I hate washboards!

Doozi

Doozi

New member
Hey! I've definitely done my share of research and searching the forum and web for as much info as I can find on Gen4 suspension options, but I have one unanswered question...

What suspension set-up would handle washboard fire roads the best?

I love getting up into the mountains (haven't yet with the Gen4), but I cannot stand it when the roads are all rippled up into washboards and I have to slow way down (like under 15) to stop my vehicle, my teeth, and any cargo from being rattled apart... maybe I'm too sensitive! :shrug:

Thanks in advance for your insight!
~Doozi
 
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Whats your budget and do you want a lift?

For a little to no lift application, i would go with some stock height replacement bilsteins. Washboards will no longer be an issue.
 
On wash board roads air down your tires somewhat and go faster. It will be much better. Going slow at full pressure is way to rough.
 
Airing down helps. There is another technique that helps alot too. But your brakes will feel it. Pick a speed, any speed you feel comfortable with. Lets go with 45 mph. Now use your left foot and apply slight brake pressure. Just enough so that you feel the front dive slightly. You may loose a few mph's. Apply a little more gas so that you are back up to your target speed of 45. Once you get the hang of this, you will be VERY surprised how much it helps. I have shown many people and they all have the same reaction. Mostly they think I am talking out of my back side, then I show them. They don't argue anymore.

The theory behind this technique is that it preloads the suspension. Thus stiffening the suspension and giving more down travel to drop into the bumps. If your tires drop into the bumps, you are in constant contact with the road. With washboards at high speeds, your tires are just riding on the tops of the bumps. That split second of contact loss over and over again is where you loose control and the back end starts to go sideways.
 
jlmilligan: Interesting technique... I'll have to try that... thanks!

Well... the reason I asked the question was that I definitely want to do a lift (up to 3" max) and was really considering the DS 2.5/1.5, but thought that if I was going to do the work, I might as well do a full swap. My Gen3 in stock trim was terrible over washboards, but significantly improved with OME springs and shocks. My Gen4, on a very small section of washboard, seemed to be equivalent to my Gen3 with OME.

When we go camping/adventuring throughout the mountains of Colorado, we end up on a lot of fire/forest service roads and getting beat to death on washboards really spoils the moment for me! As previously stated, I haven't gotten up into the mountains yet with the Gen4 full a full experience.

So, I'm obviously not looking to do any desert racing, but wanted to find out if anyone has a set-up that's semi-comfortable on washboards at reasonable speeds. I'm considering everything from a 1"front spacer lift to complete coil-over/spring replacement, but someone will have to convince me to dump the XREAS for the higher-end stuff.

Oh... and I do usually air down when planning to be off-road for extended periods... usually down about 5-10 pounds depending on circumstances.

Sorry for the long post! I appreciate the feedback!

Thanks,
~Doozi
 
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A spacer will feel the exact same, probably not what you want. I'd also stay away from coilovers unless you're going high end ($2000+) systems if it's anything like the ones i've used on my cars. They tend to just be pretty harsh. THey could be different for a truck, but the lower end ones tend to have a limited adjutability range and be pretty tight... I'm not sure you'd want that on the washboards.

I thin you'll be happiest with Bilsteins.
 
doozi, do urself a favor & research the RADFLOW (OW) & ICONS on this forum or 120, & u will most likely see that people that have em say they are very good for going fast over washboard type terrain, better than someother brands or xreas for that matter.
 
I have the Overland Warehouse (Radflow) coilovers and it is an improvement over XREAS. I haven't had it long enough to comment on how much of an improvement it is on roads of various roughness yet.
 
Yeah... the OW Full 2.0" kit is on my short list. I'm just trying to get a good description of the improvements realized by switching to one of these systems... along with any negatives.

Spending $700 on my Gen3 (OME) was a significant improvement all around... on and off-road... brake dive, body roll, off-road stability, etc.

I'm just wondering if $1400 toward the Gen4 will be as significant seeing that the ride quality of the stock Gen4, in my opinion, is much better than the stock Gen3.

In anticipation of some tax money, I'm trying to get some real world feedback from people with some of the popular set-ups out there. Mostly, I see statements like "this is way better than XREAS", "so much better than factory", "this is how they should have come from the factory", etc. All inspiring comments, but not very descriptive. I'd like to know what I'm getting so I can justify the expense to the "other half".

I appreciate your insight and have elevated the ranking of the OW 2.0.

EDIT: "Will 4R"... I just saw your post... you'll have to keep me updated!

:thanks:
~Doozi
 
Doozi said:
Well... the reason I asked the question was that I definitely want to do a lift (up to 3" max) and was really considering the DS 2.5/1.5, but thought that if I was going to do the work, I might as well do a full swap.
Click to expand...

