'21 HE Dobinsons IMS front lift only 1.5", stock rear...

[doktorno]

Wanted to slightly lift the front of my '21 HE (no third row), did not want the PITA of control arm replacement, and did NOT want to level the truck. As already known, the HE trucks with no 3rd row run ass-high, so I wanted to see how things leveled out once loaded using the stock suspension in back. Also, based on my experience in west Texas did not need the additional cooling of remote shocks, so I had Duggy's Garage in Houston install Dobinsons IMS59-60688 struts and C59-540 springs. Could not be more thrilled. Would say that the ride has not been compromised (important since Houston streets are maintained to 3rd world spec) and the steering geometry is as good as stock. I notice that the back of the vehicle still sits higher than the front, but once loaded that the vehicle levels out. Also note that the dampening on the rear is slightly firmer than the front when empty, but again if feels the same when loaded. Measured at the center of the hub, I picked up about 1.5" as advertised. In the pictures below I am running Spidertrax spacers, in the rear only.

Loaded after camping, with waaaay way too much stuff...

 

[tbutler]

Wanted to slightly lift the front of my '21 HE (no third row), did not want the PITA of control arm replacement, and did NOT want to level the truck. As already known, the HE trucks with no 3rd row run ass-high, so I wanted to see how things leveled out once loaded using the stock suspension in back. Also, based on my experience in west Texas did not need the additional cooling of remote shocks, so I had Duggy's Garage in Houston install Dobinsons IMS59-60688 struts and C59-540 springs. Could not be more thrilled. Would say that the ride has not been compromised (important since Houston streets are maintained to 3rd world spec) and the steering geometry is as good as stock. I notice that the back of the vehicle still sits higher than the front, but once loaded that the vehicle levels out. Also note that the dampening on the rear is slightly firmer than the front when empty, but again if feels the same when loaded. Measured at the center of the hub, I picked up about 1.5" as advertised. In the pictures below I am running Spidertrax spacers, in the rear only.

View attachment 2871198View attachment 2871199View attachment 2871200

Loaded after camping, with waaaay way too much stuff...
View attachment 2871201

Looks great! I need something like this in my life. My 21 HE (w/o 3rd row) is extremely higher in the rear and needs to be tamed. I appreciate the setup information.

 

[Moby]

Thanks for posting up the pics, looks great! My plan is basically the same. Rear Kings, 2.5" resi, are on with stock rear springs. Fronts are ready to go on post holiday and will net 1"-1.5". Should look just like yours

What size tires?

 

[doktorno]

Moby, at this point I am running the stock tires, as for daily driving the ride is fantastic and all other tire options are heavy and do not ride as well. I have been given a new-takeoff tire and wheel set off a '19, plus two additional new tires. I think I will buy a set of off-road tires, like Duratracs, and install them on the '19 rims I was given so when I take trips I use those but for the rest of the time I use the stock. Seem to run into lots of mud and like a more open pattern.

 

[HSTexan]

Off topic, but are you running the Eezi-Awn K9 load bar system?

 

[doktorno]

Off topic, but are you running the Eezi-Awn K9 load bar system?

I am running that system HSTexan. I do not like the look of factory roof racks, and purchased the Eezi-awn system. Very happy with the build quality. If I had to do it over again, and it worked for the load, I would order shorter mounting rails stopping at the logical mounting point around the b pillar. Additionally, as the mounting rails come straight/flat, I would take more care bending them as required to match the curve of the roof. I ended up with a few hops. My plan is to remove the mounting rails and shorten them on my radial miter saw.

 

[HSTexan]

I am running that system HSTexan. I do not like the look of factory roof racks, and purchased the Eezi-awn system. Very happy with the build quality. If I had to do it over again, and it worked for the load, I would order shorter mounting rails stopping at the logical mounting point around the b pillar. Additionally, as the mounting rails come straight/flat, I would take more care bending them as required to match the curve of the roof. I ended up with a few hops. My plan is to remove the mounting rails and shorten them on my radial miter saw.

Good info to hear--I like the fact that once you mount the rails to the roof you can drive around without any feet or crossbars. Since that would be 90% of my driving it would be nice to not have the MPG hit a full rack would give you. Do you feel as if it is low enough profile or do you wish the load bars sat lower down? I know they offer a variety of height options of those side mounting feet so I'm curious if the ones it came with are adequate.

How did you end up bending them? The only video I saw online showed them pre-bent a bit and they had to unbend it on their knee

 

[duggy]

Love it, and glad to be part of your build!

 

[1989toy4wd]

I went with the 2.5 Front springs and 1.5 in rear springs on mine. I also installed an ARB bumper and warn 12k winch. I have a decent little rake when not towing, but its damn near perfect with my trailer attached. Love the ride on these Texas roads. Still kept the cushy ride and firmed it up just enough.

 

[doktorno]

Do you feel as if it is low enough profile or do you wish the load bars sat lower down? I know they offer a variety of height options of those side mounting feet so I'm curious if the ones it came with are adequate.

