Loco's Mid Travel Badassery Build-Totalled

It's a Masterpull Thimble...it actually replaces the Thimble and doesn't just wrap around it like the factor 55. Cheaper and leaves less chance for issues...just involves removing the original Thimble to install it or the line can be ordered with it installed.

 

Side note...I installed it myself on my line after some good tips and training from Steve down at Southeast Overland. It was fun and a great training thing so now I feel comfortable repairing a line on the trail with minimal tools.

 

Guess that means you have a hooptie

 

Hahahaha

 

$75? Damn that is half the price of what I paid.... So you had to rethread the line?

 

Yes I had to remove the old Thimble and then you replace it with the Masterpull. It was really easy and I was even able to make the setup stronger as the smittybilt Thimble was incorrectly spliced in... so Steve showed me 2 different ways to splice and I chose the stronger of the two methods.

I feel that I made the right choice especially after it was pointed out that the splice was pretty crapped from smittybilt.

 

How hard was it to rethread the synthetic line? I've seen some videos on how to do it but it looks really complicated.

 

It was pretty easy. The hard part is where you have to thin down the line when it's new but since this line already had that tapered section is was literally work it back out remove old thimble, install new thimble and then splice using the already tapered end. Start to finish 30 minutes and it was my first. Could easily cut that in half now if not even less.

 

Bumper looks great and I am digging the black fairlead(on my list). Just letting you know I am looking into plane tickets to VA so that I can stop by and paint the fairlead bolts black for you

#myocdiskillingme

 

Just for that them zinc coated bolts will be there like that forever...hell I might even polish them up for you!

 

How did you like the ride after the shackle flip with the stock shock locations? Did you have to add any longer abs lines or anything? Thinking about doing it but keeping the original shock location. I have the AP standard pack, so hopefully it doesn't affect much.

 

It has a bit more body roll with the shackle flip but it's not bad...that is the point of the flip to gain that droop and articulation. Running it with the shocks in the stock location is just fine and many folk use that exact setup. I did for a long time and was happy with the setup. It just gets to be a math game trying to max the droop/uptravel with shocks that fit in there which is why I went with the shock relocation. Not needed really but allowed me to keep the shocks from acting as limit straps and gave me a nice quality race shock.

You will need longer brake lines but the abs lines are plenty long. Just take the little bracket that hold the lines up in the center of the cross member and bend that joker down to give yourself more line length on the abs lines.

 

Good info and timing for me. Was also going to ask you about the shackles. I am planning on doing mine the week of Christmas.
Did you end up increasing the height in the rear based on the shackle length or did you keep it the same.

 

you are going to increase the height no matter what when you flip the shackles, just merely by the length of the shackles if nothing else because now that factors in to your height numbers as well. think you gain like 3/4" or so running stock shackles with the flip..... think that is what I gained.

 

Sounds like we think alike! That's about when I was planning on doing mine

 

I gained 1.5 inches when I did mine but I did shackles and a full length

$74 d29xl old man emu dakar extra leaf spring

d29xl OME aal as well. So I dk how much just the shackle flip added. But if I had to guess it was about 3/4" or so.

 

Sorry for the delay in responding.... out getting drunk last night

So shackle flip will net you around 3/4". It doesn't matter the leaf or shackle you use. Just inverting it pushes everything down.

I did mine setup all ass backwards and bought the ATO shackle flip for the OEM leafs (which I was using at the time w/ a 3 pack AAL) and when I installed it my shackle angle sucked. So I bought the RE shackles to give me a better angle and the ability to grease it up.

So then I scored some used expos and got super lucky that my shackle angle was perfect with the flip and RE shackles.

If one was wise they would get the leafs they want, do the flip and then the shackles as needed for increased ride height/increased droop.

I hope that answers the questions...also I think the newest version of flip kits ATO sells are adjustable to me moved fore/aft on the frame to allow you go adjust the shackle angle depending on ride height and leafs without adding the lift associated with longer shackles. When I bought mine the options were OEM leafs or Dakar leafs only and then I think they got smart and made it to work with whatever.

Moral of the story shackle flips are awesome!

 

She is looking sexy!