Bigreen505's Trooper Mod tread
- Thread starter bigreen505
- Start date
bigreen505
Expedition Leader
I suppose I'm due for a general update.
Mileage: 125,xxx
Overall: so far so good.
Mods:
Rancho 9000XL shocks:
Rancho replaced the blown shocks with the new 9000XL series shocks in the proper lengths (999136 front, 999144 rear). I can say that the XL series are a marked improvement over the 9000X series, but IMO they are still a poor match for the Trooper, which is just my polite way of saying that I think they are garbage in design, though seemingly reasonably well built. I still have them because they are warranty replacements, but new shocks are still on the docket -- probably OME. While I think other companies make better shocks (Fox, Bilstein) only OME makes shocks in the proper length for the front suspension. The Ranchos 9-position damping selector offers two choices of ride characteristics: smooth but bouncy or jarring.
OME 919 Springs:
These springs were installed by the previous owner and right now I'm not all that pleased with them. They are designed to support a much higher load than I carry and they contribute the rough empty ride. I will likely swap these for the lower rated 912 for a couple reasons. First, until a RTT is in the budget and/or longer trips are on the docket I don't think I will be carrying enough weight to justify the heavier spring. Secondly, I am moving to a smaller tire size and won't need the 3" of lift provided by the 919 springs (the 912's provide a more modest 1.5"). I have been told that the 912's are more flexy than the 919's, which is why Independent4x's 3" lift kit is the 912 with a 1" spacer instead of the 919, but I don't know of any vehicles with a 912 for comparison. The 919's are great springs and really start to show their goods when loaded with at least a couple hundred pounds of gear.
Tires:
I have not bought them yet as the current tires lasted much longer than expected. Long term I hope to run two sets of tires (summer and winter), but for now I need a set for all seasons and all reasons. With that thought in mind I have settled on 235/85r16 size and due to budget constraints they will be whatever I can afford. Right now the Goodyear Silent Armor are in the lead with the Kumho KL78 in second place because of the price available through online retailers.
Rear storage:
I've been in the process of considering and building a rear drawer system for a while, somewhat complicated by my wish to keep the stock on-door storage bins. During an extended test fit of what is now known as the prototype, it became unfortunately clear that the decision to keep the bins forced too many design compromises and the bins have to go. As a result the whole unit needs to slide several inches toward the rear and my mounting holes no longer match up, so I have to rebuild the base and sides. The unit will still be built from a mix of 1/2" and 3/4" baltic birch for durability and ease of construction and Johnson Engineering 224 lb. 36" drawer slides -- these things are really beefy.
Coming soon:
Tires
Drawer system #2
Stainless brake lines from Independent 4x in hopes of improving stopping power -- anything will help.
Mileage: 125,xxx
Overall: so far so good.
Mods:
Rancho 9000XL shocks:
Rancho replaced the blown shocks with the new 9000XL series shocks in the proper lengths (999136 front, 999144 rear). I can say that the XL series are a marked improvement over the 9000X series, but IMO they are still a poor match for the Trooper, which is just my polite way of saying that I think they are garbage in design, though seemingly reasonably well built. I still have them because they are warranty replacements, but new shocks are still on the docket -- probably OME. While I think other companies make better shocks (Fox, Bilstein) only OME makes shocks in the proper length for the front suspension. The Ranchos 9-position damping selector offers two choices of ride characteristics: smooth but bouncy or jarring.
OME 919 Springs:
These springs were installed by the previous owner and right now I'm not all that pleased with them. They are designed to support a much higher load than I carry and they contribute the rough empty ride. I will likely swap these for the lower rated 912 for a couple reasons. First, until a RTT is in the budget and/or longer trips are on the docket I don't think I will be carrying enough weight to justify the heavier spring. Secondly, I am moving to a smaller tire size and won't need the 3" of lift provided by the 919 springs (the 912's provide a more modest 1.5"). I have been told that the 912's are more flexy than the 919's, which is why Independent4x's 3" lift kit is the 912 with a 1" spacer instead of the 919, but I don't know of any vehicles with a 912 for comparison. The 919's are great springs and really start to show their goods when loaded with at least a couple hundred pounds of gear.
Tires:
I have not bought them yet as the current tires lasted much longer than expected. Long term I hope to run two sets of tires (summer and winter), but for now I need a set for all seasons and all reasons. With that thought in mind I have settled on 235/85r16 size and due to budget constraints they will be whatever I can afford. Right now the Goodyear Silent Armor are in the lead with the Kumho KL78 in second place because of the price available through online retailers.
Rear storage:
I've been in the process of considering and building a rear drawer system for a while, somewhat complicated by my wish to keep the stock on-door storage bins. During an extended test fit of what is now known as the prototype, it became unfortunately clear that the decision to keep the bins forced too many design compromises and the bins have to go. As a result the whole unit needs to slide several inches toward the rear and my mounting holes no longer match up, so I have to rebuild the base and sides. The unit will still be built from a mix of 1/2" and 3/4" baltic birch for durability and ease of construction and Johnson Engineering 224 lb. 36" drawer slides -- these things are really beefy.
