People everywhere purposely seek out and chase adrenaline rushes. We grow up racing our bicycles and then graduate to cars, motorcycles and even boats. Some chose to hang glide, freestyle rock climb, skydive or base jump. Even less aggressive “adrenaline junkies” ride roller coasters or other theme park attractions… basically anything to get the blood pumping! Obviously, our particular brand of thrill is Off-Roading. And our question is… Why do we, as humans, seek the thrill of danger? Is it the rush of adrenaline? Or is it an escape from mundane routine? A combination of both? The excitement of adventure doesn’t come without at least some danger.  Some people would argue that thrill seeking is a death wish.. but someone who loves off-roading or whatever their particular brand of adventure is might argue that it’s the opposite.. It’s a wish to feel alive! Finding that sweet spot between danger and being in control seems to be the common goal. We’re wondering what your take on this is? Do we purposely seek out adrenaline rushes or does it just come naturally with the territory of being an off road enthusiast? Feel free to comment!

“The Ultimate Dodge Ram Suspension Lift Kit”

Without knowing much about exactly how this kit works, I’m on a mission to gain a better understanding of just what this suspension lift kit does and how. I called Tuff Country and talked to their R&D department that supplied me with the installation pictures for this product; they were glad to help provide more information as they’re passionate about what they do.

This Dodge Ram suspension lift kit is a simple but brilliant idea. The main idea behind a long arm lift kit: longer control arms, providing more suspension articulation. How? “By replacing the factory control arms with the new long arms you get less of an angle on the control arms which gives you quite a softer ride and better handling along with more suspension articulation” -Scott Sweeney, Tuff Country INC.

A few more benefits of the Long Arm Kit: Drastically improves ride quality, adjusts the control arms so they aren’t on such steep opposing angles.. allowing the axle to move up and down much easier. It’s built with rebuildable and greasable heim joints to reduce any kind of binding. Allows fine tuning of axle location and alignment, helps eliminate the famous Dodge “Death Wobble”. The arms are bent for maximum turning radius and this kit can be installed without cutting the factory control arms off the frame.

Once installed this suspension lift kit raised the truck pictured below 4.5″ in the front end and 2″ in the rear and fitted with 35″ x 12.5″ tires.  Also included with the Long Arm lift kits is a front track bar relocating bracket, sway bar drop brackets, drop pitman arm, cast iron lift blocks and extended ubolts for the rear.

This Dodge Ram 2500 / 3500 lift kit is available as a 4.5″ suspension lift kit, 6″ suspension lift kit & an upgrade kit to fit the Dodge Ram 2500 / 3500 4wd 2003-2011.  Options are available to use either coil springs or coil spacers to lift the front of the Dodge.

BEFORE

AFTER

Never has a group of athletes been looked upon with both equal parts reverence and genuine astonishment as off-road racers. And in the world of off-road racing, there are certain events that truly make us question the sanity of the men and women behind the craziness.

In fact, even a quick glance of this list of the World’s 15 Most Extreme Off-Road Races will make you think twice about complaining of shoddy city engineering and crazy weekend traffic ever again.

1. NORRA and the Mexican 1000

The craziness began at the National Off-Road Racing Association’s inaugural event in 1967. Since then, the Mexican 1000, which gets its name from the fact that it’s 1,000 miles across the Mexican desert, has been one of the most legendary events in extreme off-road racing. NORRA handed the event to SCORE International shortly after its inception, so watch for the “Baja 1000″ at No. 2 on this list. The original event made a comeback in 2010 and will be returning in 2012 with an assortment of categories: ATVs, vintage cars and buggies, rally cars, motorcycles and more. The event will be held May 5-9, 2012, and will include three separate legs: Mexicali to Bahia de Los Angeles, Bahia de Los Angeles to Loreto, and Loreto to the finish line (location yet to be announced as of Sept. 26).

