2016 - Present Old Man Emu Kits

I live in Off Road / overlanding Nirvana...I can attest that you don't need a huge lift on this truck. This set up is completely adequate.

Long travel and bypass set up not necessary unless bombing offroad in whoops and jumping through the desert. Yeah it looks tough, but i am going for function.

I ordered trim packers from Rogue Off road in Las Vegas. These guys build trophy trucks, and race Baja/Mint 400. I also ordered my 888 springs from them too. They also said E rated tires are overkill for Tacomas.

The kit I ordered gave me 2.5 all the way around 2.75 maybe in rear. If I add 265/75/16 tires, I will gain another inch of clearance. I am going C load range or SL load range. In any case; you have to consider tires as a component of you suspension. E range is WAY more tire than you need for such a light truck. They are heavier and stiffer, your ride will suffer as well as MPG. You can get a C rated or SL that will hold up to off roading very well. Not worth the price IMO.

 

OME heavy duty 886. 3" lift up front, just over 2.5 in the rear with stock tires and bumper. I haven't measure since I added 175lbs to the nose. Looks like a truck and drives like one too. Exactly what I wanted, but not for everyone.

 

Jeez, thats nice.
Probably won't settle much at all, from what I've researched, 886 has the highest compression/load rating of all the OME springs and is at 402 mm unsprung. If I was going for additional front end weight, this is the spring I'd use.

 

The weight took the thump out of the bump, but it is solid off and on road. MPGs have dropped a bit, oh well!

 

Yeah, I lived in Houston for a few years/nothing there but concrete, asphalt and mud holes. I guess they make due with the surroundings, there's a whole sub-culture and market for that, pavement pounders, show trucks and racing/pulling are appealing to some, and the more bling the better from what I can tell.

 

Yea, so far no problems. It handles really well. I drive spirited (LOL, love that term). The Sport suspension is tighter than the Off Road and designed that way on purpose. I get it. I want the best of both worlds though. I want control and some softness.

I hear ya, I will never beat my truck like that until it is paid for. Plus there's just no place around here for that. Mainly wooded trails and streams/creeks. Some rocks so armour and slow speed is the key.

Yea, I was piecing out the same components and came up with a price about $250 less than most kits. Not sure it's worth it not having one single source to turn to for issues though.

When I bought the Ridge Grapplers all they offered in the size I wanted were E range. Now they offer a C as well. I tow occasionally too. Not an immense amount of weight but....when I talked to the Nitto rep though, he said that they manufacture their tires differently and the Range only applies to the Plys. From their website their E and C range tires weigh nearly the same. E = 57.89 lbs ~ C = 54.67 lbs. so only 3.22 lbs heavier. Normally guys don't want E because they weigh a lot more. Not the case with Nitto. You're just getting a stronger tire.

Nice, I was hoping for closer to 3". I really like the look of lifted trucks. Having a competent, reliable suspension system when I need it is the icing on the cake. I believe the Off Road already sits an inch higher than the Sport from the factory. My tires are just +2" over OEM so I will have that added inch of clearance as well.

Yes, I definitely take the weight of the tire a integral part of the suspension and all the driveline components, bearings etc. Why I want something to soak up some of the bumps and bruises I subject them to. Honest though, I have run E rang tires in the past on a 3/4 ton diesel and these are really not that stiff. Some tires might be. But I can immediately see when the psi's a pound or two in the freezing temps. (I think I am going to take them and have them filled with nitrogen to see if it stops that). They are smooth and true and don't squirm into ruts/cracks on the pavement like some tires. The don't hydroplane, they are quieter than the C range Duratracs I had on my 4Runner, and on a trip to the shore I was getting 22.2 mpg's, and I average more than 17 in normal temperatures not running wither fuel. Another attribute is, I can air these down for some serious off roading if I want and not worry about the sidewalls. Although I will likely not need to. They do great in the snow too up here. I agree, most E rated versions of tires are more money that the C counterparts but in the case of Nitto, the one website I checked only listed the E as 10 dollars more.

So yea, heavier, more money and stronger, and because I don't know, likely stiffer. But in each case, minimal, and as I said, the C was not offered at the time. But all in all, there are few tires that can offer the best of everything. Believe me I have tried a lot.

I may try the Pro Comp A/T Sport next time, or maybe even try the C range Nitto Terra Grappler. If I can retain the snow, and wet traction capabilities while achieving closer to 19 mpgs all the time it will be worth to me int he long run. Funny part of all this is, I only put about 15k miles on the truck in a year so it will be 2020 before I know. I am only at 6k miles on these.

 

It definitely looks cool! But like most, I prefer function over form. Otherwise I would be all over a 12" lift. Ya know, for the coolness.

 

I was looking at ProComp too. Also, WildPeak AT3 and Toyo AT. Are you running 16 or 17" rim? The stock size l looks good enough, they are more expensive than the next size up, though. i may just go 265/75/16 for the extra side wall and more available options.

 

17" SCS Ray 10s. 24 lbs each not including the lug nuts. Yea the Wildpeak gets great reviews too. Toyo and Nitto are one in the same I think I read somewhere. I ran the Pro Comp Extreme A/T on other trucks, and it lasted as long as they said, was great int he snow too. I just wanted to try a another Hybrid like the Duratracs.

(Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd - The company started in 1945. In 1966, the company expanded to the United States as Toyo Tire Corporation. In 1999, Nitto Tire North America was established.)

 

So, this is the way into my playground. Trust me, the further back you get, the higher the consequence and more attention to tire placement etc. We were too busy beyond this to take photos of the off camber, technical sections; but you get the general scope of what's available.

 

I heard that Toyos are the "roundest" tire available. Takes very little weight to balance.

 

Damn, it almost looks like mine:



Sorry, I'm an ass, I know.

 

Could be, these Nittos are the smoothest tire and took the least amount of weight of any tire I've ever run. And the weight was close to the exact same on each one. The Duratracs were Wack! I still think I got a bad batch.

 

I've heard conflicting comments about Dtracs...enough so, that I'm gonna steer clear. I do like the "Hybrid" concept though.

 

LOL

 

LOL

 

Sorry, I couldn't resist.

Yea, the first 20k miles and I swore Duratracs would be the last tire I'd ever buy. Then at 30k miles I was done. At 45k they looked great but traction was nonexistent in the rain.

 

Curious, anyone running 1/4” spacers with their setup? I want to get an additional 1/2” lift

 

I have been working with headstrong offroad. I have been leaning towards the OME kit with soft ride struts and 888 coils with HS 3 leaf aal. Does anyone know if this would ride similar to the off road oem suspension or will it be too stiff? Originally was thinking 5100's with 888 coils, but now leaning more towards the OME kit.

 

Do you mind telling me (us) what changed your mind? I'm trying to gather as many facts as possible. Thanks.