I learn suspension basics & look at lifting my Frontier

[@midnightadventureswa]

All dogs off road is a great company that really cares and helps you understand what you’re trying to do with your vehicle

[@rael6_4wd]

You’re doing it right Donald, Suspension lifts should always be one of the last things added to an overland vehicle. Even though I purchased a quality lift two years ago, the addition of a heavier tire carrier, roof rack, and aftermarket bumpers, I’m currently having to rebuild my rear suspension (with heavier springs) because of sag. When you’ve got a real understanding of just how much weight you’ll be adding to the vehicle, you can tune the suspension much more accurately.

[@madcratebuilder]

Excellent point, most mid size truck owners that add all the overlanding gear end up at or over GVWR. Heavier front and rear springs help, better bump stops and shocks. I believe in less lift and more trimming for taller tires, keep that CG as low as you can.

[@brettbloxom7029]

This is great info for me as I consider the order in which I should make certain upgrades. Thank you!

[@PrimalOutdoors]

You went into a lot of good details in this video. 2 inches with the addition of taller tires in the future will give you all the clearance you need off road while still keeping the vehicle handling well on road. I know you will be satisfied with your upgrade. Jason

[@softroadingthewest]

Haha, ISWYDT :-) Yes, I think this kit is an excellent fit for my usage. Bring on the eastern Oregon rocky roads!

[@chuckrf1502]

Can’t wait to see it installed.

[@Environmenthrall]

@@softroadingthewest when switching to larger tires, don't forget to have your transmission re-geared. Not doing so can effect the life of your tires, as well as your odometer and speedometer (and in some cases your MPG).

[@gatorglenn2892]

I got a All Dogs lift for my Frontier a few months ago. 2” lift , with medium Springs at front with Bill Steen 5100 shocks. The shocks are set in the stock location, they are adjustable to four different settings. But this was the recommendation from all dogs off road because of the springs I got to go with them. I did get 2 inches of lift and as you have. I installed a Wam winch plate bumper. And a Warn 8000 pound winch with synthetic line. That weight only dropped it down at eighth of an inch. I have the Broverland Spring pack on the rear. That gave me a little more than 2 inches of lift. But what is unique about that set up is it will carry up to 400 or more pounds and still maintain 2 inches of lift. Making it ideal for an overland build with added weight. Extremely happy with the set up you will enjoy yours. They are super great guy to work with.

[@jeffcameron3390]

These guys are very sharp. You made a good choice going with them.

[@stephenwilliams681]

Great explanations of the roles of the various parts. Thanks Donald, and special thanks to Alldog for explanations. Great video!

[@softroadingthewest]

Thanks Stephen!

[@Furniture121]

Thanks for asking the questions that people are likely afraid to ask out loud. The ADO team did a great job breaking things down so that even a weatherman could understand the way the suspension components work together.

[@OnyxProducts]

Have always been wondering about these same questions. Really greatful that you've got some experts to talk about it all

[@OregonOverland]

This is the best video I’ve watched concerning suspension 101. Thanks to everyone for taking the time to walk us through this

[@kevinthomson6324]

This was a very informative way to shoot this video. I really appreciate the amount of information that was given in a clear and precise manor. Can’t wait to see your impressions of this upgrade once it hits the trails.

[@swidahooverlanding2867]

2" does not sound like a lot of lift, but you will be surprised with the difference it will create off road. I usually recommend 3" or less of lift if you want a good overlanding performer. Thanks for the video. See you on the trails! George.

[@VirginiaHapa]

Man, that team is smart.

[@johnhuff393]

Good morning from Godley Texas, extremely informative video. Thanks 😎

[@andy_an_outdoors_guy]

you're a down to earth dude Donald - cheers to that. :)

[@jeffmorris739]

Donald that was awesome. I am lifting my Tacoma and like you I don't really know much about lift kits. I got some help with my local overlanding shop that deals with Toyota a lot. It's really just about how much you want to spend is how I see it. Of course with my Toyota it's endless with the possibilities. As a previous owner of an Xterra and Pathfinder I understand the difficulty of finding "any" solutions for Nissan. This is a great tutorial for all of us who like you struggle with Nissan builds.

