Starting: LX 470 family (on/off road) adventure rig

[HookTN]

@ScottyS - great work on your rig - I have the same rig and am following your build/progress. Thanks for the ideas.

 

[ScottyS]

Thanks there. Just finished a 4000 mi trip that included a lot of highway cruise, several 4x4 camping excursions, and a detour over Corkscrew Pass in Colorado (not enough time for all of the trails in the San Juans, but man it was amazing). The LX killed it all, with a fairly decent load. I just wish it had a fuel-efficient diesel....boohoo

 

[suprarx7nut]

Thanks there. Just finished a 4000 mi trip that included a lot of highway cruise, several 4x4 camping excursions, and a detour over Corkscrew Pass in Colorado (not enough time for all of the trails in the San Juans, but man it was amazing). The LX killed it all, with a fairly decent load. I just wish it had a fuel-efficient diesel....boohoo

Awesome! San Juans are something special. Corkscrew is one of my favorites. California/Corkscrew/Hurricane are just gorgeous in the summer.

AHC still treating you well now that you've put it through the ringer?

 

[ScottyS]

Yes. the AHC is doing great. I am REALLY glad I kept it.

For reference, the current suspension setup:

- Stock AHC system, refreshed fluid, NO sensor lift.
- Aftermarket torsion bars - Swayaway - waaaay beefy. De-indexed to maintain proper AHC pressure at stock height.
- OEM-style King rear springs from Down Under, overload rated.
- Firestone rear airbags.
- stock tire size Yoko Geolanders (will move to tall/narrow soon), Slee LX-specific wheel spacers. 16" 2000 OEM wheels.

Tires: I'm running ~32psi empty, locally. ~15psi on dirt. ~45psi loaded on the highway. Depending on load usually less in the front. I watch the contact patch.
Airbags: running 0psi empty, 10psi small load, 20psi large load, 25+psi with 400lbs off the hitch (moto or travel box). AHC pressures were tested in these scenarios.

The tell-tale is if AHC struggles with moving to High, then I add more air to the bags.

AHC in "plushest" position is normal, it's stiffer empty but feels like stock when loaded. Heavy load I crank it to #2-3 positions and feels great. Then I choose setting based on driving conditions.

This would not be a happy camper as an empty DD...too stiff....but load her up with stuff and people and she is very happy.

 

[SHIfTHEAD]

Yes. the AHC is doing great. I am REALLY glad I kept it.

For reference, the current suspension setup:

- Stock AHC system, refreshed fluid, NO sensor lift.
- Aftermarket torsion bars - Swayaway - waaaay beefy. De-indexed to maintain proper AHC pressure at stock height.
- OEM-style King rear springs from Down Under, overload rated.
- Firestone rear airbags.
- stock tire size Yoko Geolanders (will move to tall/narrow soon), Slee LX-specific wheel spacers. 16" 2000 OEM wheels.

Tires: I'm running ~32psi empty, locally. ~15psi on dirt. ~45psi loaded on the highway. Depending on load usually less in the front. I watch the contact patch.
Airbags: running 0psi empty, 10psi small load, 20psi large load, 25+psi with 400lbs off the hitch (moto or travel box). AHC pressures were tested in these scenarios.

The tell-tale is if AHC struggles with moving to High, then I add more air to the bags.

AHC in "plushest" position is normal, it's stiffer empty but feels like stock when loaded. Heavy load I crank it to #2-3 positions and feels great. Then I choose setting based on driving conditions.

This would not be a happy camper as an empty DD...too stiff....but load her up with stuff and people and she is very happy.

This is exactly what I'm going for. I'll be installing new OEM springs and air bags in a couple months, and planning on new globes this winter as I'm down to 9 graduations. But your setup has confirmed my plans as a working setup. Thanks for posting!

 

[suprarx7nut]

Yes. the AHC is doing great. I am REALLY glad I kept it.

For reference, the current suspension setup:

- Stock AHC system, refreshed fluid, NO sensor lift.
- Aftermarket torsion bars - Swayaway - waaaay beefy. De-indexed to maintain proper AHC pressure at stock height.
- OEM-style King rear springs from Down Under, overload rated.
- Firestone rear airbags.
- stock tire size Yoko Geolanders (will move to tall/narrow soon), Slee LX-specific wheel spacers. 16" 2000 OEM wheels.

Tires: I'm running ~32psi empty, locally. ~15psi on dirt. ~45psi loaded on the highway. Depending on load usually less in the front. I watch the contact patch.
Airbags: running 0psi empty, 10psi small load, 20psi large load, 25+psi with 400lbs off the hitch (moto or travel box). AHC pressures were tested in these scenarios.

The tell-tale is if AHC struggles with moving to High, then I add more air to the bags.

AHC in "plushest" position is normal, it's stiffer empty but feels like stock when loaded. Heavy load I crank it to #2-3 positions and feels great. Then I choose setting based on driving conditions.

This would not be a happy camper as an empty DD...too stiff....but load her up with stuff and people and she is very happy.

Awesome, thank for sharing. Love hearing from the folks that keep AHC even on a heavy diet. Nice work!

 

[ClassyJalopy]

Yes. the AHC is doing great. I am REALLY glad I kept it.

For reference, the current suspension setup:

- Stock AHC system, refreshed fluid, NO sensor lift.
- Aftermarket torsion bars - Swayaway - waaaay beefy. De-indexed to maintain proper AHC pressure at stock height.
- OEM-style King rear springs from Down Under, overload rated.
- Firestone rear airbags.
- stock tire size Yoko Geolanders (will move to tall/narrow soon), Slee LX-specific wheel spacers. 16" 2000 OEM wheels.

Tires: I'm running ~32psi empty, locally. ~15psi on dirt. ~45psi loaded on the highway. Depending on load usually less in the front. I watch the contact patch.
Airbags: running 0psi empty, 10psi small load, 20psi large load, 25+psi with 400lbs off the hitch (moto or travel box). AHC pressures were tested in these scenarios.

The tell-tale is if AHC struggles with moving to High, then I add more air to the bags.

AHC in "plushest" position is normal, it's stiffer empty but feels like stock when loaded. Heavy load I crank it to #2-3 positions and feels great. Then I choose setting based on driving conditions.

This would not be a happy camper as an empty DD...too stiff....but load her up with stuff and people and she is very happy.

Thanks for sharing. Could you by any chance measure the thickness of the torsion bars in mm?

 

[ScottyS]

Thanks for sharing. Could you by any chance measure the thickness of the torsion bars in mm?

Sorry for the delay, I just saw this. Calipers say they are 32 mm.