Wishbone Runner's Build

So, got a new seal head on the way from DSM, went with the new style with the bumper built in so hopefully no more exploding bumpers. Also another set of straps, went Kartek this time as the Trail Gears have not been kind to me (nor I to them), hopefully they hold up better. I also really needed a 9" which TG doesn't make. Hopefully get this pile back together by Wednesday and prepped for another trip to UT this weekend.

 

The trail gears aren't holding up? Do you have the 6 ply ones? I was using some of those and they seemed bulletproof, but don't have the size I needed after some mods and got karteks instead. What issues did you have with the trail gear ones?

EDIT: reread your post, you need the size that I needed too but they don't have, Hah!

 

Yeah, the 6 ply, I am on my 4th pair in the last year, so no, they are not holding up well lol. IDK what the issues is, they are lined up really well IMO, they keep ripping from the bottom on one side and the "force distribution" tab on the buckle is shifting to one side and cracking as well. The ones that are on there now I put on before our trip to the Swell, 3 days of wheeling, and they are worn through one layer on both straps. Headed out for another 3 days UT adventure tomorrow and I suspect they will not last the weekend, but going to leave them on until they are all the way through and throw the Karteks on.

 

LOL. Going to try to slow it down a bit, just a bit though.

 

Go Buffs!

 

Wow that's bad. My karteks are still fine. Wonder if it's your setup or something else?

Are the buckles eating the strap at full bump?

 

Go Buffs!

Yeah, it sucks and is expensive. I’ve moved both upper and lower mounts like 3 times now, I don't know what else to do to get them more better. Buckle clearance is fine, it’s definitely them just stoping the shock and tearing the strap.

I just put the TG ones back on (and the truck is finally back together thankfully), and I can see the strap move a bit off center as it goes from loose to tight, and that is putting a stress riser at the edge as it pulls on that side more when the tab is fixed, if that makes sense. I might try keeping the lower mount, which is now double shear, loose so it can self adjust like the top mount does.

Have you been getting your wheels off the ground often? When doing these desert trips I’m always driving like an asshole and I would guess they are taking 3-500 top outs at speed, which when thinking about it like that I’m surprised they last that long. On the stock length arms they are mounted so close to the pivot they are taking so much force. Once the high mountain stuff opens they last most of the summer as I’m not doing as much high speed shit.

 

Yea mine have had lots of top outs. Went on a run with a group of raptors last fall. Hit the dunes and kept up with them alllll day. They don't leave the ground as much as you're describing but mine have been on forever in comparison to yours and they still keep my uniballs and shocks happy. You running 700 lb coils? How much shock is left at static top out with a jack while your straps are tight? I've got a half inch of static travel left in my upper uniball when the strap is tight if I'm remembering correctly.

 

Yeah, I’ve gone through like 6 pairs, we put ours on about the same time too lol. 650’s and yeah just measured, 1/2”.

Five days of use, in the last pic you can see the edge of the load distributor folding up.

 

And a teaser from the past weekend.

 

Are you sure they aren't rubbing on something or getting damaged by something adjacent? That doesn't sound right at all. Mine rub a bit but still look good enough to stop the suspension for another trip or 2.

 

I would like to think so, but they are ripping on the inside, from the top out forces of the buckle wearing into the strap. I switched back to Kartek straps mid trip and they look fine so far, we'll see if they hold up any better.

 

Sounds like you need some long travel and the will power to only drive a little bit faster after you put it on.

 

He's not wrong though lol.

 

What if it's your buckles that are cutting it. Look at how sharp that piece is sticking up.

 

That might be another symptom of hammering on them a lot, though the sharp edge isn't helping anything and might accelerate the damage

 

Exactly. That didn't happen to this set, was probably starting to, but the other sets that has definitely been the problem.

 

Pretty much. Looking side by side at the TG and Kartek shows the Karteks are sewn much tighter to the buckle, which should reduce the amount the strap can move around on the buckle. The load distributor on the Karteks look to be a better metal that is less likely to shear like that. At least I hope

 

Or, you can hurry up and have that baby then you can't drive fast for the first year or two.