Icon long travel shocks or go OME?

[Zachary Ducote]

So my fiancé and I are about to move to Haiti and we have been given a 100 series cruiser. It's bone stock with 250k miles on it. I am wanting to do a lift on it but have heard about premature shock failed due to the way the uca's ball joints of OME doesn't have the correct angle and doesn't allow for a larger shock. Super Deluxe Suspension Package
This is where I read on this but I want to get wisdom from the true wheelers out there. Haiti has some rough and harsh terrain where time is the essence so being able to get to one place to the other in a timely manner is crucial. So I want to equip this cruiser with something very reliable and able to take a beating for a long time without failure as its not easy or quick to get replacement parts where we will be living.

So any help??

Also would love to fit 35s what size lift would I need for this?

 

[jLB]

1) I think you are confusing OME (Old Man Emu) and OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer)

2) If I were taking my vehicle to an area with limited parts availability, my first priority would be to go through the entire vehicle and make sure everything is in good shape. My second priority would be to identify potential spare parts and consumables that I would want to take with me.

If toyota parts are had to come by, I'd be pretty reluctant to make a lot of changes to aftermarket parts that might be even harder to find (unless they are nearly bulletproof).

I'd expect 35's to be a little harder on the steering rack than 33's and the UZJ100 rack might be considered a little fragile.

 

[bctlex]

1) If I were taking my vehicle to an area with limited parts availability, my first priority would be to go through the entire vehicle and make sure everything is in good shape. My second priority would be to identify potential spare parts and consumables that I would want to take with me.

If toyota parts are had to come by, I'd be pretty reluctant to make a lot of changes to aftermarket parts that might be even harder to find (unless they are nearly bulletproof).

Like @jLB my vote is to make sure that everything is in good shape. Considering that the vehicle that has 250K miles, how was the past maintenance? TB, WP, bearings, brakes, bushings, hoses, tires with matching spares, etc...

Not saying you dont need a lift and some fancy suspension setup, but in stock config, the 100 is plenty capable. Make sure it is actually something that you need before investing in some expensive aftermarket parts, with possibility of even harder to find replacements when things break down.

Good luck!
Chris

 

[AimCOtaco]

The Icons are sweet but they are a performance shock that will require periodic rebuilds buy someone who has access to the tools, parts, and knowledge to get this done. I would guess that in Haiti that would be on you. The OME or OEM shocks are disposable units and you could take multiple sets for the price of the Icons.

I would agree that if durability is the goal then 33's are probably a better way to go, probably easier to source replacements overseas as well in the smaller sizes. These are just my thoughts, I don't know first hand about availability of stuff in Haiti.

 

[Zachary Ducote]

Okay let me rephrase what I mean parts are hard to come by. There is a whole slew of land cruisers of every year model down there and you can eventually find most parts. The problem lies with for example our lifted 80 on 34s that we beat the snot out of. Not trying to but we don't have a choice with the way the terrain is, it's a legitimate tank. Anyways when we go buy bakes we don't know what were going to get, either front or rear brake with our without the clips that hold them in. And sometimes you have to go through two or three people. So easy but hard and sometimes frustrating.

Now you all are correct on the list of worn parts that I will need to replace on such a high mileage vehicle. I have started a list and its continuing. It will be in the shop in a couple weeks to get a more intensive look over to I'm sure make that list longer.

A lift will be much needed where I will be living with some of the places we will need that much extra clearance.

@jLB thank you for correcting me about the OME and OEM I realized the mistake there. It looks like it would be good to to lace the UCAs.
As the steering rack concerns, I've heard that they are pretty fragile. I plan on taking a huge replacement there either in parts or a whole assembly. I'm sure the cheaper way would be rebuilding it what's your thoughts?
What seems to be a normal reoccurring problem on these 100s? That I might bound out until I get down there?

Also if I do get a lift to fit 33s IS OME the best way to go?

Thanks guys for your input. Any other ideas let me know I need to know as much as I can with this bad boy.

 

[wngrog]

Iron Man Pro shocks are the best bang for the buck HANDS DOWN. No way I would spend the money on Icon's and I think the current OME shocks are garbage.

Iron Man Pro Foam Review

 

[TexasCrane]

Okay let me rephrase what I mean parts are hard to come by. There is a whole slew of land cruisers of every year model down there and you can eventually find most parts. The problem lies with for example our lifted 80 on 34s that we beat the snot out of. Not trying to but we don't have a choice with the way the terrain is, it's a legitimate tank. Anyways when we go buy bakes we don't know what were going to get, either front or rear brake with our without the clips that hold them in. And sometimes you have to go through two or three people. So easy but hard and sometimes frustrating.

Now you all are correct on the list of worn parts that I will need to replace on such a high mileage vehicle. I have started a list and its continuing. It will be in the shop in a couple weeks to get a more intensive look over to I'm sure make that list longer.

A lift will be much needed where I will be living with some of the places we will need that much extra clearance.

@jLB thank you for correcting me about the OME and OEM I realized the mistake there. It looks like it would be good to to lace the UCAs.
As the steering rack concerns, I've heard that they are pretty fragile. I plan on taking a huge replacement there either in parts or a whole assembly. I'm sure the cheaper way would be rebuilding it what's your thoughts?
What seems to be a normal reoccurring problem on these 100s? That I might bound out until I get down there?

Also if I do get a lift to fit 33s IS OME the best way to go?

Thanks guys for your input. Any other ideas let me know I need to know as much as I can with this bad boy.

You've got a couple of separate issues that you're combining here. If you want 33's, go ahead and put them on. A lift has nothing to do with tire sizes on a 100 series due to the IFS. 33's fit and anything larger may require spacers or a body lift to avoid rubbing at full articulation.

Personally, I would go with OME shocks vs Icon. Icons are great, but they're not bulletproof like OME shocks will be. I wouldn't want to be messing with nitrogen fills/leaks/rebuilds etc while in Haiti. The OMEs are a proven design that will hold up under extremely harsh conditions. Plus, you've got an ARB dealer in Haiti and the DR as well.

Ironman is an option, but a) they're brand new, b) they don't exactly have a great reputation in Australia and c) there's no dealer presence where you're going to be.