Suspension ?'s from the OFF ROAD SHOW
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Suspension ?'s from the OFF ROAD SHOW
Last week I went to the Off Road Show in Pomona Ca. Everyone who makes offroad kits were there. I am more confused now then ever. Sorry for the rant but here it goes. 
CST says their 8" kit is better than everyones, hands down. Why? Lower steering bracket?!!! They say their trucks steering does not shake, wobble, or track at highway speeds. "It's worth the extra bucks", I was told. btw $3400 not installed.
FabTech says CST is a good kit (expensive) but their 6" is just as good, but cheaper. "Ask anyone, Fabtech's the best." btw, you might need a longer drive shaft.
Rancho has a 4" kit that measures 5+ and is just as good as FabTech, only cheaper. Further reserach shows Rancho kits don't come with shocks...WHAT? "You'll want to upgrade to our 9000's."
Pro Comp...Not alot of positive remarks. Too many to list.
Skyjacker? 4 wheel parts says it won't install 33" tires due to possible rubbing with this particular lift. No warranty.
NEXT!
Donhoe Racing 'DR' has 3" coil over only. $1200!
RCD and Camburg will also sell a 3-4" coil over later this year for about $1000.
But I'll still have to lift the rear. I was told to use Deaver springs because they are the industry's best. No doubt about it, but at what cost? $2000+++ is a lot for a 3" lift in a 1' raise in the rear.
Superlifts 4.5" has the F.I.T system. Okay, but what does it do compared to everyone else. According to them, "Well the name. It's a great lift"
What did I come to the show for...??????????
Doetsch has a 6" kit. I asked why their kit was better then any of the other kits and they said, "We only drive our trucks. We can't compare it to the rest." "It reasonably prices at $1400 installed, $800 more if you want the coil overs." Today, I called Doetsch with a few questions, the TECH ADVISOR kept putting me on hold. When she returned to the phone, she answered (twice), "I don't know" or "I don't know what that is for." She even told me, "I hate thses type of questions. Everyone asks these types of questions."
How can I lift my $40,000 FX4 with a kit that has not been compared or tested to others. btw, Hell yes I want the coil overs!!! I don't want the stock junk.
Who has the best lift made for my truck? FabTech, Rancho, Pro Comp, or Skyjacker. Is Camburg, RCD, and the likes worth waiting for. I think I'll steer clear of Doetsch. Not willing do risk it.
Here's the nuts and bolts of it all.
I guess what I am saying here is that I went to the show with a $0 balance credit card and the motivation to max it out with truck mods.
I want the best lift for a good price. I want a better than stock ride with stiffer shocks. I want stronger rear springs for the added weight of my Snug Top shell and when I tow my boat or utility trailer. I do not want to sacafrice steering and I don't want axle wrap issues.
Can someone with knowledge in this area set me straight, so I can use my 44X4 for what I intended to do with it; Take it off road!
CST says their 8" kit is better than everyones, hands down. Why? Lower steering bracket?!!! They say their trucks steering does not shake, wobble, or track at highway speeds. "It's worth the extra bucks", I was told. btw $3400 not installed.
FabTech says CST is a good kit (expensive) but their 6" is just as good, but cheaper. "Ask anyone, Fabtech's the best." btw, you might need a longer drive shaft.
Rancho has a 4" kit that measures 5+ and is just as good as FabTech, only cheaper. Further reserach shows Rancho kits don't come with shocks...WHAT? "You'll want to upgrade to our 9000's."
Pro Comp...Not alot of positive remarks. Too many to list.
Skyjacker? 4 wheel parts says it won't install 33" tires due to possible rubbing with this particular lift. No warranty.
NEXT!
Donhoe Racing 'DR' has 3" coil over only. $1200!
RCD and Camburg will also sell a 3-4" coil over later this year for about $1000.
But I'll still have to lift the rear. I was told to use Deaver springs because they are the industry's best. No doubt about it, but at what cost? $2000+++ is a lot for a 3" lift in a 1' raise in the rear.
Superlifts 4.5" has the F.I.T system. Okay, but what does it do compared to everyone else. According to them, "Well the name. It's a great lift"
What did I come to the show for...??????????
Doetsch has a 6" kit. I asked why their kit was better then any of the other kits and they said, "We only drive our trucks. We can't compare it to the rest." "It reasonably prices at $1400 installed, $800 more if you want the coil overs." Today, I called Doetsch with a few questions, the TECH ADVISOR kept putting me on hold. When she returned to the phone, she answered (twice), "I don't know" or "I don't know what that is for." She even told me, "I hate thses type of questions. Everyone asks these types of questions."
