Marlin Crawler's New Rock Crawling Long Travel IFS Suspension System (#RCLT)

Looks like the price point changes depending on where you want to spend extra on upgrades after the $7k base cost of the IFS components

Total Cost Overview based on the above
Standard installation of RCLT HD:
$286.79 (MarRack) + $750 (Inner Axle Shafts) + $1,679.95 (Icon Coil overs) = $2,716.74 needed parts
$6,999 RCLT + $2,716.74 needed parts = $9,715.74 total

Ultimate installation of RCLT HD:
$461.03 (MarRack) + $2,195 (Ultimate CV Set) + $1,974.00 (Radflo, adj.) = $4,630.03 needed parts
$6,999 RCLT + $4,630.03 needed parts = $11,629.03 total

 

I'm holding out for the +3.5" or being able to adapt the marrack to my current LT which I doubt is going to be an option.

 

Really was hoping the install instructions would be done as part of the pre-order.

@BigMike you said they will be done before shipping. I am holding out till I see the install details.

 

Ohhh boy, finally out for pre-order. Time to cashout that life insurance policy.

 

Can I run bypass shocks with this kit?

 

looks like the pre order is 7k.

 

How much additional travel do you get with this kit?

 

I don't see why it wouldn't work with it. I believe with the jd fab lca mount you can adjust how much you want to push your front axle forward. You could just leave it in the stock position and it should work fine I would think.

 

Whelp this is going to get expensive quick

 

You wont do it.

 

My favorite is the if you break this rack you can just go buy a new Toyota rack..... like they have 200 series land cruiser racks sitting at all oreilly auto parts haha.

 

Hello TW! Thank you for all the replies! We sold half of our first production run in less than 24 hrs which is now nearly full despite only notifying those who used the Pre-Production Webform in order to give them first priority which worked out great!

I'd like to respond to a few Q's:

Instructions: I made good progress during Christmas and New Year's weekends and have it half completed. One installer has already used my rough outline which was enough so we aren't that far from getting them up.

Bypass shocks: Yes, starting with Version 3 Prototype, LCAs come default with dual shock mounts which I've been using on my Tacoma since last October.

Additional travel: I have not yet measured stock travel, but this is a good idea and we have enough parts to do so on a couple stock frames. As for total travel, at the hub, with the differential in the factory location and using RCV axles and recommended Radflo shocks, the +2.75" version RCLT HD achieves 12.5" of total travel prior to CV bind on down travel. With 9" wide 4.06" backspace -24mm offset wheels this equates to 14.5" at tire centerline. Original goal was 30" RTI cross-articulation but didn't quite make it.

Note: Like high-end desert race kits, RCLT HD uses double-sheer horizontal ball joints which do not limit travel. Lowering the differential will achieve more and I plan to test by how much this summer. Compared to our friends at Total Chaos, their +3.50" kit, which is in my opinion definitely the better choice for high speed desert racing, manages only 4% more travel from 27% longer arms, which in my opinion is definitely the worse choice for general trail use and especially Rock Crawling.

Concern over replacing the MarRack through O'Reilly Auto Parts: According to their website (wow they are grossly over-priced!), they carry both new and remanufactured versions available for next-day in-store pickup. The fact being missed is that RCLT HD will permanently change one's mindset on steering racks. It's not only that the MarRack entirely dwarfs the stock rack, but our unique geometry reduces loads the rack experiences by 15%. In other words, RCLT HD has a 54% more massive steering rack that only "sees" or feels 15% less loads than compared to either a stock rack or a specailty narrowed Tundra rack. Moreover, this reduction passes upstream to our 1.5 X stronger rack frame mounts and entire power steering system which runs cooler as well as benefits from the much larger cooling capacity of the MarRack.

In my experience, steering with 40x13.5" tires + RCLT HD (completed Rubicon 6 times with zero issues) requires noticeably less effort than when I had 37x12.5" tires + factory steering (failed a third of the way through the Rubicon), and I'm still running my factory steering pump & pulley despite wheeling near triple digit temps and have had no power steering heat fade. We have no recommendations to upgrade one's steering hydraulic system because RCLT HD already includes a minimum +15% increase in steering power & performance itself!

Put simply, RCLT HD's steering system, which uses 1-ton live axle hardware, will last a very long time.

As for money spent, I've met two Tacoma owners running 35" tires who are on their fifth factory rack. According to O'Reilly, this is $2,434.95 on just racks alone, or combined with tow bills and labor is well beyond the price difference between RCLT HD and their non-Rock Crawling Long Travel setup. In actual fact, one does not simply walk into an auto parts store to pickup a replacement RCLT HD steering rack because the need will not arise during most people's vehicle ownership.

HUGE Thank you to everyone who has already placed orders and the many calling in for more info! We are looking forward to start advertising RCLT HD this week! What a great beginning to the end of the brutal prototyping

Regards,
BigMike

Edit: Added Radflo shocks to the total travel notes

 

Looking forward to seeing more pictures and how the kit looks

 

Mike and Marlin team. Can we get actual photos of production pieces? Not random pics of it on your truck that have been being shown and used on here for years to push this product.

Let’s see some details, show us how bad ass these knuckles are and such. You’ve asked folks to spend $11k on a setup but have honestly provided minimal details outside of your own explanation.

 

Ty for the question. We will definitely be posting complete kit photos as stated on our website, “Full Kit Photo and Online Instructions will be posted prior to shipping the first Production Run”. As soon as the first kit comes off powder coating we will produce high quality images like we have for all other website products

I also would like to film a “Making of RCLT HD” type video where I’ll have all prototypes laid out alongside the production version to cover each progression and improvement which will allow me to cover more details than what's practical via text & pics on a forum.

Regards,
BigMike

 

Roger that. Will be cool to see a product come out where the company invests in such product without asking their customers to invest for them through pre sales.

Manufacturing is not easy nor is it simple we get that. But also know that reason this thread turned into a dumpster fire was that YOU failed at customer service. That single handily gave the JD fab guys a big boost in business by not doing such. Sad to see the Marlin reputation brought down by poor customer service and a lack of effort. Businesses blaming it on Covid is a chicken **** way of saying “I got scared and went home” instead of grinding and pushing harder.


Much love to those brave enough to put your money on the line here.

 

It’s just a 200 series rack. They convert to a Clevis with heim inners and outers. Would just need to make your own tie rods and of course mount the rack and fab up mounts.

 

That's a pretty proper assessment.

 

I'm not sure that you are correct here. From the pictures it looks as if they keep the stock LC200 inner tie rod then add an adapter threaded for that OE inner on one side and threaded for a heimed outer.

 

I am wrong at least once a day.