Suspension

[GCross]

Anyone have T-REX Suspension

I am considering installing the T-REX highway system. This will set me back $2000. 00 plus installation. Is anyone running this suspension? Is it worth the money? The problem is that I will not be getting my RV for a few years, and running empty on L. A. freeways with the raised expansion joints produces an unacceptable ride.

 

[GregTaylor]

save your cash i've gotten the freeway bump handeled with out all that doe. you can run balast in the bed 200 pounds should do it. or lose some leaf springs i took out 2 on each side... air bags will make up any diffrence. i droped in a linex bedliner and a super hitch as my balast. rancho shocks help also

greg

 

[CSilkowski]

My T-Rex is being installed tomorrow and I'm looking forward to it. The trucks I have driven in with it installed ride great!

 

[tpuig]

The T-Rex is the best money I've spent. We just got back from a Baja trip, and it certainly wasn't gentle on the truck. I'm absolutely convinced that most stock trucks wouldn't have made it.

TP

 

[GCross]

Follow-up. . Thanks for the info. I'm heading to Orange today (fri 6/25) to see Sage Carli who installs these systems, he has one on a 2500 Dodge and has offered to take me for an evaluation ride. Also there is an article in the August Four Wheeler magazine about T-REX which was possitive.

 

[Takomax]

Unsprung weight

It may be a good idea to study up on suspension physics a bit before you buy. This may help you set realistic expectations of your new set up.



I doubt that any set of coils and shocks will make my 3500 4X4 ride smooth. There is just too much unsprung weight. Heck, I would bet that the rear axle and it's appendages weighs more than the body above it.



This is not to say that it couldn't be made smoother. It becomes a question of how much money and how much smoother if a smooth ride is the goal.



I believe one will not get the full benefit of a TRex type suspension setup unless one is into offroad driving. Rough roads (or no roads) are where the long travel and progressive rates make their biggest difference.



I believe that a TRex setup would be awesome - and I would love to have it on my truck - but I think one must be realsitic about the physical limitations of the trucks design and the effects of same on ride quality.



-TakoMax

 

[SRadke]

I recently installed an air ride system in an attempt to smooth out my ride. It is a diffrent ride but I can't say altogether smoother. Normal highway driving is similar to stock but when it really starts to shine is under load on more aggressive terrain. The long trailing arms for improoved geometry added to the extra suspension travel make it much more bearable. Keep in mind a stock 4x4 only has 2-3 inches of suspension travel in the front before it hits the bump stops so if you can stretch that out to 5-6 inches you'll get an off road ride with less bucking. Both T-Rex and Kelderman do just that.



-Scott

 

[KHogan]

CSilkowski:



Let us all know how you make out. Inquiring minds wanna know, LOL!

 

[GCross]

Originally posted by KHogan

CSilkowski:



Let us all know how you make out. Inquiring minds wanna know, LOL!

Ditto, I'd like a follow-up as well.



I went for the test ride mentioned above. The problem is the test truck was a 2500 short bed with 315's. The T-REX system was the off road, I am only interested in the highway system. So, it was somewhat difficult to evaluate with so many differences. I will never need to race across the Baja which is what this system was engineered for. So I'm still in a dilemma as to whether or not I am willing to spend 2500 bucks for something that does not completely address my goal. I am still considering removing some of the spring leaves and installing Firestone Ride Rite air bags, and better shocks. Who's done this? What's your opinion?

 

[CSilkowski]

Carli suspension installed my T-Rex Bilstein system on Wednesday. Although I still feel the road, I am very pleased with the results. Had a chance to test this weekend on my drive to central California on some pretty harsh freeways and dirt roads. The bumps have smoothed out considerably and the faster you go the smoother it gets. I opted for the Bilstein system as a majority of my driving is 'on road' with only about 20% offroad. GCross mentioned driving in Sage's Fox set up. I don't think you'd be able to tell too much difference in ride between the two systems, unless the driving conditions were the same and you drove one right after the other. My truck is a short bed and they ride inherently rougher than long beds do. My truck now seems to ride comparable to my buddy's 2003 CTD 4x4 long bed with stock suspension, which says a lot about the system I had installed. My two cents.

 

[SRadke]

The firestone aux bags on the third gen trucks mount in place of the bumpstops on the rear axle (between the axle and frame). This is an ideal place for them however due to the overall height of the bag when collapsed you wind up loosing about 2" of rear suspenson travel with them installed. I suggest you take a good look at one of these setups and measure things out a little before purchasing. Our discussion on the topic is here.



-Scott

 

[John - K5AWO]

Scott,



After reading your thread on the air bags, I am somewhat concerned now that my thoughts might not be what I want.



My 98 DRW empty as a daily driver beats my spine to death on the expansion joints. I talked to a spring shop and they said to remove the over-load stack, remove the 2nd spring down, reverse the bottom spring. Then install the Firestone air bags (which were given to me). They quoted $250 to do the job for me. doesn't seem all that hard to do, even under a shade tree.



Is the 3500 DRW going to experience the same limited suspenson travel as the guys were talking about on their 2500's ?

 

[SRadke]

John, are you dealing with a 98 model or a third gen? This is an issue with the airbag mounting on the third generation trucks only becasue before that they mounted the airbags above the spring pack under a bracket on the side of the frame rail.



If you have an 03-04. 5 truck then yes, the airbags all mount the same yielding the same result from suspension travel.



As for what the spring shop told you I'm not sure. With the airbag install I would definitley remove the overloads. The airbags will now do their job. I'm not however familiar with flipping or removing leaves from the main pack. It makes sense as a way to soften things up but I'm no spring expert and am in no position to recommend such things. Hope that helps.



-Scott

 

[GregTaylor]

i did the spring / airbag deal on 3 gen 2500 long bed. i like it!. it still bounces a bit but you can adjust your speed to compensate. even though the t rex may be the ideal i beleve for the money the spring removal and airbags will be fine. you can go for a test drive if you want youll need to make it to T. O. (thousand oaks) Ca. i will only charge one in and out burger!

greg

 

[Bob4x4]

Removing the overload springs will not create any problems,but removing other leaves will open you up to more wheel hop especialy on hard acceleration or pulling heavy loads from a stop.

You really need to drive a T rex equipped truck at speed over rough terrain to beleive its full potentialOo.



Bob

 

[GregTaylor]

agreed bob but remember us californias up untill recently only get the so (stands for so so) engine @ 235 hp. with that said i haven't had any wheel hop. i plan on bombing some day so it may be a factor then

greg

 

[Bob4x4]

None of my customers still have 235hp so's



Bob