How can I lift my $40,000 FX4 with a kit that has not been compared or tested to others. btw, Hell yes I want the coil overs!!! I don't want the stock junk.
Who has the best lift made for my truck? FabTech, Rancho, Pro Comp, or Skyjacker. Is Camburg, RCD, and the likes worth waiting for. I think I'll steer clear of Doetsch. Not willing do risk it.
Here's the nuts and bolts of it all.
I guess what I am saying here is that I went to the show with a $0 balance credit card and the motivation to max it out with truck mods.
I want the best lift for a good price. I want a better than stock ride with stiffer shocks. I want stronger rear springs for the added weight of my Snug Top shell and when I tow my boat or utility trailer. I do not want to sacafrice steering and I don't want axle wrap issues.
Can someone with knowledge in this area set me straight, so I can use my 44X4 for what I intended to do with it; Take it off road!
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CST, Total Chaos, Camburg, or Donahoe, from experience Fabtech is garbage. I had thier coilover system in my Tundra and it was poorly made and it rode like a pogo stick.
CST is worth the price, you can choose the coilover of choice and I would recommend Kings. I put Kings on my old Tundra along with TC upper arms and rear Deavers and the thing would take more abuse than any truck that have seen that is not considered "long travel". TC makes A-arms to compliment the Donahoe coil.
www.chaosfab.com
CST is worth the price, you can choose the coilover of choice and I would recommend Kings. I put Kings on my old Tundra along with TC upper arms and rear Deavers and the thing would take more abuse than any truck that have seen that is not considered "long travel". TC makes A-arms to compliment the Donahoe coil.
www.chaosfab.com
Last edited by crand002; Oct 22, 2005 at 05:39 PM.
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From: Atlanta, GA
I have a friend here locally who owns an offroad shop. On his personal chevy dually, he uses fab tech. His recommendation when customer come in his shop is fab tech. I have personally used rough country on my jeeps, and true to the name its rough.
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It is really what you plan on doing with your truck. If you want a purely cosmetic lift and go on mild trails most of the big names will do. But, if you plan on getting into some rough situations I personally would never trust Fabtech, Sky Jacker, Pro Comp, etc. for the following reasons:
1. These companies use what is known as a cradle to lift the front end, these systems can put a lot of stress on the front suspension if you plan on going off jumps or moderate dips.
2. These systems offer minimal travel and this can make the ride rough while offroading and extremely unstable especially through any type of mild crawling.
1. These companies use what is known as a cradle to lift the front end, these systems can put a lot of stress on the front suspension if you plan on going off jumps or moderate dips.
2. These systems offer minimal travel and this can make the ride rough while offroading and extremely unstable especially through any type of mild crawling.
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From: Atlanta, GA
Well, I know anything not installed right could be rough, but rough country sells two lifts for jeep, the soft ride and the regular. The regular is cheaper, and budgets do have to be met.
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From: oceanside C.A.
Originally Posted by crand002
It is really what you plan on doing with your truck. If you want a purely cosmetic lift and go on mild trails most of the big names will do. But, if you plan on getting into some rough situations I personally would never trust Fabtech, Sky Jacker, Pro Comp, etc. for the following reasons:
1. These companies use what is known as a cradle to lift the front end, these systems can put a lot of stress on the front suspension if you plan on going off jumps or moderate dips.
2. These systems offer minimal travel and this can make the ride rough while offroading and extremely unstable especially through any type of mild crawling.
1. These companies use what is known as a cradle to lift the front end, these systems can put a lot of stress on the front suspension if you plan on going off jumps or moderate dips.
2. These systems offer minimal travel and this can make the ride rough while offroading and extremely unstable especially through any type of mild crawling.
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Originally Posted by bigtruck311
have you ever done what you decrcribe above in a F-150 with a fabtech lift or any of the others for that matter? well i have and your statement is 100% false, maybe it was like that for your toyota but for the F-150 there is no better lift in my opinion than the fabtech,
And to answer your question, no I have not used Fabtech on my 05' F-150, but I don't need to to understand how suspension works. Check out this site
www.jdfabrication.com if you want to see suspension at its finest.
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Or for a quality bolt on kit check with www.rizeind.com they have found a way, via catelever, to allow for suspension travel and increased ride height without having to hack up the truck or going to the worst solution posible, the body lift.
