200 series suspension recommendations for towing off road TRL

[Apresski]

Primary use: Not a rock crawler. Off road towing a 330 lb tongue wt UEV490 with 33" wheels. Current OEM setup (see below Old Blue description) sags the rear about 1-2 inches. Shocks bottom out on IH70 rough spots w/ roof mounted fuel tanks. The past two years of tent camping (no trailer), the 60 profile tires with air down of 27LBS triggers all the low tire warnings. Obviously... need higher profile tires.

Goal: preferably no lift, new suspension & tires for off road towing.

Option #1: keep OEM 18" rims, swap out my current 285/60 tires for 70 profile, new shocks, ....need for air bags?

Option #2: Are 17" rims & tires required since no lift? Does this alter the shock or airbag options. There appears to be no 17" rims with 35-50 MM offsets available. Better to invest in a lift or 17" rims?

Thanks for any suggestions....please excuse my ignorance.
PS: on wait list for LCDC7

 

[catastrofe]

My solution was: Airbagman air bags, Ironman Foamcell Pro with 1” Comfort Lift springs. 285/65 R18.

This is all in preparation for my Kimberley S3 Kruiser. I do currently tow a 17’ Casita Spirit Deluxe and it rides like a dream.

 

[TeCKis300]

Would love to see a pic of the UEV490 trailer!

Given your goals and as you aren't a rock crawler, 17" wheels aren't required. As you're also willing to go up to an almost 34" tire, that'll give you plenty of sidewall on 18s. For towing, going for 17s and even more sidewall is probably not a benefit as it potentially allows for incrementally more flex and sway to setup. 18s with 285/65R18 (32.5") or 285/70R18 (33.7") should be a great setup all around, even if you did decide to crawl rocks. Both 17s and 18s can be made to work, just some minor trades and it's relatively an independent decision.

Airbags might be able to meet your expectations. Especially if you want adjustability for unladen ride, and weight handling when towing.

I think given your want to upsize tires, you'll want to change shocks anyways. The stock shock can be underdamped in laden conditions as you're finding. With bigger tires, there's also some need to increase damping rates to better handle the added tire size/weight.

None of these tires/sizes require a lift. Lift is an independent decision as it generally doesn't change the overall suspension stroke, just the ride height neutral point. Even the biggest tires should be made to clear all the way through the suspension stroke for good performance.

All that said, if you want to keep the stock ride height and close to stock ride comfort. I would maybe do the following options
1) Full setup like Bilsteins, may be good enough to handle both use cases well enough without bags
2) Shocks and airbags rear

And of course, big tires.

 

[Apresski]

Great input thanks. Here are a couple of pics

 

[torg82]

Primary use: Not a rock crawler. Off road towing a 330 lb tongue wt UEV490 with 33" wheels. Current OEM setup (see below Old Blue description) sags the rear about 1-2 inches. Shocks bottom out on IH70 rough spots w/ roof mounted fuel tanks. The past two years of tent camping (no trailer), the 60 profile tires with air down of 27LBS triggers all the low tire warnings. Obviously... need higher profile tires.

Goal: preferably no lift, new suspension & tires for off road towing.

Option #1: keep OEM 18" rims, swap out my current 285/60 tires for 70 profile, new shocks, ....need for air bags?

Option #2: Are 17" rims & tires required since no lift? Does this alter the shock or airbag options. There appears to be no 17" rims with 35-50 MM offsets available. Better to invest in a lift or 17" rims?

Thanks for any suggestions....please excuse my ignorance.
PS: on wait list for LCDC7

Maybe you haven't made a decision yet, but what did you end of going with?

 

[Apresski]

Family obligations have delayed my UT trip and suspension options for another two weeks. I will be discussing options with a local overland shop today. I am leaning toward air bags first. However, I am sure the shop will be pushing me for new shocks...all around.

Still undecided about being able to put 285/70/18 s on a standard OEM rim without a lift???? Do I need to have a 50mm offset...meaning new rims?
Or play safe with 275s? My preference is put the $$ into the suspension and not new rims. May not look cool, but I am function over form.

torga82....great avatar...obviously I am in to eyewear.

 

[Apresski]

Correction...teCKis300....No lift OK but what about offset for 285s?

 

[TeCKis300]

Correction...teCKis300....No lift OK but what about offset for 285s?

Yeah, you'll need to address the offset with stock wheels. I would recommend 1" spacers to put you at +35 effective offset. For clearance, suspension geometry, and track width.

 

[TLC2013]

Family obligations have delayed my UT trip and suspension options for another two weeks. I will be discussing options with a local overland shop today. I am leaning toward air bags first. However, I am sure the shop will be pushing me for new shocks...all around.

Still undecided about being able to put 285/70/18 s on a standard OEM rim without a lift???? Do I need to have a 50mm offset...meaning new rims?
Or play safe with 275s? My preference is put the $$ into the suspension and not new rims. May not look cool, but I am function over form.

torga82....great avatar...obviously I am in to eyewear.

i have been running LT 275/70r18s with 2” lift and stock wheels and the look is less then ideal lol. Really Looks sucked in especially at the front. I have been using these hwy tires as a way to save my off road set up ( lt275/70r18 kenda klever rt’s w/ 8.5x18 45mm offset evo corse wheels ) for the trails. I’d Honestly prefer an offset of closer to 30-35 mm from an aesthetic stand point.
Most here that are using the Lt285/70r18 have an offset in the 25mm range. Seems like this is needed to avoid rubbing the driver side KDSS sway bar. this is what has kept me from going up to this larger size as my 45mm offset probably won’t work out. With the 275 Kendas I barely clear the driver side and have a very slight rub on the passenger side KDSS. They are substantially wider then the all season Nokians in 275 which easily clear both the driver and passenger side KDSS even with a 56mm offset.