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2. Tecate SCORE Baja 1000

The organization SCORE International is known for the Baja 1000, which was formerly known as the Mexican 1000 (see No. 1) until 1973 when this body took it over. The Baja 1000 is typically held in November, and begins in Ensenada. There really isn’t a finish line per se. The race includes multiple groups of vehicles, as with the newly formed Mexican 1000, and a winner is picked for each style of vehicle based on overall time from Ensenada to the predetermined finish point for that classification. Speeding penalties and other violations in regulated areas are deducted from the overall time to determine a winner. Finish points include Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas and La Paz. Motorcycles and quads are included in the event.

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3. Lucas Oil Off-Road Challenge Cup

The Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing Series always ends its season with the dirt slinging action of the Challenge Cup. The stadium-based event, this year held in December 2011 at the Firebird Raceway in Chandler, Ariz., will offer a wide assortment of vehicle competitions including buggies and ATVs. The event is the climax of a racing season that includes 15 rigorous rounds throughout Arizona, California, and Nevada.

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4. MAORA Enduro Races

The desert races of Mexico and Nevada may be longer, but the Mid-America Off-Road Association’s (MAORA) Enduro packs a lot of extreme into three hours of racing. MAORA follows a similar format as the Baja 1000. Different divisions of cars are started at separate intervals and the race is timed rather than being a “point A to point B” sort of thing. The overall track, however, is much shorter, usually not scaling past 5 miles in length. “Pro” and “Trophy” divisions are allowed with the professional drivers competing in Pro and the novices in the Trophy circuit.

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5. TORC Series

The Off-Road Championship (TORC) Series combines off-road racing and motocross into a rigorous series of events that make rough and tumble use of their natural terrain tracks. The races are held from California to Wisconsin. Past champions include motocross legend Rick Johnson. While nothing near the length of a Baja 1000, the TORC Series offers short course off-road racing that is every bit as rigorous as its longer counterpart. Specific events that are included as part of this series take place at Chicagoland Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and Pikes Peak International Raceway.

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6. Best in the Desert Series

The Best in the Desert Series, ran by long-time promoter Casey Folks, is one of the more well-known US-based organizations for off-road racing. Folks has attracted notable talents over the years, such as Rod Hall, Mike Groff, and Robbie Gordon. His two biggest events are the Nevada 1000, which is the “longest point-to-point desert off-road racing event in the United States,” the official website notes; and the Vegas to Reno challenge, which places competitors against one another in one of the most unforgiving tracts of desert land in the world. Motorcycles, quads, buggies and trick trucks, are all included in the Best in the Desert Series.

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7. Taupo 1000

North America points to the Baja 1000 as the premier event for off-road racing, but ask anyone in New Zealand, and you’ll certainly get a different answer. For New Zealanders, it doesn’t get more rigorous than the Taupo 1000. In 2011, Australian racer Brad Prout claimed the title after 1,000 grueling kilometers across the heavily forested area on the North Island of New Zealand. While the drivers get a more enchanting view of Lake Taupo, the Waikato River, and the Huka Falls-more than they can say for their desert counterparts-they generally face stiff competition from drivers all over the world.

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8. The Dakar Rally

It was once called the “Paris to Dakar Rally,” but changing tides and increased security threats in the world at large have moved this race from its traditional Paris, France to Dakar, Senegal location to (as of 2009) South America. The new race covers Chile and Argentina. Hundreds of competitors-both amateur and pro-compete in true off-road vehicles and cover as much as 560 miles per day. In the past, they’ve had to deal with sand dunes, mud, rocks, erg and camel grass, just to name a few of the obstacles. Cars, trucks, quads, bikes and ATVs are all allowed into the competition.

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9. Rallye des Pharaons

The Rallye des Pharaons is sponsored each year by the International Motorcycle Federation. It begins and ends in Cairo, Egypt and covers an unforgiving length of desert that totals around 3,100 kilometers. Three-time champion of the Dakar Rally Richard Sainct died on Sept. 29, 2004, when his motorcycle crashed in the midst of the event. Motorcycles along with cars and trucks are all allowed to compete.