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From: oceanside C.A.
Originally Posted by crand002
100% false? So Fabtech doesnt't use a cradle lift? That is news to me. If Fabtech was so good then why don't you see thier products used in Baja or in the crawling community? As for my prior Tundra the welds on the spring cap broke and the bushings on my coilover failed the first time I went to Glamis. I know this a bolt on kit but I did not think it was this pathetic. I spent the money and got the Total Chaos kit with Kings. I beat the **** out of thing and it never failed. I don't mean to offend anyone who is using Fabtech or any other brand. Personally, I feel they give the customer the illusion that since you have a raised vehicle you can do anything you wish.
And to answer your question, no I have not used Fabtech on my 05' F-150, but I don't need to to understand how suspension works. Check out this site
www.jdfabrication.com if you want to see suspension at its finest.
And to answer your question, no I have not used Fabtech on my 05' F-150, but I don't need to to understand how suspension works. Check out this site
www.jdfabrication.com if you want to see suspension at its finest.
1. he was not asking about a toyota lift
2. he was not asking about a 4x2
3. he is not trying to build a prerunner
4. it is comparing apples to oranges (pre runner 4x2 vs 4x4 suspensions)
5. every suspension has its weak point it depends on how you build it, a mud bogger does not need much articulaition, where a rock crawler does, a prerunner does not need the lift to clear opsticles as a rock crawler does so on and so on if you are building a prerunner than fabtech would not be the best lift out there, if you are building a rock crawler than the F-150 with the IFS front end would not be very good base to biuld one on in the first place due to the poor articulation of the front suspension, if you are biulding a daily driven offroad F-150 that can handle some rocks mud and sand than the fabtech lift is one of the best out there, i have built everything from mud bogger dodge 2500 to jeep wrangler trail rigs to cj rock crawler to a drag racing ranger with a LS1 corvette engine, i am just trying to clear this up so the person asking the question does not get confused about how you are comparing your toyota 4x2 to his 4x4 F-150 the suspension is totaly diffrent as are the capabilitys of the vehicles
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Thanks for the replys!
Bigtruck311 seems to understand what I'm asking for. Maybe I should have been more clear in my intitial POST.
My truck is an everyday driver, 25 freeway miles to and from work.
I plan on using my truck for hunting/fishing type destinations, and some trail riding thru the desert/mountains. For example, I'll be driving this truck to Klamath Falls in 2 weeks for a muddy, snowing, icy, duck and goose hunting trip. I wanted my truck lifted before I left. I am running out of time. I want to run 33" at the least or go as high as 35". The lift
I have friends that druel over CST, RCD (doesn't have a kit yet) and DR. Some say Fabtech. Although the steering wobble has me worried. Is this an issue or am I fretting over nothing? I'll be driving 12 hours to the Ca/Or border, pulling a heavy utility trailer full of gear, decoys, and a boat, for the hunt. I'll be dissapointed if it drives like crap.
I'll use my truck for many things but not: Rockcrawling, Jumping sand dunes, Modbugging, or Off road racing, all of which are cool to do with a vehicle you don't mind tearing up. I want to keep the truck in one piece for a while.
Does Ford endorse some brands of lift kits? This is interesting to note.
Keep the posts going. I'll try and post a few pics when I figure out how to do it.
Bigtruck311 seems to understand what I'm asking for. Maybe I should have been more clear in my intitial POST.
My truck is an everyday driver, 25 freeway miles to and from work.
I plan on using my truck for hunting/fishing type destinations, and some trail riding thru the desert/mountains. For example, I'll be driving this truck to Klamath Falls in 2 weeks for a muddy, snowing, icy, duck and goose hunting trip. I wanted my truck lifted before I left. I am running out of time. I want to run 33" at the least or go as high as 35". The lift
I have friends that druel over CST, RCD (doesn't have a kit yet) and DR. Some say Fabtech. Although the steering wobble has me worried. Is this an issue or am I fretting over nothing? I'll be driving 12 hours to the Ca/Or border, pulling a heavy utility trailer full of gear, decoys, and a boat, for the hunt. I'll be dissapointed if it drives like crap.
I'll use my truck for many things but not: Rockcrawling, Jumping sand dunes, Modbugging, or Off road racing, all of which are cool to do with a vehicle you don't mind tearing up. I want to keep the truck in one piece for a while.
