Long Travel BS Thread

I was specifically referring to TC’s +2 and +3.5 kits. I won’t speak to all kits, but a lot of manufacturers use slightly different shock specs between their kits and other manufacturers kits. I really haven’t read a ton into @SoCalTacoTruck build.

Let me start off by saying that I really haven’t paid much attention to @SoCalTacoTruck issues, my comments are made based on issues I know others have had. I would agree that without looking further into his posts to look into what parts he used to build his shocks it’s tough to determine how at fault solo is in his issues. Like I said I have barely skimmed his posts.

I’m saying that dealing with solo is a MAJOR crap shoot. I’d 100% say their ability to build your parts or finish your truck on time is beyond subpar. I won’t get into any of the issues I’ve heard about from members on here regarding parts they purchased or had solo install. I will give you one solid example of someone I personally know that’s not on this forum, but I’d prefer not to speak down about guys on here’s trucks, cause it wasn’t their fault that the mistakes were made, and I really couldn’t tell you why they were made, but I can tell you that a company with a history of building Tacoma’s should of never had the issues they had on said installs. I have met up with a lot of solo customers, all had their own gripes, some big and some small, but at the end of the day only about 50% would use them again.

Now onto one instance of long travel kits problems. A buddy of mine bought a first gen Tacoma LT kit new from solo. It was one of their earlier kits. Everything installs good, no issues. He goes to align it himself (he does that for a living) can’t get it to a align. Takes it to a shop they recommend, same results. The kit has positive camber problems, he contacts solo, they determine that the uca geometry is off on their kits. Not a problem, they design new upper arms that will only be offered with heims. Cool, hopefully they can work something out to fix the new kit THEY sold him. Not the case. If he wants to be able to align the truck they offer to sell him the arms at full price. I’d say that’s subpar, when Baja kits and dirt king had their issues, we all trashed them, but at least they quickly remedied the problem by sending out the correct parts.

With all that said, I’d still buy a XLT kit all day, even with the issues a few have had with part tolerances. One day I’ll need a tundra rack, I’d think of having them install it, but I definitely wouldn’t be surprised if I had an issue or if they had my truck for 3 months to do 8-12 hours worth of work. I think when their stuff works it’s some of the best in the business, but I also think that their +2 doesn’t do anything that the other +2 kits don’t do, and their 2nd/3rd gen kit was a major disappointment when compared to the xlt kit that they had already released. So why buy those kits from them and hope yours doesn’t have any issues, plenty of other manufacturers are making kits, much faster with zero issues at very similar price points. Why risk it.

 

False.
Same 8” coilovers for both of those TC kits

Edit: i see im late to the party as others have already posted

 

I was specifically referring to his specific situation and his ability to reuse the CO’s he already has which are not the same spec as a TC LT spec king. The TC spec CO’s are not an off the shelf generic 8” CO.

To me all of this bashing of Solo over this specific issue is no different than the kid on here last year that had a thread that got out of control bashing Dirt King because he had a uniball and LCA self destruct after he installed his own kit and never again in over a year checked a single bolt...and everyone piled on Dirt King when the kid posted a pic of his ovalized uniball cup when it was clear as a bell and the kid even admitted that he had never since the day he installed the kit checked his LCA uniball bolt and had prob driven thousands of miles with that bolt lose as hell. The kid actually ended up still arguing it was Dirt Kings fault because they did not instruct him to ever perform routine maintenance on his truck IE: bolt checks...and TW being the magnet for pep boys accessory aisle off roaders that it is had tons of people actually backing this idiots POV and bashing the hell out of Dirt King.

Back to this current situation- again this guy bought a used incomplete kit , mismatched TRExtensions, wrong CO’s and wrong cv boots so this Solo bashing over his circumstances and anyone else buying into it is just unwarranted IMO.

 

My opinion definitely was expressed more so people buying kits understand some of the issues with certain kits and why spending a few extra dollars to buy a kit from camburg or dirt king might not be a bad idea. I’m not bashing. I feel like I’m definitely stating both sides of the coin.

 

False

My kit is actually a complete Solo Kit, with TRE from them which are the wrong parts. The Coilovers (which Bobby personally told Kartek exactly what they were) were wrong. The CV boots - Been through 4 sets man.

