Advice on soa vs. Conventional lift

[Cruiserdrew]

I have to disagree with you again. Except for the part about the neighbors...
My DD is SOA, and rides better than a stock 40. I drive it to work, I drive it to Pismo.
No problem.

We can agree to disagree here, and I'm going to give the dd a try with my 60! Just looking at it coming together it's huge. I'd have no problem driving to Pismo, but to the grocery store?

Maybe we can agree to meet up at the Rubicon more often and check out the delightful Ms. Studebaker again!

I think we can also agree that the 4x4 Labs steering absolutely rocks. I'm doing my second SOA with Luke's arms and linkage. For wagon SOAs the tie rod stays in front of the axle, since if it in the rear position, it would hit the oilpan on compression.

 

[harle53]

thanks for all the great input all kinds of good stuff to read. i have researched the actual process of the SOA but its great to hear from the people who have experience driving A rig with a SOA daily. Thanks to all.... there is a wealth of knowledge here and it gives me the POWER to go out and fix up my rig every day. I think i have decided to stick with the conventional lift with a shackle reversal, I will probably only run 33s and do some light to moderate crawling. now time to think about the drive-train a whole other set of decisions.

 

[motoloco]

To sum it up, if your looking for great flex and have the xtra time and money go coil over. If you want to do it fast and cheaper go SUA. We drive our 40 in the moutain twisties faster than most ppl drive their stock SUV's so I like the SUA 4.5 kit. Front still flexes well, rear is stiff. Run some ARB's and you dont need a ramp champ IMO

 

[petescoffee]

Keep your current springs and do a body lift for the extra clearance..
That will net you 4" of lift, clear 33" tall tires easy. You can always go to SOA in the future, if your wheeling demands it.

That said I have followed a sprung under FJ40 with the 4" MAF springs and a body lift and I beleive 37" tall tires, through the Rubicon multiple times now. Mine is 4" Alcans with extended shackles in the rear and a shackle reversal up front for a total lift of about 5- 5 1/2" and I run 35" tall tires. Most of the other rigs in the group are usually SOA. The SOA rigs flex better and keep the wheels on the ground more. The sprung unders tend to lift a wheel more often (you never toally get used this) . The SOA's flex better but a good driver in SUA (not me) rig can keep up to SOA. ( I keep up a lot but I do body damage and rely heavily on good spotters and gears and lockers)

Now if you just want bigger tires. Raise your front fenders or use the Metal Tech Tube Fenders. Cut the rear wheel well and run bigger tires and keep your center of gravity low.

I have never driven a SOA on the road but my SUA rig handles all right, not great. I drive it as much as possible but not as a DD. I know plenty of people the drive SOA's on the road a lot. All lifted rigs take getting used to.

Good luck. Most of our rigs are constantly changing and evolving. That is part of the fun.
Dave