[@jamescorfield534]

Dude this is exactly what I needed! This video and this introduction to that Dog Company. This is great

[@sapclan2896]

Great info I just got an 99' 4runner after replacing my Forester.

[@Dutch1951x]

Can't wait to see your rig finished! I'm putting a 4" on my Bronco right now.

[@timothyholtjr.8600]

Just put a lift on my 15 Taco Sport and I absolutely love it.. I went a different brand but it did the job for me and the ride quality is 100% better!! Good luck and look forward to the continued success!!

[@leftyrncii980]

Sir, thank you for this video. I have a 2012 Pathfinder and it is time to replace the dampeners and springs. You addressed many of my questions. I just subscribed to your channel and am looking forward to viewing all of your videos.

[@brianborealis7686]

I got their 5100 kit with add a leafs and medium weight springs for my 2011 Pro4x Xterra. I think it was the right choice for my application (and budget) but it’s hard not to get overwhelmed by all the different options. For most used trucks that don’t carry a lot of weight, it could be enough just to swap out the stock damper with bilstein 4600’s which would give you a factory (or slightly better than factory) reset. This is where you really need to think about you specific needs before pulling the trigger on a new suspension setup. I may upgrade to Koni’s at some point but at the time I wasn’t ready to add new upper control arms which is recommended . What I discovered though is that once I learned how to wrench, it’s actually really fun, and I can’t wait to do more!

[@MouwDown]

How has the setup treated you with the 5100's? I just purchased the 2nd gen kit for my 2005 frontier. Mine is more of a work truck or all purpose type. So I went with the broverland leaf packs, medium from springs and ADO UCA with the intent of getting the alignment right.

[@kingstonsean]

Looking forward to part 2. I have a 2018 Frontier Pro4X.

[@ThatOneDudeNick]

Good folks over at ADO. They made dialing in the suspension on my Frontier super simple. I just picked up a high mileage Xterra P4X with a pretty worn out suspension, so I'll be using them again soon.

[@milesb4231]

Very timely video for my xterra

[@TheAdventureZombie]

Great video, this was my first stop when I was wanting to look into lifts on my new Frontier :)

[@BrwnShinobi]

Thank you and AllDogs for making this video!! Great informative piece!!

[@wsfarnie]

Great vid- thanks for helping us all learn more...

[@lukedeets5016]

This video was extremely helpful!

[@OpieDogie]

Very good choice of lift (IMO) I do believe you will be very happy with it. I am on a budget and will be taking a less expensive route.

[@johnbob4545]

What's up Donald. Hey, I've done 3 different set-ups on 3 different Titans. All very different uses. The one I did for blasting trails and hauling the toys became a bit heavier over time to the point I finally realized stock Nissan brakes were no longer adequate. Keep that in mind my friend.

[@roberts735]

I recently down sized from a ram 2500 and got a 2012 Frontier pro4x previous owner put ADO koni suspension with the broverland leafs. This is my first leaf spring truck and I have to say the truck rides like sh!t. It handles good it corners but any little bump is ridiculously jarring. I love the truck but have to do something about current suspension. I live in the mountains on a gravel road. Recommendations please…

[@softroadingthewest]

I would suggest talking to Alldogs about how you're using the truck, what you're experiencing, and what you'd like to improve. My 2011 Frontier had a terrrrible ride on rough roads with its stock leaf springs..."ridiculously jarring" is a spot-on description, heh. Alldogs parabolic leaf springs provided a dramatic improvement, but they are designed to be under load full time (which is how I use my truck). If you run your truck empty much of the time, Alldogs will certainly steer you away from the parabolics. I think it's somewhat the nature of the beast with conventional leaf spring suspension, it's never going to compare to coilovers all the way around. But I would just talk directly to Alldogs, they're super friendly and helpful, they know the Frontier in and out, they've tried every possible combination, and they can guide you to the best _possible_ solution based on your specific use case. Good luck!

