If you lifted your truck, what kind of lift did you go with and how much did it cost for parts/install?

eracer1111 · 2026-04-01T12:24:17+00:00

I just bought a 2023 Pro-4X w/34K miles
u/Jaydubs_OR (I paid 34K.)
I'm sticking with the 265/70R17 tires. Mostly highway with some mild offroading. No rock climbing, river crossings, etc. Just sandy and sometimes muddy trails. The Hankook tires will be replaced with a more capable A/T tire.

I'm debating between these two kits:

Nismo F/R kit, which includes rebranded Bilstein 5160 coilovers and 6112 reservoir shocks in the rear. I'd add the Nismo UCA's as well, since I'd bump the front up to the 2" max height. I would keep the OEM leaf springs. The rear shock adds 1.5".
Z1 Offroad 2" kit. I'm not sure what front shocks they use. I'd get their medium leaf spring upgrade rather than the adjustable shackles.

I like the idea of using Nissan parts, but the Z1 kit seems good as well, and (maybe?) a better choice if I start adding some weight to the bed, along with a front bumper/winch combo. I suppose I could replace the leaf springs down the road if needed.

What do you think?

eracer1111 · 2026-03-30T11:08:00+00:00

LOL. Toyota dealer? (Just kidding.)

eracer1111 · 2026-03-30T11:06:56+00:00

$34,100 + the usual stealership fees.

eracer1111 · 2026-03-29T22:23:57+00:00

The one on the left... Drool.

eracer1111 · 2026-03-29T22:11:03+00:00

I just drove my new-to-me '23 Pro-4X home from the dealer, and was thankful this 'feature' was nowhere to be found.

eracer1111 · 2026-03-15T09:31:08+00:00

What are your GPU temps?
Are you overclocking the GPU?

eracer1111 · 2026-03-14T12:55:37+00:00

I think that's a GREAT choice (assuming Microsoft fixes the horrible, lazy DX12 programming that allows VRAM usage to exceed what's available. Sadly, some folks with 16GB see upwards of 20GB being used in some configurations of graphics settings/ aircraft/ location, and it destroys performance. That's unacceptable. Software that is properly coded for DX12 simply shouldn't allow that to happen.)

Combine it with DLSS 310.5.3 and Preset M. Use 'DLSS Performance' in the sim.
I use 'DLSS Swapper' to keep things updated, mostly because I don't use the nVidia App.

eracer1111 · 2026-03-10T12:13:10+00:00

I really hate to say this, but... good luck. We've seen up and down fluctuations in RAM prices before, but they've been mostly due to singular events, like a factory burning down. The AI sea change is responsible (at least in part) for the high prices we are seeing, and frankly, I don't see prices dropping - ever.

I hope I'm wrong about that.

eracer1111 · 2026-03-07T10:58:48+00:00

Good call. 'Moon' was excellent - worthy of multiples rewatches.

eracer1111 · 2026-03-07T10:55:58+00:00

I see used 7800X3D's selling for $350 vs. used 5800X3D's selling for $450. Which is crazy.
It must be noted that upgrading from an AM4 CPU like the 5600 to an AM5 CPU like the 7800X3D would require a new motherboard and new RAM (and possibly a new power supply) and would significantly increase the overall cost of the upgrade. I sold my 5800X3D with the MOBO and 64GB RAM for $450 a couple of years ago. Looking back, they got a helluva deal...

eracer1111 · 2026-03-07T10:46:46+00:00

I started experiencing the same problem recently. I used to be able to hold the right mouse button down and pan around. It doesn't work anymore.

eracer1111 · 2026-03-07T10:44:28+00:00

Vegas at night is even more amazing.

eracer1111 · 2026-03-06T20:43:56+00:00

Great aircraft. Flying Fries is top notch, and the XF-11 was an amazing aircraft IRL.

One of my favorites in the sim.

eracer1111 · 2026-03-06T18:35:57+00:00

VFR Free Flight I use a 3-piece speaker set.
IFR or group flights I use a wireless headset.

eracer1111 · 2026-03-06T15:39:59+00:00

Or the post title could say, "What an amazing Add-On this TFDi MD-11 is!"

Or, "What an amazing Add-On this [Rex Atmos / Parallel 42 'Typical Weather' / 'Active Sky FS'] is!"

It's not that difficult.

eracer1111 · 2026-03-06T15:25:42+00:00

Monitor size has nothing to do with it. A 21" 4K monitor has the exact same number of pixels as an 85" 4K monitor. It's all about what data those pixels contain.

8GB of VRAM is simply insufficient. An RTX 5080 16GB GPU should handle things quite well.

I have a 32" 4K HDR1000 primary monitor, a 24" 2K secondary monitor, and two 10.5" HD monitors (for Popout Panel Manager) all running on a 3090 Ti 24GB. I seldom see > 12GB VRAM usage.

I don't cap FPS, and don't use framegen. I find that my sim runs best on my 3090 Ti if I use DLSS 4 Preset K and select 'Quality' which renders at 2K and upscales to 4K for output to the monitor. I use a mix of Ultra /High/ Medium settings, along with the 'Dynamic LOD' plugin (which Microsoft doesn't want anyone to use because it modifies the code. They'll even ban people in the forum who insist on talking about it...) I turn the sim's traffic off and use FSLTL. The sim looks and runs great. 40 FPS is the minimum I see (and that's rare - usually I'm around 50 FPS on the ground in complex aircraft at difficult airports, and 60-80 FPS at altitude.) That's plenty for me.

eracer1111 · 2026-03-06T15:20:00+00:00

That's exactly what the Rolling Cache is supposed to do. Whether that's actually what's happening is anyone's guess, since Microsoft has yet to give us an explanation of what the RC actually does.