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10. Spanish Baja

The Spanish Baja is an annual rally-raid event that forces competitors into the unique desert environment of the Monegros (located in Northern Spain). The Monegros is like most deserts in that it is given to drought and high temperatures. It does, however, contain a number of different lakes, more than one would typically expect from this type of environment. The Spanish Baja originated in 1983, and is a part of the International Motorcycle Federation’s Off-Road World Cup series.

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11. Raid de Himalaya

The Raid de Himalaya, originating in 1999, carries the distinction among rally-raid enthusiasts as being held at the highest altitude. In 2009, the event began in Shimla and finished in Srinagar. It is generally held in October in order to avoid the impossibly cold and snowy winters that often plague the event’s starting point. (Shimla’s altitude is greater than 7,200 feet. Srinagar is at 5,200 feet.) The event is open to all types of true off-road vehicles from the two-wheeled to four-wheeled variety.

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12. Tecate SCORE San Felipe 250

San Felipe, Baja California, is known as the gateway to the Sea of Cortez. It’s the hearty mix of desert and resort life that has attracted spectators and competitors from all over the world for a number of years. SCORE International usually puts their San Felipe 250 event on each year at the end of February or the beginning of March. It’s a looped course that starts and stops in the same location. The 2011 Winner was Rob MacCachren in Cars and Trucks and Colton Udall and Jeff Kargola in Motorcycles.

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13. Russian Baja Northern Forest

SA latecomer to the World Cup event hosted by the International Motorcycle Federation, the Russian Baja Northern Forest entered the fray in 2007. Unlike many of the different rally-raids and off-road events presented in this list, the Northern Forest (as it is called for short) is held on snow and ice in St. Petersburg, Russia, during the month of February. On average, competitors can expect a 14-degree Fahrenheit temperature. Motorcycles are not recommended!

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14. SNORE SoCal 250

Southern Nevada Off-Road Enthusiasts (SNORE) has offered races all throughout Nevada since being created for recreational purposes in 1969. While the fun is still emphasized, the playing field is a bit more competitive. Races include “the bushed hills of Southern Nevada,” “the pine tree dotted coolness of Central Nevada,” and “the decomposed granite boulder country of Southern California,” according to the SNORE official website. It is this last choice that acts as a standout for off-road enthusiasts, who are drawn to the challenge and the danger. The SoCal 250 is 250 miles in length and generally held in May each year.

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15. MINT 400

Del Webb’s Mint Hotel and Casino started the MINT 400 event in 1969. It was open to buggies, cars, trucks and motorcycles until 1988, and was referred to mostly as “The Great American Desert Race.” When the Mint Hotel sold in 1988, the event was dropped and didn’t return until SNORE brought it back in 2008. The event will forever be tied to Hunter S. Thompson’s novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, because Thompson was supposed to be covering it as a short article when he ended up with his 25,000-word drug-induced tirade that would later become a bestseller and a major motion picture starring Johnny Depp. The race itself was a successful event that drew both professional off-roaders and celebrities. The 400-mile trek across Southern Nevada remains legendary for all that it brought to the sport. Not to mention those Mint 400 ladies!

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Off-road racing is NOT for the faint of heart. But if you are considering a one-of-the-kind viewing experience OR want to test your mettle, then this list of the World’s 15 Most Extreme Off-Road Races is where you should start. Did we miss one? Let us know your thoughts below in the comments.

The Problem

The logic behind the rear end of a stock truck sitting about 2” higher than the front end is that when you’re carrying a load in your truck bed, the truck will sit level… Sure, this makes sense, but if you’re riding empty, your truck is left in a permanent nose-dive.

The Solution

Leveling kits are a stylish and affordable solution to this problem. By adding a leveling kit, you solve the nose-dive problem and are left with a level truck allowing room for larger tires without altering your factory ride. Brilliant, right!? And then if you decide you do need some extra load capacity, a set of Firestone Air Bags will solve your problem again allowing you to ride level all the time. For most applications the installation is a simple process. The most common methods are either coil / strut spacers or torsion bar keys (depending on the vehicles suspension).

A Brand New Chevy Silverado. Even stock, this is a really cool pick up truck. And as most of you already know and have noticed, the front sits lower. If you’re not into this “stock” look. A front leveling kit is the solution and you’ll also create space for larger wheels and tires.

