The Fellowship of PNW Tacomas | PDX Area Wheeling

I installed my front lift (ADS coil overs, ICON UCAs) entirely by myself on a Thursday, then skipped Friday and on that Saturday installed the ICON RXT leaf packs, and ADS shocks mostly by myself (wife helped hold things so I could get a bolt started here and there) all in the driveway, in the rain with basic hand tools, air tools, 3 ton floor jack, and jack stands.

I didn't find it too difficult, just time consuming if you are doing it solo. Now if you just are not comfortable doing it, or just don't have a level place to install, then I completely understand. Just wanted to clarify that installing a bolt on lift is just that, "bolt on".

Also, if your truck hasn't seen a ton of salt and such, the bolts/nuts shouldn't be difficult to knock loose.

 

I am going to have a shop do the ECGS bushing when they are installing the 4:88s, as it would be super simple at that time.

A gear swap isn't exactly a bolt on thing, and I don't have a lift, to aid the swap, so I am more than willing to pay a shop that is properly setup to knock it out WAYYYYY faster than I could ever do it.

 

Alright, alright.. I decided to just stop the inner debate and set up an appointment for next Friday to get the IM4x4 FCP stage 1 kit installed. Feels like week before Christmas lol

 

if you don’t mind me asking why made you decide not to get the stage 2 with UCA’s

 

I went with stage 1 since I'm only going 2" of lift. All the shops I talked to said I wouldn't need the UCAs at that height. Later down the road I can do them if I go higher or feel they're necessary.

 

Right on brotha! We'll have to meet up for a beer and some mall crawling now that you'll have a fresh lift, as do I.

Going in tomorrow morning for the front alignment. Haven't driven it in almost two weeks since I slapped on the lift.

 

I only lifted 2” because everyone told me the same thing. At only 2” they Still couldn’t get my caster in spec and it wandered like hell on the highway. Drove me nuts and ended up getting UCAs a year later.

 

I'm starting to contemplate installing my own lift as well - how hard was getting the bolt out to replace the OEM UCA for you? I've heard that can be a huge pain - was that the hardest part you think?

 

Has anyone been up to TSF lately? I havent been there in 6 months or so, been itching to go again. Maybe in the next few weeks for sure

 

It’s not that bad. Just use a crescent wrench to bend the sheet metal that interferes with it out of the way and it comes right out. It’s alittle tight to wiggle in and out but not nearly as bad as everyone makes it out to be.

I’ve never understood why people go through the hassle of cutting the bolts out and replacing with new ones. Seems like a lot of unnecessary work to me.

 

Exactly.

I doubled up some bicycle inner tube around the jaws of a huge pair of channel locks. Carefully pulled the inner fender outward where the bold head wants to bump into it. No scratch, no paint peel. I wasn't able to get the panel completely out of the way, but with a long handle screw driver, I was able to tap the bolt out carefully. It went back in just fine with some tapping on the bolt head from behind the headlight. I had to use a 3" socket extension at times to get enough "whack" on the bolt head. Passenger side was a bit easier than the drivers side on my truck.

Really was a non issue as some folks have played it out to be. Bend everything back, and reconnect the rubber fender flapper thingy, and Bob's your uncle.

 

Went up there today with a buddy for some Chanterelles while my truck was getting the front end aligned. Got a good clutch of them. Going back out tomorrow with my own truck to try out the new suspension/tires.

There appeared to be a reasonable amount of foragers, ATVs, dirt bikes, side by sides, and some Jeeps.

 

I don’t think I even bent my sheet metal back. Not like you can see it and I really didn’t have to bend it much. Plus reduces the chance of paint chipping/cracking with a single bend.

 

I hear ya. With the rubber grips I added over the channel locks, I got no gouges in the paint. I also made a wide and deep sweeping bend to area to reduce the localizing of the bend itself. Just love tapped it back in place with a rubber mallot. No harm, no foul. The "Leave no Trace" movement would be proud.

 

Anyone doing any trips?? This thread has gotten kinda quiet... I’m wondering if people just got numbers and are texting each other.

 

Between the fires closures and school starting.. trip time has gone down quite a bit.

 

If nothing else is planned soon; I’d be interested in going up Bennette pass before the snow hits. Maybe the 24th.....

I just usually will have a kid or two with me and have to stop a little more and maybe let them jump in mud puddles.

 

I like that idea except I will be hunting then as of right now that is... and that snow might come sooner rather then later with timberline already getting snow

 

That becomes the challenge. I’m duck hunting next Saturday and then pumpkin patch Sunday.
I still might try for Bennet before the snow hits hard.

 

This is a pretty cool deal for a local manufacturing company and supporter of the overland community.