Tough Dog Foam Cell shocks/suspension

[Batto83 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Batto83]

Well I'm running a full Tough Dog Set up in mine 40mm lift with Medium Springs and shocks. I drive it as my work car daily and am averaging 1000-1500km/week so need something that will last and is comfortable but still functional. I had the same dilema when buying them but went Tough Dog because it meant one purchase for the bank to pay out when buying it (drove into Opposite Lock and drove out with the full set up). A lot of people were telling me I'd regret it because they are too firm on road and don't last.

Most of my driving is outback roads with alot of dirt roads and farm paddock driving measuring up jobs and supervising installation work. I cannot fault it after doing somewhere between 15000 and 20000kms on them now. My mate who drives a brand new Forrester reckons my Prado rides better than his Forrester on road and the performance is amazing offroad. I competed in the Opposite Lock Challenge at Mudgee on the long weekend and the flex I got out of the back end blew us away.

All in all i couldn't be happier with the set up. I know there's a lot of bad reports about them around but there's alot of bad reports on BFG tyres too and I swear by them. There's a lot of bad reports on Coopers tyres too but my best mate swear by them but I don't rate them at all. It all comes back to what you're comfortable with and what suits your set up and what you're willing to put your hard earned into.

[footoo Member Find all posts View Profile Close footoo]

Thanks for the feedback batto83, have sent you a pm

[Bickies Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bickies]

Im getting Kings springs (lifetime warranty) They also make springs for other brands to other brand specifications, coupled with EFS elite shockies (3 year warranty) This setup I beleive will give you a good balanced ride. After all you still want to keep the smooth ride on the tarmac and I have been told that the Bilsteins ( 1 year warranty and more expensive) will give you a more harsher feel. I guess its a tradeoff between comfort on the road and a suspension that will help on the tracks. Just my two cents worth.

Cheers Paul

[footoo Member Find all posts View Profile Close footoo]

Thanks Bickies,
appreciate you comment. Had not thought of the EFS Shocks, but a lot of what I have looked at gives them a good report (significantly different to the Tough Dogs). Think I will go with the EFS shocks, provided I can confirm they are 150 specific and not 120s with spacers. However plan to go with the Tough Dog springs. Had a drive of SmakBs car with these and was impressed with the compliance of the springs.

I am against the Kings as I believe they are still the 120 spec spring which is too light for the 150. The 150 is like me as I get older, it has put on a little weight..

thanks
Geoff

[8608 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close 8608]

shocks which are twin tube, tend to use a thinner walled tube as they need to keep weight down and the piston is not directly affected by small dents and so.

with the bilsteins being a mono tube (or most mono tube shocks) they will use a thicker heavier walled tube. this in turn makes for a stronger shock body resisting dents and damage.

bilsteins are one of the best shocks on the market, and their design keeps the 'gas' seperate from the oil, unlike conventional shocks.

if your budget stretches, bilsteins are a great investment, and you won't look back.

[Peter Lister Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Peter Lister]

I have been to the Cape 3 times with my 120 Prado and will be taking my new 150 up there again in September. I put Tough Dog under both vehicles and couldn't be happier with the ride both on and off road. I have medium springs and never adjust them.

[halfpastfour Member Find all posts View Profile Close halfpastfour]

Thanks Bickies,
appreciate you comment. Had not thought of the EFS Shocks, but a lot of what I have looked at gives them a good report (significantly different to the Tough Dogs). Think I will go with the EFS shocks, provided I can confirm they are 150 specific and not 120s with spacers. However plan to go with the Tough Dog springs. Had a drive of SmakBs car with these and was impressed with the compliance of the springs.

I am against the Kings as I believe they are still the 120 spec spring which is too light for the 150. The 150 is like me as I get older, it has put on a little weight..

thanks
Geoff

Hi Geoff

Can you tell me what you finally went with and how happy you are with it. I am getting my new GXL D4D next month and trying to make the suspension decision without my head spinning too much. I have OME on my current Navara D40 and it is OK, but a little harsh, I went to ARB this weekend to talk about the new 150 and they recommend that you should only put in a 50ah battery (as the second battery) as anything larger is too heavy for the OME suspension. I have had a look at Tough Dog and TJM, but there seems to be a fair few bad reports on them.

