Upgrade Question for you MidTravel Gurus!

Dumb question here, but what exactly is the difference between mid travel and long travel? Obviously some more travel in the suspension but how do you go about getting it? Thanks!

 

That has to be the best explanation I've heard in awhile. Keeping it Simple Stupid always wins!

 

That makes sense. Thanks for the explanation.

 

Got another question on http://store.sdhqoffroad.com/2005TacomaExtTravelFrontCoiloverShockKit.aspx ive noticed some other stores carry a 700lb spring choice instead of a 650lb? what is the point of this extra 50lb difference. I know like on dirtbikes the coils are rated for rider weight, just curious what 50lb on each front coil is going to change?

 

ahh cool makes sense, so if I was to swap out stock bumper for a plate (I intend to) I would want the 700lbs over the 650lb?

 

650lb springs will probably be enough for the bumper, but if you add skids and/or a winch to that bumper then you will want the 700's.

 

Im still on 13" 650s with a plate bumper and skids. Adding a winch soon and Ill probably need 14" 700s to keep my 3 inches of lift. It rides soft on 650s with all this wieght though.

They recomend over 200 pounds of additional wieght be added to the front of the truck before getting 700s

 

So you bought a baja to rip the suspension off of and ditch the tires? I have no comment lol. But if you want to go long travel then skip mid travel altogether. No sense in wasting money if you want LT.

 

I was running OME 886's (they are rated at 656 lbs) with my plate bumper and skids and it wasn't enough. My skids are 1/4" though and my bumper is pretty heavy as well compared to most.

I also had 5100's which are basically not adjustable. That is the perk to the collared shocks like Icons and Kings. If you want more ride height just crank them up some (adding preload). You sacrifice ride quality but it's not a significant change.

The advantage to a stronger/longer spring is that you will need less preload to achieve ride height and therefore get a smoother ride. Say you have to crank your 13" 650lb springs up 1" to get your ride height, that means you are riding around on 1300lbs of spring load. If you go to 14" 700lb springs and get the same ride height as the cranked up 650's, then as stated you have the same ride height, but you are now riding around on 700lbs of spring load. That translates to a smoother ride.

 

I love it when people say this =) Who cares, its not your money? Na im just messing man, this is my first Tacoma and thought I would be satisfied but now everything becomes a project!

 

Thanks for the clarification on the spring rates! Helps a lot! Probably saved me some money too.

 

Soooo, let's say you have no additional weight up front, do they make a longer 650# spring that you could put on the icon ext thereby having the lift you want and ride like the stock preset? I lifted mine up initially for the stance I wanted but the ride sucked so I lowered the front end back down, preset to how the shocks where sent to me. It seems I either get the ride I prefer or the lift, not both.

 

I don't think Icon specifically makes any. I think King coils will fit and I believe they will have a 14" 650 lb spring, but you will have to do a little research to know for sure.

 

More spring length won't help. Still be in the same boat as it would still need to be preloaded X amount since the rate is the same. Too much preload on the spring can cause coil bind. Best would be to jump to the 700's.

 

So you think if I where to run a 700 14" Id be at the ride height I want (this I know) but I sacrifice down travel and have a stiffer ride same as if I was to just preload the 13" 650 spring an inch or so?

Never mind I just drew it out, pretty much whatever lift I get from my shock regardless of springs will take away from down travel yeah? The springs will basically only add stiffness. I'm having trouble wrapping my head around this haha.

I basically want the shock to sit in the middle of its allowable travel. 5" up 5" down let's say, if I crank up my preload to get lift (stretching the shock out) I sacrifice down travel (firmer ride)
But if I do a longer spring I'm still sitting at the middle of the shock just the collar is sitting higher, moving the shock up still the same way (losing down travel) but maintaining a softer ride because of less preload... FML haha feelin dumb

 

Either a 13" or 14" 700lb. You will be able to obtain the ride height you want, sooner with less preload. As long as your ride height is the same as the 650 was, then your travel will remain the same. The ride won't necessarily be stiffer, since the 650 would be loaded so much, it's getting pretty stiff.

On any spring, it takes a good 1-1.5" of initial preload to get to it's true spring rate. When I test coils, I compress it 1", this gives me it's inital, after that I reset, and go another inch, that's it's true rate.

I would post pics of how it sits now on the shock and we can help from there.

 

In his case though, wouldn't an inch longer spring (of the same spring rate) increase his ride height just in the fact that the spring is longer?

 

It could, But if he has to preload that more than it already is (figure he is gonna need to compress it to get it on the shock alone since it's longer to start with) And if it get's too much he could risk coil bind. I would rather jump in rate than risk bind. Pics's of where he is at now will help

 

I think it would, but not significantly, it would still have to be preloaded to seat right and give its true rating? But at the cost of down travel?

Edited my post

Sorry, I'm at how you shipped to me right now, as that delivers the best ride quality, I had them cranked down to give me the lift but ride sucked, about 7-8 threads