suspension
FANS asked for a list of brands?…Here you go!
Fans of ours keep asking us for a list of brand names when it comes to suspension lifts. They also tend to ask for names of shock manufacturers and general questions that are the normal when you love lifted trucks like we do here at SoCal/MidWestern Trucks. So with that said, we found the best list on a site when it comes to brand names of lifts, shocks, accessories, cold air intakes, power steps, fender flares, power chips/programmers, wheels, tires, you name it, each brand for the most part is listed on this site. This is just a great glossary of brands, Check it out!:
SoCalTrucks ALL BRANDS list
(Disclaimer: We are not affiliated with this site or the products. If you see something you like, contact us today for the best possible price as we’ll check with our distributors)
RBP Makes Suspension Lifts
Did you know that RBP makes suspension lifts? If not, then you should visit RBP’s website. You will notice that they carry a 6″ suspension lift for Toyota, Ford, and GMC as well as 6″-8″ lifts for Chevy trucks. RBP’s suspension lifts will run you around $2,000 – $3,000 depending on the suspension lift you purchase. The big question is: should you buy an RBP suspension lift instead of buying a lift kit from an established company like Fabtech, CST, Cognito or Rize?
In doing a little digging, we’re not sure the RBP suspension is very differentiated from Fabtech. Take a look at the photos below:
RBP 6″ Suspension Lift for the 09-10 Ford F150
Fabtech 6″ Suspension Lift for the 09-12 Ford F150
Do they look similar? Yes, in fact, they look exactly the same except the Fabtech name has been replaced with RBP. There’s nothing wrong with this, as it’s similar to non-branded products in the grocery store. One product is packaged with a brand name and color (making it more expensive), while the same product has the name of the grocery store on it (usually less expensive). Both products are manufactured by the same company with the same ingredients, they are just “branded” differently. There’s no difference, you are just paying for a brand name.
That’s what appears to be happening here. RBP is likely using Fabtech parts, just branded with the RBP name. Therefore, if you can get an RBP suspension lift cheaper than Fabtech, it’s probably worth buying. If you can find Fabtech cheaper, then go that route. The RBP suspension lift should perform similar to Fabtech, so if you don’t care about the name, go with the least expensive product. And if you don’t like Fabtech, then probably avoid RBP too. Hope that helps.
Long Arm Suspension Kit – Rubicon
You won’t see many Jeep articles on SoCalTrucks.com, but since many lifted truck owners also own jeeps, we thought we’d post this informational article. Hope it’s helpful.
Rubicon Express has been manufacturing after-market Jeep and 4WD parts since 1996. Okay, that’s only 16 years, but in that time, they have really become a brand to be reckoned with. What makes this company special is that all of the employees drive Jeeps themselves. This means that they know the Jeeps inside and out. They know what upgrades are needed and most importantly, they know that when you upgrade a Jeep you never really finish. Some people say, “only a Jeep owner knows the feeling” and that definitely applies to companies who build Jeep products. Drivers are usually the harshest product critics, so a when a company like Rubicon Express has all of their employees driving Jeeps, you should expect quality products.
Rubicon Express specializes in suspensions and lifts kits. They know that if you have a 4WD, you will more than likely at some point want to upgrade your lift and suspension. Today, we will look at what is available for the Rubicon Express XJ.
Rubicon Express XJ Extreme Duty Long Arm
The difference between the long and short arm kits is that the longer control arms enables the vehicle to handle better but it also makes the torque roll lower and makes the trail traction better than the short arm suspensions. This completely replaces your stock suspension.
Extreme Duty Long Arm Upgrade
This is an upgrade kit for those who have already installed either the Super Flex or the Super Ride short arm. It enables you to greatly improve your road handling. Your performance will also improve off road. The amount of lift that you will get from this will depend on the original equipment that you are upgrading.
Super Flex Short Arm
If you drive a Cherokee and have a short arm factory suspension, this is a great upgrade for you. It features a low price, great trail and street performance. This is a very durable suspension that is said to be nearly indestructible.
Super Ride Short Arm
This suspension will make your ride more aggressive and higher, but it still allows you to retain the ride quality of your factory suspension. This exchanges the factory arms that are not very tough for the more durable ones without adding to the vibration or road noise.
