Ironman 4X4 2" foam cell lift kit

[PA_OVRLND]

Searched the threads and only found one other post about this lift and it didn't have a ton of information, so hoping someone else might come across this one.

I've got a 20' overland and I'm getting started on my....overlanding kit. I've already got the Max modular 10" rack and a ROAM Vagabond RTT with fridge and kitchen slider on the way. I'm a little weary of my clearances when loaded given that my payload is only ~1000lbs and I'm at stock height on 33s. I don't really intend to go to 35s (don't want to deal with regears and all that). I'm honestly on the fence about lifting at all, but it seems like the only viable way to really counteract the rear sag from weight, and it will definitely provide some benefit off-road.

the base ironman kit says it can support up to 660lbs of additional payload which should be enough for me. rough calculations my girlfriend and I, the tent and rack, food and water would be ~700lbs and then throw in tools, clothes, and camping gear, and I'll be creeping up on that 1000lbs awfully quick. I just haven't seen a single review for this kit on an gladiator and only have seen an install video on a wrangler. seems like their clientele is mainly toyota drivers, but I really would like to stay at 2" max so the 33s don't look absolutely goofy under the truck. It seems like its ironman or the ICON stage 2/3 kit. alternatively I could buy the springs and get any pair of shocks that would cover a 2" lift (teraflex falcons). thanks in advance.

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[rharr]

i would just get a pair of springs, blocks and spacers may break down over time or fall out. The cost of springs is not that much more then spacers and it's about the same install effort.

 

[AmishMike]

Airbags if you are JUST looking to return to stock height. I have bags and run at 3-4 psi empty, ~15 with RTT and gear, about the same with our camp trailer. Should be fine on most trails you are going to hit, judging by no-lockers, no front sway-bar disconnect, etc.. I deflate my bags fully but I am often at full flex and do stupid shit on trails. I only have rears but yes, fronts are available too.
I am not sure how much lift you could get, if any, with take-off springs etc. from a Rubicon.
35's might want a regear......... but only if you need more bottom end. Your transmission will find the right gear on the highway and your effective gear ratio will work itself out at speed; you may never get into 8th but you might. There is tons of posts on this.

MaxModular, did you go with the aluminum?
This is the aluminum 46"L

58"L rack

 

[PA_OVRLND]

i would just get a pair of springs, blocks and spacers may break down over time or fall out. The cost of springs is not that much more then spacers and it's about the same install effort.

The Ironman kit is springs and shocks

 

[PA_OVRLND]

Airbags if you are JUST looking to return to stock height. I have bags and run at 3-4 psi empty, ~15 with RTT and gear, about the same with our camp trailer. Should be fine on most trails you are going to hit, judging by no-lockers, no front sway-bar disconnect, etc.. I deflate my bags fully but I am often at full flex and do stupid shit on trails. I only have rears but yes, fronts are available too.
I am not sure how much lift you could get, if any, with take-off springs etc. from a Rubicon.
35's might want a regear......... but only if you need more bottom end. Your transmission will find the right gear on the highway and your effective gear ratio will work itself out at speed; you may never get into 8th but you might. There is tons of posts on this.

MaxModular, did you go with the aluminum?
This is the aluminum 46"L

58"L rack

I got the steel 10” cause I wanted the RTT to be leveling with the cab and the cost difference was pretty significant. so it’s the 46”

 

[rharr]

I would avoid ironman based on the simple fact the name of their kit is confusing as all hell. What the hack is foamcell design, if there is no foam?

Their shocks look like simple rebranded hydraulic twin tube stuff, nothing special there.

Their marketing hook seems to be they have provide some sort of spring rate selection tool (Soft to hard) when ordering their kit so it's easier for buyers to make a educated guess on what they think they need.

I would look at better known mfrs like clayton or rockkrawler. And stick with a bilstien 5100 shock as the base option. Monotube shocks are better setup.

 

[AmishMike]

I went with aluminum for the weight savings. Originally the 46" because they said that the 58" would not fit. With their offset brackets and one slight modification, it fits. My RTT is too long to drop below the cab, also even over the roof, the annex does not line up-not high enough.

