New SSV for Off-Road Work

Good morning, everyone. I have a 2021 SSV currently being outfitted with standard patrol equipment that will be getting sent out to me hopefully within the next month. Because this vehicle will be used for some fairly serious, often high-speed, off-roading, one of the first things I'll need to do with it is upgrade the suspension. I've been browsing the forums here and found that a fairly popular route is to get 5100's all the way around, with 4WD F-150 models on the lowest setting in the front and Expedition models at the highest setting on the rear. Obviously, the full Icon kit would be the most ideal, but I have to be mindful of the taxpayer dollar on this. The best performance at the lowest cost is what I'm after.

That being said, we get a really good discount with Fox, and I currently run Fox on every other vehicle in my fleet. I've read that some folks have used the full Fox 2.0 struts from an F-150 on the front of an Expedition, but I've also read that can lead to coil/upper control arm contact. I'd rather not replace the UCA if I don't have to, but if it would allow me to run Fox struts up front, I'd consider it.

With all of this information in mind, what would you all suggest?

I wish I could help, I don't know enough about he suspensions these, except that they seem to be ridiculously prone to failure. Sounds quite fun though, driving something this big at speed off road, yippee! There's another thread going on right now on here where I believe a user but some Eibach components on the front and 5100's on the rear for a nice setup too.

Sounds like he should have bought a Raptor

Calidad said:

Sounds like he should have bought a Raptor

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That's not a purchase that our beuaracracy would ever approve. We don't even get to pick the brand of vehicle, all we can do is choose 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton, or SUV. Whatever make is on contract that year is what we get.

5280tunage said:

Sounds quite fun though, driving something this big at speed off road, yippee!

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It definitely is. My current vehicle is an F250 that I put Fox remote reservoir shocks on. It does pretty well. I can take it up to the limits of the stability control, which can't be fully turned off.

Maticuno said:

It definitely is. My current vehicle is an F250 that I put Fox remote reservoir shocks on. It does pretty well. I can take it up to the limits of the stability control, which can't be fully turned off.

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You probably should have picked another F250 and put a Carli kit on it. You would be able to go faster in a stock Superduty than a Expy with the ICON kit installed. The Expy’s huge body and bumpers will be kissing the ground all the time, even with 35’s. You can put 37’s with a level kit on a Superduty.


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Fozzy said:

another F250 and put a Carli kit on it

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A Carli kit would have gone on my current truck if it weren't for the bureaucracy involved with modifying a vehicle. Basic upgrade shocks or minor suspension parts is easy. Getting true performance work done, however, is nearly impossible.

I think the cost will be prohibitive but maybe reaching out to the folks at LGE-CTS and see if they could come up with some stuff for you. The built some sweet looking stuff, but it's pricey!

5280tunage said:

reaching out to the folks at LGE-CTS and see if they could come up with some stuff for you

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I was looking at their front and rear bumpers. Definitely high on the priority list.

Yeah, I know they had some suspension stuff they did as well, but I think the vehicle they were working on was a 2WD, but much of it should work for either drivetrain.

Here's a couple other threads that may help a little as well. First and foremost, I would recommend the sway bars, they help in just about every way. I suppose there's the chance that much stiffer swaybars could actually negatively impact offroading, in my past I would disconnect sways for offroading, but never at speed. Usually rock crawling etc.

https://www.expeditionforum.com/threads/lets-see-those-lifted-big-tire-gen-4s.47228/
https://www.expeditionforum.com/thr...-bilstein-5100-rears-installed-success.47038/