Economy Kit
This is also known as the Rubicon Express 2’’ Standard and it is a very cheap and basic way to make your ride higher allowing for those larger wheels and tires you need for your 4WD. It offers outstanding performance and will allow for tire sizes up to a whopping 30’’.
So if you own a big truck and you have a Jeep for fun, consider lifting it. A lifted truck, SUV, or Jeep is always better than a stock one. Also, go to the 4WD website and see if they have what you need. It’s clear they have a ton of options and they stand for quality, which are two critical components when shopping for a suspension lift or other aftermarket products. As always, let us know what you think.
Cognito to Release Ford Suspension Lift
Cognito’s customers have been asking them to produce a suspension lift kit for their Ford needs. Well, they made it happen! Cognito Motorsports decided to show-off their new Ford kit at the Sand Sports Super Show a few weeks ago in Costa Mesa, California. More details about lift size and lift options will be coming soon and its believed that the F250 and F350 kits will be available at the end of October.
As you may know, Cognito’s specialty has historically been Chevy suspension lifts, so this is an interesting move. We have always been a fan of Cognito for their quality and style. Click here for some photos of the lift from Powerstroke.org.
Budget 4″ Fabtech Lift for 2008-12 Ford F-250
Need a suspension lift for your Ford F-250 that won’t break the bank? If so, check out the 4″ Fabtech Suspension lift for 2008-2012 Ford F-250/350/450 4WD trucks. Fabtech built the lift to enhance their extensive line of Super Duty suspension systems with an entry level 4” Budget System.
The 4” Budget System utilizes the factory front coil springs with a steel upper spacer providing 4” of lift. Radius Arm drop brackets retain the factory arms with correct caster setting for the increase ride height. System includes a Trac Bar relocation bracket that has been designed to center the axle under the vehicle and still works properly with the factory Pitman Arm. This eliminates the need to replace the Pitman Arm resulting in a lower cost and faster installation time. Rear lift is accomplished with lift blocks and extended length u-bolts. The lift kit will cost anywhere from $1,000-$1,500.
The 4″ kit won’t turn many heads, but your F250 will look great and your girlfriend won’t need side steps to get in the truck. You can fit 35” tires with required inner fenderwell trimming for adequate tire clearance for street driving and light offroad use. You can also just go with 33’s if that’s easier. See the specs below.
■Use 35/12.50R18 tires w/ 18×9.5 wheels w/ 4 3/4” BS w/ minor trimming
■Use 35/12.50R20 tires w/ 20×9 wheels w/ 5” BS w/ minor trimming
Overall, Fabtech builds great suspension lifts and we have been fans for a long time. Nothing wrong with starting small to fit your budget and going bigger later when your income increases. It’s better than stock!
Click here to download installation instructions
Rize Suspension Customer Ridez
What do you think of this big Ford hitting the dirt? If you think it’s lame, then stop reading. If you think it’s legit, then there’s plenty more where this photo came from. Rize Industries has a great section on their website featuring truck owner’s with Rize suspension lifts. As you may know, SoCalTrucks.com is a big fan of Rize suspension and now you can check out some of their work. Enjoy – RizeInd.com
Check Out the 7-9″ Cognito Lift for Chevy 2500
If you have been a reader of SoCalTrucks.com for a while, you know that we love Cognito suspension lifts. They have medium to large kits that are high quality, look great, and are reasonably priced. We don’t know why people go with Rancho or SkyJacker when Cognito is out there killing it!
In case you haven’t heard, Cognito has a great 7-9″ lift kit they recently released for the Chevy and GMC 2500 and 3500 HD trucks. It includes boxed balljoint a-arms and Fox performance aluminum shocks. It’s available for the 2011 chassis on 8-lug trucks. We don’t have any pricing info yet, but we’d guess it will run about $2,000-$3,000. Another quality product delivered from Cognito. More photos below:
SoCal SuperTrucks Christmas
Around this time of year, most people get tons of Christmas cards. Some are nice, some are funny, others are the same standard Costco print…and a few completely stand out. We receive this Holiday email from SoCal SuperTrucks, a shop in San Bernardino, California (better known as the Inland Empire). Not only does the shop do great work, they send out a lifted truck Christmas card. If shops were measured by their holiday card, SoCal SuperTrucks would get a 10. Great work!