How Pro Comp Suspension Tackles The Changing Terrain

Responding to all the transitions on the trail of life can be a real challenge. One moment you're crawling over rocks, and the next, sliding on loose sand. (and you don't even know about that mud hole around the curve yet.) Manufacturers of off-road components know this all too well. Consider some of the twists and turns they've had to negotiate like two new pickup intros almost back-to-back. So how does a company like Explorer Pro Comp handle them? Well, let's take a look at what's now available for these new trucks.
Dodge's introduction of their new, revamped Ram 1500 features a multi-link coil rear suspension that delivers a cushier ride quality. For off-roading enthusiasts, the rear suspension and updated, high-tech interior promises a lush ride to the trailhead, but what happens once you hit the dirt? How long will they have to wait before the aftermarket catches up with the new Ram?
Try about a month. Pro Comp's big news is a six-inch lift system for the '09 Ram with plenty of room for extra wheel well clearance on the trail with up to 35-inch off-road tires. According to Mark Mathews, Pro Comp's marketing manager they've got the best engineers in the business, there's a lot more they'll be able to do with the new Ram. Their system leaves the rear coil system intact with no change in the spring rate or the 1500's payload capacity, and it retains its mellower ride quality, just six-inches higher.
But Dodge wasn't the only beneficiary of Pro Comp's engineering staff. The '09 F-150 was just starting to roll into dealerships when Pro Comp whipped out its Level Lift Kit to give the re-designed half-ton an improved stance and allow for 35-inch tires on the 4x4 model. Mathews says the kit is a good entry level system, it's easy to install and still accommodates off-road flotation tires."
That's what's called "first to market," when the product hits the stores as the trucks hit the dealerships. Being first won't necessarily keep you in business for 17 years, but being good will, especially when people are watching their wallets. It all boils down to offering affordable, well-engineered products that off-roaders can't do without.
 Based in Chula Vista, California, Explorer Pro Comp started developing off-road suspensions in 1992. By understanding the consumers' needs and issues, they've identified niches in the market and filled them.
Starting with lifts and moving into shocks, steering stabilizers and eventually off-road accessories and auxiliary lighting - Pro Comp's in-house capabilities of CAD engineering and CNC manufacturing guarantees high quality components with hand-in-glove fitments.
\While the Ford's modest two-inch and the Ram's six-inch suspension lifts should get the enthusiast owners of those vehicles pretty excited, it's Pro Comp's benchmark long-arm suspension systems that incorporate off-road racing technology allowing for greater articulation, providing a more gradual, smoother movement to keep tires hooked-up and the vehicle level. The latest additions to the series have been designed for the 2007-'08 Jeep JK 4-door and 2007-'08 Dodge Ram heavy-duty pickups.
Introduced last spring, the JK 4-door system's race-inspired control arms consist of laser cut, 3/16-inch thick steel plate for durability. The lower arms connect to a high-clearance crossmember, improving turning radius and obstacle clearance in the areas the Jeep needs clearance the most. The adjustable upper arms increase travel and lower the roll center for improved handling. An adjustable track bar allows for centering the axle under the vehicle.
For off-roaders whose tow vehicle serves double duty on the trail as well, the Dodge 2500/3500 diesel system provides all the clearance and articulation needed without jeopardizing ride quality. The system includes front coil springs, drop pitman arm, adjustable track bar and relocation brackets, as well as a choice of Pro Comp shocks. These new Jeep and Dodge systems both accommodate 37-inch tires.
When Pro Comp talks about racing technology, it does so from first-hand experience. The company sponsors four race teams. Travis Coyne competes in the Trophy Truck and Pro 4 classes on the CORR and SCORE circuits. Veteran racer Robby Gordon splits his time between NASCAR, SCORE and racing his Pro Comp-equipped Hummer at the Dakar Rally. 4 Wheel Parts' President, Greg Adler tears up the CORR Pro 2 circuit and 14-year old Taylor Nicole pilots her Trophy Kart at CORR races nationwide.
 Off-road racing requires much more than conventional components, such as high-performance, polyurethane bump stops that provide plenty of durable cushioning between metal components. Taking things one step further, Pro Comp has developed new MX Series two-inch air bump stops for greater travel and the correspondingly higher impact of metal to metal. Obviously, the range of motion for off-road racers or rock crawlers requires much more dampening, and the MX Series work like shock absorbers to dampen that extra impact. The Air Bump Stops feature a hardened rod and billet piston in a two-inch skived and burnished seamless tube. The emulsion-style air bump is filled with race quality oil and nitrogen pressurized to 200 psi. A universal weld-on mount allows for custom mounting on most applications.
While the Air Bump Stop is basically an impressive little shock, take a look at Pro Comp's ES and MX Series. The ES line starts with the ES1000, a heavy-duty replacement for stock equipment that enhances comfort and control. The ES3000 is a twin-tube performance shock for improved handling both on and off-road. The 10-stage valving adjusts to whatever terrain conditions you can throw at it. The same valving is included in the ES9000, a nitrogen-gas charged shock absorber. The MX Series is precision built and custom valved to each vehicle application. The line includes the MX 2.75C and MX 2.75CR coil-over shocks, both hand built from the highest quality materials. The MX 6 adjustable monotube shock fits most popular Jeeps, pickups and SUVs, both lifted and heavy-duty models. Included with the MX 6R is a 10-inch aluminum reservoir for added fluid capacity and cooling.
The best vehicle control and extended articulation won't do an off-roader much good if he can't see where he's going. To fill that niche, Pro Comp has its own line of auxiliary lights that produce pure, bright light without draining off your electrical system. The driving lights start with a compact five-inch diameter, slim enough to mount in tight spots, up to the eight-inch 130 model that can also serve as a spotlight. Their fog lights come in a pair pack with wiring and switch kit included. The Motorsports driving light series ranges from seven to nine inches in diameter and are designed to hold up under tough racing conditions.
Whether your rig is a new model or a vintage vehicle, needs entry-level or heavy-duty components, Explorer Pro Comp has got the goods.