Off-Road Suspension Holiday Gift Guide

Dec. 11, 2015 By Josh Burns

Whether it’s because your suspension is just plain worn out from trail abuse or you want to gain some additional lift, there is a plethora of options for upgrading your vehicle’s suspension. Suspension upgrades run the gamut from simple OE replacements that offer improved valving and performance off the highway to complete modifications that increase vehicle ride height by 6, 8 or even 10 inches!

Whatever your needs may be, here’s a collection of some great ideas for suspension upgrades whether it’s a gift for a loved one or yourself. Check them out!

Also, be sure to pursue our Tire Holiday Gift Guide and our Accessories Holiday Gift Guide.


Bilstein 5100 Series Ride Height Adjustable Shock
The off-road veterans among us have probably crossed paths with the Bilstein 5100 at some point in time, as this mono tube shock is available for a wide variety of truck and SUVs as a simple, bolt-in stock replacement. The 5100 Series Ride Height Adjustable units allows the user to adjust the ride height of the vehicle up to 2.5 inches, depending upon the application, to level out the front of the truck or SUV as an alternative to coil spring spacers. The mono tube shock bodies features a Zinc finish will Bilstein special coating for protection from the elements, while the self-adjusting deflective disc valving with independent rebound and compression tuning helps provide a smooth ride on the trail and on the highway. Internet pricing for the Bilstein 5100 starts as low as $78 per shock but will vary depending upon the application. For more information, head over to BilsteinUS.com.


BDS Suspension Rear Adjustable Track Bar System for RAM 2500 Trucks
To help dial in the rear axle positioning on 2014-16 Ram 2500 trucks, BDS Suspension offers its new adjustable rear track bar. BDS says this new track bar will improve control of the rear axle by replacing the soft factory rubber bushings in the OE piece to a thick-wall, DOM link with high durometer polyurethane bushings at the frame and a forged COM bearing joint at the axle.

The BDS track bar system can be used with or without track bar relocation when needed on trucks with no lift up to 8-inch lift kits. The track bar comes in a durable textured black powder coat finish and is ready for install right out of the box. BDS does also note that the track bar must be used with an appropriate track bar relocation bracket for heights over 3 inches. The MSRP of the system is $204.84. Visit BDS-Suspension.com for more info.


Lingenfelter Bolt-On Long-Travel Suspension Kit For Silverado, Sierra
Lingenfelter Performance Engineering, or LPE, is offering a great deal of new products for the new GM 1500s (the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra). Its newest setup is a bolt-on long-travel suspension system 2014 and newer 1500s in both 2WD and 4x4 applications. Built in conjunction with RideTech and Fox Racing Shocks, the new LPE Long-Travel Suspension System kit increases wheel travel by approximately 25 percent over the stock suspension. It provides a three-inch lift with self-adjusting, remote-reservoir Fox shocks and struts that are specifically tuned for either 2WD or 4WD Silverado/Sierra 1500 applications. The kit also includes heavy-duty, custom-fabricated tubular upper control arms, heavy-duty, high-angled ball joints, and rear lift blocks with new mounting hardware. LPE says it can be installed by the average DIYer in as little as four hours. In total, the kit is designed to provide a total of 9.2 inches of travel in front and 11.2 inches out back. The kit pricing The LPE Long-Travel Suspension System carries a one year warranty on the components. For more information, visit www.lingenfelter.com.


Rugged Ridge 2.5 Inch Lift Kit with Shocks; 07-16 Jeep Wrangler JK
For current-generation Jeep Wrangler JK owners, Rugged Ridge offers what it calls “the most complete kit available on the market for JK” in its 2.5-inch lift kit. Included in the kit are 4 5/8-inch coil springs, each powder coated and E-coated coil springs that are set to factory rates to eliminating future sag and offers the ability to use a larger tire with no fitment issues.

The kit also comes with four new shocks for each corner, a rear track bar brace to strengthen the original track bar mount and all the necessary hardware for a complete installation. Rugged Ridge says four-door JKs will see a 2.5-inch lift, while two-door JK Wranglers will see as much as a 3.5-inch lift with this kit. The MSRP of the kit is $575.99. Visit RuggedRidge.com for more information.


Superlift GM 1500 8-Inch Lift Kit with King Coilover Shocks
King Off-Road Racing Shocks and Superlift joined forces to create what it calls a “true height 8-inch lift kit” for Chevy and GMC 1500 trucks. The kit will feature exclusive King Superlift Edition coil-over front and rear shocks with remote reservoirs.

