BIO Rear Bumper Install and Air Lift 1000 Repair

[Clunky]

I recently added a BIOR bumper as well! I love the bumper and I would recommend BIOR to anyone looking into a bumper. The quality and customers service are both OUTSTANDING. This is definitely my favorite mod to date!

 

[geanes]

I recently added a BIOR bumper as well! I love the bumper and I would recommend BIOR to anyone looking into a bumper. The quality and customers service is OUTSTANDING.

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River Rock Green, BIOR bumper AND in Sedona!? I'm jealous as hell.

 

[Lowbudgetlc100]

the bumper is stout.

 

[aaronrules]

Good pics of the enlarged holes for the airbags! This is a must do when I replace the one I blew leaving HIH this year.

 

[marcfj60]

Good pics of the enlarged holes for the airbags! This is a must do when I replace the one I blew leaving HIH this year.

Yeah, if you're already in there, make the hole larger. It needs to get bigger in the direction toward the rear of the cruiser, if you're starting with just a larger hole that was the original hole in the spring perch.

 

[lazarus18]

M101A1 Trailer

• lazarus18
• Nov 27, 2018

Just picked this up .... it will be a work in progress.

Enjoying the 100

• lazarus18
• Nov 27, 2018

Nothing new just enjoying the 100 on the ranch.

currently i am running what I believe to be 865 OME springs in the rear and was told by the individual I bought them from that they are the 865 which i was looking on the sight and its a 1.5 lift in the rear which i verified after I installed that it did give me the lift BUT my actual question is I am getting a rear 4x4 labs bumper used for only $280 and I am wondering if it will make my back end sag at all and if so do i need the stiffer springs being the 866 I think? I will end up getting the air lift for sure as I tow my military trailer sometimes and it will for sure sag a bit as I have noticed just a bit. Which Air lift do I need for those springs or should I just call air lift? Here it is with the springs in and torsion bars cranked up.

OME MED Spring Install

• lazarus18
• Apr 14, 2018
• 1

 

[atnolan94]

M101A1 Trailer

• lazarus18
• Nov 27, 2018

Just picked this up .... it will be a work in progress.

Enjoying the 100

• lazarus18
• Nov 27, 2018

Nothing new just enjoying the 100 on the ranch.

currently i am running what I believe to be 865 OME springs in the rear and was told by the individual I bought them from that they are the 865 which i was looking on the sight and its a 1.5 lift in the rear which i verified after I installed that it did give me the lift BUT my actual question is I am getting a rear 4x4 labs bumper used for only $280 and I am wondering if it will make my back end sag at all and if so do i need the stiffer springs being the 866 I think? I will end up getting the air lift for sure as I tow my military trailer sometimes and it will for sure sag a bit as I have noticed just a bit. Which Air lift do I need for those springs or should I just call air lift? Here it is with the springs in and torsion bars cranked up.

OME MED Spring Install

• lazarus18
• Apr 14, 2018
• 1

I have a dobinsons rear, which is ridiculously heavy, on 866s and it does fine. I will be adding a 1" spacer but that is just for looks. The ride on the dual rate is amazing and they carry weight much better than the 865 or 860. I view the 865 and 860 as a lift for stock weight trucks.

 

[lazarus18]

I have a dobinsons rear, which is ridiculously heavy, on 866s and it does fine. I will be adding a 1" spacer but that is just for looks. The ride on the dual rate is amazing and they carry weight much better than the 865 or 860. I view the 865 and 860 as a lift for stock weight trucks.

So I should sell the 865s since they are a couple months old and get the 866s?

 

[atnolan94]

So I should sell the 865s since they are a couple months old and get the 866s?

I’d say yes.

 

[lazarus18]

I’d say yes.

On another note I’m digging your build thread as I’ve been following from the beginning. I hope to find a good deal on a front bumper like you did although not sure I’ll get it for what you paid lol you stole that thing...

 

[atnolan94]

On another note I’m digging your build thread as I’ve been following from the beginning. I hope to find a good deal on a front bumper like you did although not sure I’ll get it for what you paid lol you stole that thing...

I think I paid $250 that was insane. But my radiator burst on the way down so it was not a cheap trip!!

 

[Greenbean]

Can I ask what the major differences are between the Slee and BIOR?

The design seems the same in ways, just curious what swayed folks one way or the other.

 

[geanes]

Can I ask what the major differences are between the Slee and BIOR?

The design seems the same in ways, just curious what swayed folks one way or the other.

Biggest differences to me on my BIOR:

1: BIOR is more modular. The different attachments bolt onto the arms. This means I can bolt on the ladder attachment or bike rack attachment or jerry can holder onto the swingarm and I don't have to buy 3 complete swingarm assemblies.

2: BIOR uses the lock-pin for added closure security and the gas strut for added stability when deployed. The SLEE uses the lock-pin for security when swingarms are deployed and open.

3: The Hi-Lift mount on the BIOR is angled more across the back whereas the SLEE is more vertical.

 

[marcfj60]

Can I ask what the major differences are between the Slee and BIOR?

The design seems the same in ways, just curious what swayed folks one way or the other.

