OME kit aging - looking for a more complaint ride in the rough

Looking for advice on a new suspension kit. (too wordy...I know)

Current build:
2012 Double Cab, OR TRD. Sungtop XV, ARB front bumper, M9000 winch, Slee sliders, CBI Bushmaster 2.0 high clearance rear bumper w/ swing out, CBI front & mid steal skid plates, Icon UCA skids, SPC LR UCA's, 255/85r16 ST maxx, OME 866 & Dakar's. I've never weighed my truck, but it's heavy.

The OME kit has been awesome, but it has always topped out really hard and is pretty rough on the truck & passengers on rough slow trails. I'd like to step up to a true coil over that is more adjustable & complaint on rough trails. Most of my use is long highway trips with tons of dirt roads and adventures on slow speed rough offroad trails. No dessert high speed. I live in CO, all the trails are full of rock...always. I offroad a fair amount. My truck is also my DD and is frequently fully loaded with camping / hunting gear, or pulling our Pop-up. Weekend wheeling trips in my local area and the occasional journey down into the San Juan's or Moab. I guess you could say I fall into the overlander group, that wheels rough trails. My wheels are full of rock rash, the truck is fully pin-striped from branches, and my armor is no stranger to abuse. Oh and something in the steering linkage or front end is knocking during top out in the rough...so it's time to give the truck some love.

In addition my Dakars are almost flat with the weight of my topper and rear bumper with the bed empty.

From what I've read the Icon's have a digressive shock rate as compared to KING and FOX which have progressive rates. This tells me that I would be better off with the KING or FOX products.

So here in lies my question.
- What coil overs should I consider?
- what rear shocks?
- Thoughts on the Dakar AAL?
- Are there any conflicts if I keep my Dakars and add the AAL?

Cheers,
Salt

 

The Rear is ok ride wise, other than the Dakar's starting to flatten out. The rear is ok. I'm planning to replace the rear shocks soon anyway. So that everything is fresh and ready for more. It's just a questions of what kit?

Thanks. I'll read up on bumpstops.

 

Add the extra leaf and remove the large upper overload. It will increase ride height a small amount and be more progressive. That long overload really acts as a bump stop almost. Additionally the OME shocks are probably too short in back. The dakars can support a 26" long shock. Add either timbrens or superbumps and space them appropriately for the longer shocks. You'll need longer brake lines in back too.

I like my icons but opinions on coilovers will vary. Any of the good coilovers should prevent the harsh topping out. Go for extended length since you already have the upper arms. If you run icons I'd recommend the 700lb coils for sure. Additionally, adjust the coilovers to leave at least 3" droop from ride height, this will drastically improve the ride vs preloading them and leaving little travel.



My rear end (dakars with extra leaf, upper overload removed, flipped u bolts, wheelers super bumps and icon shocks). The shocks are 15.85 collapsed and 26.18 extended.

 

My truck is usually lighter. It does ride a bit rough without much load, but the suspension will compress more with the extra leaf and no overload, vs the standard Dakar spring pack. Mine is a DCLB with allpro sliders, 150lbs of batteries behind the rear seat and 100-150lbs on livestock mat. But if he is riding on the overload now it should be an improvement, especially with rear bumper and a cap. Getting off of that big overload and getting arch back into the spring should help I think.

Now I have a four wheel camper in the bed most of the time. So I swap out the super bumps with timbrens (taller than what comes with allpro's kit).

 

Alternatively you could get a taller timbren with a light load rating. Mine are rated at 1800lb each and I think 5-1/8" tall. The setup rides great with all the extra weight of the camper, but might be a bit much for you....? It's tough to get a decent setup that works all around when the weight varies so much.
My timbrens still compress nicely with the camper when flexed.

 

Thanks guys. Sounds like I just need to keep researching and pick a set of Coil-overs and start there. The challenge is the unknown progression, as in what's next. Overall the load carry capacity of my rear end is still very good, it still rides pretty well (as in doesn't sag excessively) when fully loaded. When unloaded the rear is ok, no real complaints. Although since I added the Bushmaster the rake is gone, the truck sits level when empty.
My top goal at this point is improving the suspension to be more complaint in the rough without changing the ride height and overall undercarriage clearance. Then it's a question of rear shocks, bump stops, rear shock re-location (?) and of course $$$.

So - would you guys agree the KING or FOX is more in my wheelhouse? I've read that the ICON's valving is more successful in the high-speed realm.

Cheers,
Salt

 

So I learned today that my ball joints in my SPC LC UCA's are toast on the drivers side. Along with some play in the pinion. I don't have the full pinion story yet, waiting on a call back from my local shop. They want $700 just for one side. Nuts to that. Is it worth replacing my ball joints in the LC UCA's or am I going to end up replacing the entire UCA down the road when I upgrade to legit coil overs?

Cheers,
Salt

 

OP, Not sure if it`s relevant but I have a full Dakar pack +

$60 D29XL Old Man Emu Dakar Extra Leaf Spring

D29XL + airbags in the rear. I load my taco quite a bit sometimes and tend to go pretty fast on forestry roads. I like being able to air-up to avoid bottoming out and run at minimum pressure when unloaded and on highway. I`d like to install OME`s BP-51 shocks so I can dial-in the suspension for various terrain and loads, not sure when they will be available in North America though.

 

thanks guys. I brought my truck to a different shop this AM. Current plan is to replace the ball joint, and upgrade in the spring. This way I have more time to spread out the costs and more time to research the kit I want.

Currently dreaming about the the Icon stage 4 kit w/ tubular UCA's and mayyybe a u-bolt flip kit with some kind of aftermarket bump stop. The airbags are also a good option, one of my buddies has bags on his truck and they work well.

Will the Icon AAL work with my Dakars? Or should I stick with the Dakar AAL?

Cheers,
Nels

 

Turns out my SPC ball joints were under warranty. So that's good news. Kudos to the local J&S auto in Gunbarrel CO for figuring that out. Also SPC was able to send out 2 ball joints at no cost and they arrived the next day. That's pretty awesome service from SPC if you ask me.

J&S auto also confirmed that my steering linkage is fine, so that's good news.

Can anyone chime in if the Icon AAL work with my Dakars? Or should I stick with the Dakar AAL?

Cheers,
Salt

 

Stick with the dakar.

 

ok, thanks.

 

Looks familiar!! Lol