Rough Country vs Tuff Country

[fallguy]

I put on RC 4" lift with my axle swap & 35" BFGs.

They lived up to their name...very rough ride...my wife hates to go anywhere with me.

So I switched to Tuff Country EZ Ride due to all of the research I did. However the differences were interesting!

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RC is much heavier due to 2 more leaves.

TC, as stated above, has only 3...WTH?

RC sits much higher when installed...almost like a 6" lift. So the rear does look like it sags....hate that.

TC seems to ride nicer and sits more level with the rear...so it has a better stance. However, now the rear of the fender well rubs on a tight turn or flex while turning!!! SOB!!! Damn near tore off my fender trim and basically did on the corner of one side. So I moved that corner a bit with a BFH to try to stop it.

I give up...suggestions!?!

Also if it "breaks in" and sits lower....I'm sure that'll suck more!

 

[GreaseDog]

What are you running for wheels and tires?

 

[77 K20]

You said you now have rub on the rear of the fender. How much room do you have from the tire to the front of the fender?

Cause for not much money you can move the axle forwards either 1" or 1.5".

http://www.offroaddesign.com/catalog/Zero%20Rates.htm

 

[fallguy]

Tires are BFG 35x12.5 R15

Rims are 15x8

Rubber to fender seems to be evenly gapped from edge to fender well edge.

 

[fallguy]

Ok, solution...I think....run a Universal Adjustable shackle at about 3/4 of an inch to make clearance & allow for settling. We will see how that goes.

Hit a good bump on purpose with steering wheel turned and bent the back inner lip of the fender back even more...put it in reverse and did it to the other side as well...can't really tell I did it, but that helped quite a bit...I'm ok with that too.

 

[Swims350]

just get the zero rates or ez inches like someone else said, an extra inch of lift and if need be the axle can move forward or back to help more.

and yes of course rough country is stiffer, and has more leafs, more spring rate, so thus equals less sag and more tension so less sag when weight is put on them, exactly what you found out.

 

[fallguy]

Tuff Country springs ride extremely well, but they are more like 3" rather than 4" and won't allow for 33" tires. The Universal shackle set up 1.5" to allow for settling made the difference.

Now time for new shocks as the RC hydrostatic I have are too long and bottom out as well as settle the truck after about 2-3 bounces.

Tuff Country gas shocks will be my solution. As I have the factory quad setup I'll be using it again.

 

[skysurfer]

Tuff Country springs ride extremely well, but they are more like 3" rather than 4" and won't allow for 33" tires.

I had RC and switched to TC. Both are the same height and clear 35's until I get into the real twisty stuff.

 

[77 K20]

I had RC and switched to TC. Both are the same height and clear 35's until I get into the real twisty stuff.

Did you get TC EZ ride springs or TC HD springs? I got the HDs and they lifted the front more than advertised. I still like the way they ride- but when I called and asked about them they said the HD is for a big block which weighs more, or having a heavy front bumper and winch.

 

[skysurfer]

I have the EZ rides. They're fine on the front of my small block 3/4 ton.

I wish I had done the rears at the same time and eliminated the blocks, they've REALLY gone up in price since then.

 

[Swims350]

was the clearing 33's a typo? because we cleared 33's stock on our 86 k10 NO lift. on rallys with no rub.

 

[bucket]

was the clearing 33's a typo? because we cleared 33's stock on our 86 k10 NO lift. on rallys with no rub.

It's weird, my '77 K5 and '90 K20 Burb both clear 33's in stock form, but my '88 K20 Burb on 33's with a 4 inch lift manages to rub at times. The lower fender is actually mangled pretty good. The only difference is I've gotten pretty rough with the '88 at times, it must just be how the truck is used.

 

[fallguy]

was the clearing 33's a typo? because we cleared 33's stock on our 86 k10 NO lift. on rallys with no rub.

Yes it was a typo...35's was meant.

My '86 K10 cleared 33's with stock suspension, but did rub with much flex...like driving over a curb or hitting a bump while turning.

 

[77 K20]

Do you have really wide wheels? Or wheels with hardly any backspacing?

Either of those combinations can cause a tire to rub.

 

[fallguy]

Yes it was a typo...35's was meant.

My '86 K10 cleared 33's with stock suspension, but did rub with much flex...like driving over a curb or hitting a bump while turning.

Nope


JH

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