I have been remiss in writing up my experience with the Tourflex suspension. Sorry @reevesci it took so long!
The buying experience was very easy, although I thing J should push the extras more. You really need to run longer or adjustable front and rear track bars with the height of these springs. I went with the non-adjustable shocks per J, and they have been working great. I also put adjustable lower links on at the same time. For comparison purposes my 80 is a 1994 and I have a plate bumper, 38-gal tank, winch and dual batteries up front. A full roof rack with an awning and light bar up top and I put a 4x4Labs dual swing out bumper on the rear at the time of the lift with a 33" spare out back. The before lift picture there is a minimal rear bumper and the spare was carried inside or on the roof. As you can see, there's not much travel left when it was loaded down and the spare out back.
The actual install was very straight forward. Removing the sway bars and loosening all the suspension arms made articulating the axles to remove and install springs much easier. I took the opportunity to install extended stainless steel brake lines in place of all the soft lines, and I would recommend extended lines to anyone using this kit. You can see how far out my rear track bar was after the lift.
I don't have a picture of the front, but after I finally put the adjustable track bar on, the truck came up another inch in the front. Finally, here is how it sits with the adjustable track bars and the weight of the base truck plus a 100-lb roof top tent.
Initially the rear was much higher than the front and after a few weeks of carrying some heavy steel in the back and the longer front track bar it has balanced out pretty nicely. There is still an inch of rake, but I figure that will go away if we fully load it with gear and people for camping.
The ride....
I like it. Definitely firmer than my stock worn out springs, but not harsh. It feels firmer than my buddies truck with an OME medium lift, but I think his truck is heavier so YMMV. The progressive rates J picked work very well and unloaded the truck is very useable and not too stiffly sprung. Initially I ran it without the rear sway bar and you do feel more body roll. When the body roll gets to the harder rate of the spring it stiffens up and never felt too top heavy. I put sway bar extensions on and it made a difference on how much the body moves but either way would be fine. If I keep the RTT on it I will keep the sway bar on. Coming from a race car background it is more fun to drive with the sway bar....but not so much a race car. The shocks work very well for their price. I find the small bump compliance to be a little harsh but the large bump compression and rebound is very good. You feel crappy pavement but I don't slow down for speed bumps if that makes sense.
If anyone is interested in a test drive, you are welcome to check it out in San Rafael, California.
The buying experience was very easy, although I thing J should push the extras more. You really need to run longer or adjustable front and rear track bars with the height of these springs. I went with the non-adjustable shocks per J, and they have been working great. I also put adjustable lower links on at the same time. For comparison purposes my 80 is a 1994 and I have a plate bumper, 38-gal tank, winch and dual batteries up front. A full roof rack with an awning and light bar up top and I put a 4x4Labs dual swing out bumper on the rear at the time of the lift with a 33" spare out back. The before lift picture there is a minimal rear bumper and the spare was carried inside or on the roof. As you can see, there's not much travel left when it was loaded down and the spare out back.
The actual install was very straight forward. Removing the sway bars and loosening all the suspension arms made articulating the axles to remove and install springs much easier. I took the opportunity to install extended stainless steel brake lines in place of all the soft lines, and I would recommend extended lines to anyone using this kit. You can see how far out my rear track bar was after the lift.
I don't have a picture of the front, but after I finally put the adjustable track bar on, the truck came up another inch in the front. Finally, here is how it sits with the adjustable track bars and the weight of the base truck plus a 100-lb roof top tent.
Initially the rear was much higher than the front and after a few weeks of carrying some heavy steel in the back and the longer front track bar it has balanced out pretty nicely. There is still an inch of rake, but I figure that will go away if we fully load it with gear and people for camping.
The ride....
I like it. Definitely firmer than my stock worn out springs, but not harsh. It feels firmer than my buddies truck with an OME medium lift, but I think his truck is heavier so YMMV. The progressive rates J picked work very well and unloaded the truck is very useable and not too stiffly sprung. Initially I ran it without the rear sway bar and you do feel more body roll. When the body roll gets to the harder rate of the spring it stiffens up and never felt too top heavy. I put sway bar extensions on and it made a difference on how much the body moves but either way would be fine. If I keep the RTT on it I will keep the sway bar on. Coming from a race car background it is more fun to drive with the sway bar....but not so much a race car. The shocks work very well for their price. I find the small bump compliance to be a little harsh but the large bump compression and rebound is very good. You feel crappy pavement but I don't slow down for speed bumps if that makes sense.
If anyone is interested in a test drive, you are welcome to check it out in San Rafael, California.