I knew the kit was fucked when I put the tie rod extensions on and they did not fit, meaning the actual geometry of the kit itself is fucked. However I’ve made everything work, but no matter how small the CV boot is, it won’t fit. Tried so many times, it’s just a sad experience.

I can say though, I agree with Jason. 5/5 people I’ve talked to with Solo kits regret it one way or another - You know yourself as you even have to space out the spindle to get your CV boot to clear; that shouldn’t be happening.

No shots are being fired really, but the customer service of solo is ass. When you call them saying “Hey is there anyway to fix this issue?” and they reply “we don’t know, designs were thrown away, can’t help at all, best of luck bro....”

C’mon, a company should be better than that. Maybe a “hey swing on by, we’ll see if we can offer any advice or help.” I’ve been to their shop, it’s a legit shit show.

ANYWAYS, happy to go TC. My 2.5x8’s work on their kit. Great reputation from them and very happy to ditch the Solo kit.

End of Solo talk on this thread haha.

Edit: I talked directly with King and TC. Shocks fit, that’s no issue lol. The TC shocks are literally 2.5x8’s with a tophat and specific 2” extended rod ends, not that much different.

 

Your Kings are actually incorrect for the TC kits. Tc kit uses a different top hat.

Edit: I see you edited your post lol

You will be happy with TC

 

I think people are confused because you said he would have to get a 3.5 kit to use his coilovers, but the 3.5 and the 2 kit use the same coilovers.

 

If you think about it, the top hat things are the same. They both bolt in realistically the same location. Should work man, once it’s up & running we’ll make a trip to anza

 

1. You used Baja Kits TRExtensions, you showed them to us.
2. Your CO’s were clearly not configured properly for a 4wd Taco.
3. You have not used the correct sdhq cv boots.
4. There is no way the geometry of the kit is so f’d that you used a 2” TRExtension on one side and no extension on the other as you have said...it is a 2” difference which would be an extremely obvious variation / deformation in the parts from one side to the other. IE there would be a significantly noticeable difference in the UCA’s or LCA’s. Since the tre’s connect to the spindle isn’t it far more likely that you have a bent spindle...don’t we all gusset those and prefer the sway bar version that gussets the Tre “arm” too ? It’s almost like those are known to bend easily ?
5. The correct cv boots will fit I showed you mine, have had the same set for years no issues.
6. The spacer on the spindle is no different than what some other companies do, DK does the same thing to ensure that the boot and clamp never rub the LCA at full droop. I’ve had to do it on 2/3 “race” kits I have owned to maximize droop.

Bro, buy what you want, do what you want but slow down and look at facts ...I have the same kit but none of the same problems ? I bought the right CO’s, the right cv boots and have straight spindles.

Have someone look at your spindles, if your spindle is bent it closes that distance and a TC kit won’t change that.

 

I’ll give the spindles a look but they’re gusseted already and the odds of them being bent are super low - They were 100% straight pre-LT.

 

@SoCalTacoTruck I was in a similar dilemma when I was looking into my LT kit. I originally considered going with solo as well and was curious about going full ham with their XLT...a few of my friends had went with solo and some stayed with their stuff, some didnt. The price advantages even with their 3.5 kit were enticing, but at the end of the day it was Tim at DMZ that sealed the deal for me. He confirmed its about a 50/50 shot and many times solo wont entertain much in regards to fixing their problems so he ends up getting alot of their customers to modify their stuff to fit appropriately. He said for the money savings on a 3.5...not worth the headache if it doesnt fit out of the box. As far as XLT, he recommended them installing it cause then it would have to fit since they would provide the product in hand, but again relayed that there is no guarantee problems wont arise.

I think it would be one thing if solo was better with helping guys out, but once your truck leaves their shop you are on your own it seems which really shouldnt be the case with kits in the price tags that they are. It sucks to see you invest in another kit and tearing it down again, but man I really got no complaints at all with TC and I love that they always have everything documented for longevity along with awesome support.

 

Thanks to Tim @ DMZ. He was super helpful and the quality of his SUA looks awesome

 

I’ll have your front bump stop kit in today

 

Love my kit. Need to dial in a few more things and then I am really going to put it through its paces.

 

This is what you will be looking forward to....are you doing your own install?

 

I painted my ass glass today.

 

Looking pretty hot...time to change the avatar or Po-Po forever?

 

Looks good. Did you bedline the inside?

 

Not yet...

 

What are you planning on using? What did you paint the glass with?