Overlanding with "stock" 4X4

[Boostpowered]

I have never seen anything built by Rough Country on any race course, anywhere.

You citing the most basic suspension lift available, try icon, fox, ome, strange, qa1, koni, bilstein, eibach, competition engineering, etc. If your going to use tuff country, rough country, skyjacker or any other bro truck lift kit you should expect problems they are trash and your right that they are unreliable. However ill bet their shocks are still made and rebranded by a larger name, that name may be rancho or pro comp but those 2 still do racing so there is r&d. Past 3 inches of lift on ifs vehicles every extra inch over brings you closer and closer to breaking something and if your going past 3 to 4 and dont drop diff or drop sway bars or lengthen the axle shafts then that your fault if your cv or axle breaks.

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

I'm not saying lifted vehicles can't be reliable, but most lift comoanies don't spend anywhere near the money on R&D as auto mfgs do.

Factory oem's don't design for heavy off road use. If you use stock stuff hard, it breaks. After market does have great engineering for their products on a whole. Factory stuff is good for what it is designed to do and that's it.

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

I'm not saying lifted vehicles can't be reliable, but most lift comoanies don't spend anywhere near the money on R&D as auto mfgs do.

I'd say you are wrong about that. They probably test their products more because it is their specialty.

 

[Anak]

Yeah they do its called racing and most auto mfgs go to those same companies to outfit their vehicles. I dont know of any auto mfg that produce their own shocks aside from really high end super cars think koenigseg. The beauty of suspension mfg doing their r&d on the race track is they are able to push them beyond the limits we could on the road and if something is gonna break and show bad engineering is on the track. If you chose a company that don't do racing and constantly strive to have a good product then thats your fault

Those aftermarket companies that are involved in racing have a far better feedback loop than do the auto makers. The bigger the company the harder it is to make improvements.

It should also be noted that the aftermarket can build for higher levels of performance than the auto manufacturers are ever likely to attempt. The auto manufacturers are targeting maximum profit from a far wider audience, many of whom will never push their vehicles far enough to find the cost cutting choices made by the bean counters. The performance aftermarket knows their products are targeted for abuse and must build to that level or else get bumped out by their next competitor.

 

[Billiebob]

We are talking several different goals here.

Can you overland in a stock 4x4, definitely.
Can you tow 16K# thru a mud bog with a stock 4x4, not likely.
If you are doing one, you are likely not doing the other. Towing 16K to go play in the forest is not my definition of overlanding.

I define overlanding as treading lightly many, many miles from home. Where meeting new people are the goals, not playing in the mud with my buddies. Overlanding is the end game and doing it efficiently with minimal impact on the environment is totally different from partying in the bush or boon docking.

But thats just my perspective, how I overland. Treading lightly, building for mpg, more than the ability to drive over small villages. Finding ways to minimize my footprint, not maximize it. Those are my goals. And every year I'm learning how to do that better. I find keeping it stock keeps it more reliable than modifying it. Jeep did a pretty good job on the Rubicon.

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

I have never seen anything built by Rough Country on any race course, anywhere.

Try Baja and hundreds of off road racing courses on for size ! You won't find any OEM stuff there.

 

[MeHere!]

Interesting read...

Is ti just me or has it been testy here lately?

Is this really a question that can be answered? Is it not too general? We're an international forum, the terms 4x4 & overlanding alone has such a varied "idea" of what it is, environments, experience, nerve, financial considerations all have a wildly different affect on how each of us view them

Arguing over mine is better than yours is just plain boring and not the community I love,like,tolerate... :)

 

[MMc]

Camburg Racing campaigns cars in off road racing. Many of the TT and class 1 use their parts. They are first in class in off road suspensions A-arms and axels.

Camburg Engineering | Suspension Systems - Coilovers - Upper Arms- Fabrication Parts - Race Rear Ends - Billet Tube Clamps - Accessories - Billet Race Hubs - Long Travel Kits - Leaf Springs

Carli is the best for Rams and Fords you'll see them all over the place here in CA.

Carli Suspension, Inc.

Welcome to Carli Suspension Carli Suspension products are created to meet the expectations of the daily street driver to the most extreme avid off road enthusiast. From the urban street jungles to the desolate dusty roads of Baja, Carli Suspension products will exceed all expectations.

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I use a mostly stock Ram, tires, breaks and gears. I put a bunch of miles on it off road before I upgraded.

 

[M Rose]

Try Baja and hundreds of off road racing courses on for size ! You won't find any OEM stuff there.

Won’t find any Rough Country either

 

[M Rose]

Interesting read...

Is ti just me or has it been testy here lately?

Is this really a question that can be answered? Is it not too general? We're an international forum, the terms 4x4 & overlanding alone has such a varied "idea" of what it is, environments, experience, nerve, financial considerations all have a wildly different affect on how each of us view them

Arguing over mine is better than yours is just plain boring and not the community I love,like,tolerate... :)

I think the testiness lately is due to cabin fever.. we need to get out and explore.