Problem Solved

A bolt-on installation of this Leveling Kit consisting of Torsion Keys raises the front to match the rear of this truck, resulting in a strong level stance and clearance for larger wheels and tires.

This isn’t something I’d normally write about since it’s difficult to get real excited about something like a trailer hitch. But, The Diversi-Tech Adjustable Ball Mount is truly a cool product and worth taking a look at.

Convenience & Ease of Use:

It’s made of aircraft grade aluminum, the design is simple and I was able to easily adjust the height to keep my trailer parallel to the ground. So it works with different trailers and can adapt to the weight of the load you’re carrying.

Features:

A couple of the features on this trailer hitch that I found to be attractive was the anti-rattle to keep the hitch quiet on the road and the fact that this adjustable hitch will never rust, guaranteed. With 1” increments, this adjustable ball mount has a 7” rise or a 6” drop. The Diversi-Tech ball mounts are reversible with two different sizes; 2” or 2 & 5/16 which can be changed by sliding the ball mount off and flipping it.

Installation:

This is a truly easy ball mount to install and the dual integrated locking mechanism design eliminates lost pins, clips and locks bodies and is theft-proof. Plus it’s really shiny and well… shiny things are cool.

If you’re like me when it comes to keeping your vehicle clean, almost obsessively, this review could be beneficial. When thinking about accessories that keep your vehicle clean and tidy, WeatherTech floor liners are the first product to come to mind.

Digital Fit:
I’ve used WeatherTech floor liners on a few different vehicles and the one thing that’s really stuck out and made me a repeat customer is how perfect they fit. Offered in black, tan and gray, they’re digitally cut with precision. They don’t even budge, let alone slip or slide around.  

Easy to clean:
Convenience is the key when it comes to keeping the interior of your vehicle clean so another selling point on these floor liners that hooked me in was how easy they are to remove, hose off and replace. Also, the way WeatherTech designs these floor liners, fluids and debris from a spill or a mess move down to a lower area in the mat which keeps the mess away from shoes or clothing.

Conclusion:
Easy installation, 100% effective, durable & reliable. After using this product… I suggest not just settling for any floor-liner, WeatherTech takes floor liners to a new level.

You’ve seen them online and in magazines but now more than ever they’re showing up on the road. What is it about a blacked out ride that makes it stand out? If you ask us at Suspension Connection we’ll tell you that every detail you put into your ride makes a statement. We thought it would be a good idea to spotlight some of our friends all black vehicles and get your thoughts on the idea!  

Hummer H3

A Hummer H3 is a definite way to turn heads on the road and has proven itself to be a very capable SUV off-road. By adding 4” of suspension to this H3 with a Tuff Country lift kit, the owner not only gained clearance for larger tires but made his vehicle literally rise above the rest. This truly is a really cool machine. As far as interior additions go, to keep his ride fresh and clean, he chose weather tech cargo liners, a popular addition that Suspension Connection carries.

Toyota FJ Cruiser

The Toyota FJ Cruiser already has stylish elements and distinctive looks. On top of that, most owners would agree that if off-road ability is your goal, the FJ Cruiser is one of the best options. This particular all black ride is equipped with a 3” Tuff Country FJ Cruiser lift kit including weather tech floor liners. Although this FJ isn’t completely “blacked out” with nightshade taillights etc, with a few additions this vehicle became hard to top with on road looks & off road ability.

Our question of to you; Do you think a full on “blacked out” vehicle including black paint, tinted windows, black license plate cover, black rims and black headlight/taillight covers looks unique and stylish or cheap and tacky?

At Suspension Connection we felt like it was time to take our website off-roading. So, we’re excited to finally present our Suspension Connection blog: Essential Keys to Adventure. Head on over here to get off  the paved road of the internet and you’ll find anything from product reviews, buyers guides and informative articles to hilarious or interesting blog topics. We look forward to your input as the possibilities on blog topics are endless! Let us know what you’d like to see, read or watch.