I have always believed that overkill is underrated. Earlier in the year, I discussed my build with Jeff Scott at Timbren (Axle-less Suspension products built in Canada). Jeff spent at least a half hour of his time with me discussing the build ... http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/161549-Small-Off-Road-Build .. and the need (want) to beef the axles OVER what I actually needed. I had really already decided on the setup and was intending on using the 35HDS04 setup. Not only is Jeff "The Man" when i t comes to discussing design and technical data, but he is a super nice guy. He REALLY tried to talk me down a bit form the kit I wanted to install, but I'm hardheaded and ended up verifying the parts I needed. He even suggested that I order them directly form a vendor in the US to save a HUGE amount on shipping. When I did the math- it was a heavy savings.
That evening I ordered my setup from a huge parts vendor (I won't name them here) with the parts I needed for the ASR35HDS04 kit, and it arrived in @4 days. In the following weeks, I had the frame rails drilled on a mill at a friends shop who also made the backing plates while they were there and bolted them on the outside frame rails. The main portion of the frame was put together and propped up in the garage until I get finished with the cage.
Fast forward to a couple of nights ago: I was doing inventory on the project and measuring my fenders again, and thinking about the hard mounts to the lower frame. I picked up the spindles and thought they looked a bit odd and realized that they are the "drop" pieces.
Yesterday I called Jeff at Timbren to discuss the issue. Again, I ordered them from one of their vendors- NOT Timbren. I then pulled a copy of the original order from six or eight months ago. It appeared as if the order sent was the ASR3500SO4 instead of the ASR35HDS04. Understand, that the housings are almost identical without looking at a spec sheet. I figured that it could be rectified somehow with just a swap of parts. Jeff was SO helpful and went over all my options. Unfortunately after several emails and discussion with Jeff, it would come down to rebuilding the lower frame or welding up the existing holes and milling new holes and backing plates for the replacement suspension.
The vendor had even sent me an incompatible set of brakes for the suspension that was ordered. Luckily I never even mounted the parts of opened the boxes.
When the day was over, I decided to go with the suspension that he offered originally, (as it was the one already mounted my frame). It is NOT as beefy, but has a stiffer "spring" and is a good balance for the weight I will run. The vendor is taking the return for the wrong parts and paying for return shipping as well as free shipping of the new parts.
All-in-all, I'm VERY pleased with the service from Timbren but I'm disappointed that the trailer I designed has changed. But I'd rather move forward with what I have than to rebuild and hope the original parts I wanted aren't too much in pure Overkill. If I'm disappointed in the ride, I'll have to do the work again anyway, so I'm going with what I have.
This is all on me- and no one else is to blame. My lesson learned is to buy directly form the manufacturer if possible AND check all orders against a technical spec sheet, and compare what you have when it arrives.
That evening I ordered my setup from a huge parts vendor (I won't name them here) with the parts I needed for the ASR35HDS04 kit, and it arrived in @4 days. In the following weeks, I had the frame rails drilled on a mill at a friends shop who also made the backing plates while they were there and bolted them on the outside frame rails. The main portion of the frame was put together and propped up in the garage until I get finished with the cage.
Fast forward to a couple of nights ago: I was doing inventory on the project and measuring my fenders again, and thinking about the hard mounts to the lower frame. I picked up the spindles and thought they looked a bit odd and realized that they are the "drop" pieces.
Yesterday I called Jeff at Timbren to discuss the issue. Again, I ordered them from one of their vendors- NOT Timbren. I then pulled a copy of the original order from six or eight months ago. It appeared as if the order sent was the ASR3500SO4 instead of the ASR35HDS04. Understand, that the housings are almost identical without looking at a spec sheet. I figured that it could be rectified somehow with just a swap of parts. Jeff was SO helpful and went over all my options. Unfortunately after several emails and discussion with Jeff, it would come down to rebuilding the lower frame or welding up the existing holes and milling new holes and backing plates for the replacement suspension.
The vendor had even sent me an incompatible set of brakes for the suspension that was ordered. Luckily I never even mounted the parts of opened the boxes.
When the day was over, I decided to go with the suspension that he offered originally, (as it was the one already mounted my frame). It is NOT as beefy, but has a stiffer "spring" and is a good balance for the weight I will run. The vendor is taking the return for the wrong parts and paying for return shipping as well as free shipping of the new parts.
All-in-all, I'm VERY pleased with the service from Timbren but I'm disappointed that the trailer I designed has changed. But I'd rather move forward with what I have than to rebuild and hope the original parts I wanted aren't too much in pure Overkill. If I'm disappointed in the ride, I'll have to do the work again anyway, so I'm going with what I have.
This is all on me- and no one else is to blame. My lesson learned is to buy directly form the manufacturer if possible AND check all orders against a technical spec sheet, and compare what you have when it arrives.
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