[@gaylinlack726]

Very good video. Informative and very useful information. Thanks.

[@anarchyrun8253]

Very cool, looking forward to the install/results. Just an 1.5 to 2 in of lift give you a surprising amount of clearance that helps a lot

[@softroadingthewest]

For sure, I had just a 1" lift on my Forester and that little car handled some pretty surprising terrain. Picking good lines can make all the difference. I'm really looking forward to getting out there with the extra 2" on the Frontier (soon to be 3" overall once I replace the tires).

[@isaacalmada216]

Thanks for breaking this all down in a video Donald, I was wondering the same about lift kits and everything else it surrounds. Can't wait to see the finished product! Also, is that "Thermal Springs" I see on your wall? I have that same color from Sherman Williams. Until next time!

[@troyvoorhees]

That's a great resource to be able to have a conversation about your set up, what you want the truck to be able to do, and then to decide together which items are best for your specific purpose. I have a F-150 as my overlanding 'rig' that I threw Bilistein suspension, Icon UCA and an add-a-leaf at. I wish I could have had a discussion with a knowledgeable company like ADO first. Any idea what company may be the equivalent for F-150s?

[@stevebailey7633]

Great video, very informative, cannot wait to see the install,

[@IcyReaper]

If you dont mind my question. Did you look into the Uncle EMU setups also? They are extremely popular.

[@brentp556]

I am looking forward to your impressions of the parabolic springs and Koni shocks. This is the exact setup that i am considering for my 13 Frontier. From everything I have read so far, people seem to be happy with the setup.

[@kl5090]

Very educational! Thanks!

[@iceyzest4353]

Awesome video thank you

[@darrengray2309]

The latest Navara's in Australia have a rear coil spring and are lot more comfortable than leaf springs

[@tegucigalpa2]

Very interesting, thanks. Any chance you’d share information about the cost of this setup and installation? I’ve got a crew cab, long bed Frontier, it’s 4x2, so no extreme off-roading will be possible, but the ground clearance has been an issue, so I am looking into lifting it. I don’t want the spacers, that seems like a bad idea.

[@AlldogsOffroadCoop]

Cost of the kit will ultimately be decided by the options you want with it. We usually tell people that installs are 3-5 hours also.

[@patrickrowley5747]

Off topic, what front bumper is that? I’ve been curious about this lift too. I saw the announcement but have concerns with upper ball joint damage and bucket contact. Have you experienced any thing of the sort?

[@PaydayGabeBCNV]

Nice choice,, I hope it suits your needs. Have you decided on a winch for future episodes? The unit I chose was budget based and w/ the wire rope it weights a solid 80lbs,, the bumper and mounts another 100lbs. So that's a substantial increase on my front components. Naturally your selections will vary the added weight to your truck. Good luck 👍.

[@softroadingthewest]

I had to backburner the whole winch thing because I realized I had a narrow window in which to rebuild my camping setup before this year's trips get started, then the opportunity to work with Alldogs on the lift came up and I pretty much stopped thinking about the winch entirely. I'm still undecided on which direction to take...leaning probably towards a middle of the road option that isn't dirt cheap but also isn't bank-breaking. :-)

[@adrianiniguez5214]

As a frontier owner, if you do any type of obstacle, difficult overland trail I’d advise doing a Titan Swap. The down travel is not the best even with the best of “Frontier spec” aftermarket suspension.

[@daywalker4029]

I’ve had every kit imaginable on my frontier and Titan swap has been the best option. There’s no narrow trails here so give me all the suspension travel 😂

[@brianfloster2609]

Great information Donald! If Alldogs ends up in the comment section here I'd be curious if they have looked into offering packages for the R50 Nissan Pathfinder (which is what I currently run for overloading here in Oregon). The popularity of the R50 has been growing quite a bit recently as a more budget friendly alternative to comparable 4Runner, but the aftermarket support is severely lacking. Most of us cobble together a coil spring lift with varying front springs (from Dobinson's, Old Man Emu etc), rear springs from a Land Rover Defender (which actually work and provide lift), and Bilstein 5100's in the rear that weren't really designed for the R50 but fit and provide additional rear suspension travel. We're also held back quite a bit with the macpherson strut design up front and can run into CV axle binding etc. Just curious...

