UPDATE IN POST #18!


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I'm building my XJ to be a backcountry camping vehicle. The goal is to be able to drive out into the back country (on light-medium difficulty trails, nothing extreme) and be able to stay out there for at minimum 3-4 days without needing to resupply.

Right now the xj has a 3" RC lift kit with a terrible AAL in the back. I'm aiming for ~4" of total lift when all is said and done.

My concern is that I am going to be loading this down with a lot of weight, and I need a leaf setup that can handle it. Normally loaded I'll be carrying-
Steel front bumper w/ winch (250 lbs)
Steel rear bumper (150 lbs)
Rock rails (100 lbs)
Quarter guards (20 lbs)
Rear storage container (75 lbs)
2 people (~275 lbs)
Full size spare on roof (80 lbs)
= about 950 lbs. Let's say about 500 of those are on the rear leafs.


Then, fully loaded for a trip, add in...

Tools / spare parts / rope / recovery equipment / etc (100 lbs)
Hi-lift (50 lbs)
Camping equipment (100 lbs)
Water/food (100 lbs)
Extra fuel (30 lbs)
kid, 2 dogs (125 lbs)

So.. a very rough estimate would be an extra 500 lbs. Almost all of that is on the rear, so let's say another 400 lbs on the leafs.

So, I'm looking for a setup that will net me 4-4.5" of lift with the "unloaded" setup, and 3.5-4" with the "loaded" setup. How do people handle this without sagging? Just very stiff leafs?

I've got a set of shackle relocation brackets from HD offroad, so I'm looking for a shackle/leaf combination that can tolerate the weight without inverting the leafs. My thought right now is a 1" shackle and 2" OME HD leafs, combined with the shackle relocation boxes, but I'm concerned that won't put me high enough. Would that work? Any other suggestions?

 

I'd say pick up a 3" leaf pack and then Ironman 4x4's adjustable shackle. That way you can set it exactly at where you want it

 

agreed, i will be doing something similar.

if you dont want to spend the money on the adjustable shackles, Zone offers a 1" shackle lift, paird with a new 3" leaf pack, would prob give you what your looking for.

http://www.zoneoffroad.ca/default.cf...categoryid=127

 

Those shackles are sweet, good idea. Leaf pack suggestions? Something pretty stiff would be good, considering the weight requirements. I wish OME made a 3" HD pack. Anyone know if the 2" OME HD leafs actually net 2" with a substantial amount of weight?

Also, is there any downside to using a long shackle with a 2" pack, vs a short shackle and a 3" pack?

 

i would also concider having the back about .5" - 3/4" higher than the front. this way when you are fully loaded down you will sit level.

this is how mine is setup. i have 4.25" front and 4.5" back. 3" leafs with 1.5" shackle.

but with the weight you say you are gonna carry. i would do 3.25 front and 4" rear.
as said above heavier spring rates front and rear will be called for.
good uck.

 

http://www.seriousoffroadproducts.co...-SPRING-XJ-3.5

http://www.seriousoffroadproducts.co...REAR-BOOMERANG

 

Hey guys, thanks for the suggestions, I'm a little confused though. From everything I've read, the HD offroad shackle relocation brackets I have will add 1" of lift on their own. A 3" leaf pack and a 1.5" shackle (or Frank's suggestion of a 3.5" pack and a 1" shackle), plus the relocation brackets, will put me at 5.5" lift. That's way higher than I want to go.

Am I missing something here?

 

Oops! Disregard the boomerang shackles I've been up since 330 this morning

 

So just a stock shackle with the RE leafs?

Edit: I don't think I can use the relocation brackets with a stock shackle. See this post
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showpost.php?p=245366014&postcount=9

Which is why I was leaning toward a longer shackle and a shorter spring pack.

 

Anything else going to lift your rear even more.

 

U want tough leafs? Get rubicon express extreme duty. Thats what i have. They are soooo firm. They dont sag. Not exactly gonna ride like a Cadillac but good if u need support for heavy stuff

 

What shocks are you running ? I have the Bilstein 5100's on my 3.5" RE Xtreme Duty springs and they are not that stiff mine ride great. On and off road

 

The RE packs would be great but they are too high for my application. 4-4.5" is as tall as I'm willing to go, and relocation boxes plus a .75" shackle mean I'm looking at some sort of 2.5" leaf pack.

 

There is a simple solution to this issue, Take out a leaf from the re pack.
Or fill this out and get some Custom Alcan springs made !

http://www.alcanspring.com/order.htm

 

I like that. completely taylored to fit your needs. thats awesome.

OP. this is the way i would go if i were you. You have specific needs,they have specific springs for you.
Nice find TOM95YJ.