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AP LT or part out and Raptor???

Discussion in 'Long Travel Suspension' started by RacerAV, Jan 25, 2013.

  1. Jan 25, 2013 at 12:07 AM
    #1
    RacerAV

    RacerAV [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I've been stressing lately, quite a bit. I love my truck but am annoyed with too many things. Driveline vibes, shitty seats (although all wrapped in leather and heated, etc... NOT Sport seats though), lack of power (only have catback 3" and a TRD intake), the truck floats all over the road like I'm drunk, and a few other little things.

    I drove a Raptor, and was impressed of course. BUT, it's missing a lot of my favs from the Tacoma. Storage, shorter front doors, gas mileage (eh, not much...) maybe more...

    I was thinking about giving my Tacoma the good things about the Raptor, but it's almost a better deal to just get the damn Raptor... a quick list to explain:
    long travel set up
    front seats
    lockers f/r
    more power
    better on road handling
    steering feel/feedback

    I'd like to go with the AP lt kit (for my 4x4) for a few reasons. My icon st. 4 with AP expo leaf pack isn't great to me. I'm hoping with a better set up I can get a perfect ride height, feel, and the handling i'm looking for on roads. I hate that my truck feels so loose, the steering is sloppy, etc. Does it get worse with LT?

    What can I do about the drive line vibes? Do you LT guys have them worse? Ideally I want a 2.5" lift all around. That's about where I'm at now, but the vibrations drive me nuts. Would a single piece driveshaft fix that 100%?

    The rest:
    Front seats would be easy, I'd get sport seats (instead of my base models) and rewrap them in black/tan leather. I have a rear ARB air locker that I need to install, been holding off for a final decision on the truck. For power, can't do much more unless you know of a turbo set up that's carb legal... damn I hate this state... (CA) What can I do about a better steering ratio?

    This is partly LT related, hope it's okay here... the other stuff I guess I can talk about in another forum...
    It's late and I'm beat... I'll edit this post later, to make it easier to read/understand/help me, haha
     
  2. Jan 25, 2013 at 12:15 AM
    #2
    RJALLDAY702

    RJALLDAY702 U MAD? OH U MAD

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  3. Jan 25, 2013 at 12:20 AM
    #3
    benbacher

    benbacher Purveyor of Fun Vendor

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    Why not get the s2 kit for your existing icons and really dial in your ride by adding a bypass up front. You can stiffen it up to your liking them when out on the trail customize it to what you need. You've got the setup I'm saving for, and that's what I plan on doing with it. Drove a full long travel kit from camburg a few weeks ago and that thing kept your attention headed down the road. I'm sure you get used to it but every move of the wheel would cause the suspension to react fairly strongly.

    Again these things can be dialed in to your tastes I'm sure.

    As far as the driveline I'm putting a one piece on when I get the height I want for several reasons, but the vibes should go away without the carrier bearing in there. I would think if they aren't gone altogether they'll be greatly dissipated.

    And yeah ditch the leather grab some sport seats and wet okole's. your bum will not be sad about that.
     
  4. Jan 25, 2013 at 12:25 AM
    #4
    Sabre

    Sabre Well-Known Member

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    sounds like alot of money either way whats gonna benefit you more in the long run?
     
  5. Jan 25, 2013 at 12:38 AM
    #5
    RacerAV

    RacerAV [OP] Well-Known Member

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    with your sig (im assuming your truck) you still say raptor? can i ask why? i do think that it would be a better built truck than my tacoma all pieced together. things work better when designed to work together from the beginning obviously. im just torn...
     
  6. Jan 25, 2013 at 12:40 AM
    #6
    RacerAV

    RacerAV [OP] Well-Known Member

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    good question. i mean really i can drive a festiva around just fine, haha... (i have, fun car) but all the things i like doing, i want a capable off road vehicle. i thought about getting a jeep, and going that route, but i also want something fun and fast. thats when the Raptor came to mind. A true do it all vehicle... it drives like a BMW on the road, and even better off im sure (didnt get to test there)
     
  7. Jan 25, 2013 at 12:42 AM
    #7
    RacerAV

    RacerAV [OP] Well-Known Member

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    havent seen the s2 kit. so a LT truck doesn't handle smoothly then? that's my main concern. I hate how my tacoma handles on the road. I was surprised how well the Raptor felt just driving around the streets!
     
