Attention: TDR Forum Junkies My objectives were to get a smoother ride overall, especially on the expansion joint infested freeways around here. I also wanted to be able to do some mild offroading while not affecting my towing.
I'll say upfront that I'm happy with my decision. You'll need to really determine what you want out of it before you make your decision.
Called Kent at Trex and he recommended the Bilstein setup, which is the mildest of their 3 offerings. The other 2 setups, Fox and King are hard core offroad racing suspensions. I wanted to keep the stock height and profile of the truck. Kent recommended the Bilstein shocks, shock mounts, and limiting straps.
Putting the Trex shock mounts and shocks next to the stock stuff was scary. This stuff is definitely designed to laugh at the worst abuse you can throw at it. You have to see it to believe it.
I had the installation done at Carli Suspension in Orange, CA recommended by TRex. Nice clean shop, knowledgeable guy.
OK. First impressions:
1. Overall does is drive like a Cadillac now? No. No miracles, it's still a 1 ton truck for petes sake.
2. City driving - drives like a 1/2 ton. smooth, SUV like. Noticeable.
3. Freeway without the Expansion joints - What was smooth before is really smooth now.
4. Freeway with Expansion joints.
Have they disappeared? No. Does it help? Yes, here's what I found.
Before when I drove over the worst parts I couldn't adjust the vertical bass/treble sliders on the radio because the truck was shaking so bad. I also could not drink from a cup or bottle. No way. Going over the same sections now the truck is bouncing but it's dampened enough that I can adjust the sliders and drink.
It's kind of a strange sensation. The bouncing now is "softer" and doesn't feel as deep. What was way uncomfortable before is now definitely liveable (wifey too). But don't get me wrong. The truck still shakes.
That's on the worst sections. The medium to mild expansion joint areas are fine. In some mild areas I can hear the tires hitting the joints but don't feel anything, like in our SUV. Used to feel em.
5. Offroad - So I get home and go to an area where they are about to build a couple hundred homes. Still lots of dirt bike trails, washboards, rutted roads, partial grading, etc. WOW! That was fun. It soaked up everything I put in front of it. No way I could do what I did with the stock suspension and not put my head through the cab roof
.
So my personal conclusion:
I like it. I have a tank like suspension underneath me that I will never worry about breaking or tweaking. My family can now live with the ride. My buddies won't be able to keep up with me offroad for sure.
It's a lot of money though and has offroad racing origins. So if I were ONLY looking for an expansion joint solution and NEVER went offroad I would still consider other alternatives. I don't know if any of them work though.
I'll say upfront that I'm happy with my decision. You'll need to really determine what you want out of it before you make your decision.
Called Kent at Trex and he recommended the Bilstein setup, which is the mildest of their 3 offerings. The other 2 setups, Fox and King are hard core offroad racing suspensions. I wanted to keep the stock height and profile of the truck. Kent recommended the Bilstein shocks, shock mounts, and limiting straps.
Putting the Trex shock mounts and shocks next to the stock stuff was scary. This stuff is definitely designed to laugh at the worst abuse you can throw at it. You have to see it to believe it.
I had the installation done at Carli Suspension in Orange, CA recommended by TRex. Nice clean shop, knowledgeable guy.
OK. First impressions:
1. Overall does is drive like a Cadillac now? No. No miracles, it's still a 1 ton truck for petes sake.
2. City driving - drives like a 1/2 ton. smooth, SUV like. Noticeable.
3. Freeway without the Expansion joints - What was smooth before is really smooth now.
4. Freeway with Expansion joints.
Have they disappeared? No. Does it help? Yes, here's what I found.
Before when I drove over the worst parts I couldn't adjust the vertical bass/treble sliders on the radio because the truck was shaking so bad. I also could not drink from a cup or bottle. No way. Going over the same sections now the truck is bouncing but it's dampened enough that I can adjust the sliders and drink.
It's kind of a strange sensation. The bouncing now is "softer" and doesn't feel as deep. What was way uncomfortable before is now definitely liveable (wifey too). But don't get me wrong. The truck still shakes.
That's on the worst sections. The medium to mild expansion joint areas are fine. In some mild areas I can hear the tires hitting the joints but don't feel anything, like in our SUV. Used to feel em.
5. Offroad - So I get home and go to an area where they are about to build a couple hundred homes. Still lots of dirt bike trails, washboards, rutted roads, partial grading, etc. WOW! That was fun. It soaked up everything I put in front of it. No way I could do what I did with the stock suspension and not put my head through the cab roof
. So my personal conclusion:
I like it. I have a tank like suspension underneath me that I will never worry about breaking or tweaking. My family can now live with the ride. My buddies won't be able to keep up with me offroad for sure.
It's a lot of money though and has offroad racing origins. So if I were ONLY looking for an expansion joint solution and NEVER went offroad I would still consider other alternatives. I don't know if any of them work though.
,i was a little concerned that i had selected the Bilstein system. Was i choosing T-rex light? hmn... ... ... . after all i got authorization from the CFO because it would make it ride better on the expansion joints right... ... ... . 