I don't think you can go wrong with either one. I don't have any experience with a Slee bumper. One thing that swayed me toward the BIO was that I didn't have to remove the rear crossmember and I could also continue to hang the spare tire underneath if I chose to do so. My wife did not want to deal with the swingout tire carrier. I had Mike Smith install the spindle for the tire carrier, purchased the tire carrier and also purchased a spindle cover. That way when the cruiser is doing mall cruiser duty (95% of the time), the spindle is covered, the swingout carrier is stored in the garage and the spare tire is hanging underneath in the OEM location. Then when we go off-road, I can mount the carrier and put the tire on it to get it out from below where it's always in danger of getting damaged by rocks. I would recommend buying products from BIO. The owner, Mike Smith, is a good guy and easy to work with. Be prepared that your bumper is custom built so it might take a few months depending on Mike's workload as he is pretty much a one-man shop. I've never dealt with Slee so I don't know what to expect but I do know they are a bigger operation.

 

[BJJCruiser]

I really like the airbags. Before I had them and if I had a lot of junk in the cargo area or a heavy tongue weight trailer, the cruiser really sagged in the back. And going over bumps there was a lot of movement up and down. My popup camper has a cargo deck up front and even with some effort to not put much weight ahead of the camper axle, my tongue weight can frequently push past 400 lbs. The airbags really stiffen things up, level out the vehicle and provide a lot more stability/control when towing.

I have read things about airbags reducing spring compression even when running low air pressures, therefore reducing offroad capability. Have you noticed anything like that? I have been considering king springs for my ahc lx, but I do like the idea of tuning my suspension for the weight I am running with air.

 

[TEQAdventure]

I went with BIOR because he will make it however you want. It is also a good bit cheaper than Slee and I think the swing out ladder is the least useful of all swing outs. I could not use a Slee because I only needed one arm and it had to swing driver side since my Kuat Pivot swings passenger side ( hitch mounted bike rack swing arm). Mike built mine with a driver side swing arm for the tire which was exactly what I wanted.

 

[marcfj60]

I have read things about airbags reducing spring compression even when running low air pressures, therefore reducing offroad capability. Have you noticed anything like that? I have been considering king springs for my ahc lx, but I do like the idea of tuning my suspension for the weight I am running with air.

If you didn't have sway bars and are regularly rock crawling, there would likely be some negative effects due to the airbags. If you go off-road a few times a year (or even a few times a month) and and aren't trying to cross the biggest, nastiest obstacles you can find every time you go off-road, there are no negative effects. I've had them installed a couple years and I have attended two Hundreds In the Hills events and run nearly every trail around Silverton/Ouray except Poughkepsie Gulch with no negative effects on my cruiser's off-road capability. You really have to decide the realistic use of your vehicle. I tow my trailer, camp and do moderately difficult off-roading. The airbags make the towing situation much better and don't impact my off-road capabilities.

 

[marcfj60]

The only issue I have had with my BIO bumper is clearance between the swingout arm, stop tap and latch clearing the tongue on my trailers. I suspect this is a problem for nearly all swingout tire carriers, regardless of bumper manufacturer. Trying to find the sweet spot with drop hitches to keep the trailer level, clearing tongue jacks, battery boxes, etc. is kind of a puzzle that each individual situation will have a different solution. I have to unbolt and remove my tongue jack and then park the vehicle turning slightly to the left such that the trailer is angled about 15 degrees toward the driver's side in order to be able to swing the tire carrier and open the rear hatch while towing my Jayco Baja pop-up. I have less trouble with my utility trailer but the clearance between the top of the coupler and some low-hanging parts on the swingout tire carrier is VERY small.

 

[marcfj60]

I have read things about airbags reducing spring compression even when running low air pressures, therefore reducing offroad capability. Have you noticed anything like that? I have been considering king springs for my ahc lx, but I do like the idea of tuning my suspension for the weight I am running with air.

Regarding your statement about "tuning" the suspension that is one of the things I really like about the airbags. When I am towing or have a bunch of heavy crap in the back, I pump up the airbags to 20 - 30 psi. They get the job done very well. Then when I'm back to normal duties, I reduce the pressure to 5 psi. The ride is very rough and harsh with the high pressure and no trailer or cargo load but appropriately firm when there is a load on them. With no trailer or cargo space load, it rides like the comfy factory ride with the airbags at 5 psi and the stock springs.

 

[benc]

The only issue I have had with my BIO bumper is clearance between the swingout arm, stop tap and latch clearing the tongue on my trailers. I suspect this is a problem for nearly all swingout tire carriers, regardless of bumper manufacturer. Trying to find the sweet spot with drop hitches to keep the trailer level, clearing tongue jacks, battery boxes, etc. is kind of a puzzle that each individual situation will have a different solution. I have to unbolt and remove my tongue jack and then park the vehicle turning slightly to the left such that the trailer is angled about 15 degrees toward the driver's side in order to be able to swing the tire carrier and open the rear hatch while towing my Jayco Baja pop-up. I have less trouble with my utility trailer but the clearance between the top of the coupler and some low-hanging parts on the swingout tire carrier is VERY small.

This issue is easily resolved with shorter swing arms.