Border to Border with Overland

[vedo13]

I have a question regarding the Mopar Overland concept vehicle that Del Albright and Chris Collard highlighted in the Overland journal. I can't quite seem to get the suspension straight on this vehicle. Mopar says it was outfitted with and AEV 3.5" lift. However, soon into the expedition, Albright mentions that the "stock Mopar 2 inch" springs weren't up to the weight of the fully fitted-out vehicle and they stopped and had a Poly Performance suspension put in. What happened to the AEV suspension that was mentioned? Was it removed from the concept vehicle to give Mopar's a shakedown, or was I reading misinformation and the PP replaced the AEV lift? OR, was the PP replaced by the AEV suspesion at some point? Since I can't find any technical eval of the trip, I figure Dave and Co. over here would know. I'd love to do this trip....or one like it!

[JeepinJon]

The vehicle originally had the Mopar suspension when it was shown at EJS in 2009 as a Mopar concept. Once Scott Brady got it (after the article) they changed to the AEV suspension. Some where in there the suspension might have been changed to Poly springs.

[forsakenfuture]

I was wondering that as well. I really liked that article and I love that Jeep. I love how i have been able to follow it from magazine to magazine and how many places it covered.

[AEV Dave]

Yes, the Mopar suspension quickly failed when subjected to that kind of use, its really not designed for it. They tried to fix it by adding a bunch of Poly parts (to be fair it wasn't their entire suspension) like rear springs. They finally ended up using the AEV suspension - since that's exactly the kind of usage we designed it for.

dh

[Rossetti MJ]

Thanks for the info Dave... What tire size is he using since he went to the Savegre rims?

Jake

[JeepinJon]

Thanks for the info Dave... What tire size is he using since he went to the Savegre rims?

Jake

35x12.50x17 BFG KM2

[expeditionswest]

The AEV suspension has proven to be exceptional. I am not a fan of roof loads so I usually run without the rack and tent.

To handle the roof loads, a larger rear anti-sway bar was also fitted.

The 3.5" springs are surprisingly tolerant of large variations in load. We experience very little sag even with rack/tent and a full truck. When unloaded, the truck is firm but not abusive. I like the firmer ride.

This vehicle is surprisingly agile and tossable with a 3.5" suspension and 35" tires. I can comfortably initiate a four wheel drift or pull an emergency brake turn on a gravel road.

We just had it out on the snow last week.

Snow run with the Overland JK (http://www.expeditionportal.com/adventures/featured-adventures/249-playing-in-the-snow-prescott-style.html)
http://www.expeditionportal.com/adventures/2011/Snow_Day(15).jpg