Expedition and Daily Drive Suspension recommendations?

[jvoelcker]

Hi,

I'm just starting to look for a HDJ100 for use as a daily driver and also for family (+ Wife + 3 young children) expeditions. Currently we are planning our first main trip - a 4 week trip in Morocco in the spring which I hope will be the first of many.

In 'standard' trim the car will be kitted out with a winch and winch bumper, dual tyre carrier at the back (ideally with just one spare fitted most of the time), aluminium bash plate and long range fuel tank.

For trips I'll be adding a drawer system in the boot, a loaded roof rack for a large roof tent or ground based camping kit, a large water tank either behind the second row of seats or slung underneath between chassis rails, sliders and the 2nd spare wheel on the back as well as all out luggage and food.

I see that in Aus many run the same sort of spec and tend to run with OME torsion bars and springs, Bilstein or OME shocks, the Slee Diff Drop kit as well as re-inforcing the lower suspension arms at the front.

At the moment I have an 80 series with no extra kit, but heavy duty OME suspension. It feels like a rattle can for most of the time and only really comes in to it's own when fully loaded (as you would expect).

What I want to try to do is put together a suspension system giving around a 2 inch lift that will be ideal with day to day driving, but also be able to cope with the added weight for trips without feeling too hard for day to day use or like a slug when fully loaded.

I'm guessing that I need to consider things like adjustable shocks and air bags so would be interested to hear what the memebers here would recommend.

Thanks in advance.

 

[e9999]

well, if you want suitable ride and lift for both unloaded and loaded situations, I guess you'd have to go to a progressive spring if any are available, or likely more readily to air bags. With a constant rate spring, you can't very well do both situations well, I would guess. Of course, that also depends on your level of tolerance.

 

[jvoelcker]

I guess you'd have to go to a progressive spring if any are available, or likely more readily to air bags. With a constant rate spring, you can't very well do both situations well, I would guess.

That's what I was thinking, although had forgotten about the progressive spring option.

Does anyone here have any specific recommendations?

 

[SINCITY100]

How much additional (over stock) weight do you estimate will be added to your rig for "daily driver" mode ?

It may be tricky if you plan on running a lot of heavy (permanent) equipment, then load it up even more with heavy gear for your outings...The currently available progressive EMU springs (866) will not be up to the task, because by the time you get to the "stiffer" portion of the spring, the back end is already several (unnacceptable) inches lower than the front.

A combination of either air-bags and/or adding spring spacers (as needed) , along with a careful spring choice would work best for you, but it may take some trial and error to find the perfect set-up ..

I am running (edit.. sorry !) 864`s on the rear of my 100 with a lot of permanent weight ( sliders, Slee bumper w/carrier, high-lift, AO drawer system and water tank, roof rack and tons of recovery gear ) but it still sits 2-3" higher in the back...But when I recently loaded it up for an extended weekend with everything but the kitchen sink, it FINALLY sat perfectly level and the ride was excellent.

The problem is that when unloaded, it rides very uhh..lets say " scary " due to the rake and has taken some time getting used to the unbalanced feeling, but again..its perfect when loaded..

Ahh yes... the trade-offs in life

Good luck !

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

The problem is that when unloaded, it rides very uhh..lets say " scary " due to the rake and has taken some time getting used to the unbalanced feeling, but again..its perfect when loaded..

Ahh yes... the trade-offs in life

Good luck !

This puzzles me. Mine rakes only the normal amount....like every other "normal" lifted 80 or 100. ???

Words like scary and unbalanced...I don't feel this on mine. We have very similar trucks. ???

Thoughts?

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

This puzzles me. Mine rakes only the normal amount....like every other "normal" lifted 80 or 100. ???

Words like scary and unbalanced...I don't feel this on mine. We have very similar trucks. ???

Thoughts?

Got a side shot of yours?

 

[SINCITY100]

This puzzles me. Mine rakes only the normal amount....like every other "normal" lifted 80 or 100. ???

Words like scary and unbalanced...I don't feel this on mine. We have very similar trucks. ???

Thoughts?

Damn ! Its the return of the 863-864 confusion again !!

I am running friggin 864`s on mine ( I will correct my earlier post.. sorry guys ! )

The 864`s ride WAY high on the 100, thats why I have the excessive rake.
I will take a side-view pic to show what I am talking about.

I am sure that the "uneasy" feeling in mine is due to the height and rate of the 864`s...They just ride funky man ! ;p

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Damn ! Its the return of the 863-864 confusion again !!

I am running friggin 864`s on mine ( I will correct my earlier post.. sorry guys ! )

The 864`s ride WAY high on the 100, thats why I have the excessive rake.
I will take a side-view pic to show what I am talking about.

I am sure that the "uneasy" feeling in mine is due to the height and rate of the 864`s...They just ride funky man ! ;p

Ahh! OK. Yer ass is way up I'd guess.

