Leaderboard

You’ve got to be careful following@TowndawgR50 Especially when he lets the dogs drive!

This @!*%box is still waiting on tires! Sent from my SM-A520W using Tapatalk

I have the following shocks from @02Pathy . I believe he upgraded from the set you listed above. I’m at 36.5” fender to ground height on 265/65r17s and LR9449 springs https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/bilstein-5125-series-shock-absorber-33-185569/_/R-BBGL-33-185569 SPECIFICATIONS Bilstein | Part Number: BIL33-185569 Shock Series:5125 Series Fitment:Direct Fit Hydraulic / Gas Charged :Gas Charged TECHNICAL DETAILS Bilstein 5125 Series Shock Absorber Collapsed Length (in.): 17.91 Extended Length (in.): 29.7 Travel Length (in.): 11.79 Compression: 700 Rebound: 2550 Lower Mount: 5/8 inch Eye Upper Mount: 5/8 inch Eye Shaft Diameter: 14mm Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Probably muttered "cyka blyat" to itself as it ran off.

The trouble with most brush guards is that they're designed to stop low-velocity vegetation, not high-velocity venison. They have a reputation for collapsing in a collision and causing damage to more of the front end than would've been hit by the deer alone. I'd prefer a proper bumper, but of course anything will crumple if hit hard enough. My strategy in rural Washington (also lousy with hoof rats) is just to drive slower late evening through early morning when they tend to be on the road. The only one I've hit, I saw long beforehand, and thought, nah, he'll stay where he is. Dumb SOB dove in front of me at the last minute like he wanted the insurance money. I'd slowed down to around 40 by that point, though, so the damage to the truck was minor.

The 185569 shocks are longer than the 185552. The 569’s work well with a 6” lift, while the 552’s are better suited to a 2” lift. I have the 569’s on mine and they work well.

The shocks I just recommended offers 29.7” extended height vs. the 25.9” from the one you listed. I’d recommend checking TowndawgR50’s setup just Incase. Also your 35” setup sounds interesting. Do you mind sharing pics?

I wouldn't worry about it that much, any vehicle other than a big truck is going to get hurt by a deer real bad; does that stop people from sinking money into Corvettes and such? If you want the ultimate in deer protection get an F250 with a Ranch Hand bumper, otherwise just build the R50 as well as you can but understand that's more to improve it off-road and against minor traffic incidents than anything else.

I can’t speak to deer impacts - other than a steel bumper is likely better than an OEM bumper. I would also consider the full grill protection option on that bumper if I was thinking deer. The real Achille’s heel is side pull snatches - best avoided.

Section 3 of the Washington state Backcountry Discovery Route with @RainGoat

Some pics from my last trip out in August with a mate in his lifted Forester