bds vs supermaxx

[designbilly]

Which is a better option the BDS or the Supermaxx I see there is a divide on what people are purchasing and also what do you guys know about the new Rancho quicklift system http://www.gorancho.com/flash/press/2006/RanchoQuickLIFSEMA06.pdf . Would that work on our TB's

[topprolmc]

Which is a better option the BDS or the Supermaxx I see there is a divide on what people are purchasing and also what do you guys know about the new Rancho quicklift system http://www.gorancho.com/flash/press/2006/RanchoQuickLIFSEMA06.pdf . Would that work on our TB's


Considering the Rancho product isn't due until late this year........
BDS is By far better than the Suspension Max.

[the roadie]

That's like asking, what's the best COLOR for the TB. Depends on what you want it to look like. Or perform. If you just want to level the front out and get rid of the downhill rake - use SMAXX in the front only. For serious functional offroading, BDS is the only serious choice. Rancho doesn't make any lift that can fit the trailvoy. I had SuspensionMAXX first and retired them the week I heard about the BDS kit.

So what are your intentions? What trails do you want to run? Mud, rocks, sand, or the curbs at the mall?

[AlekG]

If you just want to level the front out and get rid of the downhill rake - use SMAXX in the front only. For serious functional offroading, BDS is the only serious choice. Rancho doesn't make any lift that can fit the trailvoy. I had SuspensionMAXX first and retired them the week I heard about the BDS kit.

Another thing to remember is that the SMaxx uses the factory system to mount the top of the shock piston. Its a flat rubber bushing that in my opinion, is prone to tearing. Particularly if you run larger wheels and tires that are heavier than stock.

The BDS kit completely replaces that mounting system with their own poly bushings. Plus they add a 3rd bolt that attaches to the vehicle making the whole thing stronger and more heavy duty.

AG

[unkljon]

BDS Lift if your going for clearance

Suspension MAXX if your going for minor height difference or just looking to level it off from that sloped stance

[JamesDub]

Just to be an ass ....

I'd say JAPAN 2" "UPCOILS" :D

[designbilly]

Well I am in louisiana so not much rockcrawling down here but lots of mud i do occasional trail rides and some of the places I tow my fourwheeler to is a bit rough. so I would like to put some larger tires on and from the sound of it it would benefit me in doing a lift of some kind, but at the same time this is an everyday driver for me so need it to have some good highway capabilities so no 12" lift with 40 inch tires but I would like a more agressive stance and tire combo thinkin of the 33" with a 17" rim and as for the lift it looks like the bds is the way to go and if I wanted 33" i would need a body lift as well. So lots of decisions I see that Roadie has the 31" and seems to rocking the trails just fine so maybe I go smaller tire for now until i see I need to change to a larger one I am not sure I am so glad this forum is here it helps

[topprolmc]

... thinkin of the 33" with a 17" rim and as for the lift it looks like the bds is the way to go and if I wanted 33" i would need a body lift as well.


I run 33's and have no body lift...Just BDS and wheel adaptors

[Gearhead2012]

I run 33's and have no body lift...Just BDS and wheel adaptors

Your truck looks so great...all the big boys in the "lifted club" do. I'll join that club shortly...but how don't you have problems with rubbing? Everyone else has...I understand that the specific tire you choose to go with makes a big difference...but...how??? Did you at least have to trim everything that Teebes and AlekG have had to...like the metal tab, and what sounds like half of your fender lining? I'm not doubting you at all...actually just trying to see what I could run. Also, how wide are your rims...cuz that can affect it too.

[the roadie]

I'd say JAPAN 2" "UPCOILS" :DJust to be an ass ....
where can you buy them today, and how much? Newbies need to know. Or have they gone the way of the dodo and Custom Motorsports? :p

[JamesDub]

I got the 2 inch lift coils from Japan from Pete at PMIZU@aol.com (I think thats the address) kinda hard to get . Meiwa Co is the maker .
*** Click here for there products ...
http://www.rakuten.co.jp/4wd-tuhan/671504/486785/


Not sure if these guys still do Trailblazer stuff , might just be an old link . *There the ones who put my 3" bodylift on .
http://www.custommotorsports.com/cmsindex.cfm?sus=b
*Oops I think they only install there , no kits delivered anymore . Worth a call though .

