Another Articulation Question (1 Viewer)

[Riad]

OK I have read every thing that I could find about lifting the truck, pros and cons of it, fitting 35s under it, J springs, christo's opinion and etc. But I still have this relative question. How do I get more articulation, on the trails, without any lift (kit)?
Yes, disconnecting the sway-bars is an option, I have also read about how the truck should handle/behave if that is done, the RTI vs trail results and etc. I don't want to lift my truck unless I have to, not to mention I have BAD experience with lifting . I would like get more articulation and fit the biggest tire possible with no/very little lift, but want MORE down travel/articulation.

Again, this is a question that comes up over and over again, there are numerous opinions about lifting vs articulation vs fitting big tires. I realize that. So if I have missed some during my search, simply pointing me to the link that talks about articulation would be helpful.

Thanks

 

[wb1948]

Longer shocks?

5-link conversion ala christo?

 

[PHAEDRUS]

Riad,
as far as lifting, I dont consider the mods I have done to my truck lifting it. I changed the suspension with a well thought out alternative suspension system. Lift kits suck. changing your suspension to a better type of coil and shock set up makes the vehicle drive better and articulate more freely than it did on the stock suspension set up.
oh and Old Man Emu is da chit.
Dave

 

[sleeoffroad]

Longer shocks, cut the fenders. That is the only way. You can bumpstop it to prevent upward travel, but it sucks to wheel it like that. If you put longer shocks with no lift you will also have to make sure you don't trash the shocks by over compressing them.

I would suggest you find someone local and ride in their OME'ed truck and see if you like it.
Also, what size tire do you want to run.

 

[Clutchee]

Riad, lifting your truck allows you to benifit from being able to fit larger tires & clear obsticles you may drag on or have to bump over. As far as not wanting to lift it but still gaining flex you own a Land Cruiser I have wheeled with many stock 80's & I will say they can go! The advantage you gain is in clearance & stability. When going from stock to the 2.5 OME MED the wife even said the truck felt more stable & handled better. If you are worried about height purchase OME kit with no lift. You will notice a greater ride.

* Best idea is to participate in a LC event & ride with someone in a lifted 80 this I feel is the best selling point for lifting one.

 

[Riad]

Thanks a lot guys. I want to run 285 75s, may be 295 75s. Yeah finding some/any one with a lifted FJ80 around here (DC, MD, VA) is SOL for me. Unless I am not looking at the right place. I really need to feel and understand how the truck handles/behaves close to or in "offcamber" w/wo a lift. Because that way I will know what NOT to do. Maybe I will try out the OME lift kit or Slee's 2.5 lift. Any reason why J springs would give more travel than standard spring that come with kit or the result is the same?

Thanks

 

[Junk]

Yeah finding some/any one with a lifted FJ80 around here (DC, MD, VA) is SOL for me.

You need to try a little harder. There are lots of them down there.

Or skip the lift kit and do something like this (but not add a lift)

 

[Clutchee]

Riad- VA has Iron Pig OffRoad-owner is Lance. Try giving him a call, has helped me on a rear bumper, great vendor & all around good guy.

 

[scottryana]

Iron Pig Offroad

Riad,

I second Lance at www.ironpigoffroad.com he has a lifted 80 with 35's" It is a pretty nice 80 and I think it sees a lot of use both on and off highway. I don't know what lift he has but I am sure he would have no problem giving you a ride. I was in your same position I bought a FJ55 and then I realized that there were not many places in VA, MD, DC to have any work done. Lance is getting behind a little with all of the work he has to do, but I guess that means he is getting good results.

Good luck, make sure to post pictures of what ever you end up doing.
Ryan.

Thanks a lot guys. I want to run 285 75s, may be 295 75s. Yeah finding some/any one with a lifted FJ80 around here (DC, MD, VA) is SOL for me. Unless I am not looking at the right place. I really need to feel and understand how the truck handles/behaves close to or in "offcamber" w/wo a lift. Because that way I will know what NOT to do. Maybe I will try out the OME lift kit or Slee's 2.5 lift. Any reason why J springs would give more travel than standard spring that come with kit or the result is the same?

