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Looking for good, solid mid travel options for a K5

EPK5

EPK5

1/2 ton status
Joined
Jul 9, 2010
Posts
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Location
El Paso, Texas
I live in the desert in E Paso so the need for a hardcore crawler or mud truck is minimal, I would like to entertain the idea of a prerunner style truck. I have not see many companies that build kits for this truck so any ideas would be appreciated. I see a bunch of guys using CST suspensions on their trucks but the web site doesnt mention a kit.
 
First question really is whats your budget. I could built a mid level (as far as travel is concerned) coil spring suspension that would still cost a pretty penny. It would ride awesome and react quickly but would not have mega travel capability. In fact I plan to soon for my Jimmy

There are really no "prerunner" kits out there for a 4wd K5, if you want kit form you are stuck with what the rest of us are stuck with. On the less expensive end, mass produced leaf springs. Custom springs are available. As are kits to bolt on 52" springs ( putting rear springs in the front). There are coilover kits to link the front, but those start getting expensive.

Almost all mods require some supporting mods to get the full benefit out of them.
 
yeah, I've built a few trucks in my time, but I was hoping there was some other options out there. The truck is mildly built already, but I am feeling the modification itch. I am planning a LSX swap and have seen a few pre-runner style K5's and really like them. I can figure out the rear suspension, it is the front that baffles me, being an older 4wd.
 
This is just my opinion about a prerunner truck, you gotta have something in the front that can take up at least as much in the back. If the front can take up way more than the back you get a pogo effect.

So if you aren't looking for crazy speeds ( I consider crazy 80mph + off road) leaves would be fine up front too.

Deaver will make you a longer spring and you can offset the pin a bit to help move the front axle forward.

With the front though you will need to make steering mods (xover) mainly because if you are catching air the stock draglink is so short your steering will be way screwy throughout the travel.

Extended shock mounts in front with some good quality air bumps and shocks and leaves would work just dandy I think, certainly not crazy speeds but probably fast enough to scare you
 
I had an Xterra that was set up for the desert, amazing what would actually scare me, I really appreciate the input, any ideas on where to get the extended shock hoops? I suppose I could bend my own. I want to run 37s as well but I've obviously gotta loose the blocks.
 
EPK5 said:
I had an Xterra that was set up for the desert, amazing what would actually scare me, I really appreciate the input, any ideas on where to get the extended shock hoops? I suppose I could bend my own. I want to run 37s as well but I've obviously gotta loose the blocks.
Click to expand...

Search for ford shock towers, easiest way to do it.

I honestly think the most important thing for prerunning are good air bumps.

We have enough desert out here when I redo the suspension on my truck I plan to give it enough up travel to do a little go fast fun
 
Air bumps are undeniably necessary, we have a lot of powerline roads with great whoops out here, I think I'll build my truck accordingly.
 
you know if you have some fab tools ( welder and grinder) its not too terribly hard to link the front:whistle::D

coils in the front would be sweet.

For my Jimmy I plan on linking the front but doing it low dollar, bushings all the way around. The arms aren't going to be 10 feet long. Very simple but it should make it ride pretty nice
 
Coil overs and links.



ORD has a nice spring and shock package. Mid travel with bumps would work well for most off road use. Getting nuts is a whole lot of custom work and money. I could build whatever you want if you decide to link and coil over it.
 
bot0611 said:
u need:
bump stops
nice coil overs
front shocks that can take the punding
re enforce the front axle
radius arms if you dont keep the leafs
crossover steerging
tabs, heims, gussets....
lots of crap
post up pics\ dammit:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

You just listed all of my crap. The front has changed to a 3 link now. Radius arms did not give me NE articulation needed for rock work.

Here is a link to the original build pictures. Not many were taken.

http://s199.photobucket.com/albums/aa139/ktmoutfront/Jimmy build/
 
bot0611 said:
Also cash and time is needed.....some patience couldnt hurt
Click to expand...

In all reality compared to a custom set of leaf springs you can do links for not too bad.

If you set up leafs really well. You need some sort of traction bar, factor that in with everything else and links start to look good.

Besides you don't have to go all out with links. Build a good design, use bushings with threaded inserts, have a flex joint in mind you want, design all the brackets with that in mind. Use coils to start designing those with the fact that coilovers will eventually replace those. Build basic and make everything easily changable to flex joints and better stuff. In 3 or 4 years all of a sudden you are sittin on top of a fully bitchen suspension
 
Id like to keep it simple for maintenance and reliability. But, I would love to link it as well, if any of you guys have a diagram or some plans i could plan off of, I could fab my own stuff, or if the price is reasonable, id buy it from someone. People here don't fab prerunners, there is a serious lack of custom shops here. I am a one man show as I don't trust these guys, plus is that Ive got a pretty good home shop now.
 
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