Also looking for a decent installer in east/sth east Melbourne as a possible option for King springs/bilsteins, but everyone I have spoken to so far has not impressed me.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Mark

[Winesy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Winesy]

Hey mark
I'm looking to get my tjm front suspension removed this week and I'm going to put bilstein struts with 40mm tough dog springs in.Im going to give the guys in cranbourne a go at fitting these as I have heard good reports about them and don't know of anyone else.

[footoo Member Find all posts View Profile Close footoo]

G'day Mark,
I went with the Tough Dog springs, heavy on the front as I have a winch, steel bar (TJM) and will have a second battery there one day. Standard (0 - 300 Kg) on the rear. That is the 50mm lift, although it is a bit more on the rear. I also installed the Tough Dog Foam Cell shocks, non adjustable.

It is a little bit firmer than I would have liked but it handles great both on and off road. Was not too sure about the adjustable TD's they could soften the ride up a bit more but overall I am very happy with the setup as it is.

I did not go with the EFS as the only handy supplier I could find this side of town is in Eltham and after 3 non returned calls I gave up.

I also did not go with the Bilsieins as my personal preference is for Hydraulic shocks

As Winesy mentioned the Crounbourne guys could be a good option if you want to go down that path. If you look enough you will find there are bad reports about the top eyes on Bilstein shocks and there are some good reports about TD's and TJM. I have TJM on a Nissan Patrol CC and when fully loaded is just over 4T it has been excellent with no problems at all but at the end of the day it is what you are comfortable with.

Geoff

[Batto83 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Batto83]

Just an update on my setup, read my post on page 2 also.
My setup has TD mediums front and back with winch bar, winch and dual batteries up front and fully loaded drawers in the back for work and recovery gear.
I've now had the setup in for just on 12months and done 55000kms on them and still love them. Smooth ride on road but still firm enough to hold the road nicely and not feel like a bean bag and great off road. A really good compromise for a work/touring vehicle that does over 1000km each week.
Will go the same again and have put the adjustable ones into my dual cab Patrol play toy.
Just my two bobs worth.

[halfpastfour Member Find all posts View Profile Close halfpastfour]

Thanks Geoff, Winesy and Batto83,

I think I am leaning towards Tough Dog springs with either Bilstein shocks or the TD adjustables. Winesy, you mentioned an installer in Cranbourne, can you give me their details as I work in Cranny and can easily visit them to have a chat about their recommendations.

Mark

[footoo Member Find all posts View Profile Close footoo]

G'day Mark,

As I have mentioned my preference is with Hydraulic shocks. However if the TDs ever let me down I would be tempted to go with the Bilsteins. At the end of the day they are a bloody good shock. I spoke to this mob http://www.quadrantsuspensions.com.au prior to my final decision as they are dedicated Bilstein suppliers and in Berwick, which would be good for you and they seem to know their stuff. The only thing to make sure of is that what you get are the Aus modified version

The only other thing to add (and this is my opinion only) is that I think the Tough Dog springs are equivalent or better than most others out there. So I think on the spring side of things it is a no brainer. The real issue are what shocks you decide on. And that is the Million dollar question..

Good hunting
Geoff

[barryswanson Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close barryswanson]

Tough Dog adjustables all the way!

[gxllouie Member Find all posts View Profile Close gxllouie]

Thanks Bickies,
appreciate you comment. Had not thought of the EFS Shocks, but a lot of what I have looked at gives them a good report (significantly different to the Tough Dogs). Think I will go with the EFS shocks, provided I can confirm they are 150 specific and not 120s with spacers. However plan to go with the Tough Dog springs. Had a drive of SmakBs car with these and was impressed with the compliance of the springs.

I am against the Kings as I believe they are still the 120 spec spring which is too light for the 150. The 150 is like me as I get older, it has put on a little weight..

thanks
Geoff

Guys,

Found out last week that 150 spec King Springs were in the process of being manufactured. I'll be ordering these with Bilsteins at this stage.

Louie

[Winesy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Winesy]

Hey Mark
I have my prado booked in this thursday to have the TJM suspension taken out and replaced with these guys.
They are Everything 4WD. I will let you know how it all goes.