"When large drop-offs or ledges are encountered, they can be tackled at an angle to allow one wheel at a time to mount the obstacle. Bear in mind how this will affect the position of the vehicle as turning at an angle to a down hill ledge may result in the side rollover angle being reached."

To me that says that an IFS truck has to pick better lines than a solid axle..... any other thoughts?

I dont see any mention of flex in that article...seems they are just talking about the "ride"

 

I don't know about "better" but on many obstacles, the SFA and IFS lines are indeed different ... something you need to keep in mind when working as a spotter of a group with both kinds of rigs.

 

I think you should wheel what you got.

I've seen shade tree SAS jobs that make me cringe.

I've seen IFS rigs with lift stacked on lift.

I've even seen wheelers with chromed 20's, still can't figure that one.

I'd lie if I said the pucker factor didn't raise in my rig with the tripod stand on off chamber, uneven, and steep declinning trails. But I've seen SAS reach a piont that they've used all there flex and are on three wheels.

Really both set ups have weaknesses. stock IFS lacks flex so does stock SFA, plus most factory SFA now have worn out springs that need replacing. IFS comes stock with a stronger steering design.

Really it boils down to how much $$$ you dump in to it, trails, and wheeling style.

I've seen guys SAS a truck with no other mods, and I've passed them on trails.

But I've seen some SAS rigs that capibilities turn me green with envy, but they are far far from stock configurations.

I got a '85 solid front axle under my carport and one day may make the change. But not today.

 

I was at a ski resort in Canada this winter, they had a few Hilux Surf's (which is a 4runner outside the US) They had that "hi-trac" IFA. I asked a guy about them, he said they never get stuck in the snow. IFS seems to always have the tendancy to high-center due to it's inherent geometry I guess, but it chews up the snow otherwise.

 

Well, in middle deep snow, the skidplate acts like a sled whereas a SFA acts like a plow. If you can keep your speed up, you can actually surf on the snow to some degree ... of course when the speed runs out, you're REALLY stuck.

When you get REAL deep, the skidplate will actually get you "high centered", but the SFA has run out of traction to push that much snow out of the way long ago...

 

i dont think this thread could ever end.
IFS- better ride quality, bad flex.
SFA- not so good ride quality, good flex.

 

"This type of terrain is one where vehicle type is very important. Ground clearance and suspension travel are two of the main criteria. High ground clearance allows the larger rocks to pass underneath without contacting vulnerable vehicle parts while good suspension travel allows the wheels to remain in contact with the ground.

Independent suspension usually provides a smoother ride in this type of terrain, but its design limits the wheel travel and ground clearance available. It goes without saying that rocky ground should be attempted at low speeds to minimize vehicle contact with the terrain.

While independent front suspension generally provides a smoother ride, it has a variable ground clearance to the front diff. As the front wheels hit a bump, the wheels rise up to absorb the bump. However the diff remains in the same relative position, effectively reducing the ground clearance under the diff. This can result in the diff hitting the ground, even though the obstacle under the diff was only half the height of the static ground clearance.

Live axle front suspension generally does not provide as smooth a ride as independent front suspension. However many live axle suspensions are now fitted with coils rather than leaf suspension, which significantly improves ride comfort. The advantage of live axles when off road is that when the wheels hit a bump, the whole axle rises with the wheels to absorb the bump. This maintains the same clearance from the diff to the ground.

While this is an advantage off-road, the fact the weight of the entire axle and diff is constantly moving with any bumps leads to a rougher ride, compared to independent front suspension.

When large drop-offs or ledges are encountered, they can be tackled at an angle to allow one wheel at a time to mount the obstacle. Bear in mind how this will affect the position of the vehicle as turning at an angle to a down hill ledge may result in the side rollover angle being reached."

They also mention obstacles, and the pros and cons of each suspension type negotiating the obstacles. The last part highlighted in red actually suggests the opposite, and reinforces my previous statement that SFA is more prone to rollovers, both on road, and even off road, where many consider the SFA superior to IFS.

I guess it just depends on what you, the driver, wants. Maybe there could be a compromise, like mounting IFS components on a SFA, so you get the ground clearance of the IFS, and the increased tendency to roll of the SFA

 

Oh man...I need to hit up whistler again!

 

You guys have missed the important point here.

Toyota's can't wheel. Get a jeep, duh.

 

Totally. I've got a high lift jack mounted on my Jeep's hood so everyone at the mall knows I'm hard core.

 

Barbie called, she wants her jeep back....

 

From my cold, dead hands......

 

That is one ugly, ugly, ugly child..

 

If you like to drift in your truck as I do, then IFS is the better option. It's just more stable in the corners, plain and simple.

Mind you I do this on black ice, and never on dry pavement.

For offroad, I'd prefer a solid axle. Less things to break (overall), although birfields can be a problem. I can speak from experience on this as well, since my dad had an '85 that was to become my first vehicle until it was stolen and totaled by slamming face down into an irrigation ditch at 70 miles per hour. It could easily out-wheel the IFS Toyotas and pretty much anything else out there, including Datsun 720/Nissan SE/XEs, Chevy K-series trucks, Fords, Heeps, etc.

 

We haven't had a miracle truck in a long time. Now we've got another! Kickin!

Still outclassed by the guy with the stock IFS truck that could follow buggies no matter what, but pretty close.

 

Surely you do not refer to a stock solid axle truck.

Stock, birfields will handle equally as much abuse as CV's. The J-arm steering is quite a bit weaker than early IFS steering, and I didn't think that was possible.

However, a call to marlin and another to bobby long will fix both of those issues and give you an axle that is stronger than IFS by leaps and bounds.

Stock SA is really weak.

 

I can't believe Ei-Or wasn't strapped in that Jeep. So much needless carnage by Jeep owners.

People please realize your abilities and wear your helmets.........

Krustyroo

 

So is it "tastes great!" or "less filling!" I lost track of the score.

 

here's a pick of my solid axle hilux with 5 inch trail gear springs and 35" tires and my buddy's ifs pick-up with 4 inch bracket lift, 3 inch body lift and 33" tires.



i deffinately got up further the flipped car.










overdrive