2.5'' lift or Rear Slee Bumper for next mod?
- Thread starter SanDiegoCruiser
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Shocks were the last thing I did with regards to my lift. Taller springs (1.5-3") will work well with your shocks on street. Yes, you will be giving up a little wheel articulation travel off road till you get the aftermarket shocks installed but it will hold you over.
The big lesson to be learned from me and my build is not to go piece-by-piece with the front. I started with tires then went to bigger tires then on to diff drop then to TBs then to UCAs, and finally spacers and shocks, all the while trying to dial in wheel rub, alignment, and front ride height. Every time I would add something, I would have to address the the issues that the new component(s) caused. My alignment was terrible, I chewed through $750 in tires in 4 months and was generally unhappy with the front end. Had I taken my front end wish list and installed it all on the same day, I could have had everything dialed in within a few days, thus saving me the cost of frequent alignments, tire costs, etc.
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- #23
I'm now considering just doing the Slee bumper with a single swingout and then the 866 rear springs (1.5'') since I only have 285/75/16 BFG's and need to be sure I can fit underground....
Then, a towards the end of the year adding the shocks, OME t-bars & diff drop. This will accomplish my main goal of being able to replace my stock hitch (I use it for hauling my Mtn bikes..) , get the spare tire up in air and allow for more clearance.
Thanks for all of the advice guys!
Then, a towards the end of the year adding the shocks, OME t-bars & diff drop. This will accomplish my main goal of being able to replace my stock hitch (I use it for hauling my Mtn bikes..) , get the spare tire up in air and allow for more clearance.
Thanks for all of the advice guys!
Wise choice. Look in the for sale section for springs. They come up occasionally.
I've had the 865, 866 and now the Slee springs. Don't waste your time with the 866 and a heavy rear bumper.
Slee doesn't have tech info on these springs but after using them for 60 days ( wheeling, towing, DD) they appear to be superior to anything ARB is pushing.
Slee doesn't have tech info on these springs but after using them for 60 days ( wheeling, towing, DD) they appear to be superior to anything ARB is pushing.
Was the bumper too much weight for the springs? Mine has the stock bumper and 866s, and it always seems a little happier with a couple hundred pounds in the cargo area or a trailer on the hitch.
jasonbraswell said:
I disagree. I have the 866 springs with a Slee rear bumper and it works great. I don't tow, but it handles the weight of the bumper + extra gear in back just fine. Noticeably stiffer than stock, so if anything I think it will ride better with a little more weight.
To the OP, my 866 springs and 33.5" tires easily fits in a 6'5" parking garage.
There are a few on here that didnt like the 866 springs. From what I have gathered.... It is because with the weight of the bumper and fridge, it lost the progressive part of the spring and was just too rough. I can live with the stiff ride of my 863's, but I have been seriously looking at either the Slee springs or the 866 because I am wanting to lower things a bit for better ride quality.....
Craig - I would talk with Slee about your goals and needs and then follow their recommendation. Ride quality is a very personal thing. What may be ok for me and others may suck for you. Slee has always been right on with their advice....
Craig - I would talk with Slee about your goals and needs and then follow their recommendation. Ride quality is a very personal thing. What may be ok for me and others may suck for you. Slee has always been right on with their advice....
We have all the tech info on the SOF2RH springs since we designed them, however throwing out numbers to compare to OME is not going to do much. Essentially they are a heavy spring without the excessive height that you get with a OME863.
I think it would take quite a bit of weight to lose the progressive part of the spring, I don't know how much a fully loaded fridge or drawer system would weigh though. With my Slee bumper/swing-out, 2 passengers in back, and about 300 lbs of other "stuff" it rides very well. Stiffer than stock but I also have my e-rated tires at 45 psi which might be part of it.
Hey Craig,
I've got a set of 866 springs sitting in my garage. Pick up my camp table from Jonathan ,drive up to my place and they're yours. But don't forget the table
I've got a set of 866 springs sitting in my garage. Pick up my camp table from Jonathan ,drive up to my place and they're yours. But don't forget the table
3rd Cruiser said:Hey Craig,
I've got a set of 866 springs sitting in my garage. Pick up my camp table from Jonathan ,drive up to my place and they're yours. But don't forget the table
Now that's an awesome deal!
