Long Travel 21 Tacoma (thoughts&questions)

I’ve had my 21 Tacoma for a little over a year now and I’m looking into going long travel. I’ve read most of the threads relating to long travel on here and still can’t decide between a +2 or +3.5 kit. I want wider fenders and bedsides if that’s possible with the +2 than awesome but if I’m getting the +2 why not get +3.5 any opinions/advice helps a bunch!


As for the rear of the truck I still can’t decide between staying SOA or making the switch to SUA, I love in Wyoming so not a lot of jumps and desserts but I like to go fast. From what I’ve read the only difference between the two other than travel and where the springs are I would only be losing a couple inches of clearance and I’m fine with that but want more opinions as this truck is new and I don’t want to be messing anything up.

 

If you have to ask, you probably want +2.

Personally, I don't think I would go long travel at all in Wyoming though.

 

and

are paradoxical statements.





This is going to be my stoopid-useless opinion, but LT is for junked out trail trucks that haven't seen their warranty, bank loan, or their life as a daily driver in a long time. If you have any of those three conditions, you might want to think hard about wanting to go hardcore with it.

Welcome to TW

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/considering-long-travel-read-here-first.180457/

Now that that's out of the way, until you can answer the +2 vs +3.5 and SOA vs SUA debate yourself, you're probably in over your head. The only thing you've expressed you want is wider wheel arches, so it's unlikely performance is what you're after here. Are you ready for constant squeaks, random broken parts and the $30k you're going to need to do it properly? There's merit to buy-once-cry-once, but until you can even decide what type of driving you'll be doing, LT shouldn't be in the cards. A MT suspension is more than capable of "going fast" off-road, anything beyond that that's going to necessitate the extended travel is likely going to be a hell of a lot more aggressive than you think it is. Most people who build a LT truck do so because they've found the limits of their previous build, not because they want wider fenders.

 

Want to go fast off-road, better off investing in a SXS or dirt bike. Use the truck as a tow pig.

LT is a massive can of worms. Living in AZ for 20 years, used to be into it. However unless you can do a full on race truck, don’t see the point of it other than if you like burning money, and love hearing squeaks.

 

Go here:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/long-travel-suspension.113/

or here:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/mid-travel-bs-2-0.410188/page-315

I never seriously considered long travel, took a long before deciding on mid travel, and in the end think I should have went with something like the OME kit. I rarely go fast and when I do I don’t notice an enormous difference. The truck cannot get anywhere near what a UTV or dirt bike can do.

I’m confused why you mentioned wanting wide fenders. Those are just an undesired requirement of long travel suspension IMHO. If all you want is wide fenders, there’s no need to install a long travel suspension.

 

I was in the same boat as you and looked into LT for my 20 OR.
Thankfully I came to my senses and and went with a stage 4 Fox 2.5 Resi Accutune setup. Instead of wide fenders, went with poser fender flares instead. Truck rides great going fast through the desert and I avoided the headaches of LT. Compromise my man

 

Primarily asking to see if there is a difference between the two other than length obviously and travel, like if there any parts I would need for one that I wouldn’t need for the other vice versa

I like driving fast in my truck and on rougher terrain I know that can lead to breaking some things or what not. What I meant when saying I don’t want to mess anything up I was talking about install and dial in as well if anyone had gone down the same road as me and quite simply forgot something or would’ve liked to known something sooner or beforehand.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tc-2-vs-3-5-lt.556072/

 

Oooh yeah.

Mine isn’t junked out, still has a bank loan, is my only vehicle/daily, it’s it’s long travel front and rear.

 

100% accurate. You can't have both imho. Your 2021 Tacoma will be a never ending money pit that continuously drain your pockets. You have to account for the down time as well, as it will sit on jack stands getting proper treatment. Don't open this door, unless you're fully committed.

Think of it as a bad relationship you can't get out of, unless you're willing to lose a lot of $ or hope another sucker takes her on.

 

You’re not going to be able that much faster than stock vs the money investment. Have a couple guys we ride dirt bikes with who have full on trophy trucks. Once you ride in one of them, a LT off the shelf parts Tacoma pales greatly in comparison.

If you know anyone with one you need to go for a ride in it. Before you spend your time, money and effort.

I live in Idaho now, yeah we have desert…dunno it is different than AZ, CA, or down in Baja. Here I’d probably SAS it…and even then better off buying an already built SXS.

 

Yep. My truck is cool and all but honestly I wish I would have just left it with the mid travel stuff and 33’s. Worked perfectly fine.

 

Very well put although I currently have MT setup and am not pleased at all with it. I feel like I’m being limited on the travel and always bottom out or buck when doing fun stuff, point is I’ve ran with my MT and don’t want to spend 4-5k on a better middy setup when I could put that towards a long travel system. Problem is I don’t do dessert racing but I like to go fast off-road, wouldn’t be opposed to having a truck that could do things out of my reach in case I ever found myself dessert racing I don’t want to be limited by anything and wanna hit a home run first time around.

 

What makes you say you wouldn’t wanna go LT in WYO? Just curious

 

I can dig this! Don’t understand why LT rigs have to be junked, paid off, or anything. I believe LT would make daily driving that much better as the suspension is considered driving on clouds. Live a lil

 

Not being mean here but you sound like you are chasing something that does not exist unless you go full on race truck. And those suck on highways. Good luck.

 

The interesting parts of Wyoming would all benefit from a narrower track width and a slower pace. The uninteresting parts aren't really the right terrain for LT to shine.

 

I can comfortably hit 1-2ft whoops at around 40mph with mid travel up front, any faster or bigger and you need a cage. Heck, even right now I feel like I need a cage since one wrong buck or bounce and the trucks done

 

There was guy with a FJ Cruiser one of these boards, think he has something like $100K into it. Said if he were to do it again, would of left it stock and spent the money on travel.