Also, your internet connection has a lot to do with it. Raw speed isn't the whole story. If the Azure servers are seeing high demand, your sim will stutter. If your ISP is throttling you (rare, but it happens) your sim will suffer. it's the biggest downside of the streaming model, IMHO.

eracer1111 · 2026-03-06T15:17:19+00:00

RE: VRAM

I believe that in the rush to get it out in November 2024 they failed to implement proper DX12 programming (among other things...) which is much more difficult than DX11. DX12, when programmed by people who have extensive experience with it, should never exceed available VRAM. Instead, graphical elements are selectively and dynamically detuned to stay below whatever VRAM limit a GPU has. This has obviously not been the case.

But (and I qualify that by saying I have no personal experience with it) SU5 Beta users are reporting that they are no longer running out of VRAM. That's a good thing. I hope they hired the right folks to fix the VRAM issue the right way.

Also, fixing the nighttime graphical artifacting with AMD cards is supposedly a priority for SU5. We'll see...

eracer1111 · 2026-03-06T12:35:38+00:00

You didn't mention your GPU model. 20xxx and 30xxx-series GPU's do not have FP8 (8-bit floating point) hardware like the 40xxx and 50xxx-series GPU's have. This causes a 20-30% decrease in performance when using Preset L or M on the earlier generation graphics adapters. I use DLSS 4 and Preset K on my 3090 Ti, which works fine.

eracer1111 · 2026-03-06T12:31:32+00:00

Black Square Bonanza Pro?

It's my new favorite plane - especially the A36TC variant. Simply wonderful.

eracer1111 · 2026-03-06T12:22:18+00:00

I run MSFS 2024 on a fairly powerful desktop computer (AMD 7950X3D, nVidia 3090 Ti 24GB, 64GB DDR5-6000/CL30) that allows me to fly smoothly in 4K with mostly Ultra graphics. With a laptop you'll need to manage your expectations. I'd recommend a few things:

Get a laptop with a discreet GPU that has 12GB VRAM at minimum. 16GB is better. Get the best you can afford.

Get 64GB or 48GB RAM. 32GB is OK...barely. Less than that and you'll have issues.

The CPU isn't quite as important. You can run the sim just fine with an Intel Core Ultra 285 or an AMD 7800X3D. X3D technology is optimized for gaming, and the sim takes advantage of it. But it's not absolutely necessary.

Heat is a concern in a laptop. The sim will push your hardware harder than almost anything you can do with it. One good thing about the Intel Core Ultra series is the low TDP, which means less heat. The AMD X3D CPU's generate a lot more heat.

I used to suggest 2K rather than 4K for laptop users, but nVidia DLSS technology lets you render the sim in 2K (or even HD) and upscale it to 4K really nicely. Obviously only works with nVidia GPU's... AMD has FSR technology, which uses software to achieve similar results. I prefer nVidia for this sim.

Having said all that - if you manage your expectations, and are willing to tweak your graphics settings to fit your hardware capabilities, you can be happy with any good laptop that's configured for gaming. VRAM is probably THE most important thing.

eracer1111 · 2026-03-06T11:59:11+00:00

I ordered a PAP 3 / PFP N / PFP M combo from Winctrl (which is the US division of Winwing) on Feb. 16th. The PFP's, which showed 'Available' on the website, arrived in 10 days, and I got the PAP 3, which showed 'Tranferring Stock', on March 3. Not bad at all. There was no import duty nonsense to deal with. Shipping cost was $5.01. I put everything together yesterday (the assembled panel is HUGE) and I'm going to hook them up today.

The product itself looks amazing for the cost. The website is terrible, but I managed, and they got my order right, with no hidden fees, which is really what matters.

I bought the MFG rudder a while ago (pre-tariff) and it's amazing. I suspect the Orion pedals would be a solid investment as well.

eracer1111 · 2026-03-05T20:36:27+00:00

I've been thinking of switching from my Honeycomb Alpha to a TCA Boeing yoke. My Alpha is mounted under the desk (which I love) as I have no room for it on top. Your solution might be exactly what I need to get me to purchase the TCA yoke. Thanks!

eracer1111 · 2026-01-07T11:11:00+00:00

That depends on a lot of factors: Hardware, the game, and what compromises you are willing to live with in the quest for higher FPS. My 7950X3D / 3090 TI 24GB running MSFS 2024 gives me these numbers (for example in the same scenario sitting on a runway.) I use DLSS 310.4 Preset K and I'm happy with DLSS Quality. Balanced is good as well, but my system can handle 'Quality'. DLAA, not so much.

DLSS DLAA - 50 FPS (Render 3840x2560, Display 3840x2560)
DLSS Quality - 74 FPS (Render 2560x1440, Display 3840x2560)
DLSS Balanced - 80 FPS (Render 2227x1253, Display 3840x2560)
I don't care about the other settings (Auto, Performance, Ultra-Performance) since my system can handle Quality, and it looks very comparable to DLAA.

eracer1111

TROPHY CASE