According to Superlift, every aspect of this package is a combination of advanced engineering using scientific computerized models and good ol’ hands-on, real-world testing to achieve a great balance of smooth performance, controlled comfort and great value that won’t break the bank. The MSRP of the kit is $3,295.95 and is available for 2007-2015 to current Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks. For more information, visit Superlift.com


Air Lift 1000 Universal Spring Kit for Coil Spring Vehicles
Designed to aid in towing safety and drive comfort by eliminating squat, trailer sway, rough ride and bottoming out, Air Lift offers its new 1000 Universal Air Spring kit for light-duty towing and hauling applications. Constructed of tough, molded polyurethane, Air Lift 1000 adjustable air springs can be installed with common mechanic’s tools and easy-to-use fittings, and Air Lift says most applications require no drilling. The kit comes with everything needed for a full installation along with a complete, detailed instruction manual. The air springs are backed by a lifetime warranty and a 60-day no-questions-asked, money-back guarantee. To view an installation video or learn more about the product and applications, visit www.airliftcompany.com/airlift1000.




Fox 2.0 Performance Series Coil-Over IFP Shock for 2015-16 Chevy Colorado
Fox’s 2.0 Performance Series Coil-Over are available for the new 2015 and 2016 Chevrolet Colorado (and the GMC Canyon, of course). The 2-inch coilover shock bodies are constructed of 6061-T6 aluminum while the body plating is clear-anodized for a durable finish. What’s great is the Fox 2.0 is a direct replacement for stock and aftermarket lifts kits, and it is a bolt-on upgrade. Fox says the internal IFP mono-tube reservoir is designed to separate the shock oil from the high-pressure nitrogen for ideal performance. The race-developed, high-flow piston design helps provide fade-free performance in demanding terrain, and although Fox offers the 2.0 for many more vehicles than just the Colorado and Canyon, it valves the shock for each specific vehicle. Pricing for the shock is $429.99 each at 4Wheel Parts. Check out RideFox.com for more information.

Walker Evans Polaris RZR XP 1000 2.5" Velocity Piggyback Shocks##
Walker Evans offers its new Velocity Series coilover shocks for RZR XP1000 owners looking to take their performance to the next level. Offering more controlled resistance than a standard piggyback or remote-reservoir shock, the Velocity Series features its piggyback specifically positioned to offer higher resistance to bottoming out during high-performance driving. Along with both low- and high-pressure adjustments to dial in the ride just right, the Velocity Piggybacks offers an improved version of the Walker Evans Racing Needle Valve Technology with multiple stages of internal bypass for additional compression and rebound control. The 2.5-inch aluminum shock-bodied Velocity is rebuildable and revalvable, and Walker Evans notes the shock is designed for use with OEM arms only or with long-travel kits that utilized the OEM mounting locations. Each shock has an MSRP of $899.99. For more information, head over to WalkeEvansRacing.com.




MaxTrac Suspension 2009-2015 Ford F-150 4-Inch Lift Kit
MaxTrac Suspension just released a new 4-inch lift kit for 2009-2015 2WD F-150s. The companys says the key components of the lift kit is the spindles, which the company says addresses all of the suspension geometry to ensure excellent ride and handling characteristics. Constructed of cast ductile iron,these spindles are beefed up in key areas to handle a larger tire and wheel package and are machined to precise specifications so they are compatible with the factory control arms and wheel hubs. The new spindles are E-coated for corrosion resistance, and MaxTrac says the spindle design only increases track width by .5 inch per side to retain factory steering and suspension geometry. These spindles provide 4" of lift on 2009-2014 F-150s, and 4.5" of lift on 2015 F-150s. Also included in the kit are extended Kevlar-lined DOT-approved braided stainless steel brake hoses. In the rear, 2009-2014 models receive a 1.5" lift shackle to level the stance of the truck. The 2015 models receive a 3" block with U-bolts. Both models also include new rear twin-tube gas-charged shocks, with optional Bilstein 5100 shocks available. For more information, visit MaxTracSuspension.com for more information.




Lonestar Racing Can-Am Commander +6 XTR Suspension Kit
If you’re looking to take your Can-Am Commander 800 or 1000 to the next level, Lonestar Racing may have just the kit for you. Its Commander XTR suspension kit will add 6 inches of width per side along with 2 more inches of length for the rear trailing arm. Lonestar Racing says the kit is designed of use with a long-travel shock to provide 16 inches of wheel travel.

The kit comes backed with a lifetime warranty for the arms and axles for the original purchases, and Lonestar Racing says it uses the OEM pivot bearing and ball joints. The kit pricing starts at $2,500. For more information, visit LSracing.com.


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