Lift considerations

[upcruiser]

Lift ponderings.

Well, I think it is human nature to never quite be content with anything. I'm running an OME kit with 850/863's on my '92 FJ80. This setup has been great really. Comfortable ride on the road, with 33's pretty good capability offroad in the clearance department. Part of me still wonders though what it would be like to be running 35's. I realize that I'd have to definately regear with the 3FE to accomodate the larger diameter rubber.

I rarely go on mud (I'm a bit turned off by the attitudes, rants, and ditto head mentality) so I'm going to ask this here. I haven't really been following the latest developments with lifts for 80's lately. What is a decent route to go to run 35's? I know the Slee 4" setup works well. The 6" would be overkill. How about J springs and spacers?

My uses for the truck would be for deep snow and trails that range from deep mud to rock locally. I'd also like to keep the streetability of the rig for longer trips such as western US, AK, or Central America as a possibility. Those types of trips the focus would be more for overlanding type of travel where I realize the 35's would be overkill mostly.

So basically, am I being silly considering 35's for my FJ80 and secondly, what setup currently would be good for going that route?

 

[spressomon]

Kristian,
Although I have a hundy I finally made the upgrade from 33" to 35" (285R75 16 to 315R75 16) tires and 4.88 about 16-months ago. I couldn't be happier. I needed additional clearance and bumper height for my off-road travels and additional flotation and rim protection when airing down due to the higher volume of the 35's...and near stock gearing again including getting my LL ratio back. FYI: I do thousands of miles of off-road exploring/excursions here in Nevada...the 35" are just as well suited for this type of travel as anything else.

FYI: I have bumpers, AO drawers, lots of recovery gear, dog box, fridge/freeze, AT trailer and after trying many different springs ended up with the OME864 for the rears...but every rig is different.

I recently converted to Fox 2" remote shocks...the difference is HUGE!!! MUCH more comfy on and off-road with INCREDIBLE control on/off road. There are a few 80 guys that have converted to Bilstein 7100's on 'MUD too. But the Fox set-up provides easy manual 8-step/click compression adjusters!

Dan

 

[adventureduo]

I don't have anything to add regarding going to 35's other than what has been mentioned already, mainly because im running 33's also .. but i would like to learn more about this Fox 2" shock your talking about Dan. Sounds like it could work well for our rig.

I recently converted to Fox 2" remote shocks...the difference is HUGE!!! MUCH more comfy on and off-road with INCREDIBLE control on/off road. There are a few 80 guys that have converted to Bilstein 7100's on 'MUD too. But the Fox set-up provides easy manual 8-step/click compression adjusters!

Dan

 

[Andrew Walcker]

Not sure of the TLC application, but I'm running these same type of FOXs on my D-90 and absolutely love them. The 8 position click works well b/t street and off road driving. I was in DV this last weekend and was pushing the vehcile on some fire roads, wash boards, rolling dips for just under two hours. When I stopped I checked the shocks and while they were pretty warm, were no where what I thought they'd be in terms of heat.

 

[spressomon]

Not sure of the TLC application, but I'm running these same type of FOXs on my D-90 and absolutely love them. The 8 position click works well b/t street and off road driving. I was in DV this last weekend and was pushing the vehcile on some fire roads, wash boards, rolling dips for just under two hours. When I stopped I checked the shocks and while they were pretty warm, were no where what I thought they'd be in terms of heat.

Ditto my experience with my new Fox set-up on my first hard off-road run last weekend to Northern Nevada. Not that speed is everything but as a pure test I was able to sustain 40-50mph on undulating, twisty/winding, rock strewn double track with control and comfort and zero fade previously unfound with the OME's. I doubt, over these same trails, I could have kept the OME's going at 30mph. And the OME's are a good value shock particularly for lighter rigs but this is one of the best upgrades I have done to date on my hundy!

And they are completely tunable (independent compression & rebound internal tuning) & rebuildable.

 

[adventureduo]

Ditto my experience with my new Fox set-up on my first hard off-road run last weekend to Northern Nevada. Not that speed is everything but as a pure test I was able to sustain 40-50mph on undulating, twisty/winding, rock strewn double track with control and comfort and zero fade. I doubt, over these same trails, I could have kept the OME's going at 30mph. And the OME's are a good value shock particularly for lighter rigs but this is one of the best upgrades I have done to date on my hundy!

And they are completely tunable (independent compression & rebound internal tuning) & rebuildable.

.... what Fox shock are you guys talking about? Can i get a model #?

