HOWTO: Choose the RIGHT suspension for your vehicle

I just upgraded the suspension in my Overland Jeep Gladiator & in this video I talk through the criteria you should use when researching a new suspension kit for your vehicle. There are a lot of factors to consider, and you want to make sure you get it right!
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#JeepGladiator #Suspension #AEV

[@Anthonysaudiojournal]

I am not an international traveler, a rock crawler but just a guy in a jeep who does alot of solo travel along dirt roads, sandy trails and some highway travel. I have learned soooo much from all of your videos bringing to mind things I might not have even thought about. Keep up the good work and enjoy your travels, Thanks Mate !

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Great to hear Anthony!

[@user-mv6de3sc8g]

Your English is beautiful smooth for non native listener like me.Thank you.

[@PhilipBeresford]

Your ethos and thought process is refreshing. It constantly amazes me how people are continually drawn down the 'bigger is better' rabbit hole without realising the compromises that come with it. The RIGHT tool for the job is always better than the biggest tool.

[@SamCarleton]

Another thing you didn't mention in the video, but I don't think AEV publicizes it a whole lot: I noticed the AEV kit didn’t have control arms so I called them and asked about that. They said they intentionally choose to use the OEM control arms because of how Jeep designed them. In a head-on impact the OEM control arms are designed to direct the wheels out and away from the cab. This is compared to most aftermarket control arms which tend to go up into the cab and hit passengers legs. AEV has really put a lot of thought into their lift and seems to do a really outstanding job of improving on the OEM suspension without taking anything away! After a week I love the lift!

[@brandons3624]

Fantastic overview! I have been waiting for this video for a while, and it was worth the wait! Thank you for going as in-depth as you did Dan.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@beatkistler681]

Great video Dan! I really like how you did this video, instead of focusing on how you did the installation to why you chose this specific one and what the considerations are. Keep the great work up!

[@LuaiADV]

Excellent video Dan! A lot of people will benefit from this information. Well said 👍

[@jt7247]

Looking at overlanding rig needs (or just about anything) from a realistic point of view is such good advice. Love your videos.

[@ryancrouch3238]

A very informative and wonderful video!

[@SasquatchBunyan]

Truck looks good. I am a huge fan of NOT overbuilding, and I like your approach and logic. Cheers!

[@eesko2000]

Great informative video Dan, thanks ! - I’m looking to do my Suspension again this summer on my 08jkuRubi . I did a cheapoo 2” spacer lift/springs/shocks, a few yrs ago, by a Jeep shop that was a bit of a crook, and haven’t been happy since. My Jeep rides like a wheel barrow. - Now that I know better, and have way more experience, I’ll do it right this time. - Do more Videos like these please ! And Enjoy ! 🙏🌲🇨🇦

[@livingworkingoutsidebox]

Great points. As always your explanations covers all the reasons why you made all those little decisions in the beginning so that the suspension could do exactly what it was designed to do. Carry that weight not just lift the vehicle.

[@elevenoverland]

Great video Dan - another example of a common sense approach to vehicle set up and equipment choice. Keep it up!

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Thanks! 👍

[@jimmethven8074]

Terrific video Dan I have been waiting for this one. Well thought out and sensible approach. Great job and looking forward to more videos. I too am curious about how the belly clearance has improved with the AEV lift.

[@RetreatHacker]

bits that bolt onto bits that bolt on, ha! love your vids dude!

[@bluntobject4084]

was great to meet you out there doing your suspension testing this week. I am actually about to do the same thing with my patrol after the my trip out there as i was having issues. ,Jeff

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Hey Jeff, I was just telling Katie about meeting you. Dad and I had a great trip, video will be online soon! Have fun out there.

[@awuwish1]

Having thought about building out my Jeep as an overlander, this is really great information that I hadn't previously considered. Yet another video I've learned something I didn't previously know. Thanks, Dan!

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Glad it was helpful!

[@espkh1549]

I’m working in china right now… boy oh boy…. AEv, ARB, fox and others are pricing so well over there almost 30-40% cheaper than what we are getting here. All got local warranty and next day shipping

[@GATORADDAM]

Well that's strange....... I find myself completely agreeing with you. Haha. I think that's a perfect setup. I just ran a few trails and camped with a friend I met at the overland expo. He's a lawyer with big money. He's got a Gladiator with a 3 inch king lift and 37 inch tires. Crazy over built. Funny thing is, we measured from the ground to the bottom of his rocker panels and the same on my Tacoma with a 2 1/2 inch lift on 33s. His was only one and a half inches higher then mine! With a much longer wheelbase on the Gladiator I doubt his breakover is any better then mine. Good video Dan. Keep'em comin'.

