I cheaped out on my daily driver and Im going nuts. Im driving an armored TLC (TLC+1400lbs) and just recently upgraded to bilsteins, but its starting to sag again. I dont want to give up the comfort but I like offroading hard once a month (45mph on sand dunes) What front suspension would you guys recommend.
If money was not an issue what suspension would you get?
- Thread starter jcmiro
- Start date
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bjowett
Supporting Vendor
Do you want a quick bolt in solution, or something a little more extreme? A quick bolt in is some nice King 2.5 IBP or even some 3.0. Tundra arms can be run to increase front travel, but they need skinny tires (bad for the dunes) or wide fender flares to keep the wheels cycling w/o issue. The flares might even allow some of the aftermarket Tundra long travel kits to be used.
I love my kings...but they are VERY VERY expensive. If I didn't get them from the factory for a great price, I would never have afforded them.
You heard....but have you contacted them?
Did you go with the armored line of bilstiens shocks/springs (eibach) or did you install the commercial off-road version?
If you need part numbers and contacts form the factories I can get you that for armored TLC's. The thing to remember is your COG will be dramatically different then everyone else due to the glass in your car and that is more to the front so that consent load is on the front axle more then the rear. I you use normal commercial shocks/springs that can hold that weight in the front and sag down - then you start to get that "boat" effect in the rear.
Currently we i'm installing Dobison/Lowells/ARB(OME)/Ironman/Bilstien/FOX they all have a pro/con list and honestly its easy to make any of them "look" better then the others depending on what facts you show.
The trick is to find out what are you going to use the TLC for most of the time/next is budget/and then supply change for replacement later (or you buy a 2nd set before the 1st set goes bad)
Radflo offers a 2.5 version for the 200 series in either IFP (internal floating piston), with remote reservoir or with a remote reservoir and compression adjuster.
Glenn
Glenn
- Thread starter
- #8
Thanks xKennx for your feedback. I went with regular Bilstein HDs, but when I went in for the install the shop mech told me my coils and struts were shot. So now I have to do things the right way. Im leaning towards radflos or kings. I like radflo's instant email response time which is swaying me towards them and the fact that they have armored spec coilovers.
So far the best feedback Ive gotten by mail is radflo. So Im swaying towards them. What kind of valving would people recommend to keep things as comfortable as possible. I rode in a LX570 the other day and marveled at the difference.
So far the best feedback Ive gotten by mail is radflo. So Im swaying towards them. What kind of valving would people recommend to keep things as comfortable as possible. I rode in a LX570 the other day and marveled at the difference.
Money no object??? Decked out H1.... 
You asked.
You asked.where are you located?
bjowett
Supporting Vendor
My vote is for some King Internal ByPass shocks, or if you want a really nice all in one shock, the Ohlins TTX shocks I build are hard to be beat, with a price to match.
The recommendations and thoughts posted here are all helpful. My pitiful experience, having lived in places where a Big Mac was rare (thankfully) is that I would build what I can maintain locally without more hassle than necessary. I would keep it simple and enjoy the trip. My point is different than cost. It is about making the rig help with my adventure rather than becoming a challenge in and of itself. I have dangled on the end of long supply lines, I did not like it.
- Thread starter
- #15
Yup the supply chain is long and expensive...The only options available were OME and I rode on those and they definitely were NOT plush.
I ended up ordering today a set of 2.5" radflo custom coilovers with upgraded springs, custom valving for armored vehicles and remote adjustable reservoirs. Probably overkill by a mile. Mike Cosby at radflo answered all my emails within 30 minutes, and that was enough to sway me. Now I just have to pick them up in the US and ship them non-air (pressurized) to Peru.... (thats gonna be a pain)
I ended up ordering today a set of 2.5" radflo custom coilovers with upgraded springs, custom valving for armored vehicles and remote adjustable reservoirs. Probably overkill by a mile. Mike Cosby at radflo answered all my emails within 30 minutes, and that was enough to sway me. Now I just have to pick them up in the US and ship them non-air (pressurized) to Peru.... (thats gonna be a pain)
I see Dakar 2014 is going to be in Bolivia, and Chile and of course Argentina. Will it be close enough for you to get there? I find the South American version of Paris-Dakar quite enjoyable and an eye opener. Not only the racing, but the terrain, the cultures and the skill levels.
Best of luck with the truck.
Best of luck with the truck.
- Thread starter
- #17
Yup it was here this year also. Was pretty fun. You can easily watch the races as they are within 200 miles of the city. The LC was in its element trucking around the sand dunes. The trucks that race are absolute monsters. I was impressed.
I'd talk more with XKennex, he armors LC's in the Middle East. He may be a good resource on improving your ride.