 

[spressomon]

I don't have anything to add regarding going to 35's other than what has been mentioned already, mainly because im running 33's also .. but i would like to learn more about this Fox 2" shock your talking about Dan. Sounds like it could work well for our rig.

2.0 non-coil remotes

http://www.foxracingshox.com/fox_offroad/offroad_index.htm

I added the index compression adjusters. I converted to eye style however another guy here in Reno figured out Offroadwarehouse offers Fox shocks with a stud type upper mount with the compression adjusters already mounted.

Here's a link to these: http://www.offroadwarehouse.com/products/sfID1/12/sfID2/24/sfID3/26/productID/98


You just need to cycle your suspension, front and rear, to get the compressed and extended dimensions for your particular rig and lift. Then find a match.

Dan

 

[adventureduo]

Thanks for the 411 Dan. That's the one i was 'assuming' it was.. but wanted to make sure.

 

[upcruiser]

Interesting about the Fox remotes, I'll look into those as well. My OME's are going to be due for replacement soon.

 

[spressomon]

FYI: My shocks came 60/40 for the valving from Fox. This might be fine for a less laden rig but for everything but crawling type of off-road travel I have found I really like the #8 compression setting. This next spring, after hunting season and before 4x4 season resumes, I am going to revalve to slightly firmer.

Just a baseline for others that might want to follow...

 

[LC/LR4Life]

I think that going to 35s on an 80 is a great idea. On my FJ, 33s seem to give a good all around balance of look and performance. However the 80 and 100 series are a bit bigger rigs and look more in balance with the 35s in my opinion. Possibly regear to 4.88 gears? I think I would look into that.

On the shocks, I might add that Old Man Emu also offers the remote shocks and you might go have a look at those as well.

Good luck!

:camping:

 

[NorCalSam]

Funny...I too am getting tired of the mud crap. I just made the move and I have the FOR 3.5 kit with Landtanks castor plates. I also regeared to 4.88s.

This setup is great we love it!

I am working with Frankie and plan on trying even better stiffer shocks.

But I have a thread on mud and the setup is night and day to the 2.5" OME kit I had.

The FOR kit comes with eye bolt shock adapters.

Good luck

Regards
Sam

 

[locrwln]

As far as lifts, a lot of guys have done the different stages of lift and ended up going with Slee's 4". Alia176, has gone through a few different combos and didn't want me to get the OME mediums on my LX. Said I would end up uprading. I sold the LX before that happened.

I bought another 80 and have the 4" on order, the springs are on backorder, should be here next month. After driving his, all I have to say is wow, it drives/rides great. Plus it just looks the business on an 80. Now he does have Billie 7100's and is heavily armored.

FOR's 3.5 is also another viable option.

With the 3fe, I would regear to 5.29's on 35's.

I can't wait, to get started on mine.

Jack

 

[NorCalSam]

Kristian,
Although I have a hundy I finally made the upgrade from 33" to 35" (285R75 16 to 315R75 16) tires and 4.88 about 16-months ago. I couldn't be happier. I needed additional clearance and bumper height for my off-road travels and additional flotation and rim protection when airing down due to the higher volume of the 35's...and near stock gearing again including getting my LL ratio back. FYI: I do thousands of miles of off-road exploring/excursions here in Nevada...the 35" are just as well suited for this type of travel as anything else.

FYI: I have bumpers, AO drawers, lots of recovery gear, dog box, fridge/freeze, AT trailer and after trying many different springs ended up with the OME864 for the rears...but every rig is different.

I recently converted to Fox 2" remote shocks...the difference is HUGE!!! MUCH more comfy on and off-road with INCREDIBLE control on/off road. There are a few 80 guys that have converted to Bilstein 7100's on 'MUD too. But the Fox set-up provides easy manual 8-step/click compression adjusters!

Dan

Dan I can't find anything on these compression adjusters.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

For those looking to go taller than the standard 2-3" using OME components, look towards the OME Comp Coils. Available in 3,4 and 5" and they have higher spring rate, great for loaded overland rigs.

Specs on all the OME stuff:
http://www.cruiseroutfitters.com/tech_OME_coils.html

I have a 80 Series "calculator" of sorts that I have been working on. Basically you tell me about your truck, exact weights are a bonus but I can estimate using the values of others and known accessory weights. Then, it will auto calulate the ride height of your truck with different coil ratios. It is VERY common for us to set up trucks with different springs, J fronts, heavy rears, J fronts, comp rears, etc... basically there isn't a "one-size fits all" small, medium, and large combo. Infinite combos

LMK if you have any other questions