Radflo's Question

[TBYODA]

I asked the below question to a few members (JamesDowning, The Roadie, bartonmd, NC_IslandRunner & v7guy) in PM and was asked by Roadie: Why is this being discussed in a PM? Yea pretty dumb of me so I am posting the question/reply's here for others to see and comment on also. Maybe this won't happen now.

So that the next person with the same questions can ask them over again?

Now with one Tecore under my belt and seeing all the TB up close. I do have better sense of what I want to do. Question on the radflo's. From seeing & hearing JD and Rory's reaction to them and understanding they "should be" more reliable then other setups I am really sold on them but still have a one concern. As with most builds mine will be stages so. My concern is that if I were to get these and say order then as bartonmd/moots1288 configured them and not have a steel front bumper/winch right away, what could be the issues if any do you think? I have also toyed with going economical right now to be able to get on the trails and install these when I add a front bumper/winch.

Thanks,
Robert

I think it should be fine, as long as you are eventually planning on adding some weight. They are digressively valved enough that the damping shouldn't be too bad, and you can make up for the weight in the spring preload adjustment.

Mike

"Preload adjustment" is a misnomer. It's a height adjustment.
It will be much stiffer than stock, but as with Barton, I'm not entirely sure if that's a huge concern without the 200 lb front bumper. In the grand scheme of the truck weight, a 200 lbs bumper isn't a huge difference on the springs.

It's the 200 pound bumper and winch and two extremely heavy tire and wheel combos sitting on a fully compressed set of coilovers, sent flying upwards after the compression goes away, that broke my Icons due to a substandard mechanical analysis of the bending moment on the shock shaft. I'll only put them back on after I put on limiting straps.

James is correct on both accounts. It is preload of the spring on the shock, but what it is actually adjusting with weight on the vehicle is ride height (thought you adjust them with the vehicle jacked up).

[dvanbramer88]

Moots doesn't have a winch or a bumper. Just the typical skid plates and Rory and JD both took what they said to be $1000 test drives in Moot's truck.

Everyone who has driven it agrees it is the nicest riding GMT360 out there.

[bartonmd]

They certainly do make it ride nicer on the trails! The "$1k test drive" is what I've said about motorcycle suspension for years. Getting the Ohlins on the rear of my bike and re-valving the forks didn't cost me $1800 for this bike. It cost me $1800 on every bike I own from here out. Aftermarket suspension really is that much better. This is especially true on the front of the TB, where the only shocks that are made are for stock sized "P" tires, and don't do much to stop the LT tire from bouncing around on mid-corner bumps and such.

Mike

[mikekey]

Wonder if they'd do a group buy, there is now a number of us ready to purchase.

[TBYODA]

Wonder if they'd do a group buy, there is now a number of us ready to purchase.

That would very cool if they did, and take some $$ off. I know of four of us that want to buy. I just bought my wife a 64 gig iPhone 5s $399 + tax for Xmas. Hmm should be able to justify one for Xmas. Haha

[Moots1288]

I gave the privilege to Erik SS, JD and Rory and all 3 of them came back with a smile on there face and instantly knew that $1000 is completely worth the ride. The only thing Erik did not approve on was my setup with the skyjacker springs but that has nothin to do with the front end.

[OregTrailBlazin]

My concern is that if I were to get these and say order then as bartonmd/moots1288 configured them and not have a steel front bumper/winch right away, what could be the issues if any do you think?

Thanks,
Robert

I think you'll be alright. I didn't have them bump up the spring rate or valving for Barton's or Moots'. It is what they came up with from the factory shock I sent them. They generally increase the spring rate and valving to compensate for added weight and height that people usually add to their off road rigs.

I've had people worry that they need more spring rate with a bumper and winch, step up to it, then hate the ride because it’s too stiff. Like James said that small amount of weight just isn't enough to make the rig really care.





I'm checking into if I can swing a group buy, but at this point it probably won't be a whole lot cheaper. I hardly mark these up at all and have kept the price low compared to the rest of the Coilovers market hoping to help my TB/Envoy family out. They've already had two price increases that I haven't passed along yet too .

SO if you want a group buy, obviously the more the better. If we get enough, maybe I can lean on Radflo to drop cost down a bit and make it more worth it for you guys. Get on the other forums and get some hype going.

[DirtyBacon04]

Count me in for the group buy!

[Trail X]

I'd be in.

The difference was staggering on the rutty potholy swoopydoop dirt track. I never thought it could make that much of a difference, but alas I was wrong. I remember roadie saying he could take things at twice the speed now, and I believe it.

And after moots' high speed bouncing blast attack on the multi-step rock climb on tecore, I'm pretty sold on the durability. It's gotta be better than the ones Bill had originally.

[mikekey]

So we've got 4 potentials. Hey Johnny, how many would be a good number and what would be a good time frame? Like 5 of us or more to commit to buying next month or should we push it to Nov and get more people in? I'd also be willing to do a deposit (even non-refundable) to secure my commitment and interest. Let's see if we can make this happen. Even if it's a $100 off. We're having a kid, and I know two other members are or already have them, so every dollar counts.

SO FAR:

Myself
TBYODA
DirtyBacon04
JamesDowning
ErikSS (???)

[ErikSS]

SO FAR:

MikeKey
TBYODA
DirtyBacon04
JamesDowning
ErikSS Pending at least $100 off

Has anyone told v7guy?

[TBYODA]

SO FAR: ErikSS Pending at least $100 off

same with me and I'd like to see more, if it was more I think more would jump it. NC_Islandrunner really like them but I can't speak from him.

Has anyone told v7guy?

Yea he knows but I think he is going in a different direction that will not need them. Remember the front diff that Dave had. Hint, hint.

[mikekey]

Yeah I know v7guy had some pretty cool ideas from last TECORE.

I'd say $100 is a far min for group buy. But I am determined without the group buy. But a group buy will make me more willing to purchase now, than putting off for later.

[ErikSS]

I wonder where that diff came from. Haha

[dvanbramer88]

Has anyone told v7guy?

SO FAR: ErikSS Pending at least $100 off

same with me and I'd like to see more, if it was more I think more would jump it. NC_Islandrunner really like them but I can't speak from him.

Yea he knows but I think he is going in a different direction that will not need them. Remember the front diff that Dave had. Hint, hint.

Robert remembers. Erik, did you forget about the giant piece of aluminum and steel that rode from Chicago to Va in the back of your truck? And than got carted around for 3 days in the back of mine? That wasn't just for fun.


EDIT: you beat me too it, lol

[mikekey]

You mean the Silverado front differential that you posted a picture of..... hmm....


Do we need to create a separate thread here?

[dvanbramer88]

Nothing to see here. Move along..

[vagator]

Gents
I'd be in for a group buy. I have been debating making the plunge and this is the catalyst I need.

[HARDTRAILZ]

I got to haul that diff around too and store it for several months.

I would need a significant... quite significant drop in price for me to justify joining a group buy. I really never want for more out of mine. I drove Barton's but not enough difference in my use to really want them. Money would be better spent toward SAS in my eyes.

[dk318is]

Count me in on the group buy.