Author Topic: Wheelin without shocks, eh? Oh really. (Read 4727 times)

Yota Up · « **on:** Aug 18, 2007, 11:52:19 AM »

Unlike the (quack)Mythbusters - I'm not ignorant enough to extrapolate my personal experience as a 100% definitative rule of thumb.

A while back we were talking about shocks, and how my truck was without. Someone said "Don't worry, guys go wheelin without shocks all the time". <- Is that possible?

I had my truck off road, with no shocks in the rear. No progress at all. Even with 4 wheel drive engaged, the rear just bounces and spits dirt. The truck could barely go up a slight incline in the dirt. I almost got stuck in my driveway.

So - I just wanted to ask ya'll if you have ever really seen someone wheel without shocks. It "seems" impossible to me, but again - I don't want to be ignorant and say it 100% so I'm asking ya'll.

Willy Mammoth · « **Reply #1 on:** Aug 18, 2007, 12:03:20 PM »

FFC

Just ask Crash test dummy

Duffil · « **Reply #2 on:** Aug 18, 2007, 01:17:33 PM »

I just put rear shocks on my truck, it's been lifted for over a year. I have wheeled Niagara Rim, Slickrock Trail, Deer Valley Trail...I think that's it. It does hop, but i adjusted my driving style to compensate, ie, less throttle, double low, use the fat pedal locker...I went lots of places like that.

DTB · « **Reply #3 on:** Aug 18, 2007, 01:38:41 PM »

I just did my SAS and havent gotten around to putting the shocks on yet. So far I have 200 miles driving to and from work and one time just playing in the woods...works fine..not near as bouncy as i thought it would be...wouldnt want to get into a hard panic stop on road or any kind of sidehill or off camber off road without them though

Rocksurfer · « **Reply #4 on:** Aug 18, 2007, 02:07:01 PM »

I wheeled without shocks once, I have 2 words to explain my experience NEVER AGAIN!!!

It was OK in slow technical sections but if I was in a section that didn't require to be in double low it just totally sucked.

Yota Up · « **Reply #5 on:** Aug 18, 2007, 07:04:43 PM »

Quote from: Rocksurfer on Aug 18, 2007, 02:07:01 PM

I wheeled without shocks once, I have 2 words to explain my experience NEVER AGAIN!!!

It was OK in slow technical sections but if I was in a section that didn't require to be in double low it just totally sucked.

Bingo. It can be done. But with that rear having no weight at all, and no shocks to put that energy to the ground -it's a rabbit. Had my buddy laughing his @ss off the whole time, though.

It would be cool to actually see a shot of someone out without shocks, deep into a trail. You know he went through pain.

Rocksurfer · « **Reply #6 on:** Aug 18, 2007, 08:34:35 PM »

Talk about no weight it was my Samurai I did it in, had the shocks finished in the front but didn't get the rears on. That thing was sooooooo bouncy.

Tallchevy · « **Reply #7 on:** Aug 18, 2007, 08:47:20 PM »

When I did the lift on my Runner I didn't have shocks in the rear. That was a bouncy ride. It was scary to drive. It would bounce enough to unload the 63's & double shackle in the rear

Rocksurfer · « **Reply #8 on:** Aug 18, 2007, 08:51:41 PM »

Mine was sooooooo bouncy it would make the EZ-locker ratchet and my whole rearend would jump sideways on the freeway. Sure glad I could only get up to 60 mph.

CrazyYota · « **Reply #9 on:** Aug 18, 2007, 09:24:46 PM »

Quote from: Tallchevy350 on Aug 18, 2007, 08:47:20 PM

When I did the lift on my Runner I didn't have shocks in the rear. That was a bouncy ride. It was scary to drive. It would bounce enough to unload the 63's & double shackle in the rear

Mine does the same thing!

I can barley drive up a sandy hill with the back bouncing crazy! and backwards never, i need to add shocks

dizzydevil · « **Reply #10 on:** Aug 19, 2007, 12:50:27 AM »

i didn't have shocks on the rear of my 80 pickup for a few years.... ran most of the trails at the hammers that way with no problems. That being said now that i have them back on i much perfer it this way. But it did work just fine without

unclejpl4x4 · « **Reply #11 on:** Aug 19, 2007, 06:59:28 AM »

um if memory severs me ruger dose not have front shocks or was it rear. we did highway/mc5 it seemed fine.

FCC BD

i can't 100% remember

Duffil · « **Reply #12 on:** Aug 19, 2007, 05:29:11 PM »

I just got back from my first trip out with the shocks and the detroit. It doesn't hop as bad, but still hops. Usually on steep uphills when skinny pedal is needed. On the road is the

though. I don't notice a huge difference from not having them.

Tallchevy · « **Reply #13 on:** Aug 19, 2007, 08:06:04 PM »

Every rig is different. With chevy's, they are bouncy, (at least on my Runner) with other springs that are shorter & possible stiffer, the truck wouldn't bounce as much

DTB · « **Reply #14 on:** Aug 19, 2007, 08:21:23 PM »

Quote from: Tallchevy350 on Aug 19, 2007, 08:06:04 PM

Every rig is different. With chevy's, they are bouncy, (at least on my Runner) with other springs that are shorter & possible stiffer, the truck wouldn't bounce as much

yup, my marlin springs were stiff as hell when i first put them on with no shocks....could barely tell there were no shocks...now that they have settled in a bit its starting to get pretty damn rough (but still manageable)

BLACKDOG · « **Reply #15 on:** Aug 20, 2007, 05:01:28 PM »

Neither Ruger nor I have shocks in the rear of our trucks. He's got an exo though, so that helps with the weight.

