time to lift the troopy

[missipboy]

ok, it's time to decide how to lift the troopy. she's all stock right now with an add-a-leaf in the front to level it out and it's just way too stiff. i was leaning towards the ome 2.5, but now i'm thinking of a less expensive 4 inch like skyjacker. with a 4 inch kit i would have money left over for a shackle reversal and u-bolt flip kit. i would rather keep it spring under. i know the ome springs are made for heavier rigs like mine and i was wondering if skyjackers would hold up to the extra weight. opinions, advice or some prior experience anyone?

 

[madams557]

Does Skyjacker make a kit for a troopy?

If not, you could go with Alcan for a custom set up, or I went with the 2.5 OME heavies on my 45.

 

[65-fj45]

40 and 45 rear springs are different. the 45 rears are longer, I don't think skyjacker has rear springs that will fit. When I lifted my 45 ,ome was the only company that had rear springs for it. They only had the 2" lift, so I had Alcan Spring custom make some 5" springs all the way around.

 

[missipboy]

i did not know they were different. are you happy with your alcans? sounds like that's the only i can go if i want more than 2 inches. and i do.

 

[65-fj45]

The Alcans are great, The ride is perfect. Once I placed my order they called me three times before they built them. Asking questions such as what motor,trans and due I have a winch, extra gas tank ECT. They were a pleasure to deal with, and I would do it again. I had them with in three weeks.

 

[45Kevin]

I put Belton 2.5" lift springs on the front of my 45LB and a longer shackle on the back.

Still rides like a truck though.

 

[missipboy]

i just sent all my measurements in for a quote.
i told em i wanted 4 to 5 inches of lift.

 

[BreckenridgeCruiser]

What measurements did you give them? I have a BJ44 (same springs as the 45/47) but I don't have the stock springs to measure for them... What year is your 45? Do you have a pic with their lift kit installed? Thanks!

Kraig

 

[orangefj45]

i've dealt with alcan before and have to give them props as well. great customer service, great product.

 

[crustyBJ60]

troopy lift

if you want that much lift...

why not SOA?

just a thought.

crusty

 

[missipboy]

crustyBJ60 if you want that much lift...

why not SOA?

just a thought.

crusty

mainly for sidehill stability. i've heard a soa troopy can get a bit hairy on hills. i've thought about soa, but haven't been able to talk myself into it yet.

What measurements did you give them? I have a BJ44 (same springs as the 45/47) but I don't have the stock springs to measure for them... What year is your 45? Do you have a pic with their lift kit installed? Thanks!

Kraig

i believe the rears were 51, but i didn't write it down as i was in a hurry. front was 42. the measurement they want is from spring hanger eye to eye, so you don't actually need the springs. they also ask how many springs in the pack which was 8 in front and 9 in back for me. my 45 is a 79, and no pics with a lift yet. it's all stock.

 

[orangefj45]

the more time goes by the more i'm thinking about going SOA with my troopie. originally i thought about a 4" lift but i like how the SOA setups ride. sidehill stability can be a problem but that's what swaybars are all about.

 

[missipboy]

i thought one of the great benifits of soa was the flex. and swaybars prevent this, right? i've still got my 40 with soa and could easily swap it on over. it's soon to be sold anyway. why can't i talk myself into doing this.

 

[BreckenridgeCruiser]

Thanks Missip!

I think they also wanted the measurments from pin to eye, both front and rear... you don't happen to have that too do you? Much appreciated as even Specter couldn't find stock springs to help me!

Kraig

 

[orangefj45]

sway bars will definetly reduce the body roll by reducing the spring flex. that's why i'm gonna run quick disconnects on mine; plan on running sway bars front and rear since there is a ton of body weight.

you could probably adapt fj60/62 sway bars......

 

[crustyBJ60]

ok...

school me. with 5" of lift, you think it's gonna be more tippy SOA rather than sprung under?

5" is 5" right? run 60 axles, wheel spacers, wide wheels , stiff shocks etc...

lift is lift mate, there is compromise.

i just can't see a 5" lift spring offering the flex or ride of a SOA on stock springs. and i can't see the bad in a SOA troopy. yes it will be more tippy than SU on stockers, but why that much lift? and why do it with springs?

i guess I'm just not quite getting it.

crusty

 

[orangefj45]

spring under rigs ride stiffer cause the leaves are arched a lot so they don't offer as much droop, if any. therefore you won't get as much body roll either with the same amount of lift.

 

[missipboy]

breckenridgecruiser, i don't have those measurements, but will try and get em' for you soon.

crustybj60, i'm by no means an expert, which is why i'm constantly asking opinions on mud. also this is what is written on www.alcanspring.com about soa vs lift.

Q: Should I stay with spring-under or go to spring-over?

A: We are asked this question every day and it is hard to provide a one-size-fits-all answer. Here are the issues:

Axle wrap (unwanted deflection or bending of a spring caused by torque to the tires) is more often a problem with spring-over setups than with spring-unders. Axle-wrap can be major or minor to fix, depending on numerous variables such as lift-height, spring flexibility desired, vehicle weight and load, engine power and gearing. We have made changes in our spring design to help stop the bending of the springs without hindering flexibility or compromising the ride quality. But if you have a torquey V8 and low gears, you may have more of an axle-wrap problem than the springs themselves can handle, and you may need to install a torque rod of some type.

A spring-over setup is going to articulate easier than a spring-under mostly because the spring-over is flatter so the main leaf can roll up on its side (twist) easier. The spring-under setup in a 5" lift or higher will not articulate as easily in a light-weight vehicle. But, for example, a spring-under Wrangler with 300 pounds of extra weight in the rear and a bumper and winch on the front could do as well as a spring-over (just with less ground clearance).

We are also finding problems with spring-overs on stock weight or lighter vehicles that are used for rock crawling. When the vehicle is put in a very steep uphill climb, it puts all the weight of the vehicle on the rear axle. In most cases, this will bend the front half of the rear springs. We have made some design changes to help with this problem.

 

[orangefj45]

We are also finding problems with spring-overs on stock weight or lighter vehicles that are used for rock crawling. When the vehicle is put in a very steep uphill climb, it puts all the weight of the vehicle on the rear axle. In most cases, this will bend the front half of the rear springs. We have made some design changes to help with this problem.

i think one of the reason why the stock rear springs have a tendency to bend at the front is that there is a lot more load on them due to pinion wrap. adding a traction or anti wrap bar should help aliviate(sp ) that problem as well as prevent possible pinion breakage.

anytime somebody does an SOA conversion they should definetly install a track bar as well.

 

[missipboy]

this rig is going to be driven more on road than off, so i'm staying sua. the largest tires i will run will be 33's. what would be the optimum amount of lift for these on a troopy?