[@daywalker4029]

I don’t think we offer anything for the R50 but I can look tomorrow.

[@brianfloster2609]

@@daywalker4029 Thanks - I don’t believe you do either. I’m simply suggesting looking at the potential opportunity since we are chronically underserved in the market, and it could be a good business opportunity for you guys.

[@daywalker4029]

@@brianfloster2609 we have actually taken a look at the R50. The biggest issue is the front coilover design pretty sure. We are slowly expanding markets so I will let chad know there is at least interest enough to take a look

[@VWmike1996]

Awesome video very informative!!

[@Go4Lo]

For how you use it your truck you really would benefit from a Titan swap. Night and day difference over a lifted stock length control arm setup. You can do it with or without the Titan front differential. The Titan m205 stronger CV axles that are much easier to change on the trail if necessary. I've seen stock r180 CVS break doing almost nothing.

[@tgiannakarios]

whats the koni seting adjustment on your frontier?

[@danwalter6408]

Hey yall awesome video.i have a 2018 frontier S model Rwd , i have the rough country 2.5 in level/lift ,spacers in front with the shackles in rear. 31x10.50r15 falken rubitrex on factory wheels , stock suspension, balance and alignement done. Any opinions? , im on roads 90% of the time.

[@softroadingthewest]

Hi there, I'm not sure what you're asking exactly?

[@danwalter6408]

​@softroadingthewest I'm wondering if I need new upper control arms or shocks? Haven't had coil bucket contact yet . I'm on roads/highways about 90% of the time, some gnarly potholes etc. Where I live

[@softroadingthewest]

@@danwalter6408 I am not at all an expert and have no experience with your suspension configuration. Best thing would be to talk to the guys at Alldogs. They know the Frontier suspension extremely well and would be best able to assess your specific situation. Good luck!

[@sagebrushbob2321]

Building an overland rig always entails adding several hundred pounds of weight in awkward places, like the front end (bumpers, lights and winches) and above the center of gravity (cargo racks, rooftop tents and solar panels). The stock suspension was never intended to compensate for that. You are doing the right thing in waiting until your truck has most of its add-ons in place before doing the lift. It's only after all that gear is added that you (and your suspension installer) will know just what needs to be done to compensate for all that un-sprung weight in odd places.

[@Bob-4054]

Well written. One thing alot of people don't understand is how the weight of all the extras add up very quickly.

[@chrisquibote647]

Looking at your front bumper. Is that the WAM winch carrier or is it a custom made. Tia

[@softroadingthewest]

It's the PRG Products hidden winch mount, which I've modified with the light mount and trim out to the sides to clean up the cut bumper edge. I'm a pretty unskilled amateur fabricator and there are things I would do differently next time around, but I do have a video about what I did here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJndZohjoNeLjaM

[@mikemorgan4670]

That was an interesting episode, relatively basic, but a good starting point. ADO seems to have the most support for our Frontier's which is great. Looked into the Koni option for my truck but am still more partial to the OME system. One thing to remember is you will only gain under vehicle clearance from larger diameter tires, which is what a lift will allow you to install...just sayin. Should be an interesting series. Are you doing the install yourself?

[@daywalker4029]

A suspension lift gives you more ground clearance under the body, tires will give you more clearance under the axles.

[@mikemorgan4670]

@@daywalker4029 Indeed, I absolutely agree. But in context, he seemed to be looking for clearance under his axels, at least as I understood the conversation

[@softroadingthewest]

In my case it will allow fitment of 33s - and I would not want larger tires than that for the way I use my truck. Even without the mild lift from the larger tires, the truck body sitting higher does also help with approach & departure angles, and provides more ground clearance for the rest of the underside of the truck. Mucking around with the suspension is outside my DIY comfort zone (and I don't really have the necessary tools, equipment or workspace for that job anyway). I had it installed yesterday by well-regarded specialized 4x4 shop in central Oregon...piece of cake for him, took less than 3 hours. :-)

[@mikemorgan4670]

@@softroadingthewest Thanks for your detailed reply. I want to do a similar lift (approx. 2") so I can fit 33's as well. I too will have some one install the lift for the same reasons. Really looking forward to see you rig lifted and on 33's.

