Anything welding

They are 1/4" plate. They require a lot of prep, a lot of welding, a lot of welding in crappy positions and cramped areas where you don't have a good view of the puddle. A good install would require removing skids (most trucks have them) and removing control arms and whatever else, if you don't feel comfortable looking/welding around a coilover and spindle.

 

Thank you for posting that. I’ve been trying to convince the other guy that they’re a huge pita but was brushed off

 

They look very tame, easy, and fast. You just need to install a set to experience it. I would do it again, but they ain't fast or easy.

 

This was my second set and granted, I'm not a speed demon, but it still took me all day. Close to 8 hours complete, with the skids on and truck ready to roll out.

 

Holy shit, that’s a good chunk of time.

 

No, shit!

I'd really have to weigh it if I really needed them. If I was getting paid to do that job, might be different.

 

I'm going to install another set next week and I'll time myself again.

 

If it’s my own truck, I care a lot less about the amount of work involved. If it’s someone else’s truck, then I’d just charge out the ass in hopes they’d say no and go somewhere else. 8 hours? Yeah that’s a $500 job.

 

You’re a glutton for punishment I see

 

Well, you might be faster than me. Maybe I'm being too meticulous and picky with the prep, fitting up, and welding.

 

Probably not, I don’t rush stuff either. I did a set of TC tabs the other week and just that was 4 hours. And I had pre welded the tabs together, and as a whole that’s a lot less welding.

 

Maybe 1st gens will be easier.

 

Are you doing this job laying on the ground or do you have the truck on a lift? I've welded my 1st gen tab supports while on the lift and I didn't think it was all that bad. Of course, the 1st thing I toss is the skid plate. That's just me. I don't do any off roading so I feel its more in the way vs the protection it offers.

 

And that's if the truck's alignment cams/ bushings aren't seized to the bolt. That will throw you a major curve ball. That happened on the first set I did. Smh

 

I'm lying on the ground.

 

Preachin' to the quire. Every, damn, Toyota truck I've owned in the last 20 years had at least 1 froze cam bolt. My Tundra has 1 now that needs cut out. That job is a pain.

 

Don't "like" that post.

 

@glorifiedwelder have you installed a set of these Marlin gussets yet?

 

I was just talking about the Marlin gussets with @desertjunkie760 I didn’t find them all that difficult, just time consuming. I did remove the skid and front wheels before even starting so I didn’t really factor that into my time but overall wasn’t horrible. This is on jack stands BTW. One tip I’d share is that I found a wire wheel was better for prep to get into the tight areas for paint removal. Then just set the vertical gussets in place and cap it with the lower plate. I didn’t time it but my first set was done in just over 2 hours.

 

Dang, you are the man! Yeah, not anything that I would refuse to do, but it ain't easy for me like it was for you. Lol. Hopefully I get faster at it.