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- #33
3rd Cruiser said:Hey Craig,
I've got a set of 866 springs sitting in my garage. Pick up my camp table from Jonathan ,drive up to my place and they're yours. But don't forget the table
Richard, I appreciate the generous offer. I am not positive if I will do 866's or the Slee equivalent. If I decide on 866's then I will definitely take you up on your offer! What are you running for rear springs?
sleeoffroad said:
Plus your spring is gray instead of black :-0... no really it seems you have nailed it and although your spring price is a premium, it is the perfect fit with the slee rear bumper IMHO
Hopefully these springs last as long as my 100 and bumper.
Oh well, I was hoping I could get my table before Jonathan got too attached to it.
I happily ran 865's until I added the slee rear bumper. I didn't want the height of the 863 springs, so I went with the 866s. They worked well until I added the full set of slee skid plates. Now I have the new Slee springs and they are working well with all the armor I'm hauling around. Our Borrego trip was their maiden voyage.
So I'm thinking its time for another desert trip. Are you up for the Mojave Road or maybe Panamint/Death Valley area? I wonder if we could get some 100 series folks interested in running part of the Mojave Rd.
- Thread starter
- #36
Sure, before it gets too hot! Can you start another thread...Do you think Slee's springs will be a little stiff if I am just running a bumper and no armor?
The slee springs have a higher weight rating then the 866s, so it will be a stiffer ride. Changing out springs is a 
job. So my suggestion would be get the slee bumper, install my old springs and see how it rides. If you like the ride you are done, if not order the slee springs and re-install. Swapping springs is really no big deal.
Forget trying to run stock springs with the slee bumper. I tried running my 865 springs when I added my bumper. Add your camping gear and the back sags badly.
How about a thread titled "Mojave Rd 100 series tech trek"? That way it can be posted in the 100 tech section and get more attention.
job. So my suggestion would be get the slee bumper, install my old springs and see how it rides. If you like the ride you are done, if not order the slee springs and re-install. Swapping springs is really no big deal.Forget trying to run stock springs with the slee bumper. I tried running my 865 springs when I added my bumper. Add your camping gear and the back sags badly.
How about a thread titled "Mojave Rd 100 series tech trek"? That way it can be posted in the 100 tech section and get more attention.
I agree with 3rd. I had the Slees and quickly swapped out for the 863s without fully evaluating the ride characteristics each one provided. I was on a mission to lift the vehicle as high as possible with springs designed for a rear bumper and extra gear. Now that I am more familiar with the lift, mods and how the vehicle handles on and off road I have started backing down on the lift height. I have found that 21.5 inches (center hub to fender) up front is about as high as you can go to get back acceptable alignment, droop, front end geometry, etc. As I go through some of the 100 veteran's build threads, and I find this to be a recurring theme. With my current setup, and the front is dialed but the rear is almost comically higher than the front. If I still had my Slee heavies, and I would try them again. Having two sets around for a while will help you decide what works best for your setup. Plus, you can always unload aftermarket springs in the classifieds once you settle on a pair.
One other thing to note, Slee developed his springs to fill a niche need for the US market. They mate very well if you are running maximum recommended lift in the front AND have a rear bumper, skids, sliders, drawers, roofrack and recovery gear in the back. The Aussie crowd would more than likely be running a SFA with this sort of setup, hence the OME 863s which would be a good pairing as the 105s can be raised more in the front.
On a built 100, the Slees are going to provide you with the spring rate of the 863s along with the proper rake (assuming that the front is dialed in to the recommended max lift height).
One other thing to note, Slee developed his springs to fill a niche need for the US market. They mate very well if you are running maximum recommended lift in the front AND have a rear bumper, skids, sliders, drawers, roofrack and recovery gear in the back. The Aussie crowd would more than likely be running a SFA with this sort of setup, hence the OME 863s which would be a good pairing as the 105s can be raised more in the front.
On a built 100, the Slees are going to provide you with the spring rate of the 863s along with the proper rake (assuming that the front is dialed in to the recommended max lift height).
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It's all boils down to personal opinion...BUT, your rig appears to be pointed uphill, thus giving it a more level look.
I am at 21.5" \ 23", so the same rake as you. I think it looks a bit un-paired.
I am at 21.5" \ 23", so the same rake as you. I think it looks a bit un-paired.