 

[Apresski]

My solution was: Airbagman air bags, Ironman Foamcell Pro with 1” Comfort Lift springs. 285/65 R18.

This is all in preparation for my Kimberley S3 Kruiser. I do currently tow a 17’ Casita Spirit Deluxe and it rides like a dream.

 

[Apresski]

Finally will tackle my suspension issues for towing. I like your advice, however unable to locate airbag man airbags. Also could you be more specific on the Ironman Pro …stage? Curious about your tire brand.
did you get the S3? Pics?

 

[catastrofe]

Finally will tackle my suspension issues for towing. I like your advice, however unable to locate airbag man airbags. Also could you be more specific on the Ironman Pro …stage? Curious about your tire brand.
did you get the S3? Pics?

I ordered the airbags directly from Airbagman in Australia: Air bag suspension for TOYOTA LAND CRUISER 200 Series UZJ200, URJ202 & - https://airbagman.com.au/collections/999800187-air-bag-suspension-for-toyota-land-cruiser-200-series-uzj200-urj202-vdj200-07-21#Standard%20Height

I ordered my Ironman setup before they started with their “stage” groups. I got the 1” comfort height springs, with the Foamcell Pro struts. I then decided to change out my UCAs and went with SPC.

My tires are Falken Wildpeak AT3W in LT285/65-18. Very happy with that choice other than their weight.

Our S3 is at Kimberley US awaiting final buildout and quality check. The A/C and cooktop are installed here due to the voltage difference in Australia. We’ll pick it up in a few weeks.

 

[Apresski]

Thanks for the quick response. I will probably have to fine another airbag option. The shipping timeline may be a problem.

You must be excited about the S3...a beautiful rig. Don't forget to post pics

 

[Slow Paddler]

Our S3 is at Kimberley US awaiting final buildout and quality check. The A/C and cooktop are installed here due to the voltage difference in Australia. We’ll pick it up in a few weeks.

I peeked inside your trailer on Tuesday.


I grew up in Bellefontaine, and was there visiting my extended family for the holiday. I'd stopped to see Dave several years ago while he was selling Conqueror Trailers, and bought one of his National Luna 90T fridges when he was switching over to Snomaster. I knew that he'd started selling Kimberley Kampers, and wanted to see if he had any on display.

He was working on an S3 Kruiser when we walked in, and since it was the only Kruiser that he had, I assume that it was yours. I am *so* glad that you ordered one, because Deb fell in love with it immediately! She's fine camping in our squaredrop as long as it isn't too hot or too cold, and as long as we're not gone for more than a handful of days. She wants something with a bathroom (we're in our late 60s, so nighttime runs to the shower tent are starting to annoy her) but doesn't want something that we have to use only on pavement.The Kimberley Kruiser S3 checks every box for us!

Dave sent me all of the info, and after some serious discussions over then next few weeks/months, we just might join you with a 200 Cruiser/Kruiser S3 combo. If so, I'm going to want to chew your ear for quite a while about purchasing experience, likes/dislikes, etc.


PS, I carved my initials inside a cabinet door. See if you can find them.

 

[catastrofe]

I peeked inside your trailer on Tuesday.


I grew up in Bellefontaine, and was there visiting my extended family for the holiday. I'd stopped to see Dave several years ago while he was selling Conqueror Trailers, and bought one of his National Luna 90T fridges when he was switching over to Snomaster. I knew that he'd started selling Kimberley Kampers, and wanted to see if he had any on display.

He was working on an S3 Kruiser when we walked in, and since it was the only Kruiser that he had, I assume that it was yours. I am *so* glad that you ordered one, because Deb fell in love with it immediately! She's fine camping in our squaredrop as long as it isn't too hot or too cold, and as long as we're not gone for more than a handful of days. She wants something with a bathroom (we're in our late 60s, so nighttime runs to the shower tent are starting to annoy her) but doesn't want something that we have to use only on pavement.The Kimberley Kruiser S3 checks every box for us!

Dave sent me all of the info, and after some serious discussions over then next few weeks/months, we just might join you with a 200 Cruiser/Kruiser S3 combo. If so, I'm going to want to chew your ear for quite a while about purchasing experience, likes/dislikes, etc.


PS, I carved my initials inside a cabinet door. See if you can find them.

Yep, that's our S3. Glad you got to see one in person...our purchase was a complete leap of faith as we ordered "sight unseen".

Our plan is to arrive in Bellefontaine next Thursday, spend a night or two camping in Dave's warehouse (that's his typical orientation process), then head out to Overland Expo West and set up in the Kimberley booth. We'll then do a few days of off-roading with a small group before heading back east.

 

[Slow Paddler]

Our plan is to arrive in Bellefontaine next Thursday, spend a night or two camping in Dave's warehouse (that's his typical orientation process), then head out to Overland Expo West and set up in the Kimberley booth. We'll then do a few days of off-roading with a small group before heading back east.

Good thing that we got to see it while we were there, then! I understand Dave has a tradition of taking new owners to his home for dinner with his wife and ten kids. That's personal service!