Originally Posted by Nay

Agreed - my bumpstops hit at 1.25" of travel remaining with the trxus on OME 2.5". For a slightly smaller tire, 1" of extension would probably suffice given you have to be fully flexed to get it all the way to the bumpstop.

Also the shocks have a bunch to do with it. With the std OME's there isn't much droop, so the stuffed tire is more vertical in the wheel well, making for an easier fit. With L's or longer, the increased droop increases the axle/tire angle, needing more bump/wheel spacer.

His doesn't normally rub, except when it has a good coat of mud taking up the space.