The FRF Shock Shootout! All pre event details and discussion here

[BIRDMAN]

So it sounds to me like this could turn in to a suspension shootout, not just a shock shootout. Neither Fox nor King nor Icon offer a bump kit at this time. To take their products and add a third party variable in my opinion could make things sloppy. I agree the frame on the test truck should be reinforced but adding a bumpstop kit could add an unfair advantage.

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[pirate air]

Maybe a SDHQ frame brace kit and that's it. I'd rather see how the shocks perform with stock springs and no bump kit.

 

[BigJ]

There will be no unfair advantage.

I'll try this another way: if a manufacturer says to me that their shock is designed to work with an after market bump stop, and if that bump stop is not present parts are going to slam into other parts? We're running with a bump stop set as per their recommendation. Period.

Its about protecting the loaner truck. I'm not going to budge on that guys.

 

[Hockster]

I know for a fact that if i am using my truck for this I will be driving just like anyone else would be if it was their truck and I/we/they aint going to damage the vehicle. I know we can get a good baseline to start off. And like pirate said maybe a frame support or maybe a 2013 with the reinforced frame and a frame support/// Hmm lets see birdman has a 2013 right? ha ha ha

 

[BIRDMAN]

There will be no unfair advantage.

I'll try this another way: if a manufacturer says to me that their shock is designed to work with an after market bump stop, and if that bump stop is not present parts are going to slam into other parts? We're running with a bump stop set as per their recommendation. Period.

Its about protecting the loaner truck. I'm not going to budge on that guys.

Yes but none of the manufacturers make a bump stop kit so do you anticipate having them tell you their shocks were designed to be used with a bumpstop kit? If so what if King wants you to use an Outlaw kit and Icon wants you to use an SDHQ kit and Fox an RPG kit. See what I'm saying?

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[ntm]

You're on the right track J !
Stick to your guns !

Honestly guys, is anybody going to not have bumps on their truck before installing $5000 worth of shocks ? Nobody but icon's test vehicle as far as I know.
Simple thing to adjust the bumps to whatever pressure that particular shock likes, it won't take long, your not going into it blind, we know what general pressure on the bumps works with each shock.

 

[Wilson]

I did my best to ignore this thread

 

[BlueSVT]

If people need the 3.0 shock upgrade, then they should be running a bump kit regardless. BlueSVT, would you consider removing your bumpstops before pushing your truck through whoop sections now that you have the 3.0 Icons?

Remove it full time? No. Remove it for testing through whoop sections I've previously run? Absolutely.

Maybe a SDHQ frame brace kit and that's it. I'd rather see how the shocks perform with stock springs and no bump kit.

I agree.

I think there's one major point that's being missed. This is a test. A test on a pre-determined course, with pre-determined speeds, and pre-determined obstacles. If the organizers do a good job, and create a proper course, we will NOT HAVE ANY FRAME DAMAGE.

It takes one heck of an impact to bend the frame. I've done it as everybody knows. If the test organizers do their job properly, this is a NON-ISSUE. The course can be created with whoops, drops, washboard, etc. The only thing that needs to be excluded is "Frame-Bending G-Outs" which shouldn't included anyway! It's a loaner truck... nobody should be pushing somebody else's truck to the brink of causing frame damage, or this whole test is on a fast track to carnage to begin with.

Secondly, there is not a SINGLE manufacturer that is going to tell you their shocks are designed to work with a bump kit. Not a single manufacturer MAKES bump kits. Those are made by third party companies, who simply use Brand XYZ cylinders.

So, if no manufacturer says they designed their shocks to work with a bump kit, are we all in agreement that NONE will be used?

We can protect the truck, and the drivers, by doing a proper job planning and marking a proper test course. The performance of the shock will still be tested, and the driver feedback will still apply. The only test that should NOT be performed, is "How do these shocks perform over possible frame-bending G-Outs" and for the sake of this test, that is perfectly acceptable.

For every day use, the bump kit is a great asset because many of us are trail blazers, and it saves us from the "OH SHIT" moments on unknown sections. This can't be compared to a test in a controlled environment.

My $.02... I'm done debating the issue.

 

[Conejoracer]

Why not use the RPG stage 1 kit, no hydraulic bump.
It is really just a frame brace, and can be used with the stock bumpstop while offering the test truck some protection against damage.

 

[BigJ]

Yes but none of the manufacturers make a bump stop kit so do you anticipate having them tell you their shocks were designed to be used with a bumpstop kit? If so what if King wants you to use an Outlaw kit and Icon wants you to use an SDHQ kit and Fox an RPG kit. See what I'm saying?

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Then the manufacturer will tell me "we don't care" then we set the stop to 0psi and the problem is solved, right?

If they tell me "uhh well you COULD but we strongly recommend..." then that's info we customers should have, and consider strongly before buying.

What I do not want to do is be a manufacturer's proving ground with someone's loaner truck. If they give me the second answer, I do not want to say "well that's nice but to keep the playing field level we're going to chance it."

Let me ask: does anyone know the "official" word from companies like Fox, King or Icon? What do they officially say? Seems like we're putting the cart before the horse here...