Most of the "hardcore" wheelers I've seen have the shocks mounted parallel to the axle usually with the lower end spread as far apart as possible while the top usually is very close to each other

I'm thinking about mounting my shocks parallel to the frame with the shocks as wide as the axle allows and about a 20-30 degree angle toward the front of the rig.

Is there any reason my plan wouldn't work asuming nothing physically is in the way? Is there a downside?

Your shock will be at an angle, so they will only provide about half as much damping. You will need to get some really stiff shocks to get enough damping out of them mounted like this. I'm sure you know the reason they mount them at an angle like this is so They can get more articulation out of a shorter shock. I mounted my shocks straight up (vertically, instead of angled) but towards the center of the axle, instead of out by the ends. This way they provide the same damping when the whole axle is trying to compress or extend (when I hit a bump) but they still provide the needed travel at the tires because they are mounted towards the center. They seem to work really well, the only drawback is that I had to cut holes in the floor and mount the shock inside the tub.

30 degree angle will still give you close about 87% dampaning as straight up and down and 115% the travel of the shock. This is just an over simplified use of triangles and I'm sure there are other factors but I think that these numbers are faily usefull

Mounting them inboard is less effective at reducing sway. Mounting them in-line with the frame will be better for sway. Yes, you lose a certain amount of dampening ability, but if you go w/ 9000's you can just crank them up or down.

The only thing I don't like about in-line with the frame is if you go too far with the angle they are vulnerable to rocks. Especially if you mount them to the rear (you might hit them coming down off of rocks).

-Jack

DOH!

I think I ran a foul of what I really wanted to know :p

Actually, I wasn't interested in the effectiveness of shocks mounted at an angle. I was actually interested in whether there was an issue with mounting them to the frame as opposed to a crossmember that is mounted directly above the axle :)

Originally posted by Lil'John
DOH!

I think I ran a foul of what I really wanted to know :p

Actually, I wasn't interested in the effectiveness of shocks mounted at an angle. I was actually interested in whether there was an issue with mounting them to the frame as opposed to a crossmember that is mounted directly above the axle :)

No, as long as the cross member is beef enough to take the beating of the shocks when the axle tries to compress really quick and the shock are trying to slow the beast down...