I started listening to the podcasts again last night. I think it’s time each of us goes back and revisits them. Two episodes really stick out in my mind for this discussion. 1) Meet Our Overland Bound Ambassadors. 2) My Rig Upgrades and What They Cost.

 

[MeHere!]

I dunno if it's the winter, the beer flu or what but yeah too many arguments here as of late...take our rigs get out and explore, stop bitchin at each other about who's rig is better, who does more with more/less...have fun is that not what this is all about in the end?

 

[grubworm]

I think the testiness lately is due to cabin fever.. we need to get out and explore.

what happened to taking frustrations out on the wife and kids like a NORMAL person does...??

 

[M Rose]

what happened to taking frustrations out on the wife and kids like a NORMAL person does...??

what happened to taking frustrations out on the wife and kids like a NORMAL person does...??

have you heard from @KRose lately? J/k

 

[Downs]

Oh look another sorta "what is overlanding/an overlanding vehicle" thread turned into another D&*K measuring contest. Who would have thought it.

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

what happened to taking frustrations out on the wife and kids like a NORMAL person does...??

Cant even have a decent argument here on OB forum without some one bitching about it. LOL

Oh look another sorta "what is overlanding/an overlanding vehicle" thread turned into another D&*K measuring contest. Who would have thought it.

What is D&*K please. duaaaaaaa

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

Won’t find any Rough Country either

My point is no OEM in those places where abuse is the name of the game. I dont plan on abusing of my rig, It cost to much for a non working mans budget. Really, you know for a fact that Rough Country isn't represented in the events I mentioned. I just pulled that name out of a hat of names but someone is doing more research on off road equipment than the original car manufactures do. As in all sports (and off roading is a sport of sorts) I think it is normal to find and install heavy duty equipment if you think you are going to need something stronger. Just like you are doing to your drive train on your rig. Sure you could use it as is, but will it break. It all depends on the abuse it will get. Even gentle use can break if it is already worn like many of our rigs are before we get them (as in used vehicles).

Oh look another sorta "what is overlanding/an overlanding vehicle" thread turned into another D&*K measuring contest. Who would have thought it.

Oh, I finally get it. Your right, there are some big D&*K's on here.

 

[Billiebob]

Definitely time o close this thread or move it to fireside.

 

[Billiebob]

I'd say you are wrong about that. They probably test their products more because it is their specialty.

Sort of like the quality of the RV Trailer Industry. No one just wants a quick buck there eh.

 

[Magic Mike]

How about some discussion, or a YouTube, about overlanding in a stock 4X4? Seems most info is about mod rigs as if to say one can't go overlanding to adventure in a stock vehicle. It seems that the manufacturers of 4X4's wouldn't agree given that they have invested no small amount of effort in R&D and they outfit with suspensions, drives, AT tires (etc) and market specifically claiming that capability. What are the realities of overlanding in a stock 4X4? What are the capabilities and restrictions associated with "stock"? Why do you say that larger tires and lifts are "required"? Does adventure require investments into a modified rig? I'm an old sailor and we had the expression that "paradise looks the same regardless of the size of the cockpit".

Nothing says you have to be completely mod'd out to hit the trails and get out there. Let your trips tell you what modification to put on your vehicle. It's going to depend what you want to do and how deep you want to get into it.... I know people that have very little modifications that are out every chance they get and still have a great time. Others myself included are heavily modified and also have a great time. I personally built my rig to be able to anywhere I ask it to, doesn't matter if it is Overlanding or rock crawling but this has been my personal choice. I will tell you that a lot of the mods I did have made my Overland experiences much more comfortable and enjoyable...

 

[M Rose]

My point is no OEM in those places where abuse is the name of the game. I dont plan on abusing of my rig, It cost to much for a non working mans budget. Really, you know for a fact that Rough Country isn't represented in the events I mentioned. I just pulled that name out of a hat of names but someone is doing more research on off road equipment than the original car manufactures do. As in all sports (and off roading is a sport of sorts) I think it is normal to find and install heavy duty equipment if you think you are going to need something stronger. Just like you are doing to your drive train on your rig. Sure you could use it as is, but will it break. It all depends on the abuse it will get. Even gentle use can break if it is already worn like many of our rigs are before we get them (as in used vehicles).

Oh, I finally get it. Your right, there are some big D&*K's on here.

Yes I do know for a fact that RC doesn’t officially participate in the SCORE Baja 1000 event, nor any other off-road type race.

Personally I have never used a bolt on lift kit. I have always (until recently) had my own means of making my own suspension systems. And even now with my TTB Bronco I would be better off trying to find the right tools to build my own suspension because none of the systems offered are 100% Pros with out some severe compromises. but I feel leave it stock. Ford thought the TTB through and it was raced for 2 decades in the Baja Races without a change other than shocks.