Medium or Heavy Duty Suspension options with little or no lift.

[CBdeJ]

Hello All,

I'm slowly building up my 100 series. I've dealt with most of the maintenance and cosmetic issues so now my attention is turning to upgrading. First up - suspension.

The details...
I eventually plan on adding bumpers to both ends
I have a 1.8M Rooftop tent that weighs 100 kg.
Various camping gear, drawers, fridge, dual battery etc will be going into the truck (I have most of this all ready).
Will be camping as a family of four

What I'd like...
On our 80 Series we had the OME HD suspension with minimal to no lift. With the tent up top I liked that it kept the center of gravity lower. Empty it rode very stiff and wash board gravel roads could sometimes be tedious (especially at 80 KPH). Something a bit more compliant would be nice (though the IFS on the 100 might help in this regard).

I'd like the same - no to minimal lift HD or MD - for the 100 but I haven't seen much advertised. An inch and a half seems to be the starting point.

Thanks for any comments/suggestions.

Cheers,
Chris

ps. the truck is for overland only, no real crawling to speak of.

 

[jLB]

The front height is adjustable via preload on the torsion bars.

I can't speak for the "heavy" rear springs, but in my experience, the medium 1.5" springs (865) sank back to stock height pretty quickly with any sort of load in the rear.

 

[cruzerDave]

Personally running a ToughDog setup from @reevesci, medium constant rate springs were claimed to be 30mm lift but either I don't have enough weight in there (around 250lbs in the drawers and contents, + something for the gamiviti & hilift) or my old ones were more worn that I thought because I had a solid 2-2.5" lift after install. Currently about a 2" rake when empty, but level when a family of four is loaded for a 3 day camping trip in the desert:

Not a huge visual difference in the pics I know, but easier to see in person, and it was a 2" drop, I measured it and gave my family some grief

Here is what I have:

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

Personally running a ToughDog setup from @reevesci, medium constant rate springs were claimed to be 30mm lift but either I don't have enough weight in there (around 250lbs in the drawers and contents, + something for the gamiviti & hilift) or my old ones were more worn that I thought because I had a solid 2-2.5" lift after install. Currently about a 2" rake when empty, but level when a family of four is loaded for a 3 day camping trip in the desert:

View attachment 1474155

Not a huge visual difference in the pics I know, but easier to see in person, and it was a 2" drop, I measured it and gave my family some grief

Here is what I have:
View attachment 1474156

Constant rear springs = a 30mm lift (above factory height) at 660-1100#of load. Will be TALLER if not loaded to the lower minimum range at ALL TIMES, hence what constant means.

J

 

[bluesquirrel]

@reevesci
Regarding spring rates, and weight on the back end.
I'm planning for a rear bumper/swingouts, already have drawers, and OBA tanks in the old spare tire spot.
Constant rate springs???

 

[C6H12O6]

I replaced the stock springs with OME 865s last summer. They are a little higher with an empty truck, but with any kind of weight in the back, they level right back out. When I get to a point where I'm not throwing all my Cruiser fund at my 40 project (so, never), I'd like to try the 1.5" heavy springs back there. The 865s are pretty soft.

 

[TRAIL TAILOR]

@reevesci
Regarding spring rates, and weight on the back end.
I'm planning for a rear bumper/swingouts, already have drawers, and OBA tanks in the old spare tire spot.
Constant rate springs???

Just depends on the total weight. Sounds like you will be close to the heavy end of a light spring or at the low end of the constant spring.

Personally I prefer to to over loaded occasionally than to be under loaded always. PM me to review further if you'd like.

J