Stiffer...not taller

[FelixLeiter]

The stock p-rated tires are not fairing so well and are up for a change soon...thinking of Nitto TerraGrapplers.

In terms of the suspension...when loaded up for camping/expedition type trips I need a stiffer suspension (too much sag in the rear), but I don't want to go any taller since this is a daily driver and 95% of the mileage on the truck is from non-wheeling activities. I feel the stock height is sufficient for the amount of wheeling I do. Who makes replacement springs/shocks that are stiffer but not taller? I am looking for something along the lines of the OME medium in terms of stiffness (no heavy bumpers, just lots of gear/H2O/fuel for trips) but don't want to be higher. Any suggestions?

I don't mind paying for the OME...maybe I could just cut the OME springs down by a wrap or so and get away with a 1" lift...I don't mind staying with a stock tire size, just want to go to an LT designation.

 

[Aggie]

The OME's won't give you that much lift.

 

[joebob2586]

depending on how much you want to spend you could go with adjustable coilovers and they adjust from 0 to 3.5 inches so you could get away with as little a lift as you want and if you happen to change ur mind you can adjust it, plus you can then put in remote resivoir shocks that are also adjustable...just a thought

 

[Downey]

You are talking about increased load carring capacity for sometimes loaded-sometimes empty vehicle. Problem with increased spring rate is it's going to knock the dentures out of your mouth when the truck is empty (plus piss off mama). Better to simply let the rear-end sag alittle when occasionally hauling!!!

 

[adso]

pull a trailer

 

[Tools R Us]

Air bags would work well for your application, the type that fit inside the coils. Stock ride when the rig is unloaded, air up the bags when loaded.

Air Lift 1000 Load Assist Rear Spring Kits - summitracing.com

Air Lift 1000, Air Spring, Coil Spring, Helper Spring

 

[FelixLeiter]

Air bags would work well for your application, the type that fit inside the coils. Stock ride when the rig is unloaded, air up the bags when loaded.

Air Lift 1000 Load Assist Rear Spring Kits - summitracing.com

Air Lift 1000, Air Spring, Coil Spring, Helper Spring

Those look interesting--could I get away with the soft OME springs to preserve ride quality and a set of those in the rear on trips to compensate for the extra weight of all the gear? Would they interfere with the articulation of the rear axle?

In this pic you can see that the rear is sagging a bit--and it is exactly when I don't want it to--during wheeling.

 

[RiverWalker]

I run the Air Lift bags in my FJ. When I go wheelin' I pump them up to keep my headlights aligned. The rest of the time I run 5 lbs in them and have no problem at all.

 

[FelixLeiter]

How about a set of OME Soft in the front and OME Medium in the rear? No bumper or winch so I don't need it stiffer up front. I imagine that this set-up may cause a bit more understeer but I think that would be OK since the short wheelbase promotes oversteer anyway--any thoughts?