Here is what I found with spacers. For the record, I put a 2" spacer (1" thick) on my 4Runner when I had it. They do raise your truck. However, you do not gain any travel. So if you have 10" of travel and in a stock setup, you sit at the 7" mark (numbers are for reference only, not actual numbers), when you put in a 1" spacer, you now sit at the 8" mark. You now sit higher in the travel arc. Losing down travel which is needed in the high speed runs. If you want a 2 to 3 inch lift, i would definitely go with coilovers if the budget allows. Spring for new UCA's if possible. Total chaos makes a nice kit but it isn't cheap. The rule of thumb is you get what you pay for.

I was looking for something similar when I purchased the lift for my LX (80 series Landcruiser). I wanted roughly 2" of lift so I could run 33's and have everything look proportional. I really don't do the "my lift is taller than yours" thing. I want function, not fashion. I could have went with OME's, but you don't gain much travel and the springs are stiff. The FOR lift I choose, got me roughly 2.75" and I gained a couple of inches in travel due to longer shocks. Yes, it was more money, but well worth it in my opinion. I don't care to find the biggest mud hole and see what i can break. I want to go where I want, comfortably, and in control at decent speeds. I generally stick to dirt roads in northern Maine's remote areas.
Sorry for the ramble
J
 
Unexpected option

Well... it looks like the decision has been made. I found a complete FJ Cruiser suspension with 895 miles on it for $100!

I'm planning to use the FJ coils with the XREAS shocks and a spacer up front to level the 4Runner. It may not be the full-blown set-up that I was looking for, but I can't beat the price and I think that it will give me some decent improvement in a couple of areas... a little firmer spring to help stop bouncing off the front bump stops over speed bumps, an improved stance with a little lift, and I think I'll have room to grow. Once the XREAS need to be replaced, I'll get a set of adjustable Bilsteins.

As far as washboards go... the Gen4 is a lot better than my Gen3 was so I think that I can live with it! Hopefully the FJ coils won't have too much of a negative impact.

~Doozi
 
IDK about washboards, but for everyday driving the FJ springs are great. What shocks did you get, Tokico's or Bilstein's? Either way, still a very good deal for the mileage.
 
Doozi said:
Well... it looks like the decision has been made. I found a complete FJ Cruiser suspension with 895 miles on it for $100!

I'm planning to use the FJ coils with the XREAS shocks and a spacer up front to level the 4Runner. It may not be the full-blown set-up that I was looking for, but I can't beat the price and I think that it will give me some decent improvement in a couple of areas... a little firmer spring to help stop bouncing off the front bump stops over speed bumps, an improved stance with a little lift, and I think I'll have room to grow. Once the XREAS need to be replaced, I'll get a set of adjustable Bilsteins.

As far as washboards go... the Gen4 is a lot better than my Gen3 was so I think that I can live with it! Hopefully the FJ coils won't have too much of a negative impact.

~Doozi
Click to expand...

Thats a pretty good buy. If they are the Bilteins, i would personally ditch the XREAS. If they are not, it would be a toss up. Depends on how many miles are on your factory ones. Good luck
J
 
I just hit 70k miles on the factory set-up and everything still feels solid and looks fine. I'll know more when I get all of the parts together and actually do the swap. Now, I just need to figure out which spacers to get to get 'er leveled!

~Doozi
 
I had a 2" spacer. My recommendation would be for a 1" or 1.5" spacer. There was a little less than a 1/4" difference between the front and rear with mine and I had the V8. I personally like the looks when you have about 1/2" difference. A little bit of rake is better than a little bit of butt sag. Now remember, 1" of spacer thickness equals roughly 2" of lift.
 
jlmilligan said:
I had a 2" spacer. My recommendation would be for a 1" or 1.5" spacer. There was a little less than a 1/4" difference between the front and rear with mine and I had the V8. I personally like the looks when you have about 1/2" difference. A little bit of rake is better than a little bit of butt sag. Now remember, 1" of spacer thickness equals roughly 2" of lift.
Click to expand...

I also think that a touch of rake is perfect. I just need to decide whether or not I want to raise the rear at all or just bring the front up a bit. I do know about the thickness to lift ratio and I might have to machine down a spacer to get exactly what I want, but it's hard to plan when I don't know the exact amount of lift my FJ springs will yield.

I picked up the FJ springs and shocks... they look brand new! The shocks are the all-black Tokicos and I'll probably try to sell them off cheap.

~Doozi
 
Doozi said:
I do know about the thickness to lift ratio and I might have to machine down a spacer to get exactly what I want, but it's hard to plan when I don't know the exact amount of lift my FJ springs will yield.

~Doozi
Click to expand...

Around 3/4" all the way around. It may very a bit but that is a close estimate. Mine was pretty much right on 3/4".
 
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