How much is too much?

[wilsby]

I'm about to order new long travel shocks for my Defenter 110. I'm thinking 12" travel front and 14" rear. Will this render the rig too tippy? I'm planning on a check strap for the A bar, but other than that I want the shocks to provide the limit for down travel. Some of you use limiting straps on the wheels (SeriousOne et al). What shocks are you using, that have too much travel?

[FrankenRover]

You can never have too much travel.

Seriously though, you can use all of the travel of a 14" travel shock in the rear (with a 3+" lift) and retained springs that are not too high of a rate.

I use Bilstein 7100's with 14" travel (short body) in front which will use all of its travel but is just a tad too long bodied (will almost bottom out at full stuff). And some short bodied 12" travel shocks in the rear. Both are valved at 278/78 and the truck has a pretty cushy (cadillac like ride offroad - just ask Serious One) ride with moderate control. It could be a tad stiffer. The springs we are using (5" RTE's) are pretty soft as well.

The rear shocks are mounted inboard with some NSO rear shock mounts. They are angled about 45ish degrees, so you get alot more travel out of a shorter shock.

I recommend limiting straps if you do not retain the springs. Putting the springs back in when they slip out of retention cones is a PITA (right Mike?).

Billster

ps. Here are a couple of picts of the shocks in action. Notice on the shot from the front how much the rear spring is bowed in extension.

[FrankenRover]

Here is the rear.

Billster

[Serious One]

Oh I just love looking at Bill's rear!

His truck is so smooth that it IMO, is one to strive to emulate.

I am running 9014's at both ends of the S1 and yeah, I use limiting straps. Mainly so that the truck is balanced, and also so that the axle doesn't drop so much that it forces the other side wheel into the wheel well. Yeah, I could do that with bumpstops too, and am, but the combo of the check-strap and bumpstop works pretty well.

Ditto on the retaining cones Bill. What a pain. I have so much travel in the front end that the front springs exited their capture cones.

[wilsby]

Thank's, seems like I am on the right track. I was thinking short bodied 7100s and custom progressive springs from Scorpion with enough free lengt to never unseat, and a spring rate slightly less than stock. My rig weighs in around tree tons in expedition trim, so I need stiffer everything, but I like the idea of coming close to the travel you have.

[revor]

I've got 14" in the rear of the Wifes Disco and 11.5" in the front
I've been mighty impressed of what it can drop out of those wheel wells... That'srunning 3" RTE rears and 3" RTE fronts with 1.2" Spacers... The shocks are mounted to a plate on top of the spacers...
Keith

[wilsby]

OK, next question, damping. I assumed the hardest settting would be the choice for ~3 ton rig, but then I spoke to the local Bilstein rep, who said that a 3.5 ton Paris-Dakar rig they outfitted used 275/80!? Any thoughts or experience out there? I guess that weight-wise, my 110 is close to a well equipped Rangie.