Bedframe Fab presents TJ Storage

[Backwoods Rambler]

He's running Bilstein shocks and the likelihood they would need to be replace is about zero. Unless you damage one and cause it to leak, they are good for 100,000 miles.

Didn't know that....100,000 miles is super impressive!

 

[ExpoMike]

Didn't know that....100,000 miles is super impressive!

Yep, I have a VERY good friend that works at Bilstein and they have taken apart shocks with 100,000 miles on them and no signs of wear and still dyno'ed in spec.

Basically Bilstein shock will only need to be replaced if damage or the rare seal leak. Actually you can contact them and they may warranty fix them if leaking, as long as there was no damage to the body and shaft.

They can also do custom valving incase you need something taylored to your specific vehicle.

 

[computeruser]

He's running Bilstein shocks and the likelihood they would need to be replace is about zero. Unless you damage one and cause it to leak, they are good for 100,000 miles.

Most likely his feeling is due to having coil springs in the back. They can tend to make the rear feel a little more wiggly then leafs. New springs might help but the air bags will most likely work better if he is not planning a lift any time soon.

My .02 worth. YMMV

And a good .02 it was! Right on the money.

The shocks are newer, and damping is not a problem. The factory spring rate is. Especially with the front sway bar connected, because it straight up doesn't let the front suspension flex, all of the articulation all gets transferred to the back end of the vehicle, which is not subject to nearly as much anti-sway. Disconnect the front sway bar and she rides smooth as can be up curbs, up steep driveways at an angle, etc. Coming up my driveway at anything more than a crawl, my CB antenna mounted on the right rear of the vehicle swings back and forth and hits the body with the front anti-sway bar connected, but it stays completely still with the front anti-sway bar disconnected.

Putting just a bit more spring rate in the back has helped counteract the super stiff front sway bar quite a bit. It evens things back out, in terms of how much articulation is being allotted to the front suspension and how much is absorbed by the rear. And so far it has made the Jeep handle the utility trailer MUCH better, both empty and loaded. How will this impact flex off-pavement? We'll see. But even if it hurts it a bit, it is a worthwhile tradeoff for being better able to handle rear loads and to make everyday driving a bit more pleasant.

Eventually I suspect that a lift will get installed, even though I don't really need a lift to allow full flex of my 31s. What I do need for how I use the Jeep is a stiffer spring rate, so the bags are a perfect solution to that problem for now.

 

[ex m38a1er]

Sagging is a big problem on Tjs(especially with us OME guys).
So i thought air bags would be THE solution.This Monroe thing on the other hand...Has anyone tested it.oHHhHH dumnn sorry i'm hijacking...

 

[computeruser]

UPDATE!

1. The Storage System - worked like a charm for UPOverland 2009. Kept everything in place, and made it SO much easier to set up and break down camp in the pouring rain because there was no need to remove everything to get to the bottom layer.. ActionPackers on the bottom accessed through the tailgate, big totes and cooler on top accessed through the windows (rear and side), and a couple duffels and camp chairs on top of that. We were able to carry enough gear (minus gas and water, though we easily could have carried more water than we did) for two people/8-10 days.

2. Airbags - $86 well spent. Very well spent. I've been running 7-8lbs on the street, and 12lbs on the trail with a week's worth of gear. Upped it to 15lbs on a stretch of nasty corrugated sand where the peaks were slightly further apart than the Jeep's wheelbase. They handled the UP trip with grace, and handled the load in the back very well. Flexibility and articulation were only slightly diminished from the original setup, but it was a very worthwhile tradeoff for my uses. Are they as good as properly rated springs? Probably not, but for the price...

 

[jamm]

Brandon, I didn't realize this was your project. I can attest that it worked supremely well. The first night I saw your camp I couldn't believe that you got everything packed in the TJ. I'm going to have to do someting like this or finish my trailer as it got old real quick emptying the LJ to get at items that were buried.

I wondered how you were getting over the whoop-de-doos without a lot of bouncy around, glad to hear the air bags worked so well.

 

[cocco78]

That did look like a nice setup. I so need to get the fuel cell out of the cargo area of my Jeep if I do more of this. Although my trailer worked nice, would have been better with a cover on it.