The Getaway...Crom's build and adventures

Looks like another great trip Nick. I really need to get myself a better camera so that I can document my own trips as well as you do.

 

Why not?

 

Money?

All kidding aside, I'm curious about what performance benefits you'd see short of moving to MT or LT.

 

This is my setup.

These are the gussets I am talking about. From an engineering perspective they are much stronger than the ones illustrated. Just sayin'



One thing I forgot to mention, not all UCAs are the same. I started out with All Pro ones - one bushing boss was tweaked. They told me that was 'normal.' I ended up taking them off - I had to cut the bolt because of the tweaked boss. I would say they either didn't have a quality standard, a good welding fixture or didn't check and straighten after welding - either way they were junk in my book. Then I switched to Camburgs - clean design. Then I wanted to be able to get more fine adjustment of my alignment so I picked up some ICONs. I wish I still had the pictures but between all of them, they ALL HAD DIFFERENT geometry - that's why I wanted ones I could adjust.

I am sure you will be okay.

Also, the only way that I know about the deal that MOOG didn't mfg inner was because I called and talked with a MOOG applications engineer.

 

I wish I had the pictures but one of mine, but one of mine unwrapped. Fortunately not on the freeway or trail.

 

Hey @Crom what are your thoughts on this?
http://letsgoaero.com/spec-ops-overlander-camper-introductory-special/

http://letsgoaero.com/littlegiant-treehaus-camper-trailer/

https://youtu.be/MvipTPUxGXI

 

And I do roll stock wheels with these gussets - no spacers.

 

Yikes. I'd love to hear more about that sometime.

 

Not mine but it looked similar. If I was going through the hassle of installing new bushings, I would break out the welder, and when the old one was out, I would put a patch on the bottom side of the boss. I don't remember where they put the seam but if the seam was there, it would protect it. Regardless, the patch could cut scratched and even if it did propagate into a crack, it wouldn't be the structural part that got cracked. I kinda chuckle at the aftermarket skids for LCAs but this patch concept would be a skid that I would support.

 

That exchange program is a great price and great insurance.

 

Thank you. My camera was $430. I like it a lot, but at some zoom levels I've noticed significant distortion. I'll explain in another post, been thinking about discussing more photography topics in here.

The biggest reason I see is, added strength. Plus poly or derlin bushings are more rigid and non binding, and should perform better than rubber bushing.

Also, it's easier to replace uniballs vs ball joint, so I've read...

I look at it this way, the stock LCA has held to everything I've dished out to it, I'm gonna stick with it.

I've seen the lca failures before, but I don't think it's a problem for my kind of wheeling...

Your setup looks amazing! Probably few people have had the opportunity to run as many different configurations as yourself.

On the TC spindle gussets. Total Chaos makes two different versions. I was under the impression that with the ones in your picture, you could not run a factory wheel because too much backspacing.

The TC no sway bar version I posted above had extra tie rod gussets, and would allow for factory wheel, but no sway bar could be used.

Not sure which version is more strong, or even if matters that much...

I was thinking about this today and I've suggested this in the forum before: why not reinforce a stock LCA? It's cheap insurance to me.

 

Also another gusset to look at....

 

Wow! That was Matt's from 2013? Hadn't seen that before. Impressive.

That's serious beef, maybe a second to your allmighty Maxtrac spindles.

 

SD Truck shop did those.... Seen a couple sets on the LT trucks and never tweaked as far as I know....

 

I have bent gusseted spindles. I think I will have MUCH BIGGER PROBLEMS if this style ever bends. I can explain the strength over a fire.

 

As long as you talk about gussets that cost more than $100... SDHQ sexy ones

 

@Crom sometimes I dislike you.... lol I just ordered the speed bleeders

 

Although I had none of your technical issues to resolve, I put a set of those on my 1st gen and loved them, and really considered swapping them onto the 2nd gen. A classic.

 

That would be a solid wheel and what your looking for. I too went back and forth on wheels. I had a set of raceline black 16x8 / 4.5 bs. I liked them and they would be perfect for a 285 width tire but I liked the TRD beadlock style wheel and its perfect fitment since I am only running 265/75/16 C. I jumped on a sweet deal and sold the RL's and Duratracs and love the relative quite of the Toyo AT2's. I don't want to chop or regear anytime soon and I tow a good size popup trailer so they don't kill my towing ability up grades. On another note I thought I was done (for now) but your list of mods has got me thinking. I just got a set of the teraflex deflators. Couldn't resist. Your in the same boat as me (wife and two daughters- yours are a bit younger) so the truck cant be a money pit? Besides now I'm looking at getting a sports car (dreaming) LOL Cheers