6 inch or 4.5

[Penguin VII]

2 minutes ago, pronstar said:

A properly engineered suspension lift should absolutely ride better than stock.

 

There’s no point adding wheel travel if the springs and dampers don’t take advantage of it.

 

It’s the difference between something engineered for function (which costs more), versus a setup designed to look good (more affordable).

 

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Well I'm currently running a BDS 6" lift which is supposedly a solid brand with great engineering. Have any thoughts on how to soften the ride because mine def rides harsher than stock.

[pronstar]

Well I'm currently running a BDS 6" lift which is supposedly a solid brand with great engineering. Have any thoughts on how to soften the ride because mine def rides harsher than stock.

What spring/shock/coilover in front?
What UCA?

What leafs/shocks in the rear?

What psi in your tires?


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[lapoolboy]

26 minutes ago, Penguin VII said:

Thats legit my same setup. It's def the nicest riding lifted truck I've ridden in (although I'm very interested in riding in one of the ram 1500s with the air ride and lift) but I wouldn't consider the lift to be equal or better to the factory ride. You located in the north east by any chance?

I'd definitely say my truck's ride is the same (if not slightly better) than stock.  

 

Not in the Northeast....I'm in the Deep South.....Louisiana

[rivertrail]

I've got a 6" zone lift with 35" nitto ridge grapplers.  I love it.  I do think it rides somewhat better or atleast the same as stock setup.  I wouldn't change anything about it.

[Penguin VII]

1 hour ago, pronstar said:

 

 

What spring/shock/coilover in front?
What UCA?

What leafs/shocks in the rear?

What psi in your tires?


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It's the spring/shock setup from the BDS non coilover 6" lift. I believe it only changes the front strut and the spring stays the same.

Factory UCA. I believe the aluminum ones but can't be certain (I can check later today)

rear leaf spring is the upgrade kit from BDS (not add a leaf, part #001559)

Fox 2.0 rear shocks 

 

36 psi in front, 34 in rear (figured it would be better to have the rear with less pis since it's normally unloaded except for the cover)

Open to recommendations here. 

[pronstar]

A 2-inch shock is going to have a hard time dealing with the forces that a 35-inch tire generates, let alone the factory coil.

It’s possible to get a 3/4-ton truck to ride very nice on 35’s, but it ain’t cheap. Getting a 1/2-ton on 35’s to ride nice is a lot easier and a bit cheaper...but not cheap.

It really depends on budget and your own priorities. But it will all start with springs (coils and leafs), and shocks valved to match your setup.

I don’t know details about the BDS setup, but my gut tells me your factory UCA’s aren’t doing you any favors, either.


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[lapoolboy]

4 hours ago, pronstar said:

I don’t know details about the BDS setup, but my gut tells me your factory UCA’s aren’t doing you any favors, either.

Tell me how UCAs that aren't hitting the coil buckets or droop stops contribute to a harsh ride.  Unless one or both of the conditions I stated are occurring, the things just go up and down.  I have factory UCAs (stamped steel at that), and my ride quality is superb.

[Penguin VII]

12 hours ago, pronstar said:

A 2-inch shock is going to have a hard time dealing with the forces that a 35-inch tire generates, let alone the factory coil.

It’s possible to get a 3/4-ton truck to ride very nice on 35’s, but it ain’t cheap. Getting a 1/2-ton on 35’s to ride nice is a lot easier and a bit cheaper...but not cheap.

It really depends on budget and your own priorities. But it will all start with springs (coils and leafs), and shocks valved to match your setup.

I don’t know details about the BDS setup, but my gut tells me your factory UCA’s aren’t doing you any favors, either.


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Interested in hearing more about the UCAs. So what you're telling me is that in your opinion the upgraded coilover kit will help the ride. If thats the case it seems odd that the customer service from BDS told me twice that I wouldn't see much of any on road improvement. I would think they want to sell me stuff, and if it was better they would happily say so.

 

If you have any recommendations for specific setups I'm all ears. I don't know the specific details about the BDS kit but I know it's a knuckle drop kit and I'd imagine they are all similar in setup.

[pronstar]

Tell me how UCAs that aren't hitting the coil buckets or droop stops contribute to a harsh ride.  Unless one or both of the conditions I stated are occurring, the things just go up and down.  I have factory UCAs (stamped steel at that), and my ride quality is superb.

That’s why I stated opinion with the caveat that I don’t know details of his setup.

If it’s just a knuckle drop, his ride should be comparable to stock if the springs are stock and the shocks are valved close to stock.

But clearly, something sounds amiss with his setup. Otherwise it makes no sense that you have a superb ride, and his is crappy with ostensibly the same setup.

The UCA’s don’t need to hit static to have a bad ride. If they’re close to the drop stop to begin with, it could be hiring it dynamically. I don’t know if that’s what his issue is, that’s the problem if diagnosing things via keyboard.




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[pronstar]

Interested in hearing more about the UCAs. So what you're telling me is that in your opinion the upgraded coilover kit will help the ride. If thats the case it seems odd that the customer service from BDS told me twice that I wouldn't see much of any on road improvement. I would think they want to sell me stuff, and if it was better they would happily say so.

