Desert Outlaw
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Desert
- Joined
- Jul 21, 2019
- Threads
- 23
- Messages
- 465
- Reaction score
- 434
- Location
- Riverside, CA
- Vehicle(s)
- 2003 Tomb Raider Rubicon, 2020 Rubicon Gladiator
- Thread starter
- #1
I plan on running the stock tire/wheel combo during the work week, and a no compromise tire wheel combo while wheeling out in the deserts and mountains here in my area (So Cal and Baja). Here is a basic way this might be achieved:
1. Run shock extensions rather than aftermarket shocks. The Fox 2.0 shocks ride like Mom's Mercedes. They also soak up the bumps and jolts off road like no other. You can't mess with perfection.
2. Run a coil spacer rather than a spring with a different spring rate. The coil springs are differentiated from the JLs in that the JTs are a dual rate. This also contributes to a healthy amount of droop (limited of course by the OEM length shocks). A Polyurethane rather than steel spacer would soak up vibration and shock, contributing to the plush yet controlled ride of the stock Gladiator.
3. Front control arms with a floating bushing design. The Duroflex bushing with it's floating, self-centering design would contribute to the overall comfort along with virtually maintenance free nature making this a well thought out component.
4. ½" to 1" body lift - because a body lift (Polyurethane not aluminum or steel) will not alter the ride (much), this is also a route that I will likely take. Plus, the clearance under the fenders.
What I will avoid are any drop brackets while I have read actually weaken the frame. Since I plan to wheel my Gladiator, there can't be any weak links - like a frame failure out on the trail.
My end goal is to run a 37" tire on the trail and eventually daily drive on a 35" Falken AT3W.
I am eager to test drive a JT with the 6 pack shock to see if that is a route that I would take since I want the travel without giving up the benefits of the OEM Fox 2.0's. I have also read that someone test drove a Rubicon Gladiator with the Mopar 2" lift and 35" Wildpeaks and he "felt every bump" on the road. After 16 years driving my TJ Rubicon, I'm not going back to that!
1. Run shock extensions rather than aftermarket shocks. The Fox 2.0 shocks ride like Mom's Mercedes. They also soak up the bumps and jolts off road like no other. You can't mess with perfection.
2. Run a coil spacer rather than a spring with a different spring rate. The coil springs are differentiated from the JLs in that the JTs are a dual rate. This also contributes to a healthy amount of droop (limited of course by the OEM length shocks). A Polyurethane rather than steel spacer would soak up vibration and shock, contributing to the plush yet controlled ride of the stock Gladiator.
3. Front control arms with a floating bushing design. The Duroflex bushing with it's floating, self-centering design would contribute to the overall comfort along with virtually maintenance free nature making this a well thought out component.
4. ½" to 1" body lift - because a body lift (Polyurethane not aluminum or steel) will not alter the ride (much), this is also a route that I will likely take. Plus, the clearance under the fenders.
What I will avoid are any drop brackets while I have read actually weaken the frame. Since I plan to wheel my Gladiator, there can't be any weak links - like a frame failure out on the trail.
My end goal is to run a 37" tire on the trail and eventually daily drive on a 35" Falken AT3W.
I am eager to test drive a JT with the 6 pack shock to see if that is a route that I would take since I want the travel without giving up the benefits of the OEM Fox 2.0's. I have also read that someone test drove a Rubicon Gladiator with the Mopar 2" lift and 35" Wildpeaks and he "felt every bump" on the road. After 16 years driving my TJ Rubicon, I'm not going back to that!
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