Best suspension for MY FZJ80

[mervo]

I have a Tough Dog 2" spring suspension. With 41mm foam cell shocks. It is the "light" version meant for 0-600 lbs, IIRC. @reevesci can chime in specifically.

I have been very pleased with it and spend a lot of time on washboard gravel roads.

My everyday weight in the backend is a wood sleep platform, 50lbs of tools and parts, and a fridge. When I had it loaded down it rode even nicer. I know @mervo has the progressive springs and loves them. But he has a rear bumper with dual swing out and storage.

Yuppers. And in all honesty I CAN NOT tell the difference daily driving the OME medium set-up vs. the Tough Dog Progressives. The only real difference I notice that my rig sits higher (3" always vs 2.5" unloaded) and with gear my rig does't sag.

Currently, 50-60lbs of tools and gear, and tailgate storage (50 lbs-ish). Christmas this year will bring me Drifta drawers from Australia, which will add an easy 300-500lbs (gear included). Therefore, we'll be looking at a mall crawling weight of rear bumper with swing-outs, tools, drawers, etc. Call it 600+ daily driving. Not sure of @reevesci 's bumper weight, but it's gotta be 100+ ?

 

[Mandrake]

This may be an unpopular opinion, buuuut...

What about going back to stock springs and shocks? If you're not flexing it out, aren't rolling heavy, and are pretty much doing what could be done in an Outback, why not just go back to stock and call it good? It works, and it'd probably be cheaper than chasing aftermarket parts that are intended for heavier rigs.

 

[mervo]

This may be an unpopular opinion, buuuut...

What about going back to stock springs and shocks? If you're not flexing it out, aren't rolling heavy, and are pretty much doing what could be done in an Outback, why not just go back to stock and call it good? It works, and it'd probably be cheaper than chasing aftermarket parts that are intended for heavier rigs.

For sure, no issues with that. I use my rig to get me places that my 4runner or pickup can't get me. Last week it was 3+ feet of water and giant boulders. My lady likes sleeping comfortable in the tent which means stove, fresh food and veggies, sleeping bags, giant futon mattress for the tent, dog, little dude, wife, and all of the aforementioned gear. That's a lot of weight.

If that's not what you're rig is designed for no qualms, I get it, and it's cheaper. However, if someone is telling me they are taking 3 days on the Kokopelli, WhiteRim, while running Golden Spike, Fins and Things, (all things I've done this year) then you'll need more than the standards OEM unless you don't mind bashing your rig.

Land Cruisers are just like mountain bikes, or guns, there is no one "right" setup. It all depends on what you're doing and what the goal is.

 

[Qball]

Beside the front bumper you have no weight at all! OME heavy is way too heavy, try tjm or icon progressive springs. The icon kit is pretty nice but we have quite a bit of selection now and days.

 

[mervo]

Beside the front bumper you have no weight at all! OME heavy is way too heavy, try tjm or icon progressive springs. The icon kit is pretty nice but we have quite a bit of selection now and days.

Dual swing out rear bumper, 100+ (i'm guess 125) not including box with parts or tools, or spare tire, or tailgate storage, warn winch, Slee short bus.

Sounds like weight to me.

 

[BJANDCJ]

Gentilmen, thanks for all of the input.

It sounds like most people are recommending to try different shocks, valves for my application. And that replacing my suspension, with let's say an Icon stage1, would be a waste of money and yeald little benifit as far as ride quality goes.

As far as going back to stock. How dare you sir!!......That is obviously the most logical option. I don't need the lift, or the air locker or the bumper or the fridge or even the 80 series. But I'm not sure I can live without them!! I love the 80 series land cruiser. I love how I feel when I drive it. I would love to take my cruiser on every back road across the country loaded to the gills with toys and gear, but that is not an option for me right now. I am 29 years old. I own a small machine/fab shop and I am hustlin 60-80hours a week.

Yes,I am aware that a softer suspension would potentional decrease high speed agility. but again my main goal is ride quality on washboard dirt roads at 10-30MPH. I am not looking to do anything craze, I am just looking for a smoother ride.

 

[BJANDCJ]

Don't get me wrong, I could get every rig on this foam stuck in the South Georgia clay. But I have been pulling old 40 series out of the mud sense I could walk. I am tired of getting stuck. Tired of breaking parts. I just want to cruise down a country dirt road in the baddest truck on the planet.

 

[Qball]

Gentilmen, thanks for all of the input.

It sounds like most people are recommending to try different shocks, valves for my application. And that replacing my suspension, with let's say an Icon stage1, would be a waste of money and yeald little benifit as far as ride quality goes.

As far as going back to stock. How dare you sir!!......That is obviously the most logical option. I don't need the lift, or the air locker or the bumper or the fridge or even the 80 series. But I'm not sure I can live without them!! I love the 80 series land cruiser. I love how I feel when I drive it. I would love to take my cruiser on every back road across the country loaded to the gills with toys and gear, but that is not an option for me right now. I am 29 years old. I own a small machine/fab shop and I am hustlin 60-80hours a week.

