I'd like to see an SAS in reverse

[Robb]

You will probably never see an IS come from a factory that would be more desirable offroad (excluding prerunning) than a solid axle suspension.

That being said, many offroaders will agree that the future of offroading lies in IS. IS created properly WILL outperform any SA offroad. BUT, we are talking about complete custom jobs here. High dollar engineering, custom part machinery, and expert installation and testing would all have to be involved. High strength, long travel independent 4WD suspension is, and will be, VERY EXPENSIVE and labor intensive!! The simple fact is that 98% of offroad enthusiasts just don't have the money or resources to create such machines. They do have to resources to get their hands on, and install high strength solid axles which will perform very well offroad.

In another 10-20 years, will dependable IS kits be available in the aftermarket? Maybe, just maybe........

 

[Alec]

And by that time I'll be in practice and able to afford one!

 

[Nicaraguense]

And by that time

And by that time I will be in Nicaragua with whatever mods I have and will have to live with it just as it is but paid for. I won't be getting another vehicle for a long LONG time after that making my measly $350 or $500 a month but happy as can be in a beautiful developing country, a lovely culture. Yeah, It will be hard and certainly not all roses but much better than this rat race up here. Don't get me wrong, I am very VERY thankful to have grown up here.

 

[Doug]

Ever seen a humvee try to go down a narrow trail? it's kinda funny. They are super wide I'd much rather have a narrower rig to go off road. not for nothing any rig with lockers and agressive tires would perform well in the mud.

 

[Nicaraguense]

That would be another

That would be another reason I chose a Gen II Ex. as well. I will admit that.

 

[Felix]

?? I am not really sure what is trying to be figured out in this thread.. ???

I do know about the Millitary HUMMV though. One thing is for sure they DO NOT FLEX. They have a 1 1/4 ton GVWR designed for towing and hauling lots of strange trailers and wepons systems. They have the IFS/IRS to make them less likely to be damaged. The front and rear drive shafts are ran through tunnels with skid plates, and have counter rotation cv joints that get geared down in the portal hubs. They also have 37 inch tires to further increase the ground clearance.

The IFS/IRS systems are also interchangable, ie the front and rear are identical to each other. Thus making it easier to make and/or find replacement parts.


Now for your thinking of making it up and down muddy rutted nasty roads. What is wrong with the good old thinking of a solid axle and 38 inch swampers? I mean heck the trailmaster or superlift 4 inch kit with a 3 inch body lift and 35 inch mud tires on your explorer will take you anywhere you want to go. Just dont forget to get a rear locker and regear the axles.

I am still not sure what if any point this makes but oh well I have already wrote it down.