 

[PA_OVRLND]

I would avoid ironman based on the simple fact the name of their kit is confusing as all hell. What the hack is foamcell design, if there is no foam?

Their shocks look like simple rebranded hydraulic twin tube stuff, nothing special there.

Their marketing hook seems to be they have provide some sort of spring rate selection tool (Soft to hard) when ordering their kit so it's easier for buyers to make a educated guess on what they think they need.

I would look at better known mfrs like clayton or rockkrawler. And stick with a bilstien 5100 shock as the base option. Monotube shocks are better setup.

Yeah that’s fair definitely the Main hesitation I have is the shocks looking pretty average. I don’t think I can swing Clayton or RK though. Especially RK starting at $3k.

 

[Sigz]

Airbags if you are JUST looking to return to stock height. I have bags and run at 3-4 psi empty, ~15 with RTT and gear, about the same with our camp trailer. Should be fine on most trails you are going to hit, judging by no-lockers, no front sway-bar disconnect, etc.. I deflate my bags fully but I am often at full flex and do stupid shit on trails. I only have rears but yes, fronts are available too.
I am not sure how much lift you could get, if any, with take-off springs etc. from a Rubicon.
35's might want a regear......... but only if you need more bottom end. Your transmission will find the right gear on the highway and your effective gear ratio will work itself out at speed; you may never get into 8th but you might. There is tons of posts on this.

MaxModular, did you go with the aluminum?
This is the aluminum 46"L

58"L rack

Does max modular make a 58" rack that is compatible with the Tonneau cover/ tonneau brackets?

 

[NERokToy]

I would avoid ironman based on the simple fact the name of their kit is confusing as all hell. What the hack is foamcell design, if there is no foam?

Their shocks look like simple rebranded hydraulic twin tube stuff, nothing special there.

If you go to their website its much clearer then if your looking elsewhere. The Foamcell is their shocks, which definitely are not just rebranded twin tubes. They list them as rebuildable and the pistons offer more then 150% area then a standard twin tube such as a Rancho RS5000.

Are the special features of the Ironman Twin tube shocks worth $240 PER Front and $320 PER Rear shock? I'm not willing to drop that kind of cash to be the test dummy!

These shocks and springs may be great, but we need some people to test them!

if budget is a concern I would go a different route. Even though the Ironman Springs are a good price, without real world numbers you may have to buy twice.

 

[WILDHOBO]

You can get a great quality lift from JKS, with US support, and be n a much smaller budget than the numbers above. I’d call them and tell them what you’d like to accomplish. They’re quite helpful.

Edit: Fox and BDS are also under the same parent company, and the support overlaps. So there a bunch of great options for custom setups from the same vendor.

 

[aphillips76]

Ironman 4x4 support is no bueno…

 

[jeepstertim]

I have just fitted the foam cell pro (comfort valving) and I'm delighted with the improvement over the very under damped Rubicon shocks. No more mad waggling head dances and body roll and weight transfer fwd/ backwards is much better. Doing some mild off roading this weekend and articulation is fine and the ride, especially on washboard and rock much improved.

I am running 1.5 spacer at the front and .75 at the rear with stock springs. Airbags for the rear just arrived for when I run the camping set-up.

I'm not in the US but the full set were $500 new.

 

[PA_OVRLND]

I have just fitted the foam cell pro (comfort valving) and I'm delighted with the improvement over the very under damped Rubicon shocks. No more mad waggling head dances and body roll and weight transfer fwd/ backwards is much better. Doing some mild off roading this weekend and articulation is fine and the ride, especially on washboard and rock much improved.

I am running 1.5 spacer at the front and .75 at the rear with stock springs. Airbags for the rear just arrived for when I run the camping set-up.

I'm not in the US but the full set were $500 new.

Does the Ironman kit come with sway bar end links? I can’t seem to find anything on their website

 

[jeepstertim]

Does the Ironman kit come with sway bar end links? I can’t seem to find anything on their website

I only did shocks but I believe the kit is shocks, springs and steering damper, no links.

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