Gussets for LT on an overlanding build?

I guess I'll just take my own and literally everyone else on this sites observations and throw them out the window then. Thanks so much.

 

Because those stock length lower control arms are basically 2/5 the price of LT front end. At that point I say it's worth considering. That is probably the direction I will go though. I think I'm going to bite off more than I can chew at this stage by going LT.

Can you expand on the driveability comment? I was under the impression that despite more maintenance it would be more stable and better riding. I really thought when aligned properly it would be more planted and more plush with the larger reservoir and kings legendary spring rate on those LT coilovers. I get turning radius will diminish. What do you mean by the daily driveability.

 

youll be fine with the LT. its no different than being able to bend everything on stock anyways. probably beat it to the limit less than you would by comparison

 

Based on all of your input I think for NOW I'm going to invest in some stock length fabricated LCAs. If I do anything to my truck I'm going to do it right, that's why I came here to ask about this topic. If you all think a gusseted frame is the way to go, then I'll save for that down the road.

I do plan on taking the whole truck LT from the front, to back with archive hammer hangers shock relocation and a set of custom leafs down the road. I dont want to look back and say I should have waited and risk damaging the frame or other parts. I dont suspect anything would happen, but why risk it, ya know?

A little disappointing because I really wanted to start my LT build, but if you all say frame reinforcement is important, then I can understand that. Now, another debate to begin, which LCA to get?

 

Go with Dirt King for the lowers.

The TC are great, but the bottom weld hits the steering stops early with the TC LCAs. Eventually it’ll wear in and chip away, or you can grind the weld to resolve this.

Edit: I’m sure the Solo LCAs are great, but I haven’t heard much on them.

 

If you're planning on doing all that, it wouldn't be a terrible idea to invest in a welder and teach yourself how to weld. You can get a hobart handler 140 that'll be capable enough to handle everything with ease. It's a very popular welder among hobbyists. It'll pay for itself in no time.

 

That would be awesome. I'd love to learn how to weld.

 

So did I, so I bought a cheap ass welder and went to town. My welds are still pretty shitty, but that doesn't stop me from enjoying it. I'm building tube doors right now because why the fuck not?? (I need to trim the bottom here so it's more level)

 

Once you throw in Lt it's expensive and you lose sway bar and it has a lot more body roll sort of.
It's not the nicest daily

And you can still keep relatively common parts to replace. Figure LT you need longer axles, need new fenders, it's a lot of work .

For what it's worth I thought Lt at one point now fuck it .Mid travel is enough for the terrain I do and once I do stock length lowers I'll be even better off and still keep some daily drivability.

I'm still considering doing all the gusset anyways

 

I lost the sway bar when I put the kings in broseidon!

And I think the ride will improve with even stock length fabricated lowers. Ditch the ball joint, and get solid geometry. She's gonna be a bit of a mutt, kings, SPC uppers and either TC or DK lowers lol but regardless she's gonna ride nice. And my passenger wheel won't be at a different angle every time I step out of the truck

 

When I think of LT....I feel like my wallet has been sucked into a black hole, I feel like I opened Pandora’s box, I feel like there are never enough gussets, I feel like I have to gusset the gussets, I feel like I cycled my suspension 200 times and still need a few more cycles, I feel like the front was too easy, I feel like the rear .... well.....the rear SUA is where it gets real fun. But to answer the OP question, yes you need to gusset everything to do it proper. If your mall crawling or only off-road 2 times a year I’d say don’t worry about it.

 

You will have a wider track but stability will be based off of spring rate and swaybar. There is some valving in there but typically it’s difficu to balance all of those things.

The reservoir is irrelevant in ride quality. It allows more fluid/nitrogen, which is nice for running your setup for a long time, but has nothing to do with ride quality. What are you referring to on spring rate? What does King do so well In that area.

 

I'd want to be able to romp on it here and there where I needed to without worrying. I mean I'm 2 LCAs away from running a full on mid travel setup. Do those, some limiting straps, start gusseting, and maybe in a couple years be in a position to build on that.

 

When I think of LT I think SUA, so you just want to run LT kit up front and a mid travel in the rear?

 

You could start off easy, cam tab gussets, box your rear frame, weld on “stiffeners” or what ever there called on the outside of the rear frame. Definitely things you could do slow and steady. Hell I’ve been working on my money pit for 4 years. Do yourself a favor and buy a welder, save a lot of money gusseting things yourself. Plus it leads into cool little projects that help you practice laying a bead.

 

I'm not going SUA. I mean there are several levels to this, that is way overkill for me. Shock relocation would be long travel enough for me. Sure you could always go deeper, just SAS it while I'm at it..

 

It actually doesn’t. Preload is simply used to determine ride height. Spring rate is spring rate regardless. A heavier coil requires less preload. Motorcycles, race cars, UTVs, ATVs and anything with a coil uses preload.

This rumor has been debunked numerous times.

Shocks affect ride quality. There is no ride quality difference between a 600# spring and a 700# spring. But the 700 requires less preload.

 

Just find someone who has gone LT (like me) and buy their LCA. If your debating LT cus of money and can’t weld, then your not ready. Trust me. It’s ALOT more maintaine and even more in little odds and ends. And while it may “ride smooth over bumps” I can attest to many creeks, squeaks, swaying, and other various noises.

 

Are Dirt Kings chromoly as well?