Thanks

 

[Riad]

Yeah I know of Iron Pig Offroad and talked to Lance couple days ago for ARB integration with diff lights. Didn't know his FJ80 is on 35s. That would be great to see how it works. I will post pictures as soon as I start the work. Thanks again guys

 

[Junk]

Riad- VA has Iron Pig OffRoad-owner is Lance. Try giving him a call, has helped me on a rear bumper, great vendor & all around good guy.

Opinions will vary greatly on that

 

[PKP80]

Riad,
I dont' know what your bad experience is with lifted trucks (please share), but if you read any of my threads regarding making the choice to lift and all that. I was very skeptical on lifting and what to go with if anything at all, but having put on the OME 2.5" medium, my rig handles MUCH better than the stock 85,000mile setup. I actually feel safer and the ride has imprved greatly. Articulation wise I've gained a huge amount considering stock articulation is quite amazing to begin with for the 80 in my opinion. You're more than welcome to take a ride in my rig if you want to come to California for a visit, haha. I would be confident in the OME especially if you get some proper tires (maybe widen your stance). Best of luck....
-Sam-

 

[Riad]

Riad,
I dont' know what your bad experience is with lifted trucks (please share)...

Thank you Sam, since you have asked, here's
what happened to me with 6" lift, 35s and SASed Xterra, which is a totally different animal than an FJ80. I know that very well. I just have this mental block in my head. I need to get over it soon . Anyway, I have decided I will try out OME lift first.

Riad

 

[IdahoDoug]

Ouch. Lift quality varies, but the OME stuff is well sorted and designed as a set with matched springs and shocks. IMO, that adds a margin of safety vs a one off or custom lift.

DougM

 

[Beowulf]

Riad,

What SAS did you do on your Xterra? Hope everyone was OK but it looks like your truck got the worst of it.

-B-

 

[Riad]

Front was Dana 44, OX locker and Jame's Duff Bronco Radius Arms with 6" coils.
Rear was: stock with SOA setup
Rear Drive shaft was SYE CV and front was CV too.
4.89 gears on front and 4.90 in the rear.
The setup was cool. I was happy with it until that day. It happnd last month. The roll was very slow, I was the only one in the truck. I drove the truck home from GWNF for about 3 hours in that condition. Nothing was wrong with driveline or engine, 100% body damage. Body shop said it would take 3 months to fix it up, I decided to spend the money on an FJ80 and total the truk. You can check out the paragon pictures. It could do lot of stuff, did a lot of wheeling with it.

Anyway, back to the topic, it was seriously top heavy truck. I had drooping articulation but serious body roll. Sway bar did take of it but due to weight on the top, I could never do any offcamber trails. And that's why I am so uptight about articulation and lot less lift. As I said, I will start with the OME lift, see how it goes. Then maybe move up as I get used to my FJ80.

Thanks guys

 

[Junk]

You can check out the paragon pictures.

What's with the spring laying on the ground in pic #19

What trails were you running at Paragon? We go there all the time; run trails like Rattler, Voo Doo, Pick Your Poison etc and no one really comes close to rolling. I don't recognize those trails.

 

[Junk]

Actually, to be candid, after reading the write up of that trip, when you rolled; it had very little if anything to do with your lift and much more based on your close relationship to the evil Mr. Skinny (as in skinny pedal). Just my view though and of course I was not there to watch.

 

[Junk]

BTW, VZLAFZJ80 (Ale) gets some mean articulation

 

[Heffenoche]

Thanks a lot guys. I want to run 285 75s, may be 295 75s. Yeah finding some/any one with a lifted FJ80 around here (DC, MD, VA) is SOL for me. Unless I am not looking at the right place. I really need to feel and understand how the truck handles/behaves close to or in "offcamber" w/wo a lift. Because that way I will know what NOT to do. Maybe I will try out the OME lift kit or Slee's 2.5 lift. Any reason why J springs would give more travel than standard spring that come with kit or the result is the same?

Thanks

Check out Capital Land Cruiser in DC or Bay to Blue Ridge Cruisers in Fredricksburg/Richmond.