Yes,I am aware that a softer suspension would potentional decrease high speed agility. but again my main goal is ride quality on washboard dirt roads at 10-30MPH. I am not looking to do anything craze, I am just looking for a smoother ride.

How about get a good compressor so you can air down? Cheap and most effective! What I mean by air done is well below 20 PSI. don't laugh, I had people telling me 30 PSI is airing down so I told them how about 12.

Dual swing out rear bumper, 100+ (i'm guess 125) not including box with parts or tools, or spare tire, or tailgate storage, warn winch, Slee short bus.

Sounds like weight to me.

OP only mentioned non-winch bumper and a box of stuff.

OME is designed to carry enough supply to survive the outback for many days. IMHO once the 80 is armored up then medium springs will give great ride, once you really load up with stuff like RTT, water, fuel, food, gears, parts, then heavy would be ideal. If you want to go fast try competition springs.

 

[Mandrake]

As far as going back to stock. How dare you sir!!......That is obviously the most logical option. I don't need the lift, or the air locker or the bumper or the fridge or even the 80 series. But I'm not sure I can live without them!! I love the 80 series land cruiser. I love how I feel when I drive it.

How dare I bring logic and financial responsibility to this thread! lol... Well, I'm speaking from my own experience. The short of it is, I bought mine stock and had plans to do about $15k worth of work to it, but the more I wheeled it, the more I realized that it was pretty close to being where I wanted it as is. Like you, I value a smooth ride and like you, I don't do crazy and insane stuff with it... but I do a lot more than just dirt roads. So, rather than a 4" lift and 35's and regear and... and... and..., I decided to just do what's in my signature. It rides very comfortably on the street and when I air down to 13 PSI, it rides very comfortably on the trail. With a little help from some spacers, the stock springs and shocks are very capable off road and will provide you with the ride you're after and the lift you want. I mean, I'm loaded heavier than you by a good bit, and I'm doing just fine with 'em.

Brand new OEM springs will run about $450, some Monroe shocks will be about $100, and factor in about another $400 or so (if memory serves) for the body lift and spring spacers. Either way, do what you feel is right.

 

[mervo]

How about get a good compressor so you can air down? Cheap and most effective! What I mean by air done is well below 20 PSI. don't laugh, I had people telling me 30 PSI is airing down so I told them how about 12.

I hear you on the compressor. I routinely air-down to sub 20 and have also gotten the, "wtf are you doing question."....Unconscious Incompetence, also known as, "Don't know what you don't know."

 

[Bill F]

I believe the OME suspension was designed for loaded down expedition rigs? I am looking for a suspension designed for rigs at stock weight.

I can say that I have been very happy so far with Dobinson's stock height swap I just did. Need to get more miles on it, but ride is nice and handling much improved, fwiw.

 

[BJANDCJ]

I don not thing going back to stock suspension is a cheaper option. I would need to buy smaller tires to fit under stock suspension and driving down the highway with 4.56 gears is less than ideal.

 

[BJANDCJ]

I have a small ARB compressor for my lockers that I also use for airing up. I believe it is a 50/50 duty which is fine. But usually I can choose to use a shop compressor for tire inflation.

Here is my compressor set up

 

[I Lean]

You guys saying the OME "heavy" springs are too stiff---they are the same spring rate as the "medium" springs, just 20mm taller. Keep that in mind.

 

[Heckraiser]

I have the TJM 50mm progressive springs and I like them a lot. Seemed like an appropriate choice since the truck says "Lexus" on the back. Very smooth ride compared to the OME's I took off. They do have more body lean, which you need to get used to. I am unloaded 90% of the time and loaded up pulling a trailer 10% of the time. They squat A LOT under weight, but settle in and ride nice at any load.

 

[hamishpotter]

I have OME heavies and have spoken with Christo at length about setups. he reminded me that OME heavies and mediums do in fact have the same spring rate, just different heights. I have more gear than you but am also chasing a smoother ride in general, contemplating changing from OME shocks to Fox / Icon / Slee

and owning running a fab shop at 29 yrs old, access to 17,000 unspoiled acres in Georgia, two great cruisers sounds like you're livin' the dream. kudos

 

[BJANDCJ]

Is Down South Motorsport where everybody is getting there custom valved Fox shocks?

 

[mcguirejohnson]

Is Down South Motorsport where everybody is getting there custom valved Fox shocks?

I got mine from there, they are very helpful.

 

[Qball]

You guys saying the OME "heavy" springs are too stiff---they are the same spring rate as the "medium" springs, just 20mm taller. Keep that in mind.

Dang it, forgot about that. With additional weight the rig will sit differently at the spring curve and change the rate

Generally speaking OME springs are designed with at least 4-500 lbs of extra weight. I had stock height springs and they rattle my teeth out when my cruiser was near stock. BUT it rode quite smooth when I had lots of crap in it.

Switched to TJM and loved it but now I added too much stuff/weight and probably have to go back to OME soon.

 

[Qball]

Just wondering if anyone has hub to fender height for heavy springs with ARB number, 12k winch and dual battery?