Coilover suspension

[brianb2]

Hey folks looking for some advice. I've got a 2000 with a 4" lift and 33" tires. I've heard about Coilover suspensions and I think it may be a good fit for the problem I'm trying to solve. I spend a lot of time backpacking and I use my jeep to get me to trailheads. Some of the roads to get to the trailhead are worthy of the jeep, but there's a bunch of pavement to cover before I get there. The stiffness the works on the road is too stiff of the trail.

From what I know of a coilover suspension, it's a fairly simple option to reduce the stiffness of the suspension when I get to the trailhead and switch back when it's time to hit the road. I know I could achieve the same by airing down, and that's something I'm considering as well.

Any thoughts from the collective? Any of you using coilover and would recommend it for my situation. Also interested if any of you have a better idea or just wouldn't recommend coilover.

Thanks folks

 

[Rob5589]

What lift and shocks do you have? Generally, a poor ride is due to poor shocks.

 

[StG58]

+1 I don't run coil-overs, but my understanding is that coil-overs are for specialized "fast movers" in rough environments.
I believe that there may be better solutions to your problem than the time and expense of converting to coil-over suspension. BTW, I run 1 1/2" of lift with H&R springs, Bilstein 5100 shocks and 31" tires. Great ride and handling on and off road. These get me into any back country area that I point my TJ at. At least so far.

Like Rob5589 said, your issue may be inappropriate shocks.

 

[Serbonze]

What tires and tire pressure are you running?

 

[brianb2]

35psi. They are 33" mud tires. Goodrich.

Good point on the shocks. I'll go through and replace those first.


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[StG58]

Good catch @Serbonze. @brianb2 , try running those tires at about 24 - 26 psi and see how you like it.

 

[brianb2]

Thanks, I'll give that a shot. Is that your normal PSI?


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[StG58]

No, but I run 31x10.50's on 7" rims. The pressure I run is 28 psi on the street and down to about 8 - 9 psi offroad sometimes.

 

[Tristan]

Good catch @Serbonze. @brianb2 , try running those tires at about 24 - 26 psi and see how you like it.

I'm running 33s and I'm at 26 psi

 

[brianb2]

Thanks. This helps. I'll give it a shot. I still plan to put on new shocks, but a lower PSI is a heck of a lot easier and cheaper. Thanks all.


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[Jerry Bransford]

X2 to the lower air pressure, 35 psi is way excessive for a 33" tire. The bigger the tire, the lower the pressure it requires

 

[Ahoragi]

Hey folks looking for some advice. I've got a 2000 with a 4" lift and 33" tires. I've heard about Coilover suspensions and I think it may be a good fit for the problem I'm trying to solve. I spend a lot of time backpacking and I use my jeep to get me to trailheads. Some of the roads to get to the trailhead are worthy of the jeep, but there's a bunch of pavement to cover before I get there. The stiffness the works on the road is too stiff of the trail.

From what I know of a coilover suspension, it's a fairly simple option to reduce the stiffness of the suspension when I get to the trailhead and switch back when it's time to hit the road. I know I could achieve the same by airing down, and that's something I'm considering as well.

Any thoughts from the collective? Any of you using coilover and would recommend it for my situation. Also interested if any of you have a better idea or just wouldn't recommend coilover.

Thanks folks

Have you heard of the Rancho RS9000XL's? They are an adjustable shock that can be adjusted from 1 to 9. All it takes is a twist of the knob and you can go from firm road valving to a softer trail valving.

 

[Chris]

X2 to the lower air pressure, 35 psi is way excessive for a 33" tire. The bigger the tire, the lower the pressure it requires

X3! 35 psi is extreme for a 33" tire. That would ride horribly at that psi. It would probably rattle your fillings out.

 

[Serbonze]

I'm at 26psi on 33" Cooper discoverers.

 

[StG58]

@brianb2, you are on to something in your original post. Try airing down when you get off the pavement. Invest in a decent 12 volt air pump, and play with your tire pressures some. I'm betting that you can have what you are looking for in ride quality both on and off road with a little time invested and the price of a decent Viair pump. Just remember that you can't run at high speeds on any surface with low air pressure. It's not safe and you'll destroy your tires in short order.

 

[Chris]

X2 to the VIAIR recommendation. I have this one and I LOVE it!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000X9AXR8/?tag=wranglerorg-20

 

[brianb2]

X3! 35 psi is extreme for a 33" tire. That would ride horribly at that psi. It would probably rattle your fillings out.

Yeah, it's great on the highway, but crap off road. I don't have portable air yet. Santa?


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[brianb2]

@brianb2, you are on to something in your original post. Try airing down when you get off the pavement. Invest in a decent 12 volt air pump, and play with your tire pressures some.

Good info and suggestion, thanks. I'm thinking a portable air solution is in my future.


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[Serbonze]

Good info and suggestion, thanks. I'm thinking a portable air solution is in my future.


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Here is a good thread on them, and why I chose the Viair model that I did.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/small-compact-air-compressor.387/#post-23790