Foxes are on!

[ats4x4dotcom]

Your welcome

The fox shox arrived today for the 100 we are fitting out, so will have them fitted up this week, see how they play out before we order production sets.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Just back from 5-days of beating the X#*@ out of the rig! Ran the Fox shocks at the highest compression setting (#8) on the adjuster dial (I'm going to call Fox tomorrow to try to determine what this would equate to for internal compression valving) and it was phenomenal. This is exactly the control I was searching for (with and without pulling the AT Horizon trailer)! If you have a heavily laden rig such as mine you will not believe the difference off and on-road vs. OME!!! I got in a couple hundred miles of off-road on this break in trip and never even came close to bottoming out and that was with a rig full of hunting gear, food, dog, etc...and zero fade. For those that think they need 2.5"...don't bother! And the control and comfort are there too! And the 12mm body lift as Darren (ATS4x4.com) has advised (actually he advised 10mm) solved my tire rubbing front and rear with limiting travel...THANKS DARREN!!!

I'm stoked!!! Pics forthcoming tomorrow of the rear mounts.

But did you knock down any birds?

 

[spressomon]

But did you knock down any birds?

Yes. But we earned them! The season appears to be every bit as challenging as predicted this year.

 

[spressomon]

Your welcome

The fox shox arrived today for the 100 we are fitting out, so will have them fitted up this week, see how they play out before we order production sets.

I am curious to hear how you mount the rears. Are you using post style/OEM upper mounts or???

 

[ats4x4dotcom]

correct

durability testing coming up.

 

[spressomon]

Pics as promised. The DS limits how high the upper mount can be located due to the fuel lines; if not for the fuel lines the shock mounts could have been raised approximately another 1.5"-2" making it ideal IMO. However, the lower mount doesn't hang down quite as far as the stock shock perches and are small dimension/obstacle target left to right. And the shocks are fairly well protected where they now reside without the need to use boots. Sam fabbed the lowers out of 1/4" wall 4130 to take some abuse.

 

[spressomon]

One more pic...

 

[rusty_tlc]

Looks like you already sand blasted the paint off.

You night try epoxy appliance paint. I use it a lot and it holds up much better than regular Krylon or Rustolem.

 

[spressomon]

Looks like you already sand blasted the paint off.

You night try epoxy appliance paint. I use it a lot and it holds up much better than regular Krylon or Rustolem.

Yep...I broke it in/tested it thoroughly this past trip! I was at Home Depot looking for that exact paint because like you I had great durability experience years ago. Maybe I'll try Reno Paint Mart.

 

[rusty_tlc]

Yep...I broke it in/tested it thoroughly this past trip! I was at Home Depot looking for that exact paint because like you I had great durability experience years ago. Maybe I'll try Reno Paint Mart.

Ace Hardware on Baring carries it, it's their brand but it works well.

I think I have a couple of cans left over from my 40 roll cage, if you just need enough to paint your mounts.

 

[spressomon]

Ace Hardware on Baring carries it, it's their brand but it works well.

I think I have a couple of cans left over from my 40 roll cage, if you just need enough to paint your mounts.

Yep...I'll take you up on that: Thanks!

 

[Augie]

That is interesting mount. Normally people put the shock directly above the axle for best ride or in front of the axle to gain travel with shorter shock. How much rear wheel travel do you have right now?

The mount looks really good.

 

[spressomon]

That is interesting mount. Normally people put the shock directly above the axle for best ride or in front of the axle to gain travel with shorter shock. How much rear wheel travel do you have right now?

The mount looks really good.

Didn't measure it Augie. The internal spring bump is the only upside bump I am using and with the 12mm body lift no rub anymore. And downside travel leaves about 1/2" or so of spring pre-load. For the Fox shocks this is max without limiting uptravel.

If the fuel lines were relocated a bit we could move the mounts approximately 1.5-2" higher...that would be perfect IMO. But I'm not embarking on that path anytime soon . I do like having the rear shocks where they are now: Better protection behind the axle housing and much easier to remove for tuning, etc. FWIW: H2 rear shocks are mounted somewhat similarly.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

I do like having the rear shocks where they are now: Better protection behind the axle housing and much easier to remove for tuning, etc. FWIW: H2 rear shocks are mounted somewhat similarly.

Very glad you're happy with the shocks. It makes all the work worth it.

