What are you guys/gals running for wheel travel in the front/rear? Any hang ups? From what I have been reading, keeping the travel to around 12” up front and around 14”-16” rear is optimal.
In the front, I’m looking at 3” of up and 7” down.
In the rear, I’m looking at 5 1/2” up and whatever ever down. I have to figure out how to limit my down travel.
I mean it all depends on the type of suspension you are running. 16" of travel is a high amount of travel IMHO. I currently run 16" kings front and rear. Although my jeep isnt on the road yet, it flexes like crazy compared to my old TJ.
My suspension is limited by the way that i built my frame and the fact that i am not running hydro steer. I almost max out my heim joints mis-alignment at full droop and i had to notch my frame slightly at full bump to get my panhard to clear the frame. I guess a good answer to your question is trying to get the MAX amount of articulation out of your suspension is “optimal.”
As far as limiting droop i would use limiting straps. NOT CHAINS
With 3" of uptravel you will be bottoming out during any “fast” stuff going down the trail. Fast meaning 20 mph or more. The ideal ratio of up to down depends on intended use. I’m running 14" coilovers on my buggy and will have 5" up and 9" down. I’d like to run 6" up and 8" down but due to packaging constraints that would require another 1" lift and I don’t really want to go any higher.
Ya, that will be the trade off. I will have to raise the whole thing up another inch and I don’t want to. Its leaf sprung in the front so i will see how it handles and deal with it I guess. I can maybe take out some bump but have to because I don’t make the springs reverse arch.
The rear I have 6 up and 8 down. I figured that I will have to limit with straps. I bought some 20 inch straps and adjustable clevis brackets and go from there. . I ended up buying 18" air shocks because they were $10 A piece more than the 16’s. The 16’s already gave me cushion.