Coming soon:
Tires
Drawer system #2
Stainless brake lines from Independent 4x in hopes of improving stopping power -- anything will help.
bigreen505
Expedition Leader
Here is the fine print with the 919 springs. I recall reading somewhere that the 912s are for stock weight, 919s are 220 lb. over stock and 929s are 440 lb. over stock. But, and it is a big BUT, if you read the Expeditions West site and some of the Oz sites, the stock springs on the Jackaroo are much stouter than the stock US Trooper springs, so the 912s are already a noticeable increase in stiffness over stock.
So do the math yourself. If your "empty" weight includes things like a roof rack, RTT, rear drawer system, refrigerator, etc. adding up to 220 lb. or close to it before you start including your standard trip goods then you want the 919s.
Make sense?
If you want better springs for stock vehicle weight, go 912. If you want lift at stock weight go 912 with spacer. If you need increased load handling, go 919.
I think it is also important to match the shocks with your springs and overall application. The OME shocks are designed for the 912 spring. The 919 spring is longer than the 912 shock by an inch or couple.
So do the math yourself. If your "empty" weight includes things like a roof rack, RTT, rear drawer system, refrigerator, etc. adding up to 220 lb. or close to it before you start including your standard trip goods then you want the 919s.
Make sense?
If you want better springs for stock vehicle weight, go 912. If you want lift at stock weight go 912 with spacer. If you need increased load handling, go 919.
I think it is also important to match the shocks with your springs and overall application. The OME shocks are designed for the 912 spring. The 919 spring is longer than the 912 shock by an inch or couple.
Last edited:
02AZTrooper
New member
I have 919's in the rear w/1" spacers and longer than called for OME shocks (N85's). I like the way my Trooper rides over stock like day & Night. U.S. Trooper suspensions were designed for mall parking lots not trails. I also replaced my front torsion bars with the stiffer Calmini units. Again I like the ride way better. Of course the weight of the ARB Bumper probably helps the front to not be to stiff. I just like that it does not bottom out with every bump like the stock suspension did. My only problem is that with the long shocks my rear axle has a lot of travel. When I still had my p245/70/16's I ramped my trooper and the spring started to fall out on the extended side at full articulation. Now I have 285/75/16's and the limit on articulation is that the tire on the compressed side will rub on the inside of the rear fender to the point that I can not make forward progress. The rub occurs on the inside of the fender well not the top. So I believe if I get some 1 & 1/2" wheel spacers the tire will be spaced out farther and thus may not rub as soon and may be able to be stuffed a little further into the wheel well. If this works I may then be back to my 919 spring starting to unseat when fully extended. Sorry I rambled. I do like the 919's. I am just trying to get them to do things they were not entirely designed to do.
bigreen505
Expedition Leader
I added a set of Cooper Discoverer M&S tires for winter use in a 235/85r16. I'll post back with a report. They ride surprisingly soft. I don't expect them to be as good as a Nokian, but I do expect them to be adequate.
I'll post some pictures at some point, but dang they are small!
I took some time to examine the Futura Dakotas as I took them off and honestly I really can't fault the tires. They did surprisingly well off road and really everything but cold weather. The side walls are strong enough to do their job, but thin enough to be flexible. Pretty heavy tires.
While right now this is just a pipe dream, but I'm starting to think more seriously about re-gearing and running 255/85's. The diameter of the 285's (32.7") really seems to fit the truck well, I just want a narrower tire.
I'll post some pictures at some point, but dang they are small!
I took some time to examine the Futura Dakotas as I took them off and honestly I really can't fault the tires. They did surprisingly well off road and really everything but cold weather. The side walls are strong enough to do their job, but thin enough to be flexible. Pretty heavy tires.
While right now this is just a pipe dream, but I'm starting to think more seriously about re-gearing and running 255/85's. The diameter of the 285's (32.7") really seems to fit the truck well, I just want a narrower tire.
bigreen505
Expedition Leader
No pics, I'll get some soon.
They drive great and I really like the size -- they cut through deep snow much better than the 285s or the 31x10.50s I had on the Pathfinder, but that is really just personal preference. They look like crap, especially with the 3" of lift from the 919 springs. They ride nice but it is hard to make any meaningful comparison between a worn 285 AT and a new 235 studded snow tire.
Not sure what I will do about tires for the summer. Expeditionpictures and Pangea do pretty well with 235/85 MTRs on their Rovers and the difference in ground clearance between that and a 285 is only 1/3".
They drive great and I really like the size -- they cut through deep snow much better than the 285s or the 31x10.50s I had on the Pathfinder, but that is really just personal preference. They look like crap, especially with the 3" of lift from the 919 springs. They ride nice but it is hard to make any meaningful comparison between a worn 285 AT and a new 235 studded snow tire.
Not sure what I will do about tires for the summer. Expeditionpictures and Pangea do pretty well with 235/85 MTRs on their Rovers and the difference in ground clearance between that and a 285 is only 1/3".
bigreen505
Expedition Leader
I don't think rubbing is the issue. 32.7" diameter is the tallest you can sanely go IMO without a regear. The difference in power moving to a 235/85 from a 285/75 was noticeable. Stick with either 265/75r16 or 235/85r16 and you will be happy. 265's will look a lot better.