  8. Jan 25, 2013 at 12:46 AM
    #8
    Sabre

    Sabre Well-Known Member

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    his dad owns a raptor so he is a great opinion to consider becuase he has a fully long travel tacoma and the raptor and has been able to run both and get a feel for then rather than a test drive or someone that has ridden in one
     
  9. Jan 25, 2013 at 12:51 AM
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    Sabre

    Sabre Well-Known Member

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    yea true. where u gonna go new or used? if used i would definlty be whery of the fact that this come off the lot offroad capable and people think there invisible ive see alot of dumbass videos driving raptors or people just beating the hell outta them defintly a truck if i was to buy used would shop around. i mean those trucks really can take a beatin though im impressed everytime i would buy one if i can afford it fersure
     
  10. Jan 25, 2013 at 1:26 AM
    #10
    Mxpatriot

    Mxpatriot Well-Known Member

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    I'd go TC +2'' LT over AP any day of the week.

    A built tacoma (LT front and rear) will have better suspension than a Raptor - so long as it is decently tuned.
     
  11. Jan 25, 2013 at 1:34 AM
    #11
    benbacher

    benbacher Purveyor of Fun Vendor

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    S2 kit came out this week. Consists of a skid plate for the lca and shock hoop that provide a top and bottom mount for a secondary shock, a dual bypass in this case. Allows you to literally dial in your suspension. Want it stiffer? Spin the dial, looser, spin the dial.

    And yeah the LT I drove I would not describe as 'tight'
     
  12. Jan 25, 2013 at 1:34 AM
    #12
    RacerAV

    RacerAV [OP] Well-Known Member

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    damn... see thats a perfect opinion!!! haha... im building my raptor online... NEW COLOR... terrain. I think that is the deal maker. hated the color choices, going from my pyrite mica... to a white? or blue? eesh... but terrain, nice!
     
  13. Jan 25, 2013 at 1:37 AM
    #13
    RacerAV

    RacerAV [OP] Well-Known Member

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    i dont know... even decently tuned (a tacoma), i feel like that raptor handles just amazing on the road. off road, well, it's been youtubed to death... im sure its great.
     
  14. Jan 25, 2013 at 2:09 AM
    #14
    Mxpatriot

    Mxpatriot Well-Known Member

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    It's a heavy truck and it pulls less travel than an LT Tacoma.

    It's SOA with blocks in the rear...
     
  15. Jan 25, 2013 at 3:52 AM
    #15
    RacerAV

    RacerAV [OP] Well-Known Member

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    yeah its definitely heavy. but not THAT much heavier than my 4x4 Tacoma. Overall size isn't too different either. I parked them next to each other to check that out.

    The travel I know is different than a LT truck, but that's with extensive work done to a Tacoma. I'd only go with an all pro +2" kit anyway, so not looking for MAX travel, just a little more. But the TIGHTNESS (suspension and steering feel) of the Raptor just can't be beat. From what I've been told, read, seen, etc...
     
  16. Jan 25, 2013 at 4:00 AM
    #16
    06HAOLE

    06HAOLE Well-Known Member

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    I have driven a Raptor and I used to have a fully built 06 Tacoma. The Raptor is way more comfortable but its still a $50k truck that has its own limitations as well. If you want comfort and ease of maintenance then buy the Raptor. If you like lots of TLC and a more solid end-product then fully build a Tacoma.
     
  17. Jan 25, 2013 at 7:23 AM
    #17
    Defined

    Defined Well-Known Member

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    this^ .a tacoma with lt will out preform a stock raptor any day and do it cheaper too. the only thing the toyota dosent have is the power of the raptor . but honestly the yota isnt that bad and v8 power can get you in a lot of trouble in the dirt...
     
  18. Jan 25, 2013 at 8:21 AM
    #18
    GTABurnout

    GTABurnout Well-Known Member

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    Something to remember is the Raptor is a factory build truck. They spent lots of time and money making it do everything well. I am sure you can get a tacoma to do everything the raptor can do eventually, but you will need to work at it.
     
  19. Jan 25, 2013 at 8:33 AM
    #19
    tostidos

    tostidos Well-Known Member

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    So the debate is between long travel and mid travel? As said before a built Tacoma will out perform a Raptor. And IMO at a hell of alot less.
     
  20. Jan 25, 2013 at 8:35 AM
    #20
    tostidos

    tostidos Well-Known Member

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    OP looks like you are looking at buying a brand new raptor. take that price to a fab shop and say build me a truck. guarantee you can smoke a raptor with what is built or get a race proven truck for the same price!
     

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