Editor's Note: If you do not own an Isuzu truck but are interested in a great-riding suspension, then read this article anyway!

OME Shock Absorbers | OME Leaf Springs | Overall Ride and Performance

The WomBAT travels heavy...real heavy.

Building up an Isuzu for trail exploration is a challenge that sometimes seems to overshadow the challenges of the trails themselves. Four wheel parts warehouses rebuff your email inquiries, and tech guys chuckle when you explain your need. Their reply is often along the lines of "sorry fella, but there aren't too many parts for Isuzu's". Duh! I guess that is why the Isuzu off-roading community has attracted so many explorers lately. We can't even mess with our tire sizes without doing a full blown march into the Heart of Information Darkness.

The result of the overwhelming lack of information on Isuzu-compatible parts has been an upsurge in the dialogue between enthusiasts. Discussion groups , independent web pages, and trail rides have both grown from and fostered the steadily growing momentum that is our inquisitive little family. And inquisitive it is. For the most part, you can't find a source of information outside of the latter enthusiast-driven information sources for building up these well-designed rigs. At best, cursory information is available from the likes of aftermarket innovator Calmini Products, or from parts providers like John Baker. But when it comes to teaching an old dog like the pre-'92 Trooper a few new tricks, ideas have come from the real innovators.

Finding the Old Man Emu shocks was like finding the Holy Grail.

Fortunately, Old Man Emu has been making products for Troopers, Rodeos, Amigos, and even P'UPs, for years. Designed for the Outback, their products offer a source of relief in an otherwise inhospitable aftermarket environment. Unfortunately, many of us did not come to their products until we'd tried many other shocks. Like most of the Isuzu crowd, I began searching for improved suspension components by adding shocks that performed better than the worn out stock Tokico-made dampeners. For many of us, a set of mixed-terrain models may have first been added, or even the more trail-oriented shocks, such as the Rancho 5000s.

I began upgrades on the WomBAT in that very order, even before it was heading toward being a "Built Aggressive Trooper". I first put on a pair of Monroe SensaTrac's. A good shock for the use they were intended to handle, the SensaTrac was comparable to the factory Tokicos, but with the added benefit of a lifetime warranty. However, the Monroes were limited in their trail capability, and also did not have the length to allow a lift.

As I began to lift the truck using Calmini's shackles and torsion bars, I began to see the toll being taken on the Monroes. The greatly expanding waistline of the WomBAT speeded their demise, and pretty soon the toasted SensaTrac's were returned on warranty and a set of new Calmini Hydroshocks were bolted up.

WomBAT is ready to go wherever the trails may lead.

I used the Hydroshocks along with the rest of the Calmini 3" suspension lift with pretty good results. Soon, though, it became apparent that they were valved to handle a stock Trooper. At 1300 pounds over stock, our truck demanded something more.

A popular shock among Isuzu owners who prowl trails is the venerable Rancho 5000. Because most drivers find them a tad harsh on these light rigs, I thought I might have found the right match for our obese Trooper. This was not the case, though, and I was left to wonder whether the 9000s would be the ticket. It was about then that I thought I should take a closer look at the black sheep of suspension manufacturers, the underdog from Down Under, as it were.

I had heard really good things about Old Man Emu suspensions for a long time, though most of that commentary was related to Toyota experiences. I didn't find many folks who were using OME products, but I DID know that ARB USA was the American importer. With time, I discovered a fellow Trooperite only a few hours away who was using OME's Nitrocharger shocks. We exchanged emails as I continued to read up on these lesser-known shocks. What I kept finding was a product that differed noticeably from other more popular designs. Not hard to believe, given that Aussies seem to do a LOT of things differently.

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