Meanwhile, I am seeing something different in the pictures. Feel free to correct me and tell me if I need glasses. Plus, I'm making my observation based on the wheeling-type that I do. Rocks, rocks, AZ rocks. Not sure about your use.

Stock shock mounts: Are tucked way over by the tire making them difficult to hang on on the rocks. The tire is your main protection as it drives over the rock. Or, you clear the rock between the tire/shock mount and the diff below the axle.

Fox shock mounts: Are also low though they are sticking out in the area that need to clear rocks. I see me getting hung up on these often (like I do my 6" lift Slee front arms on my LX450 that are also in the way).

OK....whatcha think?

 

[spressomon]

Very glad you're happy with the shocks. It makes all the work worth it.

Meanwhile, I am seeing something different in the pictures. Feel free to correct me and tell me if I need glasses. Plus, I'm making my observation based on the wheeling-type that I do. Rocks, rocks, AZ rocks. Not sure about your use.

Stock shock mounts: Are tucked way over by the tire making them difficult to hang on on the rocks. The tire is your main protection as it drives over the rock. Or, you clear the rock between the tire/shock mount and the diff below the axle.

Fox shock mounts: Are also low though they are sticking out in the area that need to clear rocks. I see me getting hung up on these often (like I do my 6" lift Slee front arms on my LX450 that are also in the way).

OK....whatcha think?

That's the compromise on this set-up. The factory front mounts are a different compromise. The tubing Sam used for the lower mounts and shock protector should be fine for my rock bashing. And I agree it is another hang-up point but not too much different in that respect to the large hang down of the OEM mounts (I had many scars on the OEM rear mounts and shocks to prove that). As mentioned above I would, in a perfect world, like to relocate the fuel tank filler lines so that the shocks move upward about 1.5-2"...but that ain't gonna happen anytime soon for this rig ...that indeed would be perfect for the rears. It's all about which compromise one can live with I think .

I was rallying undulating, twisty/winding double track trails over the past several days touching 50mph...the shocks performed incredibly well: No bottoming, incredibly comfortable, controlled and zero fade. The OME's would have not allowed 30mph on these same trails. Keep in mind speed is not my goal...but the difference in control and comfort is night and day.

And by easily clicking the compression dial adjuster I can tune the shock for pulling the trailer to crawling and everything in between.

 

[rusty_tlc]

That's the compromise on this set-up. The factory front mounts are a different compromise. The tubing Sam used for the lower mounts and shock protector should be fine for my rock bashing. And I agree it is another hang-up point but not too much different in that respect to the large hang down of the OEM mounts (I had many scars on the OEM rear mounts and shocks to prove that). As mentioned above I would, in a perfect world, like to relocate the fuel tank filler lines so that the shocks move upward about 1.5-2"...but that ain't gonna happen anytime soon for this rig ...that indeed would be perfect for the rears. It's all about which compromise one can live with I think .

I was rallying undulating, twisty/winding double track trails over the past several days touching 50mph...the shocks performed incredibly well: No bottoming, incredibly comfortable, controlled and zero fade. The OME's would have not allowed 30mph on these same trails. Keep in mind speed is not my goal...but the difference in control and comfort is night and day.

And by easily clicking the compression dial adjuster I can tune the shock for pulling the trailer to crawling and everything in between.

Now if you could just adjust the shocks from inside the cab.

 

[calamaridog]

Looks good Dan. I'm digging the adjustability.

I don't see the set up as being too big of a rock anchor but only time will tell.

 

[spressomon]

Another pic of the rears. Absolutely love these shocks and mounts. Again in a perfect world if you have time and patience: Relocate the fuel lines on the DS then these mounts can be raised approximately an additional 1.5" and maybe 2" with the 12mm BL. This would allow the bottom mounts to be raised also. But so far with LOTS of off-roading up and over large rocks these mounts have not posed a problem yet (although I have nicked the protector shroud for the bottom mount ...but it did it's job).

 

[CaliCruiser]

That looks pretty cool Dan, it looks safer when the tires are aired down.

 

[spressomon]

That looks pretty cool Dan, it looks safer when the tires are aired down.

Ain't that the truth! I would have made that run unscathed with the BL and the new rear shock mounts. Oh well...I guess there's always next year . Foxes rule!!!