[@guidok3762]

Great video, greetings from The Netherlands 🇳🇱❤️🇨🇦🇦🇺

[@Onward4x4]

As always great information. You are teaching folks how to fish...!! 🙏🙏🙏

[@MikeZ32TT]

Great video. Im happy with my adjustable suspension but Im not doing around the world stuff.

[@theorionnebula707]

I ran into the same problem with my first budget lift. I got some high rate springs there were supposed to give 1-2inch lift. They just barely got it back to stock off the old stuff. My Jeep is really heavy with winch, bumper, roof rack, etc. A good call out on looking for weight ratings!

[@yorkchris10]

Good explanation on droop.

[@erichughes9098]

Good to know thank you 😎👍

[@jefferykesler3933]

Great video. I run the same suspension on my jl with 37’s and it handles better than stock.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Good to know!

[@jonathancuthbertson9850]

Second that, run the same kit on my JLU with 35" handles like a dream.

[@AstroVanTribe]

Been binging on your videos the past month or so - LOVE your common sense "real world" knowledge/experience/point-of-view/advice.... I'm building my 4x4 Astro van into a very capable overlanding rig - Wanting to the the pan-American highway and the arctic circle - Who knows, maybe even Europe and Australia 🙂

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Welcome aboard!

[@robertvoss9111]

What's the MPG like on your new Jeep, is it comparable to the Africa jeep? And are you okay with that (I'm going to assume loss?) I think a video about this would be interesting

[@montechie]

Always great info, thanks! I would be curious what your thoughts on the ride difference between the stock Rubicon susp. and the AEV? Especially pavement vs corrugated dirt.

[@rmcnabb]

Great points - a lot of this is a foreign language to Americans as we seem to be much more focused on looks. Laws here are usually really loose about all this stuff. As near as I can tell, AEV doesn't make anything for Toyota. I will be going with OME, which seems to check all the boxes you mention here for tried and true, simple, fully tested and dependable suspension.

[@Defender110SLO]

Thanks Dan done that 8years ago. Cheers. 🍻

[@vickey59]

Have the same AEV RT 2.5" lift for my JL in Victoria. One great aspect of the kit is the ProCal Snap, which corrects the speedometer for bigger tyres. The jack base is a nice touch too. I also like how AEV opts to reuse OEM components with geometry correction brackets, and only replace components where their testing deems it necessary. They could have priced the kit a bit higher and made a few more dollars with a front track bar, but it's good to see the company not flog one to customers for no good reason.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

I agree 100% - the kit is very comprehensive and well thought out

[@Zerocool818]

@@TheRoadChoseMe One of the issues running a longer track bar is increased movement side to side. By using a drop bracket they can correct the angle without increasing side to side movement during articulation. We had a issue with Hemi swapped JK that had too much side to side movement. We ended up using a standard length track bar in the rear with a new weld in bracket that was beefier than original (Higher horsepower). Made the rear much more stable when accelerating. Same with the control arms. My only gripe is that the control arm drops become low hanging fruit. I also use a torque marking paint on any bolts like that to ensure if anything becomes loose it is immediately visible with a glance underneath. Dykem Cross check is a good one. The AEV kit is a good kit for on road use as well as off road. Most of the other kits aim more towards off road while disregarding the on road capabilities. Here in the states we do have people who trailer their vehicles but that is very seldom.

[@RenegadeExpedition]

Great video, I ordered the AEV 3” with the high cap springs and they just came in a couple of days ago. Completely out fitted, all my tanks full, and with the family in the gladiator I’m sitting 100lbs over GVWR. I was curious to what you thought of the ride quality before swapping back to the standard springs? -Andy

[@clevelandaglennable]

Great video and thank you for the considerations I should consider. Did you consider any Old Man Emu suspensions? From what I remember, it sounds like they were comparable to your AEV suspension from what I remember. Again, great video! Can't wait to hear your response in how OME compares to your AEV suspension. Thank you in advance!!!!

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Absolutely yes, though OME don't make anything for the Gladiator yet. I was told they're working on it, but have nothing coming soon.

[@cameronwood1994]

