Suspension Recommendations - Slow Speed Crawling

[RobBob22]

Agreed, when I made my comments I was only thinking about the IFS.


I'm under the impression that there's not much of an incremental advantage in having more rear travel than front travel. The ideal set-up for crawling and overlanding will be to maximize front travel.


So I would actually consider using a rear sway bar (and removing front bar) to maximize front travel.

Far and agreed. I opted to add travel where I can. I can keep three wheels planted more frequently now than before.

I also have 0 sway bars now.

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[indio22]

Without converting to a long-travel set-up, there's not a big difference in travel between the best and worst shocks.


For crawling, try to keep uptravel and downtravel relatively equal. That means not a lot of lift (if you're not going to a long-travel set-up). Something like Bilstein 6112 will have about an inch more travel than some of the others, so this will allow a little bit of spring lift.


No need for remote res for crawling, your money is better spent elsewhere.

Yeah for slow speed trail work, not sure shocks matter all that much, leastways I use to do that with clapped out shocks. It was ok because I wanted a softer suspension with less damping in those situations.

 

[SierraBronco]

For low speed/rock crawling I subscribe to the idea that you’ll want to maximize strength and travel. For travel I believe Rock Krawler and ADS are the most you can get while staying within the limitations of the bronco equipment. On the strength side it’s my opinion that RK is top dog using a 2.625” body and 1” shafts. Those suckers are meaty.

 

[telenerd]

Thanks all for the comments. I decided to get the 6112s for my 2 door and see how they do over stock. I was about ready to drop big money on Rock Crawler or Bilstein 8112s but holding off for now until my Ranger Raptor paid off. I plan on putting money elsewhere such as replacing the stock tires with Mickey Thompsons and doing some other upgrades like to the steering rack or different control arms for more articulation.

My steel belly pan skids really arent much heavier than some of the lighter options like Next Venture. But I did notice the decreased ground clearance and blowing through the travel on the stock shocks last summer after installing them. The 6112s will allow me to level out the front and bring up the rear slightly for more ground clearance. With reports of the 6112 shocks feeling stiffer and more planted with less body roll, I think the 6112 will check all the boxes! I will report back once they get installed and have some actual trail time on them once the snow is all melted in the high country by July.

 

[Audiomate]

Any updates?

 

[telenerd]

Any updates?

So far so good! Did my maiden voyage yesterday, heading up to CDT trail today. The Bronco feels great over slow speed and rocks. I ended up going with clip 5 front and back. I had clip 6 front and 5 in the back but the Bronco was too nose high and drove floaty without the rake. Now I have slightly under 1 inch of rake and the steering response is perfect. The suspension did settle some after getting some miles on them. Maybe it settled about a half inch or inch. I will take some measurements and pictures later today after my adventure. I will be solo so might be a difficult to get action shots but I will try my best. Biggest thing I noticed was I’m not scraping as much in the front and gas tank, the Bronco also feels less tippy and more in control that might be from my new control arms. Then I am able to go a bit quicker on the trail and not bottoming out so much on the front end. The stock suspension would constantly bottom out and feel like a pogo stick. With the 6112 it feels almost sport car like. Doesn’t dive, feels firm but not too harsh, going around corners on highway I can carry speed on the trail. Overall great upgrade. For most things I do the 6112s are a excellent upgrade. Reservoir shock would be overkill for slow speed rock crawling. Yeah it be nice to slightly adjust the compression so my Bronco is a tad bit softer on the rocks, but I honestly don’t need it. I do want the 8112s, but not necessary, maybe I might upgrade in a few years once they work out the bugs or another company hits my fancy.

You will need new control arms however what I learned from this upgrade if you want any decent lift for your Sasquatch Bronco. I had 2 professional 4x4 shops try and align my Bronco after the lift and they couldn’t get the caster over 2.2degrees while maintaining camber. My steering felt very float, light, and then didn’t return to center very quickly. Shop recommended high caster control arms. I got JBA control arms and so far they have been excellent. Steering returns to center very quickly even in 4 low going over rocks and it’s not so tiring driving the Bronco.

Stay tuned.

 

[telenerd]

Well my pics suck but here ya go. 6112s did excellent. Sporty on the highway, feels firm but not harsh on the trail. I can pick up speed and not pogo or bottom out like the stock shocks. Feels very composed at slow speeds. Had to bust through some snow drifts. Hard to do action shots when solo. Average about 1-2mph on the rocks then picked up the speed to a whopping 7-9mph. It’s a fairly slow trail do to the elevation around 11k ft. As you start to go down elevation the trail smooths out. Mostly SXS and 4wheelers do this trail in Southern Wyoming. It’s a blast in Bronco!

 

[telenerd]

Well I’m back and at a cross road now that my Ranger Raptor will be paid off here in May. I’ve outgrown the 6112s and wanting something more plush at 3-13mph on the trail. The 6112 are a great shock but I hate the clip design for preload, they are a little firmer after spending more time on them but 100% better than stock. The faster I go on the trail the shock feels better and the extra ground clearance is amazing. I also got them for free from Ford on my shock recall so can’t complain.

I want something that I can adjust, for instance fully open up the shocks for slow speed trails then stiffen them up for when I go on the street. Leaning towards Ride, Dobbinson or Rock Crawler. Also If I want to make a small preload adjustment I don’t have to pull the shocks off the vehicle. Looks like Metal Cloak also offers shocks now but very little info on them. I’m sure more manufacturers will release more options soon.

Gonna give them folks a call next week to sort out things.

 

[Built2Wild]

Well I’m back and at a cross road now that my Ranger Raptor will be paid off here in May. I’ve outgrown the 6112s and wanting something more plush at 3-13mph on the trail. The 6112 are a great shock but I hate the clip design for preload, they are a little firmer after spending more time on them but 100% better than stock. The faster I go on the trail the shock feels better and the extra ground clearance is amazing. I also got them for free from Ford on my shock recall so can’t complain.

I want something that I can adjust, for instance fully open up the shocks for slow speed trails then stiffen them up for when I go on the street. Leaning towards Ride, Dobbinson or Rock Crawler. Also If I want to make a small preload adjustment I don’t have to pull the shocks off the vehicle. Looks like Metal Cloak also offers shocks now but very little info on them. I’m sure more manufacturers will release more options soon.

Gonna give them folks a call next week to sort out things.

I just sprung for the Dobinson MRRs, a great upgrade from the Eibach Pro Truck coilovers. After all my research and my style of wheeling (rock crawling) they seem to be the best fit. The other option was the Bilstein 8112 but I am really not into high speed baja and they don't articulate as well as the MRRs over the rocks.

 

[telenerd]

I just sprung for the Dobinson MRRs, a great upgrade from the Eibach Pro Truck coilovers. After all my research and my style of wheeling (rock crawling) they seem to be the best fit. The other option was the Bilstein 8112 but I am really not into high speed baja and they don't articulate as well as the MRRs over the rocks.

Yeah they look very adjustable. So on the MRR I heard you can’t get to the rebound adjuster without removing the shocks. Is that true?

 

[Built2Wild]

I will let you know when I get them installed but that would be a horrible design flaw.

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