 

If you have any recommendations for specific setups I'm all ears. I don't know the specific details about the BDS kit but I know it's a knuckle drop kit and I'd imagine they are all similar in setup.

 

My opinion is that soft spring rate and shocks that are valved accordingly will give you a good ride.

 

A 2.5 inch rezzie shock, when valved for your setup, absolutely rides better than a 2” emulsion shock. A 3” rezzie shock rides better than a 2.5 - when valved correctly.

 

On my previous truck I’ve ran Bilstein 5160, 2-in King emulsions, King 2.5 and custom-valved King 2.5...each step up have a noticeably better ride. Then I tried 3.0 King’s on an identical truck, which were even better but beyond what I wanted to spend.

 

All with progressive rate coils up front, and progressive Deaver’s in back...the shocks and valving was the only thing that changed.

 

If their rezzie setup with a larger shock isn’t giving a better ride, then something doesn’t sound right to me...but we’re also talking about a kit that isn’t increasing wheel travel based on what I’m reading, so that could be limiting.

 

I have zero experience with BDS. But I do have experience with Camburg and Carli, and if you work with them and get custom valving, you won’t be complaining about a harsh ride.

 

A well setup off road suspension isn’t harsh. You don’t see off road vehicles skipping across the ground on rock-hard suspensions. They also can be “not great” onroad as far as body lean goes, but they do ride very well.

 

 

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[Darksky]

Six inch Fabtech lift with uniball UCAs, Dirt Logc 2.5 non resi coilovers. Out back one full length leaf added to the stack per Rocky Mountain Spring and Suspension on a five inch Fabtech block, Dirt Logic 2.25  non resi shocks. 

 

BFG TAKO2 34x12.5 R18 on 18x9 wheels with 4.5 BS. GM Factory well liners and mud flaps  No hammering, cutting or distorting of the wheel wells done at all. I went down to 18 inch wheels for the increased side wall height. IMHO you need enough sidewall to absorb some of the bumps on a truck driven off road.

 

Zero rubbing with complete extension/compression of the suspension, lock to lock

 

Here is the best part: the truck rides better than stock, it performs flawlessly while being driven as a ranch truck on gravel roads,across the prairie chasing cattle, in the snow and as my primary vehicle that makes bi-annual cross country road trips.  

 

You may spend a few dollars, but you can easily make these trucks perform amazingly.

[Penguin VII]

On 10/20/2018 at 10:01 AM, pronstar said:

 

My opinion is that soft spring rate and shocks that are valved accordingly will give you a good ride.

 

A 2.5 inch rezzie shock, when valved for your setup, absolutely rides better than a 2” emulsion shock. A 3” rezzie shock rides better than a 2.5 - when valved correctly.

 

On my previous truck I’ve ran Bilstein 5160, 2-in King emulsions, King 2.5 and custom-valved King 2.5...each step up have a noticeably better ride. Then I tried 3.0 King’s on an identical truck, which were even better but beyond what I wanted to spend.

 

All with progressive rate coils up front, and progressive Deaver’s in back...the shocks and valving was the only thing that changed.

 

If their rezzie setup with a larger shock isn’t giving a better ride, then something doesn’t sound right to me...but we’re also talking about a kit that isn’t increasing wheel travel based on what I’m reading, so that could be limiting.

 

I have zero experience with BDS. But I do have experience with Camburg and Carli, and if you work with them and get custom valving, you won’t be complaining about a harsh ride.

 

A well setup off road suspension isn’t harsh. You don’t see off road vehicles skipping across the ground on rock-hard suspensions. They also can be “not great” onroad as far as body lean goes, but they do ride very well.

 

 

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I think the main difference here is that I'm not using their rezzie shock, I'm using their default kit, which comes with an new front shock but the same spring. From what I'm piecing together here the coilovers will def have a better ride because of the reservoir and increased body size of 2.5".

I'm going to have to look into UCAs as well, but I'm still a little unclear on what value they add for a 90% onroad driven truck.

[RecurveBow]

On 10/18/2018 at 4:03 PM, Penguin VII said:

Happy to help a fellow hunter

Deer? Turkey? 

[RecurveBow]

Thanks for the replies guys. I've been lurking the past few days but have been unable to respond. I have had the craziest time figuring out how to get a 6.5" Zone to work with stock tires, 35x12.5 and these stamped steel arms without having the tires stick out a mile. I don't mind a little, but I like a tighter/cleaner look. Seems like this could be solved with aftermarket UCAs? 

[lapoolboy]

5 hours ago, Bama08 said:

Thanks for the replies guys. I've been lurking the past few days but have been unable to respond. I have had the craziest time figuring out how to get a 6.5" Zone to work with stock tires, 35x12.5 and these stamped steel arms without having the tires stick out a mile. I don't mind a little, but I like a tighter/cleaner look. Seems like this could be solved with aftermarket UCAs? 

I have that EXACT setup.  The fronts will stick out an additional 1.5" over stock.  it looks perfect to me and absolutely no trimming of anything was required.  Throw some 1.5" BORA spacers on the rear and you're golden.