How did you end up bending them? The only video I saw online showed them pre-bent a bit and they had to unbend it on their knee

The feet are height adjustable, and I think the load bars are low enough. I bent the rails using the knee method, which was awkward on 2m bars, and I ended up with high spots. Next time (and I am making this up as I go) I would try rolling them over an empty water drum I have in the shop, like a large English wheel. Have someone on each end of the bar, apply pressure, and then “roll” them back and forth. Will pull mine off after the 1st and shorten them to the B pillar.

 

[HSTexan]

The feet are height adjustable, and I think the load bars are low enough. I bent the rails using the knee method, which was awkward on 2m bars, and I ended up with high spots. Next time (and I am making this up as I go) I would try rolling them over an empty water drum I have in the shop, like a large English wheel. Have someone on each end of the bar, apply pressure, and then “roll” them back and forth. Will pull mine off after the 1st and shorten them to the B pillar.

So I actually received mine just before Christmas and put them on--I had a slight arc in mine already with more obvious bends about a foot in from each end. I opted not to add any additional bend as it conformed to the roof pretty well, though I am curious if once there is a load on it the ends will flatten a bit more. Did you order through Equipt1? I'm wondering if they do any bending before sending them off. The front bend is much more obvious, but it bolted down ok and the install video I saw mentioned you wanted it pressed against the roof so it doesn't catch air. I've got 10 of the standard 65mm mounting feet which I am keeping for now in case I end up getting a full rack tray so I can utilize the under rack table mount. I purchased 6 additional low 40mm feet to use with my 3 RTT crossbars for the ultimate low profile solution. Probably a bit excessive, but I'd rather have two ideal setups than two compromises.

 

[gx2lc]

hey @doktorno a thought and a question

First the Q: Why run spacers only in the rear? Just curious to know if there are any suspension geometry reasons? Does the stance look odd? Lastly are you running the Dobinsons 543 (stock height springs) or the actual LC stock springs in the rear?

The thought: My cruiser was in a Duggy's same time as you getting the 12.5 LRA fitted. Wild to see it online now.

 

[doktorno]

@gx2lc A friend of mine has a '21 HE and had the spacers installed by Duggy's F&R when his 12.5 long range tank was installed. We drive them back to back and he noticed, and I agreed, that IN OUR OPINION the front spacers screw up the geometry and the vehicle steers/drives funny with the spacers. It was our opinion that visually the rear track of a stock vehicle with stock rims looked narrower than the front so we came to the conclusion that the much of the impact from spacers was from having them on the rear only. From a stress/load standpoint, having the spacers on a live axle likely does little harm, so I bought the set off his front and put them on my rear wheels.

I am running the stock springs in the rear, wanted to see how it looked since the HE without the 3rd row sits high. Since the dampening seems right and the vehicle looks level once fully-fully loaded, I am keeping the rear stock.

 

[studawg]

Wanted to slightly lift the front of my '21 HE (no third row), did not want the PITA of control arm replacement, and did NOT want to level the truck. As already known, the HE trucks with no 3rd row run ass-high, so I wanted to see how things leveled out once loaded using the stock suspension in back. Also, based on my experience in west Texas did not need the additional cooling of remote shocks, so I had Duggy's Garage in Houston install Dobinsons IMS59-60688 struts and C59-540 springs. Could not be more thrilled. Would say that the ride has not been compromised (important since Houston streets are maintained to 3rd world spec) and the steering geometry is as good as stock. I notice that the back of the vehicle still sits higher than the front, but once loaded that the vehicle levels out. Also note that the dampening on the rear is slightly firmer than the front when empty, but again if feels the same when loaded. Measured at the center of the hub, I picked up about 1.5" as advertised. In the pictures below I am running Spidertrax spacers, in the rear only.

View attachment 2871198View attachment 2871199View attachment 2871200

Loaded after camping, with waaaay way too much stuff...
View attachment 2871201

Hey doktorno, we are looking to do the same thing to a customers HE but want to run larger tires. Are you still running the stock size tires?

 

[doktorno]

@studawg I still am running stock. If I go larger will run 285/65/18 which should be no issue at all. Lots of room.

 

[studawg]

@studawg I still am running stock. If I go larger will run 285/65/18 which should be no issue at all. Lots of room.

Thanks, yeah my customer is running the 285/65s on his stock HE now, wants to go to the 295/70

 

[doktorno]

@studawg I wondered if 305/60/18 might even fit...

 

[studawg]

Well the 305/60/18 is about 2" shorter than a 295/70/18 and even a bit shorter than the 285/65/18, although wider of course. How much settling of those springs would you say there has been since install?

 

[doktorno]

@studawg I would say no settling, I measured this morning. Will get the truck on the lift and try to get a better picture of the remaining thread on the strut, but I think there is still some adjustment left. Just need to make a decision on tires...

 

[studawg]

So did Dobinsons assemble those before they shipped them or did the shop put them together? We are trying to decide if we should get the 540s and set them up to provide 1.75" of lift or get the 2" springs and set them at the lowest setting on the strut.