Alternatives to Kore, et al and tires

[BSkinner]

I'm still waiting to hear from Kore & DRC. I think they're racing.



I have a 2003 Quad, S. B. , Buckstop bumper with 36,000 miles. The factory shocks are pretty well shot and I'm going to be spending a lot of time driving washboard, dirt roads. I am considering the Kore HD Leveling kit but would need to add rear shocks or the Recon kit.



I'm not really looking for lift. Just a better and safer ride. The truck is 78. 5 inches high and my garage opening is 82 inches. I need to have my rig inside during the winter. I understand the Kore kit adds 2. 5" lift. If so, I'll need to stay at the stock size on tires (265/70R17) which isn't a problem. It will be a blessing to get the BFG Rugged Trails off & get some tires with a tread (although the RT's have 7/32 left and are wearing very evenly, they didn't have all that good of traction when new). I'd like to stay with load range "E" and there seems to be a greater selection of tires in the 265/70R17 size. It's also an easy way to end up with a couple of cheap spare tires on hand.



I think new shocks will do the most to improve the ride. I'd like to put heavier springs on the front because I bottom out sometimes with the weight of the Buckstop on these rough, Wyoming roads. I am toying with the idea of D25 coil front springs and Bilstein shocks. They might not be as good as the Kore kit but might I get 75% of Kore performance at a very reduced price? More bang for the buck, in other words. The D25's might sag a bit more due to the Buckstop which might reduce truck height a bit making it possible for me to put larger dia. tires on the rig sometime in the future.



Thanks, Bob

 

[Fred Swanson]

The HD Diesel coils will drop it about 1/2inch. I had about 310lb. winch bumper and 12K WARN winch on my 03, with the HD Coils, and it did sit slightly lower. The VR coils will lift it more than 3 inches, so the HD will probably be better.

Upgrade to the CHASE, though. With the additional weight and your intended use, they will perform much better than the 5100's.



Give them til tomorrow. I spoke to Greg(DRC) about 3 hours ago, and they are completely exhaussted from the weekend racing and a second event they did Mon-Wed this week.

 

[Greg Boardman-RIP]

Hi Bob,

Fred is right. We just got home from a race and a weekend with Four Wheeler Magazine in Death Valley, CA. It was a great time! We kicked ars in Baja with a win in the San Felipe 250. It was the gnarliest course I have ever seen. Something to be desired for sure. The trip in DV was cool too. Ever seen a HD Dodge Ram mash through rock gardens? Maybe you will on fourwheeler.com soon.

Now to your issues,

Kore's leveeing kit will probably only net 2 inches in the front and nothing in the rear. If you stick with a 33" tire, your garage issues will be solved. The good thing about the KORE spring vs. the D25 is the KORE will not sag. Ever. Guaranteed! Give me a call tomorrow. I have a set of injector tips to put in Big Red first thing in the morning, after that I will be able to help. I will be answering the phones after 8 AM pacific. I hope to hear from you soon,

Thanks,

Greg DRC

 

[Nate]

double post

 

[Nate]

I have a 2" leveling kit and 35" tires and the truck fits in the garage, 7' door. It clears it by about 1", so it's fairly tight... but it does fit.



Worst case, you could let some air out of the tires when you have to bring it in the garage to do some work on it.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

KORE's Chase gives you the premium Fox gas charged shocks and new front springs, a 4 leaf rear pack also. Ride is much improved according to those using it; the Recon uses Bilstein shocks but works similarly. Neither setup is intended for much lift--a couple inches in the front, an inch in the back. I needed new shocks and was swayed by the other improvements in addition to gaining just a bit of height in the front. I ordered the Chase and have not read anything negative at all about it on this forum. I suggest that you talk to KORE and/or Greg B and then come to a decision. Better not to act in haste and regret in leisure. I imagine other brands are good too, but I put my money into KORE.

 

[BSkinner]

I've got the KORE Recon kit on the way. I've got 10 days off work. Hope it gets here in time before I have to get back on the things that pass for roads in some parts of this country



How are the intall instructions for the Recon kit? I might put the kit on if it looks like I'll have time.



Bob