On the other forum chevtruckworld there was a guy BB or bb555 or something like that . He said he could help get the Japan coils . He had contact with the Japanese company Mewia Co .
*He has a cardomain page Member ID bb555 .

** I just went thru my packing paperwork from Meiwa Co LTD .
The Company info is :
7-88 Higashikoshigaya
Kosigayacity Saitama
Japan 343-0023
Norio Ichiba
Phone # 048-966-3551
Email for them is : info@meiwa-net.com
Contact at Meiwa : Mr Ogino


As far as the coils here stateside , i was talking with Truckin Suspension . They have 2 pg color adds in the truck mags , i'm sure youve seen them . They said they could either make me some custom springs or use stock springs with adjustable spacers .
contact : Joe Morrow joe@chassistech.com
or Kenny from truckin suspension at 1-800-682-trux
I think both companies are connected."


Then theres a guy Jon Wargo , he owns The Custom Shop . I was gonna get some work done thru him way way back . Check out his site ...He has a show TB that has a Body lift off a Tahoe and air adjustable shocks I believe . Its been a couple years , I forget .
http://www.customshop.org/
Actually it looks like his TB is for sale ... look here .
http://www.customshop.org/html/forsale/trailblazer_for_sale_2.html

[topprolmc]

Your truck looks so great...all the big boys in the "lifted club" do. I'll join that club shortly...but how don't you have problems with rubbing? Everyone else has...I understand that the specific tire you choose to go with makes a big difference...but...how??? Did you at least have to trim everything that Teebes and AlekG have had to...like the metal tab, and what sounds like half of your fender lining? I'm not doubting you at all...actually just trying to see what I could run. Also, how wide are your rims...cuz that can affect it too.


What I trimmed is the Inner Wheel well liner (plastic).Measured 10" from the bottom of the front edge and ut straight across, an on the rear, I measured up to the "hump" in metal behing it (8 or so inches I think). Also the metal tab that the bolt at the rear of the wheel well goes into. No structural mods.

[unkljon]

I think with anything other than a 2" inch lift, or as Roadie mentions in another post, 3" of effective lift, I'm worried problems may come out down the road. After a lot of reading through numerous posts, that truck can only do so much with the "Stock" parts. BDS designed a lift that they back, and that you can drive daily and or take on some trails. IMHO, I think that the only way to really get lifts in excess of 2 & 3 inches, is to custom fab everything, not just spacers and or springs. Not disrespecting anyone else's lift that is in excess of this by any means, but thats just my take.. I figured if you could get more than 2" safely, why didn't BDS go this route in the first place...probably cause stuff will break over a period of time...

ON a side note,

for 32" tires, I don't believe you need the body lift,, is that a correct assumption??? I ask because I am in the market to buy a set of 32" soon and just want to make sure.

[the roadie]

...for 32" tires, I don't believe you need the body lift,My 31.5" aren't damaging the fender sheet metal, so I predict 32" will be fine. But since tires can go plus or minus from their nominal sizes, without any rhyme or reason it seems, every brand might surprise you. Just read a review of a lifted FJ Cruiser where the expected 33" tires ended up being 34.7"! Ooops.

[designbilly]

so given what i want to do riding style what would you guys recommend. I dont want to waste money if not needed....

[unkljon]

Good question
Quick summary

If you are doing the suspension work and can afford to pay the $300 extra to get the BDS lift, I would go that route. If not, then stick with the suspension maxx spacers. I was able to do the work myself, so I had the suspensionmaxx spacers, then went to the BDS lift kit. If you only want a minor height increase or only want to level the truck, then the suspension maxx setup is by far cheaper.. The way I see it and others I have read here, you going to have to remove the front strut assembly and rear springs anyway, why not just do the bds lift while its apart.. That said, again, if you just want a minor height increase, and don't want to get wheel spacers, 32" tires, the whole nine yards. then you may be happy with the spacer suspension maxx setup..

Hope this helps

[Gearhead2012]

What I trimmed is the Inner Wheel well liner (plastic).Measured 10" from the bottom of the front edge and ut straight across, an on the rear, I measured up to the "hump" in metal behing it (8 or so inches I think). Also the metal tab that the bolt at the rear of the wheel well goes into. No structural mods.

