Dobinsons has been making 4WD suspension in Australia since 1953. The brand's vehicle-specific kits are the workshop standard for touring rigs that need a balance of on-road manners, off-road capability and load-carrying performance. Dobinsons designs each kit specifically for the vehicle: spring rate matched to expected load, shock damping matched to the spring rate, and the supporting components (panhard rod, brake hose, sway bar links) included where needed.
Generic "one size fits all" kits never get this right. Vehicle-specific kits do. Ultimate Offroad supplies and fits the full Dobinsons range across popular utes and 4WDs at our Ferntree Gully and Pakenham workshops, including IMS independent monotube shocks and the heavy-duty load-bearing kits for fully accessorised touring rigs.
KEY CATEGORIES AND WHAT THEY'RE BUILT FOR
25-30MM COMFORT
Daily-driven 4WDs that need a little more clearance without dramatic geometry change. Restores ride height under light accessory load.
40-50MM TOURING
The most common Dobinsons kit. Restores correct ride height with the load on, takes 32-33 inch tyres, ride remains civilised on highway.
60-75MM HEAVY
Serious off-road builds running 33-35 inch tyres. Includes geometry corrections (panhard rod, driveline angles) supplied as part of the kit.
GVM UPGRADES
Engineered springs and shocks paired with state engineering certification. Pre and post-registration kits available for popular touring 4WDs.
WHAT MAKES A DOBINSONS KIT DIFFERENT
Dobinsons designs each kit specifically for the vehicle. Spring rate is matched to expected load, shock damping is matched to the spring rate, and the supporting components (panhard rod, brake hose, sway bar links) are included where needed. Generic one-size-fits-all kits never get this right because vehicle weight, suspension geometry and intended use vary too much between platforms.
Vehicle-specific kits do get it right, which is why they handle better, last longer, and feel correct under both daily and loaded conditions.
LIFT HEIGHTS
Dobinsons kits cover the standard touring lift range. 25 to 30mm comfort lift for daily-driven 4WDs that need a little more clearance without dramatic geometry change. 40 to 50mm touring lift, the most common Dobinsons kit we install, restores correct ride height with the load on, fits 32 to 33 inch tyres, and keeps the ride civilised on highway.
60 to 75mm heavy lift for serious off-road builds running 33 to 35 inch tyres. Above 50mm, geometry corrections (panhard rod, driveline angles) need to be addressed and Dobinsons supplies the correct supporting parts as part of the kit.
IMS INDEPENDENT MONOTUBE SHOCKS
The IMS shock range is Dobinsons' premium damper line. Independent monotube design separates oil and gas, giving consistent damping over long off-road days where conventional twin-tube shocks fade.
IMS shocks are the workshop standard for touring builds that see corrugations, gravel and remote tracks day after day. Worth the upgrade for any rig that does sustained gravel or corrugated touring, because the consistent damping is what stops the shock fading on long days.
MRA MULTI-ROLL ADJUSTMENT
Where damping needs to be tuned to load, the MRA range provides on-vehicle adjustment so the same shock can be set for empty daily driving and reset for fully-loaded tow or expedition work. Useful for owners who alternate between light commuting and heavy touring.
For builds that stay at one load profile, standard IMS is fine. For builds that switch between empty and loaded, MRA pays off.
GVM UPGRADE KITS
Dobinsons GVM upgrade kits pair engineered springs and shocks with state engineering certification, lifting the legal payload of common touring 4WDs. Pre-registration and post-registration upgrade options.
We install Dobinsons GVM upgrades at our workshops as authorised installers, and we issue the certification paperwork as part of the job. The job covers spring and shock fit, brake upgrade where required, and engineering certification. We confirm a firm timeframe at booking.
VEHICLE COVERAGE
Most popular Australian 4WDs are covered: Ranger, Hilux, Triton, D-MAX, BT-50, Prado, Patrol Y61/Y62, LandCruiser 70/80/100/200/300 and 70 Series platforms. Confirm with the workshop before booking.
DOBINSONS VS OTHER PREMIUM BRANDS
All quality vehicle-specific brands (Dobinsons, Tough Dog, Outback Armour) make solid kits. Dobinsons leans toward longer service life and consistent damping under load. Tough Dog leans toward strong all-rounder value. Outback Armour leans toward heavy-duty foam-cell shock performance.
We fit all three based on what suits the build. For most touring rigs the choice comes down to vehicle-specific availability and how the kit feels on test drive.
WHAT A QUALITY DOBINSONS LIFT INSTALLATION INVOLVES
Dobinsons kits include the engineering parts (panhard rods, sway bar links, brake hose extensions) that need to be fitted correctly for the suspension to work as designed. Wrong panhard rod alignment causes the axle to track off-centre. Wrong sway bar link length causes binding. Wrong brake hose routing causes damage at full droop.
We fit Dobinsons kits at Ferntree Gully and Pakenham with the right tools, full alignment post-install, and (for GVM kits) the certification paperwork. Submit a service enquiry with your vehicle.
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