Does Ford endorse some brands of lift kits? This is interesting to note.
Keep the posts going. I'll try and post a few pics when I figure out how to do it.
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Originally Posted by bigtruck311
1. he was not asking about a toyota lift
2. he was not asking about a 4x2
3. he is not trying to build a prerunner
4. it is comparing apples to oranges (pre runner 4x2 vs 4x4 suspensions)
5. every suspension has its weak point it depends on how you build it, a mud bogger does not need much articulaition, where a rock crawler does, a prerunner does not need the lift to clear opsticles as a rock crawler does so on and so on if you are building a prerunner than fabtech would not be the best lift out there, if you are building a rock crawler than the F-150 with the IFS front end would not be very good base to biuld one on in the first place due to the poor articulation of the front suspension, if you are biulding a daily driven offroad F-150 that can handle some rocks mud and sand than the fabtech lift is one of the best out there, i have built everything from mud bogger dodge 2500 to jeep wrangler trail rigs to cj rock crawler to a drag racing ranger with a LS1 corvette engine, i am just trying to clear this up so the person asking the question does not get confused about how you are comparing your toyota 4x2 to his 4x4 F-150 the suspension is totaly diffrent as are the capabilitys of the vehicles
2. he was not asking about a 4x2
3. he is not trying to build a prerunner
4. it is comparing apples to oranges (pre runner 4x2 vs 4x4 suspensions)
5. every suspension has its weak point it depends on how you build it, a mud bogger does not need much articulaition, where a rock crawler does, a prerunner does not need the lift to clear opsticles as a rock crawler does so on and so on if you are building a prerunner than fabtech would not be the best lift out there, if you are building a rock crawler than the F-150 with the IFS front end would not be very good base to biuld one on in the first place due to the poor articulation of the front suspension, if you are biulding a daily driven offroad F-150 that can handle some rocks mud and sand than the fabtech lift is one of the best out there, i have built everything from mud bogger dodge 2500 to jeep wrangler trail rigs to cj rock crawler to a drag racing ranger with a LS1 corvette engine, i am just trying to clear this up so the person asking the question does not get confused about how you are comparing your toyota 4x2 to his 4x4 F-150 the suspension is totaly diffrent as are the capabilitys of the vehicles
Secondly, I never said anything about 2WD's. And where did you get the idea that my Toyota was a 2WD? 4WD Prerunners are far more versatile than 2WD's, that is why I gave him links to Total Chaos, JD, among others. I would appreciate it if you would not put words in my mouth to try and make an arguement. He has heard a Fabtech supporter and a critic that is all there is to it.
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From: oceanside C.A.
well lets leave it at this, he is not trying to build a pre runner out of his 4x4, he is building a daily driven offroad trail truck, nuff said, dont want to ruffle any feathers but i know suspensions never was much into prerunners but 99% of the ones i have seen wether they are class 5-7 they have been 4x2 so that is why i took for granted it was a 4x2 i have only seen one 4x4 pre runner and he does not compete he just does mild offroading, you have a good day and i stand by fabtechs quility, workmanship, and functionality for the 97-03 and the 04-06 F-150 i cant say much for the fabtech lifts on any other vehicles (toyota) because i have never owned one so i have no opinion there, good day
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From: Leander, TX
Hey jntwlsn
My truck is used for the same thing as yours seems to be. I went with the Rancho 4in lift and the rsx 9000 shocks. I love it and it gets me where i need to be. The ride is smooth for the most of my driving which is highway. I run 35s now which I used to have 33's. I wanted bigger tires so I traded. Here are some pics if this helps.I dont have pics of the 35s yet. 4wheel parts recommended the Rancho for my truck. Plus I had to consider fitting in my garage on my new house. I was not going to park my sweet truck outside because it would not fit with a 6 inch lift.
https://www.f150online.com/galleries....cfm?gnum=4955
My truck is used for the same thing as yours seems to be. I went with the Rancho 4in lift and the rsx 9000 shocks. I love it and it gets me where i need to be. The ride is smooth for the most of my driving which is highway. I run 35s now which I used to have 33's. I wanted bigger tires so I traded. Here are some pics if this helps.I dont have pics of the 35s yet. 4wheel parts recommended the Rancho for my truck. Plus I had to consider fitting in my garage on my new house. I was not going to park my sweet truck outside because it would not fit with a 6 inch lift.
https://www.f150online.com/galleries....cfm?gnum=4955