[@zackdemundo]

Excellent info! I learned a lot. Is this a this month thing or has it already happened? I imagine Koni is well-known among those crazy Tasmanians KZbinrs.

[@softroadingthewest]

The conversation was a few weeks ago and the lift just got installed yesterday. I'm hoping to have the follow-up video out two weeks from now, but I have an insanely busy couple of weeks coming up so we'll see what happens. :-)

[@oo7-ro6bu]

Are you changing the upper control arms or keeping them stock?

[@softroadingthewest]

Stock for now, but I will jump on the high clearance UCAs if I see any issue at all. I discussed this with the mechanic who installed the lift (we did it yesterday) and looks like it will be a reasonably quick & easy job to swap those in after the fact if I decide to. In Alldogs Offroad's experience, this shouldn't be necessary with this kit, but I can see where it would be nice to have anyway. I'll definitely provide an update about that if I do find myself compelled to add them.

[@oo7-ro6bu]

@@softroadingthewest Thanks for the info. And thanks for the videos. Been watching sense fire Forester days. Glad you went with the Frontier. Had mine for little over a year and am loving it. Safe travels.

[@aykoro]

Excellent Video

[@mercurials54]

Why did you/ADO decide on 2” lift vs 3” or higher? What size tire will you be able to run w/ 2” lift?

[@craigmiller3437]

With stock offset wheels you can fit a 33" tire on a Frontier with little to no modification. Above that there's usually some trimming required. Most basic Frontier lift kits top out at 2-2.5" because of the coil bucket issue mentioned in the video. Anything above that is a pretty significant price jump. Although it does come with added performance benefits of longer travel. Sometimes you'll see body lifts and suspension lifts combined to get over 2" without going full Titan swap. I don't know Donald's thought process but I suspect he's not going higher because his truck is already pretty tall with his camper and he doesn't want to raise his center of gravity too much. There's also the "overlanding isn't rock crawling" school of thought. Which, I suspect, he subscribes to.

[@softroadingthewest]

@@craigmiller3437 "There's also the "overlanding isn't rock crawling" school of thought. Which, I suspect, he subscribes to." Nailed it. :-) Yes, I'll bump up to 33s probably quite soon as my current tires are near to needing replacement anyway. Given how extremely well the truck has done for me in completely stock form over the past year, a couple inches of lift and slightly bigger tires will really be icing. :-)

[@Chops00]

I have a GFC on my frontier. Been looking at the all dogs AAL. Ass is sagging with the extra weight.

[@daywalker4029]

May be worth throwing our Broverland or parabolic underneath it. Will make up for the added weight that comes along with a trip. AAL is rated for 250 where the Broverland/parabolic is rated for 400-500 extra

[@Chops00]

@@daywalker4029 thanks for the reply. I am definitely in the 400-500lb range

[@Chops00]

Would that pretty much level it out with a stock front end? Rear is a little more than an inch lower than the front right now.

[@daywalker4029]

@@Chops00 if you’re looking for flexy boi suspension, our Broverlands are the way to go. The parabolics give a better ride with that much weight but give up a bit of droop.

[@daywalker4029]

@@Chops00 if you have stock suspension, it should level it or possibly give you some rake with the GFC.

[@billstephson6003]

Is there a weight savings? Or a weight gain?

[@softroadingthewest]

The leaf spring replacements in the rear are quite a bit lighter weight than the stock leaf pack; the front coilover assembly logically must be a little heavier just based on the thicker spring material with more coils wrapping around. I didn't put all the stuff on a scale or anything, but net result should be a mild weight savings.

[@sierramantrvlnus]

Yay!

