If you had it all to do over again?

For those who have gone Long Travel:

1. If you had it all to do over again, what would you do differently than you did? Would you have gone solid axle? A different long travel kit? Things you would NOT do? Things you wish you had done sooner?

2. If you had it all to do over again, what modifications to your Tacoma would you definitely still do over again?

 

I still would have gone Long Travel. I might have looked at getting a 1st gen Tacoma since they are smaller. I would personally would steer clear of SAS (unless it came from the factory that way (85' and earlier)). I have seen too many that are designed incorrectly and are down right scary to watch on the freeway.

I think having a 4wd long travel truck is the ultimate in versatility and on/ offroad comfort.

 

^^Thanks for the reply.

 

I just recently sold my 1st gen Tundra with a camburg front w/4wd and deaver rear, triple bypasses all around. Truck was super fun to drive and I miss it alot. However I sold it to build a better version, I'm impatient of waiting. Because I am doing it again I will answer appropriately.

1. I would not run a kit with a stock front spindle, a properly fabricated spindle from a good fabricator (take your time deciding who to trust here, do not just buy on price) solves multiple strength and geometry problems. I'm also going straight to links with a real rear axle. Though my Tundra handled great, the rear couldn't keep up with the front (Deaver C27's) and the axle wrap was killing me.... as far as LT vs SAS, I'm biased as I like to go fast. A properly set up front axle can actually handle very well and will do better in the rocks. I do agree that a LT/4wd set up is the best all around.

2. New build (still collecting parts): DCSB taco v6, trd blower, solo motorsports xlt kit (w/4wd), saving for links +axle now, will have bypasses bumps on all 4 corners.
Benefits: 4 seats, increased suspension travel @ approx. same overall width, stronger front diff

My driving style is more that of cruising than most (baja). I know some people drive their trucks very hard, were this my plan I'd buy a first gen Taco, move the cab back, shorten the wheelbase slightly, cage it, Solo xlt kit, links/axle, and beat it like it owed me money.

 

^^EXCELLENT RESPONSE. It seems to me anything can be built to perform how you want . It just depends on budget, skills, and how far you're willing to go/ how much you modify. In the rear it seems the turning point is willingness to relocate gas tank for custom fuel cell which opens up many linked rear suspension possibilities. In the front it seems stock knuckle and limited cv shafts are limiting. If one was willing to cut the frame off forward of the firewall, limits go away. If one were willing and able, one could create a custom tube structure forward of the firewall and then a custom front differential like currie ifs 9, custom shafts, custom steering, etc are all possible. Thank you for sharing your plans. Others' experiences and things that worked well or didn't are hugely helpful. I appreciate it.

 

I would not have gone with the All Pro kit. Granted, at the time, they did me a solid (I towed in a truck with a busted up front end, and they repaired/installed with quick turn around).

Total Chaos is the go to brand if you want a bolt on kit. Like the other poster said though, a fabricated spindle is a huge step up in strength - if you are willing to spend the money, it is worth it.

I love the defined engineering rear end. I would definitely stay with that. It's more than enough for what I do and the install / fabrication was something I could do in my driveway as a first time rear LT job with no outside assistance.

Gusset the shit out of everything from the get go. Spindles, UCAs, LCA mounting tabs, alignment tabs, engine mounts, etc.

 

^^ Thanks Mxpatriot. Good info. I was honestly going back and forth between SAS and LT. But I'm leaning LT. Within the Long Travel kits, I was leaning toward Total Chaos over Camburg, but am now looking at Solo Motorsports XLT. The beefed up steering knuckle and axles seem like a good investment. Still researching fronts; haven't even started researching rear suspension; although I'm hoping a dual triangulated 4-link is feasible over leaf springs, even if it means relocating the gas tank. I want a very capable off-road rig that still feels safe on pavement without too much sway in the corners. Still researching . . .

 

Question: Why do you say you would "move the cab back" if you were going to wheel it hard? To accommodate what?

 

^^ Never mind. I'm guessing to accommodate the tires better. The cab mount at the rear of front tires has always been a PITA. Rather than do cab-mount mod, get much more room by moving cab rearward.

 

I was stating that in a different situation than most. The truck would start as a frame up race truck build, center of gravity, wheel base, placement of important items for ultimate handling/speed becomes more important than any creature comfort.

FYI the solo kit is wide, I believe I've heard 92"s wide or more all said and done depending on wheel and tire combo. The kit is 4.5"s wider per side. Another option to look at that isn't as wide is the Dirt Designs kit @ 3.5"s per side with a fully fabricated spindle and it eliminates the lower ball joint.

 

The Solo kit is really wide. Unless you're doing nothing but wide open desert, I would go with a +2 or +3 kit.

 

Do like me, buy a truck that someone did the work to - for a fraction of the price

 

Have the long travel before you put the fenders on lol, looked like a chipmunk for about five months.
But on a more serious note, I like my ESB Kit, it is very wide 5.5" on either side, but I don't mind it. Second if you can get a hold of an ESB Kit get it, but before putting it on have a fully fabricated spindle for it for sure, everything will go in your favor that way.
Spend money on the important things first. Shocks, long travel, axles, fabrication equipment if you like to build yourself like I did. Also spend the money how you know it should, don't go for the cheaper option, you need to find an equilibrium of what you want and what's the right choice, for instance I bought my kit with shocks and all and slapped it on not too soon after I got it. For one, I wish I hadn't got it used so I could customize my BRAND NEW shocks straight from King. And even if I got it used I would've much rather waited and sent everything out to be re-powdercoated and anodized.
Lights, tint, seats, paint, etc and all are cool, but you don't realize how much that could've waited until you're scavenging for money to finish the truck. All the mods for looks can wait until the very very end, you'll be able to use that money on performance parts instead of aesthetics.
Also when doing the front and rear long travel keep the bedsides and fenders and bumpers off, makes work a million times easier lol.

 

I wish the defined kit was still around. Did you go for the shackle mount cross member?

Near the bottom of the page

http://www.definedengineering.com/products.html

 

I did not. I bought the kit used.

Someday I may fab up a crossmember. I don't push the truck as hard as I used to (getting older I guess).

 

I had never even heard of ESB. Why did you go with them over Total Chaos or Camburg or Solo, etc?

 

Because after I found the kit I talked to Mike directly, he owns ESB. ESB is no longer in business as of right now, last time we talked he was trying to setup his shop. Anyway I talked to him and he made good points about how the width and arms helped with camber and caster and all the stuff I I have no clue about haha. He also knows a lot about the alignment geometry and whenever I needed something I could very easily contact him through Facebook, unlike other companies it's very difficult to get personal information, or they are far to busy to reply. Also I liked the track width, and the heimed uppers with uniballs on the upper and lower control arms, all of this at a very affordable price used. $3000 for me and came with 2.5x10" dual rate kings. So I scored on that. Nonetheless I believe, and so do others that ESB was one of the best kits ever made for our trucks. And if you contact Mike personally he may be able to make you a kit if he has made more jigs. If you have anymore questions feel free to ask.

 

^^ thanks for the reply and information

 

For anyone who has seen the Dirt Designs 4x4 spindle and the Solo spindle up close, can you give me a breakdown of the adv/disadv of each? I'm curious about suspension geometry through the suspension cycle as well as stock hub vs Dana 44 and Solo axles vs longer axles with stock CVs like all the others, including Dirt Designs.

 

Also, has anyone used these RCV Ultimate IFS CV axles in a Long Travel Tacoma build? http://www.rcvperformance.com/category-ultimate-ifs-axles.aspx