Unfortunately for my 88" Land Rover there is no off the shelf 'kit' per say, as it's far too old, but it's well understood that the standard suspension is not very well thought through. It has a bone shaking ride, and actually doesn't carry a load that well. Knowing this, I have in effect copied what Santana did in the 1980's, and fit parabolic springs. Santana manufactured Land Rovers under licence for the Spanish market from the late 1950's to the 1980's/1990's, and many of their upgrades can be replicated quite easily, even if Santana upgrades aren't available anymore. Their last vehicle was the Santana PS-10 - I'd love one of those and there were a few official UK imports! Anyway, I actually went for GB Springs 1710 kg (3770 lb) 109"-spec rear parabolic springs with a leaf taken out, giving me a 1300 kg (2866 lb) spring as opposed to the standard 1190 kg (2624 lb). To allow for a softer ride whilst supporting a load, compared to the standard leaf springs the parabolic springs have a greater camber to them so give +25 mm (+1") ride height increase. There are other brands out there, but this company has an excellent reputation, and I have to say I am very impressed. Normally, even genuine heavy duty springs start to sag after 12 months or so with an expedition load (and I'm still within legal limits), so the fact that these are still perfect after nearly 2 years I'm very impressed with. I'm glad I went for the stiffer spring, because even though the max. axle loads are 930 kg (2050 lb) front, 1190 kg (2624 lb) rear with a gross weight of 2120 kg (4674 lb), the 1190 kg rear springs would be very tail down at maximum rear axle load. With the 1300 kg spring set, it's just slightly below level, and allows an enormous increase in suspension movement over standard, so much so I fitted 109" 1-Ton rear axle check straps to stop the axle moving too far and the propshaft hitting the chassis! The only thing I wished came with the springs were some castor correction wedges to tilt the front axle back to the correct angle, so I purchased a pair from Britpart. Damper wise I have a set of Monroe low-pressure gas dampers, nothing fancy at all. I mean, a full set of four dampers, with bushes, washers and split pins for all four corners was less than £170, and Monroe is a good brand. The bottom of the damper is held in with a split pin rather than a bolt, so you have to compress the bush and fit the pin in the hole. Quite why Land Rover didn't fit a bolt like they did in the top I don't know, because it'd be a lot easier to fit! I also replaced all of the other bushes with Polybush polyurethane bushes, because I've never had much luck with standard ones lasting more than a couple of months! Finally, I plan on fitting at least a rear anti-roll bar to the vehicle. Santana fitted both front and rear anti-roll bars when they fitted parabolics, but it's really the rear that needs it. You can get front brackets still, but the rears you can't. You can't get the anti-roll bars either, or the anti-roll bar links, so I may modify a Defender anti-roll bar. The links were nothing more than a damper bush eyelet, welded to a track rod, so I can easily make copies if I need to; certainly the bushes are identical to those fitted to the dampers. Sometimes you have to be inventive when you have an old vehicle, one that is certainly an unusual choice these days!

[@Endogrid]

Most KZbinrs like to brag about numbers and brands. Your videos make so much sense as you take us through the thought process. I have a question I own a Pajero which I use for simple trails and do not load it for overland travel. The standard shocks are on the way out. Does it make sense if I get Ironman Nitrogas shocks without replacing the coils for a nicer ride as I’m not interested to get a lift at all?

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

If you are happy with the height and how it handles weight now, then yes, I think you can keep the current coils and just change the shocks. I assume getting a good brand name will result in a better ride than just going with factory or cheapo ones.

[@1CommonView]

Great video. Jees there is so many regulations in Australia. I'm surprised the oofroad scene is as beg as it is...

[@sspence65]

Fortunately in the US, the equipment laws are based on the state you are registered in. NY is very restrictive on tinted glass, whereas SC is less restrictive. Since I had SC plates, NY Police were unhappy but had to abide by SC law.

[@sierramantrvlnus]

Yay!

[@huntingarete9214]

Dan I am waiting on the RHD AEV Dualsport for my Gladiator but I have been told the kit is waiting on the RHD Trackbar relocation brackets manufactured. Where did you get your kit?

[@jonathannovember3776]

Great video, as always. Don't you also have to consider upgraded wheel hubs/bearings due to additional weight? If not, please explain.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

No, my Jeep is within it's designed weight limit, so I don't need to upgrade anything in the driveline - it's all within factory specs.

[@BrianFulmer]

So the Australian GVWR for JTR's is significantly higher than in the US? Mine is 2835 kg's, 165 kg's is a nice payload bump. Very interesting build explanation!

[@anbu999]

Some US guy run 35x11.50R17 on stock suspension and reported no rubbing on full flex.

[@tomthumb2815]

Kyb gas shocks are great quality for the price

[@opica7691]

Hey mate! Great video, super detailed and informative as always. Just wondering if you could share a link to the suspension / business you purchased your suspension through? Thank you!

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

I ordered mine directly from AEV. - aev-converstions.com In Australia you can buy from Jeep Konnection in Melbourne, they're a great AEV dealer.

[@opica7691]

@@TheRoadChoseMe Great! Thank you!

[@patrickdubois7997]

I have few other question: when you weight your vehicule fully loaded, do you use an individual scale under each tire (like in racing car) or is only the overall weight? Probably you have different spring rate in the front vs back because most of the weight is on the back? Do you know if most car can be reprogram for different tire size? You are at the max payload of your vehicule you probably not upgrade your brake because is design for this max weight? Your very good to explain your choice and how your process thinking about many detail about upgrade a vehicule for its usage. Thanks

[@peterdiebel7372]

Great bit of info in all your vids Dan, enjoyed all of them . Dan, where did you find the table moubted the back of your spare wheel/ tank mount? Cheers from B.C.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Hi Peter - which table are you talking about? The fold down one on the tailgate of my Africa Jeep?

