BarmanBean

iTrader: (1)

Bilsteins showed up and Roadmaster is on the way (contacted them direct and they gave me a decent discount). Will get everything installed and reset the WDH....in the spring? I dunno.

BarmanBean

iTrader: (1)

Got the 5100s installed tonight, was a good easy project with my 5yo--quick sense of accomplishment

Holy crap. Why don't these trucks come with these from the factory? The difference is extremely noticeable even just on a quick run around the neighborhood. One odd thing, one of the upper strut nuts on my truck was pretty much completely stripped and had some sort of metal "tab" mounted at the base of the nut. The other side didn't have that. Kinda weird. (EDIT: just did some searching and it looks like Ford uses that style nut-with-tab on some of their other cars, they must have run out of the plain nuts at the factory? Who knows. Regardless, I had a spare locking flanged nut that went on it it's place.)

The roadmaster active suspension showed up today also. That install is a bit more involved and I want to get a better feel for the bilsteins before I add the RAS, so will probably wait a couple weeks to install that.

BarmanBean

iTrader: (1)

Added a couple things to the truck in the last few days--swapped in a 36 gallon OEM fuel tank and also got the roadmaster active suspension installed. The fuel tank swap was a royal PITA, the RAS install could not have been simpler. The rear of the truck is definitely higher, I think I'm going to go ahead and remove the rear 4x4 blocks to bring it down a bit.

Our first trip of the season is next weekend, lookin forward to it.

Gladehound

Thanks for continuing to update this thread. I didn't know what RAS until just this week. Very interesting concept. I'm quite curious about how they work for you. Please continue to report as you have more experience with them.

BarmanBean

iTrader: (1)

So far, the RAS feels like an incredible difference. I'll see how it tows inabiut a week.

W3BY

After reading your thread I am going to update my OEM, original shocks , to 5100's and might even look into RAS. I will be hauling a 1100# motorcycle and 300# lift in the bed of the truck.

Gladehound

Great to hear. can you elaborate on "incredible difference"? I'm just as interested in how they feel empty as loaded. Thx.

BarmanBean

iTrader: (1)

I'll see how the do loaded this weekend. I'm hoping to be able to reset my WDH before the trip, but it may not actually happen due to timing--will see.

Regarding the unloaded ride, so far it has felt similar to adding a nice rear sway bar upgrade. My previous car was a modded-to-piece turbo Subaru Outback. The feel of the RAS is similar to some of the benefits of adding upgraded sway bars and coilovers to that car. The rear of the truck just feels more planted and the previous oscillations from hitting bumps are significantly reduced. Rear end body roll is reduced and it settles down from bumps much quicker. It just "feels" better.

acdii

Now if I could trust that I wouldn't have anymore issues, this sounds like a great addition! It could sure use some help in the rear as it has the same issues described. How does it do when stopping? Mine tends to rock back and forth after a stop, even more so when loaded up to 1120 pounds.

BarmanBean

iTrader: (1)

I'll report back after this weekend, or maybe even after the trip to the campground--but I think the design and purpose of this system is pretty damn sweet.I've only been unloaded so far, but hard acceleration has reduced squat with the RAS, and hard breaking doesn't lift the rear as much. In every direction (left/right, front/back) the truck feels to pitch less with turning, breaking, and accelerating and just feels more "connected" between the 4 corners and also to the road.

I also only have the springs set at about 1.1mm. You can "increase performance" of the system by expanding the springs for up to a 2mm gap to add increased tension to the system.