Best 2.5 Reservoir Suspension for the Ranger

[adv_ranger]

Looking into upgrading from my eibach stage 2.0 kit. I am currently running deaver leafsprings and stock UCA’s. I’m looking at the fox 2.5 kit with some Camburg UCA’s.
I am debating other brands as well such as kings, radflo, bilstein etc.

One of the issues I have now with my Eibach system is severe corrosion from rain and salted roads, so having an aluminum body shock versus steel like the kings might be preferred.
Let me know what you guys are running (or thinking of running) on your rig! Looking forward to a health and respectful debate, which shock brand is best for what needs?



EDIT: The poll should say ICON 2.5 not ICON 2.4, that was a mistake. I started this thread on my phone and have big thumbs.

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[adv_ranger]

Looking into upgrading from my eibach stage 2.0 kit. I am currently running deaver leafsprings and stock UCA’s. I’m looking at the fox 2.5 kit with some Camburg UCA’s.
I am debating other brands as well such as kings, radflo, bilstein etc.

One of the issues I have now with my Eibach system is severe corrosion from rain and salted roads, so having an aluminum body shock versus steel like the kings might be preferred.
Let me know what you guys are running (or thinking of running) on your rig! Looking forward to a health and respectful debate, which shock brand is best for what needs?

 

[Jhbryaniv]

Shock feel is a 100% subjective thing based on the loading, and use case for the vehicle. Any (nearly) shock can be revalved to fit the vehicle and driving style of the user. . . .

Let us start with - why do you think you need a 2.5 inch body shock?

 

[adv_ranger]

Shock feel is a 100% subjective thing based on the loading, and use case for the vehicle. Any (nearly) shock can be revalved to fit the vehicle and driving style of the user. . . .

Let us start with - why do you think you need a 2.5 inch body shock?

Many of the trails in my area are muddied and rutted, lots of fallen trees and technical uneven terrain. In california, the trails were much more tame, and the eibach suspension was fine, but I am finding here that the rain created large potholes on even the most well maintained forest roads. Looking for 2.5's since I have a camper shell with a tent ontop, and the deavers do a good job but bottom outs need some more dampening. I have sumo springs, but was hoping to go back to the apg bump stop to gain some more articulation if I can get better dampening in the rear. The fronts would just to be able to soak up the potholes or drops that occur on the trails when I don't have enough time to slow down for them.

 

[Jhbryaniv]

Many of the trails in my area are muddied and rutted, lots of fallen trees and technical uneven terrain. In california, the trails were much more tame, and the eibach suspension was fine, but I am finding here that the rain created large potholes on even the most well maintained forest roads. Looking for 2.5's since I have a camper shell with a tent ontop, and the deavers do a good job but bottom outs need some more dampening. I have sumo springs, but was hoping to go back to the apg bump stop to gain some more articulation if I can get better dampening in the rear. The fronts would just to be able to soak up the potholes or drops that occur on the trails when I don't have enough time to slow down for them.

If you haven't spent any time watching this shops videos, they have tons of information and it is laid out much better than I could ever explain it. They do bunches of 2, 2.5 and 3" shock tests.

I am not affiliated with them, at all. I just think they provide a good bit of information.

Which deavers are you running? The shocks will dampen your spring bounce, but the springs are what is holding the rear of your vehicle up - a stiffer spring could help with the bottoming out, trade off being a stiffer ride over all.

The Sumo springs are on the front end?

 

[adv_ranger]

If you haven't spent any time watching this shops videos, they have tons of information and it is laid out much better than I could ever explain it. They do bunches of 2, 2.5 and 3" shock tests.

I am not affiliated with them, at all. I just think they provide a good bit of information.

Which deavers are you running? The shocks will dampen your spring bounce, but the springs are what is holding the rear of your vehicle up - a stiffer spring could help with the bottoming out, trade off being a stiffer ride over all.

The Sumo springs are on the front end?

I have the deaver HD leaf pack from APG! And the sumo springs are a bump stop replacement for the rear. I have seen those videos, and wanted to see what the community had to offer in the way of personal experience!

 

[Frenchy]

Due to the fact they are designed around OffRoad Travel I would look at Old Man EMU BP-51'S or Dobinsons. Both designed and made in Australia and don't require a rebuild in 10,000 miles simply by driving OffRoad.

 

[Greywhale]

I absolutely loved my Fox 2.5s. They were excellent at everything, speed/slow/crawling. They were a vast improvement over the fox 2.0s. I feel you buy once, cry once and go for the best there is, which is king and fox. Really comes down to color choice at that point.

 

[AndyMedic]

I’m enjoying the BP-51’s they handle everything I’ve thrown at them for sure.

 

[adv_ranger]

I’m enjoying the BP-51’s they handle everything I’ve thrown at them for sure.

Thanks for that input! I had OME leafsprings and they were the squeakiest things I have ever installed. Do you have any squeaks or anything of that sort?

 

[adv_ranger]

I absolutely loved my Fox 2.5s. They were excellent at everything, speed/slow/crawling. They were a vast improvement over the fox 2.0s. I feel you buy once, cry once and go for the best there is, which is king and fox. Really comes down to color choice at that point.

I see you are letting go of them, why are you selling?

 

[adv_ranger]

Due to the fact they are designed around OffRoad Travel I would look at Old Man EMU BP-51'S or Dobinsons. Both designed and made in Australia and don't require a rebuild in 10,000 miles simply by driving OffRoad.

I will have to look more into them. Where should I buy? Stage 3? Also didn't know dobinsons had come out with ranger aftermarket products!

 

[Frenchy]

I will have to look more into them. Where should I buy? Stage 3? Also didn't know dobinsons had come out with ranger aftermarket products!

For Old Man EMU you can go through Stage 3. For Dobinsons you can buy directly from them. They have a warehouse in Florida and they have good support over there.

 

[adv_ranger]

For Old Man EMU you can go through Stage 3. For Dobinsons you can buy directly from them. They have a warehouse in Florida and they have good support over there.

So here is my thinking... I know that Accutune offroad does custom tuning of their shocks and changes the valving depending on your needs and weight of your rig. Given that I have quite a bit of added weight, I was hoping to get the shocks re-valved to compensate for the following: Leer camper shell, prinsu rack, built right molle panels, iceco fridge, iKamper skycamp mini, and rotopax. I have deaver HD leaf pack holding it up, but wanting the shock bodies not to be overwhelmed by the added weight.

 

[Frenchy]

So here is my thinking... I know that Accutune offroad does custom tuning of their shocks and changes the valving depending on your needs and weight of your rig. Given that I have quite a bit of added weight, I was hoping to get the shocks re-valved to compensate for the following: Leer camper shell, prinsu rack, built right molle panels, iceco fridge, iKamper skycamp mini, and rotopax. I have deaver HD leaf pack holding it up, but wanting the shock bodies not to be overwhelmed by the added weight.

Speak to the guys over at Dobinsons. Give them all the details and they will help you out.

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