*RIP* Bijan's #EXPOASF Long Travel Build

Most of which you listed is directly related to the additional travel between the two. I'm a firm believer that you have to build your rig to fit your needs best although I see a few issues here.

1) what do you define as "high speed." Do you drive your rig to the point where those few extra inches matter? I don't believe most do. I'm not big into the LT market/groups though so I could be oblivious. I'm just stating my opinion from my experiences. Although, the additional wheel travel could be nice for technical trails too so maybe disregard this concept?

2) if you build a badass front setup you have to have something in the rear to keep up. What is the plan of attack there? A relocation with a MT front tends to be a nice fixture, although you remain very limited on bump travel. This is not really a huge issue unless you start to carry speed over rough terrain. Again, it's all in the application. I've been toying with the idea of TC SUA for a little myself because my rear isn't that great for even moderate speeds in the desert, all depending on the terrain but things come up quick at even 30 MPH.

3) personally, I have a hard time justifying LT due to safety, or lack there of. More specifically the fact that most people I see with an LT kit don't have a cage in their rigs. If you're trying to truly justify LT then you're likely into at least a little speed on the trails and if you have a very capable truck what holds you back from using those capabilities? Where's your safety net if you can hit sections at 60MPH that you used to only be able to do at 30 MPH, any any combination of speeds. I think you get the point. I know for myself, we can all talk about being a responsibly driver and knowing your capabilities however eventually you get into a comfort zone and speed increases, or you get a little rush from racing through a few sections and the terrain get's the best of you, etc. So who is willing to put a cage in their expo rig that is already a fat pig and loose most of their ride quality/luxury for a little bit of a safety net?

Again, this is all application and varies per build/individual. I was raised in the desert but mostly on 2 wheels or around trucks that are specifically built for the desert. This cross building concept is newer and I see a variety of issues that aren't fully thought through.

 

I sleep on lawn furniture now sold everything not bolted down in the house.

agreed

 

Even worse now I’ll be putting in my order for gears on Monday.

 

Drink a nalgene of water and rack out.

 

Yesterday:
Got home from work at 5pm, broke out welder and removed skid, welded diff drain plug, drained diff, filled diff, reassembly. Oh look its dark. Made ramen, then sleep. Back to work next day at 8

 

Always the best when you get working on a project and realize you skipped 3 meals and only had a PBR for hydration all day.

 

This happens all the time for me!

 

Damn brother that dont make sense being white on white.

 

What did I miss?

I have a few lights, just not installed yet. BD 40” bar, RTL and Rigid fuck off lights in the bumper.
Lots of electrical work to finish after the battery relocate.

 

Right? Just a waste of money at that point.

 

You could get some 5 lugger fenders they fit just fine without the fender flare holes also

 

I'd just run full naked.

 

I like it

 

Alright lets break this down.

1) High speed is more in the threshold of 40-60 mph which currently Im getting comfortable at about 50. @snowsk8air2 is more acquainted with the 60+ realm. When I was just mid travel I used to hit about 20-30ish on the east with tight trails and more rock pounding so Im more on the speedy side then the average wheeler was there.

2) SOA will kill your frame at decent speeds, when I was mid travel I had the TC sua with relocated 12s so I could get a legit 12 inches of travel. It was ok, but no where in the realm of an LT rear by any margin. Its great for faster than mid travel cruising, but past the 40 mph it can only take so much and in big whoops is where you see the limit. With a full LT front and rear you can confidently blast bigger whoops much easier and the truck is designed to handle at that threshold instead of just slamming bumps constantly although you can valve your stuff to handle these hits, but you are more or less a glorified MT guy to a degree (atleast my +2 buddy always says). At the end of the day though, your rear dictates what you can do...or atleast till the frame dies which there was a good thread of a guy following his buddies on a desert run with MT icons and rear soa. Hit a bump too hard and instantly bent his frame and F'ed his rear all up which took a little bit for him to get back to where he was, hard way to learn his trucks limits.

3) LT is a mixed bag of what people really want out of it. Some have the funds and want that glory on trail and the attention (Im sure to a degree most have this), but may not always justify the upgrade in terms of how they use their truck (thats their perogative). Then you get the other guys who get LT and see what potential there is and want to be more in tune with that high speed life which sooner or later leads to caging things. In the LT world...gusseting and caging only adds more rigidity to make your suspension components cycle more independently instead of flexing and cycling which makes for more consistent and better cycling. Caging can range and we will see, but Im keeping an eye on how snowsk8airs ride is coming and currently he has forecasted about 250 pounds tubing. Could be a little more before he is done, but seems to me if its a permanent fat dude in my cab with that upgrade...then whatever man thats do-able and with LT Im not as worried about acceleration since I can maintain my speed due to my suspension and dont have any current goals to race. As you have probably seen, many LT trucks either grow in progression to keep the driver safely in their limits without destroying each other or eventually they grow tired of the maintenance or the full circle build process and sell. Most who commit to their rigs in the long haul seem to want to cage and it just depends on their situation when that happens.

As far as on trail, my safety net is still getting used to speed. The truck is getting to the point where it can def out perform me, but there is more gusseting to do to it and getting used to getting my tires off the ground. The thing is man, when you start to experience it these levels of speed you either grow into it or maybe realize it isnt for you. Only you can dictate whether your investment is worth it, but for me the capability of full LT and just how the truck takes it...would buy again every time. To me in terms of the EXPO comment IMO would not merit the push for a 3.5 kit with a full LT rear as I view them as a more expedition style of just trying to acheive a destination and enjoy the commute in a reasonable and safe fashion, but honestly I wouldnt be surprised if my definition of EXPO is not totally accurate. I come from the mountain biking and downhill gravity stuff so to me I love being on the edge of control, but within reason which is largely what fuels my driving style. You may not be familiar with that type of biking, but its what keeps my adrenaline going which is what I try to achieve in the truck to a degree.

 

Oh I was meaning you are a full fledged black and white LT Po-Po. Just missing the blue and red.

 

baja sells red and blue lenses...just dont get caught

 

The +2 vs. +3.5 debate continues haha!

So the reason for +2 as @desertjunkie760 brought out is +3.5 w/out full rear LT, caged, etc. is just a scary decision. I know me and I’ll push the truck and myself to its limit 24/7 thinking “na i wont roll, this bitch got LT.”

+3.5 is a sweer spot I agree. I just need the snorkel for when I sink the truck and flares + arb bumper don’t work.

Not going to lie, still on the fence between the two but keeping my flares + snorkel is really a big thing. Everyone I know who travels the same style is fine with +2. If I ever need more excitment I’ll just rent a Polaris and go beat the shit outta that thing haha

 

Ha, I see. Hopefully not too much longer. I have plans.