Shocks for 4" lift

[Cataldo]

Well I have come to terms with the fact that I need suspension and tires before I can really take on a diesel swap. I am going to run Hell Creek Springs, the question I am pondering is if I will run their complete kit or source out the other parts individually. I am not the biggest fan of Rough Country anything, and If I recall that is the shocks HC uses in their kit. I was thinking to pick up the HC springs, dropped pit man arm, SS brake lines and U bolts locally. For shocks I was thinking of running nice shocks if I can afford them. I figure I'll either run these extended shock mounts http://www.bjsoffroad.com/Extended-Fron ... _1311.html or these http://www.ifsja.org/forums/vb/showthread.php?t=102792 to gain greater shock length and travel up front. I am alright with spending a little more money and time to increase the travel as much as possible, not that this is a rock crawler by any means, but for what $30 or so more for the f250 shock mounts, if I can gain a little more travel it is worth it. It seems like the F-250 shock mounts are the best way to go because they are way cheaper, and are a little taller than the BJ's mount.

I Will have to measure once I get the springs on of course but I figure about a 31" extended length and what ever shortest length possible (19" essentially). That is 2" more travel than Rusty's 4" shocks.

Is there a good rear shock mount upgrade?

This is not a hard core off road vehicle but will see a lot of off road and street miles.

Anyone do this on such a mild set up? Is my theory wrong in that I will not gain any more travel? For what it is worth I'll be running 33 10.5's on my factory mags. I am aware of the little trimming necessary.

What shocks do y'all recommend? I Was thinking maybe the Rusty's rx 300 series shocks, if they make long enough ones ($170 a pop remote reservoir). I might just stick with cheap shocks initially, ones that are set up for the extended mount.

[Lumpskie]

^I did the same as you are doing when "sanity checking" my shock length. I looked at what Rusty's had spec'd and adjusted from there. I don't know anything about F250 shocks but I can tell you that 12" travel shocks will probably be more than enough. It will be hard to get your springs to flex enough to utilize any more than that.

[Cataldo]

Lumpskie

That makes perfect sense. I knew there would be a point where the leafs would be the limit. I want them to be and not the shocks.

What shock mount did you use? The one on BJ's or your own concoction?

With talking with Tom at hell creek and crunching numbers I can not save any money by piecing it out. Without going to a real high quality shock I might as well stick to cheap twin tube shocks. The only thing I do not know and would like to know is the lengths of those rough country shocks that come in the kit. I'll call rc today and get that info

[Cataldo]

I just ordered the full kit from Hell Creek, I will do a Measurement and photo comparison of it once I get it set up.

[Lumpskie]

Sounds like you have a good plan. Be sure to post up your impressions of the kit when you get it!

And, FWIW, I just used my stock shock mounts with 10" travel shocks for my setup. (The Waggy will never be a hard core type of rig)

[rocklaurence]

I really like the Monroe Sens-atrac.. They have a progressive rate and soft on the road with a Life Time warranty. The cheap offroad stuff is always stiffer /valved for performance and dont have a warranty

[Cataldo]

Sounds like you have a good plan. Be sure to post up your impressions of the kit when you get it!

And, FWIW, I just used my stock shock mounts with 10" travel shocks for my setup. (The Waggy will never be a hard core type of rig)

Thanks

Huh I didn't think one cold fit a 10" shock in there with stock mounts.

Yup now it's a matter of deciding between general grabbers or bfg a/t ko2 in 33x10.5

[Charles Kline]

I just ordered the full kit from Hell Creek, I will do a Measurement and photo comparison of it once I get it set up.

What were your thoughts on the full kit? Do you like it?

-Charles

[Cataldo]

Charles,

I am very happy with it. For me I saved nothing piecing it all out, it was cheaper for me to get the whole kit from Tom. It rides 'like a truck', if you want a softer ride I might try different shocks, but I am very happy with the 4" lift and 33x10.5 bfg ko2's. I have not towed with it, or loaded it up heavily, but it will be much better than before loaded down.

As for the ride I would compare it to a 3/4 ton truck, shocks might have a lot to do with that as well though. They do flex quite nicely, as far as I have seen. 16" virile is the tallest thing I can park a tire on and there was quite a bit more to go, both front and rear