Cool, thanks man. It sounds like to clear 33's, you'll need to cut that tab off, which isn't really all that big a deal I guess. I'm still trying to make up my mind as to jump up to a "semi-33" or stick with a tire closer to 32". We'll see...a lot depends on what rim I end up buying, which will determine how much money I'll have to put towards tires. If I end up going with a 33...the tires I'd get aren't cheap, which pushes me to get a cheaper wheel, but...if I got 32's for now, I could go for a little more expensive wheel. The wheels I'll have for a longer time then the tires, so I want to get the ones I want now, and not wish I hadn't cheaped out. oh well...decisions, decisions.

[unkljon]

Cool, thanks man. It sounds like to clear 33's, you'll need to cut that tab off, which isn't really all that big a deal I guess. I'm still trying to make up my mind as to jump up to a "semi-33" or stick with a tire closer to 32". We'll see...a lot depends on what rim I end up buying, which will determine how much money I'll have to put towards tires. If I end up going with a 33...the tires I'd get aren't cheap, which pushes me to get a cheaper wheel, but...if I got 32's for now, I could go for a little more expensive wheel. The wheels I'll have for a longer time then the tires, so I want to get the ones I want now, and not wish I hadn't cheaped out. oh well...decisions, decisions.

Thats my dilemma as well, well not the rim purchase but tire purchase.
I have had nothing but good feedback for the general grabbers I have, I want to buy their 265/75/16 size. They have a higher speed rating, and weight rating then a lot of the other brand mud terrains. And for a truck i drive on the weekend on and off road, that might be the best choice... That tire is huge @ 57 pounds and 31.9 inches in diameter......

Now to find a buyer for my existing 265/70/16 30" tires....:undecided

[designbilly]

Well thanks for the help it does make sense to do the BDS if you going to have it apart anyways might as well do it right once....and for tires I was looking at the BFG ALL Terrains or Mud Terrains....a little conflict since i am on the road more than off but when I do go off it is way muddy with louisiana's gumbo mud so any thought as to this

[JamesDub]

Well thanks for the help it does make sense to do the BDS if you going to have it apart anyways might as well do it right once....and for tires I was looking at the BFG ALL Terrains or Mud Terrains....a little conflict since i am on the road more than off but when I do go off it is way muddy with louisiana's gumbo mud so any thought as to this

GOODYEAR MTRs :thumbsup: .

James

[Gearhead2012]

Well thanks for the help it does make sense to do the BDS if you going to have it apart anyways might as well do it right once....and for tires I was looking at the BFG ALL Terrains or Mud Terrains....a little conflict since i am on the road more than off but when I do go off it is way muddy with louisiana's gumbo mud so any thought as to this

I've never heard anyone say anything bad at all about the All terrains. If you spend a lot of time on the road, I'd say go with the all terrains. They'll last forever, and I've heard they're pretty quiet on the highway. As long as you stay with a 16 inch rim, they won't cost you too much either. If I wasn't going up to a 17, I'd give them a hard look.

[designbilly]

well i have stock 17" but am looking to get a new rim so who knows what size is best

[Gearhead2012]

As far as what size is best...it really just depends on what your looking for. A lot of people like the big tire/big rim look. I'm not a huge fan of it, but on some trucks, it looks ok. If your after pure functionality, Peterson's Offroad Magazine has stated many times that for a setup designed to be functional offroad, that your rim size shouldn't exceed half of your tire height. So, if you had a 32 inch tire, you shouldn't go over a 16 inch rim. Now...an inch or maybe 2 won't hurt, they're mostly talking about running 20's or even 22's on a 33 inch tire. Just doesn't cut it really, especially when you air down to widen your footprint. I personally plan to go with a 17 inch rim, and tires a touch taller than 32. It doesn't perfectly follow the peterson's rule...but it's close, and IMO should give it a good look.

[seawolf06]

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but I figured it's better than starting a new one to show that I have searched.

Question: Does the BDS suspesion lift also level the vehicle or is it still raked to the front? Thank you.

[the roadie]

The BDS adds about 2.5" in the front and 2" in the rear. If you're lower by only 1/2" in the front before, you might end up level. But everybody seems to be slightly different, so it's impossible to predict if YOU will end up level or not.

Besides, this is the Offroad forum, where we put great value on inches of lift, not levelness. At least I do. :D

Being lower in the front can be very useful in case you get a rock wedged under your frame. If you're higher in the back, it gets less and less wedged as you travel forward. And without major CV joint and control arm work, we'll never have as much potential lift in the front as in the back.

[seawolf06]

That's what I needed to know. Thank you, sir.:hail: