Considering long travel? Read here first.

Awesome write up! If someone answers this question please reply but for this of us looking for a LT without the LT maintenance or issues is the next best extended travel or another lift kit?

 

I'm in the early stages of developing just such a system... or as close to that as current parts will allow.

 

If you buy a kit from a reputable company their really aren’t any issues. And maintenance will be very close to the same as anyone running higher end coilovers and upper control arms.

 

Yep as glorified welder mentioned, there still is usual maintence as a LT kit, as aftermarket mid travel kit would have shocks that need to be serviced and bushings to be serviced and uniballs if used replaced , bolts needing to be torqued checked.

 

On average all my uniballs, rod ends, shock heims and bushings get replaced about every 2-years. I never do them at the same time due to time and cost. I'll hear a noise and know what's due and replace it.

 

After reading all 16 pages and changing my mind almost every other page finally decided I'll stay away from LT and just get the stock LCA replacement from one of the LT companies. Dont have the skillet or budget to take care of a LT DD. Good info and thanks all who contributed to the thread.

 

You do realize their is no difference in care between having aftermarket stock length uppers and lowers and having long travel uppers and lowers, right?

 

Shouldn't have to worry about my CVS and tierods nearly as much right?

 

Just in terms of sourcing the initial install...but @glorifiedwelder is correct, once you get the uniballs you are in the same boat with less travel.

If you truly intend to invest in aftermarket LCAs...then I would consider your options a little more carefully. UCA and Cam tab gussets are good for any set up that sees dirt as you can always be beefier.

 

Already bought cam tab gussets since the alignment show was nice enough to flatten 2 of mine out. But damn I mean if all I really have to do is change the uniball and bushings every so often I'm really not to worried about it. But when it comes to the tire rods and CVs I'm lost. I mean would probably be good to learn how to change all that stuff. But I'd imagine its smart to buy an extra set of axles and that's like $600. If I keep stock replacments at least if a blow a CV it's easier to get a stock replacment. But yah thanks now I'm back on the fence about going LT or not

 

I don't have spare LT axle due to the cost. If I break an axle I have a stub axle I carry to put in the hub and I also carry 2wd wheel bearing/hub. On average all my uniballs, tie rods, bushings, etc get replaced every 2 years. Not all at once because that's crazy. But maintenance is easy and cheap doing one at a time. I've only had 4wd for a year so don't know the maintenance cycle of cv's.

 

When I break a CV I typically just remove the center extended shaft which creates the same function as a plug for both the hub and diff. Sadly I have busted a second one while doing more crawling although TBH I think its something to do with my set up as I never push my stuff that hard at all when it comes to crawling. But yea if you go the uniball route, might as well adopt this approach like Y2k says. That said...my shit is almost due to replace some uniballs.

 

Oh, and put it all together with anti seize.

 

What If I just TELL myself I have a long travel, but not do any of the mods. Will I still have those issues?

 

all very true. my long travel is a constant battle but i honestly love it.suspension sounds like 2 cats f@&king but you get use to it.

 

New to TW but have had my Taco since new in 2010. Finally came around and got the 2 inch TC Expedition kit with a TC SUA kit with HD Deaver pack on King shocks. I think I’m going to have something like 12 inches up front and 12 in the rear. Would this be mid or long travel?

 

It's an awesome setup period. There's no hard and fast rules for what determines long travel and mid travel universally, but for this site usually that would be a mid travel kit (but a heck of a nice one). Long travel on this site could mean mid travel among dudes with 20+ inches of travel up front and 24+ inches in rear so it's rather fluid. Got pics of your truck - it would be nice to see it! Where are places you take it usually?

 

I definitely hope it comes out nice, the truck goes in Monday for install for a week or so should be a nice week filled with anticipation. I bounce between Southeastern PA (tri state) and South FL. So anything from heading to hit some trails in western PA, the dunes of Delaware beaches and any sand trails I can find in Florida. Adding Yukon gears, ARB, Leitner designs, Corbeau seats next and some camping gear to head out west to explore Colorado and California next so I want to be prepared to live out of my truck. I’ll be sure to add pictures to show its transformation.

UPDATE:
Dropped the truck off on June 7th. Just spoke to my guy over at the shop and said it would be ready June 29th. Is that a lot of time for a LT suspension front/rear, carrier bearing * u joint replacement, front and rear brakes? I feel like it’s been forever.

 

Update #2..

Got the truck back and put about 500 miles on it. HD springs all around make it ride like a dump truck with no weight on the truck but handles larger obstacles well. Wish someone would have told me a mid travel set up would end up costing $20k and still can’t fully articulate until I get body mounts relocated and new fenders... truck looks cool though.

 

Mine are up for sale. TC +3.5 fully assembled and only 29K miles on the CV joints...
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tc-3-5-cv-axle-assembly.672401/