IFS isn't as good as a solid axle for serious trails. They can do better than a solid axle if the solid axle is not set up, but with both set up right the solid will allow more flex and will be more stable and stronger.

If you run fast in the desert go with the IFS.

 

hope you all enjoy it.

 

check this out and find out.

 

this is true but I've run IFS rigs on some very hard trails and I have friends that go out to moab every year with IFS rigs and do just fine.

also there are more then a few cars running KOH that are trying IFS systems. and Currie has a IFS 9 housing now for buggy builders.


that being said solid axles are easy by comparison to set up and get the travel you want out of them and i'm not going to build an IFS crawler any time soon. I just hate seeing IFS sucks posts because it can work damn well off road, either on the rocks or going fast in the dirt.

 

I was under the impression that the solid axle is better because the axle works like a lever getting more traction to both tires. Example as one wheel is forced up into the body the wheel at the other end is forced down into the ground getting more grip. Where the IFS as one wheel is forced up the other wheel can only rely on the strength of the spring to plant it and get traction.

 

Yes, IFS can be built to work really good, but not for the money I'm going to put into a XJ. I've seen guys wheeling custom IRS rigs in the snow, but so far I haven't seen guys using them for crawling just rock racing. I have wheeled IRS rigs before, and while I did OK on mellow trails and snow they were nowhere near as good as my solid axle rigs.

 

IFS is most at home on the road ie. high speeds, that's why it's used by desert racers. Shannon Campbell built his Ultra 4 buggy with IFS.

 

IFS isnt particularly bad, its just the cars that have them dont do it right. We get the impression that IFS is crap because most companies make them just for on road or not for serious wheeling. Like stated before, custom IFS set ups do good because they were made to go offroad. But the IFS or IRS in a Rav 4 for example is not going to perform off road like a custom buggy, but it will give a heck of a nice ride. Dont blame the set up as much as the companies that make them. Ive herd that some Land Rovers have pretty good independent suspension.

 

I ran Datsun 720s and Nissan hardbody trucks for a long time. They are IFS and do really well in the mud and playing on the rocks. Difference with them was, Nissan set them up to take abuse. I broke the last hardbody in half playing hard in the rocks behind the farm. Didn't hurt the IFS any. Pulled it all out and slapped it in a buddies truck and it's still gettin beat hard in the rocks and mud. I like the solid front in my XJ but I won't talk crap on IFS after pounding those Nissans to Hell and back.

 

price a suspension lift kit for a ifs youll see why they suck

 

Yes, you can set up a solid axle to work wrong, ie: sway bars. But you cannot set up IFS to work right.. At least not without a multi hundred thousand dollar sponsor backed baja truck. The YJ is just not set up to do this. Notice the driver in the IFS rig simply chose a line farther to the left where not as much flex was needed, and his rear straight axle is doing all the work. Look at the front tires in relation to each other, very minimal flex, even without a sway bar.

 

I would say my IFS truck does pretty well offroad and in the rocks . I've pulled quite a few built solid axle rigs out of the crap in my time

but yes setting up an IFS rig for wheeling...in general is more costly than setting up a solid axle rig....again it all depends on your setup but getting an IFS to a point where it has the susp travel to wheel serious stuff costs a lot of money...trust me...i know