[@peterdiebel7372]

@@TheRoadChoseMe YES Dan thanks.

[@zachbellandrews5884]

Could you have bought heavy-duty springs that would have kept it at the OEM height or is there a purpose of adding more lift? If I understand this correctly your tires give you the clearance. So are the springs taller knowing more weight will compress them?

[@ryoc2138]

It's funny that you mentioned that other companies could not tell you the weight ratings of their lift kits. I called AEV several times last year to find out what their ratings are on their lift kits for the Gladiator. They said they didn't know the ratings and that they are basically designed to carry only the aev bumpers. I lost all confidence in AEV after that.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

That is certainly not the case these days, and they clearly lift the weight rating on the website for the different spring combos.

[@SamCarleton]

While I know Australia is now behind you, I was wondering if you knew anything about the newer Wrangler Xtreme Recon package? It comes with 35" tires from the factory. I know they do things to keep the whole week under the fencer and was curious to know what you know about their legality in Australia and other similar countries in Central and South America. Do you have any insight on whether or not they would get the attention of the local authorities?

[@j.a.garcia868]

Hello Dan, I have a JKU and like AEV for the same reasons you do. I know you ran the 2.5 and 3.5” on your JK. I plan on doing the 2.5 I just don’t like the sway bar extension brackets. Did you run those or did you swap them out? I am in the same mindset of not changing anything to a package engineered to work. I just read mixed reviews on those brackets. Thanks!

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

The 2.5" kit for the JL/JT has longer sway bar end links, not brackets. I'm very happy with it all.

[@trentonberry6883]

Did you check out Clayton Offroad? If so, could you share your thoughts?

[@jasonwishart6800]

Max lift in Queensland is 50mm.

[@victorguerra433]

Hello Dan, did you have any issues with alignment? I've read in some forums the kit is missing a front track bar. I am running a heavy front with a steel bumper and winch and I am wondering if this kit is a good option. Thanks beforehand!

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Not at all, I had an alignment done and the shop said it's perfect.

[@holgerseffers2634]

Thank you for this really informative video. Did you ever get information about the weight capacity of the weels? Here in Germany, they are not able to tell me how much weight they can handle. As your Gladiator is about 3000kg, they should be able to handle 750kg at least?

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

They are the factory spare wheel designed by Mopar (Jeep), so I'm sure they are designed to handle the GVWR of the vehicle.

[@questioner1596]

Was this filmed before leaving Dad's Place? I noticed your hood was missing the trace over your travelled route.

[@dimitristsagdis7340]

Do you have or plan any underbody armour/skid plates?

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

I've got the Rubicon, so it already has a lot of underbody protection

[@dimitristsagdis7340]

@@TheRoadChoseMe tnx, by the way can you the Rubicon from the factory with a higher GMW (e.g. due to more leaf-springs at the back or something) or do you have to change a lot of components yourself to get a higher GMW. Cause with a canvas at the back you are already maxed out so if one wanted a hard canopy at the back and more gear the only route is a GMW upgrade.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

A GVM upgrade is possible in Australia, you can do it before first registration (not from factory).

[@dimitristsagdis7340]

@@TheRoadChoseMe tnx

[@KarlEller]

@@TheRoadChoseMe I'm not sure about the Gladiator specifically, but you can do GVM upgrades post-registration in Australia, however it's more complicated (and more expensive), so people generally do it pre-rego on new cars.

[@edwardpeters4700]

The "Engineering" system of vehicle modification approval in Australia has a lot of merit from a safety perspective. Shame it isn't a national standard instead of state by state.

[@troyhuckle8138]

Mods and engineering that meet legal requirements in the state the vehicle is registered in is legal in all states of Australia, otherwise Queenslanders modified 4wds could not leave their state

[@andredupuis5432]

🇨🇦 = moose test vs 🇦🇺 = kangaroo test 😜

[@Kevin90909]

Why would you need to carry more fuel in Australia? Are you really travelling further away from fuel stations then you were in Africa? I cannot believe the MPG is that much morse...

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Yes, I'll be much, much further away from fuel stations than in Africa. To Cross the Canning stock route I must travel 1,100 miles fully unsupported through sand for 20-30 days.

[@JT-iw2cw]

The big question is why are Australian authorities such authoritarian nannies?

[@brearlymason4903]

Why bother? Everyone knows you can’t leave your house in Australia.

[@TheRoadChoseMe]

Lockdowns and restrictions are completely over now, in all states. There are no restrictions of any kind, and even international tourists can enter without restriction. Almost exactly 2 years to the day later, it's basically all over.