TrailFX Suspension: What Should You Look For In A Quality Kit?

We live in a day and age where everything goes off-road. While Wranglers and pickups seem to dominate the trails, even Miatas are getting stuffed with fat tires and suspension lifts to get in on the fun. Unfortunately, auto manufacturers are still failing to get with the times and set you up with a lifted vehicle straight from the factory. Many so-called “off-road” vehicle packages leave a lot to be desired when it comes to suspension, wheels and tires.

Thankfully, picking out a set of oversized wheels and tires is pretty easy. Suspension, on the other hand, requires a little more homework. To ensure you select the correct system to accept those fresh tires and get rolling, let’s run through the basics with a little help from our friends at TrailFX.

Know Your Needs

Before throwing mods at your vehicle in an attempt to keep up with the Joneses, it’s important to set up a build plan. Without one, you’re bound to waste a lot of money on parts and labor that are simply not necessary.

Level It?

If your only goal is to lift the vehicle and squeeze a larger tire underneath, you might reach for any old lift kit. It’s what a lot of people do, and they usually make out just fine. The thing is, you may not need a full lift kit; an affordable leveling kit might fit the bill. Well-suited to street driving, a level kit paired with slightly larger tires not only improves vehicle styling but also can provide some impressive results off-road. (Assuming the base vehicle is designed to perform in such a setting.)

A leveling kit is nothing more than a few spacers, though. In all actuality, it does virtually nothing to improve the actual performance of your suspension – even if the larger tires do give a little more ground clearance. With stock shocks and steering components, it’s the same vehicle sitting at a slightly better angle. So, if you’re looking to make real gains in off-road capabilities, additional mods are in order. Shocks, control arms, and new bushings are the logical next step. Thankfully, many manufacturers offer this as a complete package.

With room for bigger tires and the addition of suspension components that aid in articulation, your suspension now has better geometry and response to the environment. Furthermore, it’s not overkill for the average off-roader. You can enjoy your truck or Jeep on the weekends with a package like this, without sacrificing daily drivability.

Or Lift It?

A suspension lift is necessary to accept a tire that’s significantly larger than the factory setup. Installing a lift is complicated because modifications to components like steering knuckles and transfer cases affect suspension geometry.

When these areas are impacted, the vehicle’s functionality begins to shift more toward an off-road designated standpoint. If the manufacturer doesn’t take the time to factor in any other kind of driving, you can wind up destroying the ride quality of your vehicle altogether. So, you really need to take the time to find a kit that best matches your intentions.

Choose Quality

There are so many brands offering suspension parts these days. If you focus on price alone, it’s easy to wind up with a poorly constructed kit that simply doesn’t hold up. Taking the cheap route can cost you more in the long run, when broken components lead to costly repairs. That doesn’t mean only the most expensive kit will do. There are plenty of reputable brands on the market balancing high quality with budget-friendly pricing.

How do you find the kit that works best for you? Homework. Don’t worry, you don’t need to head to the local library and read till your eyes bleed. Off-road forums are your best friend. Try to find one that matches your exact application, like Wranglerforum.com or FordTrucks.com. These sites will have like-minded individuals who have experience with some of the popular lifts on the market. Trust us: Forums are some of the most powerful tools when it comes to researching modifications for your vehicle.

Consider Additional Mods

Welcome to the rabbit hole. To truly increase off-road suspension requires a combination of mods. (This is where that build plan we mentioned comes in handy.)

Shocks

Shocks are important to maintaining your vehicle’s lifespan – and your tailbone on bumpy rides. Remember: Just because a supplier bundles shocks in with your suspension kit, doesn’t mean they’re the right ones for you. Again, some research is necessary to dial in what’s best for the vehicle, terrain, and driving style.

Tires

Before suspension shopping, you want to have a good set of tires already figured out. Tires are everything. While we’re all suckers for power and suspension, it’s those rubber shoes that make the job doable in the first place. Pick a set of tires that will perform in the terrain you’re subjecting the vehicle to, or you’ll likely have more trouble than you started with.

Ring and Pinion

Speaking of power, you’re going to lose some when you throw larger wheels and tires and a suspension kit on your truck. The additional weight will bring down throttle response.

Regaining that lost power will likely take more than a performance chip and a cold air intake if you go with more than a small lift. The best way to restore that performance is by going to a lower differential ring and pinion gear. This will help get the tires spinning sooner. While you’re at it, you will definitely want to throw in any mods such as lockers, so you don’t have to tear back into it at a later date.

In truth, this list can easily go on. While many of these mods are only necessary when you start chasing serious performance gains or throw huge lifts on your vehicle, it’s important to understand that there’s several moving parts to a suspension upgrade. Having a plan and figuring in these factors will certainly help with executing your dream build at a later date.

Check Out TrailFX

So, who makes a lift kit worth considering? Well, that really depends on the size of the lift you need. But for someone looking for a solid little lift that’ll get them down the trail and not hurt their on-road performance, TrailFX really is hard to beat.

TrailFX has been using state-of-the-art technology to create top-rated truck parts and accessories for some time now and has been broadening its horizons by bringing more and more applications into its lineup. These products will stand up to the same rigorous standards that all TrailFX products are held to.

The nice thing about TrailFX is that you can get a simple leveling kit or a mild lift kit for most popular applications at a very fair price. These are the perfect match for drivers seeking an aesthetic upgrade on a budget.

Satisfaction Guaranteed

As with any purchase, warranties are important. That’s doubly true for something as important as your vehicle’s suspension. TrailFX offers a limited lifetime warranty for all components (minus wearable items like ball joints and bushings. The products carry a limited one-year replacement, and TrailFX offers additional support with its X-Guard Plus Powertrain Warranty.

This additional warranty coverage comes free with the purchase and professional installation of any TrailFX suspension product and covers all major powertrain parts up to five years or 60,000 miles. In addition to available warranties, TrailFX offers no-drill or no-cut applications – great for people who aren’t quite ready to commit to a full overhaul.

Perhaps most importantly, the TrailFX team is really helpful when it comes to selecting a suspension kit. So, if you’re feeling intimidated by the options and intricacies of vehicle suspensions, reach out to the company. TrailFX reps are also enthusiasts, and one will be happy to talk you through the selection – as well as any other mods you should be considering.