I rode in soft sand this weekend in wide open areas that were heavily traveled. I learned that you can only go as fast as your suspension will let you. I could not go fast because the rough sand beat me to death.

Without raising the height of the chassis, what is the best suspension out there (and for the buck) that softens the blow of rough sand to be able to get back on the gas?

Many thanks,

Bruce

Bruce that is one opened question, you should get a lot of replys. You first need to decide it you are willing to sacrifice the width of your Rzr and go for a long Travel system (LT). If you do, there are endless options and combinations mostly depending on how many $$$$$$ you are willing to spend. If not you are a bit limited by space considerations, but you can still spend $$ for aftermarket Shocks,
John

Two words.... Long Travel

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The long travel is (in my humble opinion) the only way to go. I had it on my rhino, and now have the S model. Its amazing what a few (expensive) geometry changes will do for ride quality. Also the body size of the shocks have alot to do with it.... As factory UTV stated... Long Travel

I have a LoneStar MTS +4 with Elka shocks. I am not impressed at all. I actually think it's worse. If you think about it, the long travel is intended to give you long travel. It is meant to survive huge jumps. Therefore when you aren't jumping huge, you have a much rougher ride. On small bumps on dirt roads, the ride is rough. For the big whoops created by atv's, the ride is rough. I can not fly over these bumps, I have to slow down, just like I did before.

As to why almost everyone loves them, it's a lot of money to spend, so of course everyone feels a big improvement. There are a few people here who are asking, what am I doing wrong, this is not better. I live in the desert and have never found a big jump, although I guess that's the big thing in the dunes.

Maybe it's just my setup. I think ELKA screwed me. Why? They told me so on the phone. "Those aren't the right shocks, whoever sold them to you ripped you off." The next day, "oh we sold them to you? Oh, those are the right shocks. That other guy made a mistake."

Before you spend your money, realize that you can't get a smooth ride and the ability to survive big jumps. Depending on the whoops your trying to ride faster over, a new suspension probably won't help either. Flame away!

PS. Don't buy Elka shocks. The service is poor. I have been trying for 3 months to find out the rate of springs I have, still no answers.

I think you did get screwed, I know several people with both +6 and +4 long travel by different manufactures, they have all had the shocks dailed in by a good shop and the ride is awesome, there is a trade off depending on what you want to do, jumping, the dunes or desert runs, all require a different type of valving and hence will result in a different type of ride over different terrians. Let me know if you are interested in selling your kit.

Wow! I could not disagree more. My Fabtech LT works better than stock under every circumstance. You are adding several inches of travel and it's progressive rate suspension. This means you have a much wider range of progression. As long as your setup is right (BIG if) there is no comparison! The added stabilty of the +6 is worth the price of admission itself in my opinion.

LOL ... Bluesun what planet are you from in which Elka shocks aren't the Shiat? I wish that I had them on my S and will once I wear out these smaller bodied fox shocks (that i am actually suprised how decent they perform). I want to extend and invite to Bruce to come for a ride with me and personally feel the difference that a lt set up can provide. No its not a LT sand car but i didn't pay sand car prices for it either1

That is why ALL of our Kits Come PRE TUNED with the Elka Shocks so you guys dont have to get frustrated with trying to get the shocks to work. They work like a dream. We have Two Kits for the RZR, a +4 and a +6 DragonFireRacing.com - Polaris Ranger RZR Suspension Forum Discounts of 10% apply as well, so hit me up with any questions

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hey bluesun pm me if you want to trade me for my stock suspention

Well, seems I already have a stock suspension. Thanks for the kind offer. You know, when you get some shocks in the mail, there is no way to tell what they are for. How would a pair of rhino shocks work on a rzr? How would you tell what the shocks you had were set up for? Maybe if I rode a stock rzr back to back, I would see the difference, but since it took a month or two to get the ride acceptable, from my memory it is not better than stock. Considering that it was 50% of the cost of a rzr, does not seem worth it.

There are two other people on here recently that were having problems too, and another guy that is sliding all over the place (like I am too), so obviously not everyone is impressed. When I find someone who is happy I will try to get a ride to compare to mine and see if I'm just too picky.

But bottom line, Elka told me they were the wrong shocks. The next day they told me they were the right shocks. They still haven't told me how to decode the springs. Not great customer service for such an expensive item.

this is funny as hell..... i hope you where joking... do you have the compreshion set all the way stiff and the rebound as fast as it can go... then i can see the long travel elkas acting like crap..... what you need to do is find a suspention shop that works with mx quad shocks. or off road race trucks, and tell them what your shocks are doing. ... . when you ordered your shocks, did you tell them anything about how you ride? the more input you give a suspention company the better.... and when you get new shocks from a company they are not compleatly set up yet. the spring and valving will be set up, but the compreshion and rebound ( if the shocks have external adjustment) will not be set up yet..... elka is a great company to work with. they have some of the best products, and great service.....

I had to laugh too but seriously find someone to tune them shocks

Find out what shocks you were sold... That info might be on the boxes or call Elkas (since you bought them direct). Call LSR and ask about this those shocks with there kit. Speak to Greg (he post here) and is a great guy to talk to. You knew you were gonna get "flamed" on this one. You either have the wrong shocks OR there not set-up correctly. Did you tell them you were going to use them with the LSR kit? Find out the specifics and talk to Greg over at LSR you will get it straight.

LT should = Plush ride.

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The shocks were ordered direct from Elka by the shop. The driving and weight ecetera were mentioned when ordered. When Elka was called, they said they were rhino shocks. The next day, they said they weren't. I still can't find out what the spring rates are, so I don't believe in good service from Elka. I have had two shops drive the thing. Both seem to think it's pretty close to being set up correctly. I still think the ride is too rough, and when I get going fast on a rocky trail the whole thing, all 4 wheels, starts to drift like I'm hard on the throttle, even when it's just constant. When I hit whoops, it's like being punched in the stomach. No way I could go faster (I've tried)

Two possibilities: 1. I need to drive a stock rzr again and refresh my memory. 2. I have rhino shocks and springs.

I personally can't believe everyone raves about these things with what I'm driving. No way it was worth 5k. I really hope that the kits are great, then someday when I can change it out I'll have a smooth ride. But I'm all out of money right now, so it will have to wait.