After about a year of research and looking at many options and talking to MANY guys around here and also major retailers. I think what's best for me and my driving style is a set of Bilstein 6112 with 600lbs spring, and 5160 with the Eibach +1" rear spring.
I was leaning heavily towards BP51s or a 2.5" Radflow setup. I think suspension is a deep rabbit hole it is is very easy to trapped. especially with all the super sweet rigs on Insta and YT!
My truck, 2018 Pro, mostly stock, rock sliders and (soon)gobi rack, its a family hauler and vacation mobile. I go down a lot of fire service type roads to get to hiking trailheads or primitive car camping sites. Maybe twice a year I try to get to a off road trail system. Usually Unmaintained County Roads in my state. They are everything from gravel to full on King of the hammers... lol. Seriously there are many that I am just not comfortable with mostly because of deep off camber ruts and 2-4' rock faces. Like I mentioned it is also the vacation machine. Mostly to Nothern OBX (Corolla, NC). 650 mile highway drive then airing down to 18-20psi and 2-4 mile beach drive each day for multiple days.
One thing I want to address by replacing the suspension is better load handling; remove the squat when loaded. I sometimes use a hitch mounted cargo carrier(should end once the Gobi arrives) When there is 100lbs that far back from the rear axle it really squats. Not to mention the cargo inside, passengers, and dog. That is why I choose the Eibach +1" spring. that should help maintain a slight forward rake, hopefully slightly less than OEM and from what I understand they are a slightly heavier spring than stock.
I use a set of AirLift helpers currently. I love them and they work great! I take a fender to ground measurement, inflate them to max psi (35), that usually gains me 1"-1.3". I load up the truck and then bleed air out to get back to the height when I was empty. I will still use the bags in the next set up for just in case. I am hoping to not have to inflate them as much. It might make for a more plush ride.
The other thing I wanted is increased ride hight and clearance for a slightly taller tire. I have chosen to go 255/75. Its mainly a stock truck, and the 1/2" gain over stock and Load Range C will be nice. Ive compare to 285 because "that's what everyone does". Have you looked at the weights of some 285s? A Wildpeak 285 Load C is over 60lbs! yikes. Not only would that drastically rob power and decrease MPG, it would be a huge hassle to wrestle with it to change a flat. It also wouldn't fit easily in the spare location. Remember this is also a DD for me, Wife also often drives to run errands.
The K02 255/75 is 32.1" diameter, 10"w Load C at 46lbs. That is only 6lbs more than the factory Nittos.
There are less variables on the front. Ill use 6112 with 600lbs spring. I am on the fence wether to go with the 2" or 2.5" setting. My logic is, if the Pro is already +1" from OEM, a setting of 2" would net me no lift? As long as the 6112 2.5" setting is truly 2.5" I think that would be great. That will get me a gain of 1/2" more than I am right now(stock Pro). It is important to me that I am able to use the factory UCAs.
Someday I plan to mount an on board ARB single. and maybe some other things. At that point ill reevaluate, maybe go up to the 650lbs spring?
Wrapping it up, I decided to go this route because of budget. Not that I had a tight budget, is just a matter of dollars and sense...
There is now doubt that the higher end stuff is AWESOME! For me the fact that it is easily double the price of the 6112/5160 and it would need constant (albeit easy) maintenance and off the truck rebuilds is what turned me off.
Also the road salt they spray in the winter time pretty much ruins everything. I fear that even when it came time for a rebuild the bodies and exposed shafts would probably not me salvageable.
With the 6112/5160 I can just toss them, Ill probably be able to reuse the springs.
Anyhow, thanks for sticking with the long read..lol. its been a long journey...
What are your thoughts?
I was leaning heavily towards BP51s or a 2.5" Radflow setup. I think suspension is a deep rabbit hole it is is very easy to trapped. especially with all the super sweet rigs on Insta and YT!
My truck, 2018 Pro, mostly stock, rock sliders and (soon)gobi rack, its a family hauler and vacation mobile. I go down a lot of fire service type roads to get to hiking trailheads or primitive car camping sites. Maybe twice a year I try to get to a off road trail system. Usually Unmaintained County Roads in my state. They are everything from gravel to full on King of the hammers... lol. Seriously there are many that I am just not comfortable with mostly because of deep off camber ruts and 2-4' rock faces. Like I mentioned it is also the vacation machine. Mostly to Nothern OBX (Corolla, NC). 650 mile highway drive then airing down to 18-20psi and 2-4 mile beach drive each day for multiple days.
One thing I want to address by replacing the suspension is better load handling; remove the squat when loaded. I sometimes use a hitch mounted cargo carrier(should end once the Gobi arrives) When there is 100lbs that far back from the rear axle it really squats. Not to mention the cargo inside, passengers, and dog. That is why I choose the Eibach +1" spring. that should help maintain a slight forward rake, hopefully slightly less than OEM and from what I understand they are a slightly heavier spring than stock.
I use a set of AirLift helpers currently. I love them and they work great! I take a fender to ground measurement, inflate them to max psi (35), that usually gains me 1"-1.3". I load up the truck and then bleed air out to get back to the height when I was empty. I will still use the bags in the next set up for just in case. I am hoping to not have to inflate them as much. It might make for a more plush ride.
The other thing I wanted is increased ride hight and clearance for a slightly taller tire. I have chosen to go 255/75. Its mainly a stock truck, and the 1/2" gain over stock and Load Range C will be nice. Ive compare to 285 because "that's what everyone does". Have you looked at the weights of some 285s? A Wildpeak 285 Load C is over 60lbs! yikes. Not only would that drastically rob power and decrease MPG, it would be a huge hassle to wrestle with it to change a flat. It also wouldn't fit easily in the spare location. Remember this is also a DD for me, Wife also often drives to run errands.
The K02 255/75 is 32.1" diameter, 10"w Load C at 46lbs. That is only 6lbs more than the factory Nittos.
There are less variables on the front. Ill use 6112 with 600lbs spring. I am on the fence wether to go with the 2" or 2.5" setting. My logic is, if the Pro is already +1" from OEM, a setting of 2" would net me no lift? As long as the 6112 2.5" setting is truly 2.5" I think that would be great. That will get me a gain of 1/2" more than I am right now(stock Pro). It is important to me that I am able to use the factory UCAs.
Someday I plan to mount an on board ARB single. and maybe some other things. At that point ill reevaluate, maybe go up to the 650lbs spring?
Wrapping it up, I decided to go this route because of budget. Not that I had a tight budget, is just a matter of dollars and sense...
There is now doubt that the higher end stuff is AWESOME! For me the fact that it is easily double the price of the 6112/5160 and it would need constant (albeit easy) maintenance and off the truck rebuilds is what turned me off. Also the road salt they spray in the winter time pretty much ruins everything. I fear that even when it came time for a rebuild the bodies and exposed shafts would probably not me salvageable.
With the 6112/5160 I can just toss them, Ill probably be able to reuse the springs.
Anyhow, thanks for sticking with the long read..lol. its been a long journey...
What are your thoughts?