[@BirdPhish]

what's this suspension week???...first Primal Outdoors installs custom rear springs on his van and now you're doing a lift....

[@RVingwithG]

How do I donate my 2000 NISSAN Frontier to get a LIFT KIT. After 508,000 Miles it needs a Lift, Tuck ...

[@mr.skeptical3071]

Sounds like you're going to have to get new UCA

[@softroadingthewest]

Two years in, still running stock UCA with the Alldogs/Koni kit, no issues. I mean, UCA upgrade wouldn't hurt at all, but hasn't proven necessary either.

[@largemarge1603]

Good-looking jacket. . [algor enhancing comment]

[@preppermcprepperson]

Sure wish all dogs supported Titan XDs.

[@davidcolinstillman5585]

HI DONALD 👋 THANK YOU 🙏 FINDING BETTER / SAFER WAYS FOR EVERYONE TO ADVENTURE / TRAVEL / JOURNEY WHAT'S NOT THE NORM FOR OTHERS . FINDING DIFFERENT PRODUCTS AROUND THE WORLD 🌎 THAT MIGHT BE 🤔 AS GOOD / OR BETTER FOR WHO'S EVER LIFESTYLE 🤔 😉 CAN'T WAIT TO SEE HOW EVERYTHING GOES FOR YOU & YOUR TRUCK . BE SAFE ! HAVE FUN ! ENJOYED 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 🍨 THANK YOU 🙏 HOPE YOU & YOUR FAMILY ARE SAFE & SOUND !

[@freerider604]

👍👍

[@marklenington3649]

2 inch never seems like enough

[@subaruforester5062]

How about a subaru lift guys? Lol

[@softroadingthewest]

Check out Anderson Design & Fabrication for Subaru. Small family company, very responsive, personalized service, and they've been in the Subaru game for longer than just about everyone.

[@pala4833]

"NorCal" end of March? 😉👍

[@softroadingthewest]

Thus the mad scramble on the new camping setup, which I've had to finally admit to myself won't be done in time for that trip. But yeah, headed to California soon. Unfortunately not a solid week of overlanding, I have an assortment of obligations and engagements but will squeeze in a little adventure in the process. :-)

[@pala4833]

@@softroadingthewest This thing above is bogus, yeah?

[@softroadingthewest]

@@pala4833 Yes. This bot has been posting all over my video comments. I've been chasing them down. It's now blocked and reported but looks like there are some I didn't see.

[@vincentsmalley3073]

Always a loss when theres a gain Lift kit has better ground clearance BUT you will have less mpg period ! And as watching your style , invest in skid plates for the bump here and there 2-3 inch lift wont help much just lose mpg

[@softroadingthewest]

I drove 120 miles to the shop for my lift install yesterday, and drove 120 miles home today. Zero MPG loss...the stuff on my roof and the chopped front end definitely impacted my MPG, but the lift has made no difference. 3" of lift actually is a pretty nice bump up for the type of backcountry travel I do. I'm not "wheeling" or rock crawling or really driving offroad at all...I'm always on some kind of road. But a little extra clearance absolutely helps with the occasional gnarly bits I encounter on primitive dirt roads. My truck is equipped with 1/4" aluminum skid plates from the radiator to all the back past the transfer case. :-)

[@vincentsmalley3073]

I guess mainly when people lift the truck usually there are larger tires wich are wider and tend to have more rolling resistance

[@terraformingcats8175]

Damper not dampener. It's not something to make something else wetter...

[@eseeray2679]

Hahaha he said leaf springs are a fairly simple thing then went into explaining for minutes.

[@kornphlake79]

A spray bottle is a dampener, a device meant to control oscillations is a damper.

[@Silverback_GMT410]

The 2019 Ford Ranger brought in a parabolic leaf spring 😏

[@softroadingthewest]

Interesting!

[@prestondeters5093]

A shock absorber is not a dampener. It does not make anything wet. It is a damper. Everyone says dampener and it will forever bug me.

[@kevinstarski1598]

You're putting a damper on this video...