Ya, I'd luv to see a pic of that.

 

[spressomon]

Damn ! Its the return of the 863-864 confusion again !!

I am running friggin 864`s on mine ( I will correct my earlier post.. sorry guys ! )

The 864`s ride WAY high on the 100, thats why I have the excessive rake.
I will take a side-view pic to show what I am talking about.

I am sure that the "uneasy" feeling in mine is due to the height and rate of the 864`s...They just ride funky man ! ;p

Despite the OME Spring Chart Information the 864 is about 1" shorter spring than the 863 correct? And larger diameter wire (20mm vs 19mm)?. FYI: I have been running a set of custom springs from Christo for the past couple weeks that are a little shorter (20mmish shorter than the 863) but with a wire diameter of 19.5mm. My rig sits slighlty lower than with the 863 however the new spring doesn't settle as much when my load weight is upped. On and off-trail performance is much better than the 863 was on my rig. So I think the ideal rear spring set-up for me is going to be this new spring from Christo plus 20mm packer...I think it will work well when I have the AT trailer connected and un-connected.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Despite the OME Spring Chart Information the 864 is about 1" shorter spring than the 863 correct? And larger diameter wire (20mm vs 19mm)?. FYI: I have been running a set of custom springs from Christo for the past couple weeks that are a little shorter (20mmish shorter than the 863) but with a wire diameter of 19.5mm. My rig sits slighlty lower than with the 863 however the new spring doesn't settle as much when my load weight is upped. On and off-trail performance is much better than the 863 was on my rig. So I think the ideal rear spring set-up for me is going to be this new spring from Christo plus 20mm packer...I think it will work well when I have the AT trailer connected and un-connected.

Excellent. New stuff for these beasts every day. Now we need a 4" front lift with T-bar OEM location.

 

[hoser]

Just a side question about swapping the rear springs... are the 100 LC rear springs unequal length like on a 80 series? (driver's side taller)?

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Just a side question about swapping the rear springs... are the 100 LC rear springs unequal length like on a 80 series? (driver's side taller)?

Mine are. 863
(Sorry )

 

[hoser]

According to Cruiser Outfitters spring chart, the 863's are unequal length by 10mm. But some of the other 100 series springs are equal length. Are you guys driving around with the 'gangsta lean' or is it level?

 

[spressomon]

According to Cruiser Outfitters spring chart, the 863's are unequal length by 10mm. But some of the other 100 series springs are equal length. Are you guys driving around with the 'gangsta lean' or is it level?

#1: Be wary of OME's Spring Chart: It is full of inaccuracies!
#2: All 80-series springs are unequal length. All 100-series springs are equal length. FYI: On the current custom 80 series springs I am running the difference is 15mm. I can measure my 863 spring height difference tonight as they are sitting on the floor of the garage...but methinks they are also 15mm.

What I want to do is run the longer of the pair of custom 80-series springs X 2 with 20mm packers.

 

[spressomon]

Excellent. New stuff for these beasts every day. Now we need a 4" front lift with T-bar OEM location.

I'm working on that

 

[hoser]

#2: All 80-series springs are unequal length. All 100-series springs are equal length. FYI: On the current custom 80 series springs I am running the difference is 15mm. I can measure my 863 spring height difference tonight as they are sitting on the floor of the garage...but methinks they are also 15mm.

I see, thanks Spresso. So, if using 80 series springs, either live with the lean, put trim packers on one side or try to get a matched pair.

 

[ats4x4dotcom]

G'Day Julien,

Saw you posted this to LCOOL.org as well.

We have designed 2 new springs for the rear of the 100, as well as our shock package, which ride better unloaded, and are around 863 and 864 rates, but if you want to contact me offline, would be happy to give you our findings, and where they may be available in Europe for you, as what you require is what we do most of here.

Can give you all the details on the A arm fix etc as well.

darren@ats4x4.com

Darren McRae

 

[spressomon]

I see, thanks Spresso. So, if using 80 series springs, either live with the lean, put trim packers on one side or try to get a matched pair.

Christo is working on the matched pair for us 100/LX470 D ) guys...

 

[spressomon]

According to Cruiser Outfitters spring chart, the 863's are unequal length by 10mm. But some of the other 100 series springs are equal length. Are you guys driving around with the 'gangsta lean' or is it level?

FYI: My 863's measure 10mm difference in height...but the custom springs measure 15mm difference in height...

 

[jvoelcker]

How much additional (over stock) weight do you estimate will be added to your rig for "daily driver" mode ?

I would have thought that in daily driver mode there will be a front winch and bumper (could be an alloy one with custom plate for mounting the winch) then at the rear a double tyre carrier, but running with only one tyre up there and then a long range fuel tank.

At the moment I'm trying to get an idea of the weights from the various manufacturers for comparison, but they seem slow to respond to sugh requests

I'm starting to think that airbags may be the best solution, but would be interested to know if anyone else has been down this route.