RADO's Off Road Rig- Build Thread

[evillecutter]

what are the advantages of independent front suspension again? i thought for off roading everyone wants solid front axles? i was under the assumption that IFS was just for better on road handling and a smoother ride...

[nfpgasmask]

Solid front axle gives you more offroad flex.

Bart

[Triathlete]

Solid front axle gives you more offroad flex.

Bart

...if properly built/set up.

'Rado...just tell those heep driving idiots two things....Shannon Campbell!
Even though I still want a SAS! Have the axle, just need the $$$!

[VXorado]

...if properly built/set up.

'Rado...just tell those heep driving idiots two things....Shannon Campbell!
Even though I still want a SAS! Have the axle, just need the $$$!

Will do Billy



I met up with a fellow ISUZU owner yesterday from the Planet. We decided to run a trail called Moody Hill near Fort Collins. Had a great time and ran into some challenging obstacles... glad I had rock sliders.

Traildamage.com rates Moody Hill a 3 on the low end and 8 on the high end. I'm pretty sure we did every obstacle.













Of course, it was raining and muddy which left the VX a HUGE mess. Usually I don't mind but Twalker is hosting the pin up calender shoot tomorrow and I had to spend half the day cleaning up the VX. I think photoshop is the only thing that will make it clean looking.

[VXorado]

what are the advantages of independent front suspension again? i thought for off roading everyone wants solid front axles? i was under the assumption that IFS was just for better on road handling and a smoother ride...

You have it right. A dedicated trail rig for rock crawling will always have a solid front axle because it's stronger (or can be equipped stronger) and offers better articulation. Some obnoxious Jeepers will tell you that anything without a solid front axle is garbage for off road and that comment usually comes from the guy with street queen chromed out Rubicon. The stock jeep setups don't offer much benefit over IFS because they're still built for the masses and sacrifice articulation for comfort & safety. Of course, they have lots of aftermarket options to make them incredible off road.

The super flexy IFS we're talking about links the torsion bars & creates better articulation on the trail. The travel of the IFS is still limited but the suspension will balance out the VX more and provide increased traction when you're driving on uneven terrain. I usually draw a picture to explain it but essentially you give some of the solid axle trail benefits to IFS while keeping the IFS for improved road handling & ride.