Outer Limits 4x4 Board

Just after some feedback on coils in 80 series cruisers!

I'm looking at puting new 3"HD coils in my 80, i have 3" king springs in it atm and find them too soft for the load i'm carrying. I was just going to replace the old ones with new kings but thought i'd see if there is a better brand for what i want to do.

I just want to know what brand coils people are running and if your happy with them? have they sagged much etc?

It depends on a few things like if you are loaded all the time or just on trips, what you do with, daily driver or toy. What type of rears do you have at the moment, standard, heavy duty or progressive rate. Some people put a higher coil in the rear and it levels out when loaded. We use Dobinson or Lovells coils. They have a wider range of spring rate or do custom spring rates.

The term HD (heavy duty) is only a general term and does little for you when it comes to choosing the right spring.

First you need to determine what is the standard spring rate for that vehicle then determine how much additional weight you will be carrying. Include static weight such as bar work, un loaded roof rack and full fuel and 2 people. Then variable weight like additional people, clothes camping gear etc.

Determine where it will sit in the vehicle when evenly distributed and then you will know what heavy duty spring rate you will need.

One persons idea of HD is different to the next. As a guide, heavy vehicles like the 80s tend to ride better with a stiffer spring rate. I have 320lb in the rear and 260lb up front. They were custom made and suit my needs perfectly.

King springs website is a cood start. Dont by what ever heavy duty spring the salesman is pushing, theres a good chance it wont suit you.

Install a helper spring like a polyair airbag. It can be adjust to match the load you are carrying. Installing heavier springs will give you a harsher ride when you are not loaded up.

thanks, i know roughly what pound rate i want, i was more after feedback on the brand of springs ie: i've been told that tough dogs won't sag (by the salesman)

I've got LPG 90ltr, rear kaymar wheel carrier (not the full bar), drawers,
winch bar, and soon to have a 9500lb winch. i want to maintain a 3" ride hieght with all of the above fitted!

Cheers.

ShortyFortyTwo wrote:Install a helper spring like a polyair airbag. It can be adjust to match the load you are carrying. Installing heavier springs will give you a harsher ride when you are not loaded up.

I don't mind the thought of a harder ride as i'm not running swaybars atm!

I've thought about polyairs but want to sort out the springs 1st.
The springs are just too soft for what i do with the truck, it's a daily driver / weekend warrior and around town it's turned into a boat! It was fine with the tough dog adjustables on the hard setting untill i changed the springs!

Have you considered going for just airbags. They give a superb ride that is not effected by a change in weight.

I have Lovels springs and shocks in mine. They can make what you require.

For the rear there are 3 different normal coils that I use for my customers. I use Dobinsons coils.

Normal duty and heavy duty as others have said is a relative term. What I call normal duty others will call extra heavy duty. You get what I mean.

Anyway this is what I use.
For the regular guy I use an 18mm coil for up to 100kg constant load.
For the guy who has between 100kg and 300kg of constant load I use a 19mm wire.
Then for the extra heavy duty designed for a constant load of over 300kg I use a 20mm wire.

Now I also have 3" lift flexy coils for the rear.
I use 19mm wire for the normal guy up to 150kg. The coil is 50mm longer then the normal rear coils.
For guys who have over 150kg of constant load I have 20mm wire. Again the coil is 50mm longer.

There is a lot more to coils then the wire diameter but it the rest of the design does make a big difference. I have recently changed my flexy coil design to further strengthen the coil so it can handle a greater range of weight.

There is a lot more shock brands available for the flexy coils. Most retailers will sell you 2" lift shocks for the normal 3" lift coils and obviously you can achieve more flex with the flexy coils.

Shane

i run the ridepro springs in mine 3inch hd with all the same acc's you have and they are awesome.
3 years no sag