Personally, I've never had a real problem. I haven't had them on for a good 2-3 years, and have run in the snow, on the Rubicon, logging trails, up around meadowlake, and moonrocks. Only problem I had at moonrocks was a little bouncing in the beginning, and my tires would dig every time I hit. aired down some more, and solved that problem.

toy4x4ota · « **Reply #16 on:** Aug 21, 2007, 08:10:47 AM »

im running shockless in the rear, it does bounce sometimes when i am really trying to get it but other than that it is not nearly as horrible as you would think. i can only imangine how nice it would be with the shocks though. but like others have said, i just adjust my driving style, less throttle

porkchop · « **Reply #17 on:** Aug 24, 2007, 08:08:50 PM »

just put 63" chevies on my 85 and heading to windrock this weekend hope it is not to bad

Stocker · « **Reply #18 on:** Aug 25, 2007, 10:40:48 AM »

Been following this thread with some curiosity.... I've never gone shockless, but always figured they must serve a purpose -- or there'd be no need for high quality, high-dollar aftermarket replacements. Makes sense that some rigs need them more than others...

Matty · « **Reply #19 on:** Aug 25, 2007, 02:14:18 PM »

i wheeled all summer drove about 1800 miles and about 15 day trips without shocks and i was completely fine.

dizzydevil · « **Reply #20 on:** Aug 26, 2007, 08:07:23 PM »

Quote from: Stocker on Aug 25, 2007, 10:40:48 AM

Been following this thread with some curiosity.... I've never gone shockless, but always figured they must serve a purpose -- or there'd be no need for high quality, high-dollar aftermarket replacements. Makes sense that some rigs need them more than others...

Just depends on what kind of wheelin u r doing and how much street they see.

Lizard_lips · « **Reply #21 on:** Aug 27, 2007, 07:25:46 AM »

I haven't ran shocks on my rig for years. I guess I never got around to mounting them. They are just chillin in my garage. I used to daily drive mine and drive from work to the trail and back with no shocks. also my bro did that for a while. I wheel all kinds of terrain and it did fine. Sure shocks would've helped with the boucning a little. I also am running fullwidths and chevy drive train.

dizzydevil · « **Reply #22 on:** Aug 28, 2007, 10:53:13 PM »

nice pics

Lizard_lips · « **Reply #23 on:** Aug 29, 2007, 07:42:54 AM »

thanks. I think my new rig I'm building will have some kind of shocks. either coil overs or air shocks

*FFC* · « **Reply #24 on:** Aug 29, 2007, 09:36:38 AM »

OH wow I"m WAY behind on this one...

Yes I did the 'Con with no shocks... no gears too

Oh yeah, MoonRocks too!!

freds40 · « **Reply #25 on:** Aug 29, 2007, 01:26:18 PM »

I'd say it definately depends on the vehicle. On my FJ40 with wontons and 42s, I ran no shocks for 6-8 months. Mainly because I had little free time to install them and the time I did have, I was wheeling. I drove it on the road about 50-55 mph, on the top end of Dusy, all over Bald both dry and in the snow. The only time I had any bouncing that would be gone with shocks was in the snow, bombing the snow covered service road that leads to the trail head. Everyone drives it fast so it gets a bit rough. Other than that it wheeled awesome. My traction bar kept the bounce down when climbing.
Now with the Rocks install, I fully intend to throw on my Bilsteins. Hopefully I don't get the itch right before putting them on and end up wheeling my time away with no shocks.

Yota Up · « **Reply #26 on:** Aug 29, 2007, 09:22:51 PM »

I wonder if it makes mine so gutless because I have them on the front and none on the rear. My bed is bobbed, I don't have a toolbox or spare tire or anything to add weight back there, either.

Nice pics folks.

Duffil · « **Reply #27 on:** Aug 29, 2007, 09:45:24 PM »

Quote from: Yota Up on Aug 29, 2007, 09:22:51 PM

I wonder if it makes mine so gutless because I have them on the front and none on the rear. My bed is bobbed, I don't have a toolbox or spare tire or anything to add weight back there, either.

Nice pics folks.

weight makes a HUGE difference. that is the only reason i put the roll bar in mine. put about 200lbs back by the tailgate if you can, you'll notice a difference.

halfxspaid · « **Reply #28 on:** Aug 30, 2007, 03:45:18 PM »

Ive had no rear shocks on my 85 for two years. I have chevys, a block and no weight back there.

Im just fine wheeling anything. The only problem area is the freeway

Ive seen you downtown WC I think. I bet you have seen me too!

unclejpl4x4 · « **Reply #29 on:** Aug 30, 2007, 04:30:42 PM »

every time i read the topic for some reasone brain thinks " wheeling without socks, eh oh realy"

Yota Up [OP]

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Yota Up [OP]

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