Long Travel BS Thread

I'm running these hood pins and they're very nice. They're made in America so made with quality parts and it also explains the price. The company offers other sizes and even locking ones as well.

Tires, the cooper ST maxx are similar to the ridge grapplers but awesome in snow and ice too.

https://www.quik-latch.com/QL-38-Series-Hood-Pins.html

$142 QL-38-LP/BP Quik-Latch Hood Pin Kit (Black Cerakote)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XNJDGKZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8



You can see them here, they're pretty unassuming. Not too large.

 

I’m using the aero catch hood pins. Make sure you get the kit that has steel pins. The aluminum ones break easily. It’s the extreme series that have steel pins.

 

What was the method you used to put the hole in the hood?

 

Hole saw

 

How to here. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...s-cab-slow-build.264263/page-37#post-10676470

tldr:

 

I just printed out the aerocatch installation instructions and it they provide a nice template that prints out to scale with the center points marked for a 1 1/4" and 1 3/4" hole saw

edit - @Airdog posted that pic while I was typing this

 

how was the install?

 

nice this his helpful

 

Depends on your comfort level cutting into your truck really. I use to cut and repair large holes in commercial aircraft, so doing it to my truck was a piece of cake....others may not quite feel that way. But it is not to difficult of an install....just take your time and plan it out.

 

cut plenty of stuff on the truck so not too bad. if its just the hole saw cuts you noted that's easy enough.

 

Just a quick note though...the core support where the hood pins attached eventually broke and I did repair it putting more metal on both sides. Then finally cut out my core support completly. It looks like this now

 

Looking at tires, probably gonna be upgrading at the end of this year/early year. IDK what falken puts in these tires but my 285s weigh 61lbs a tire. Looking at KO2s in a 295, they weigh 57lbs a tire. Grabber ATXs in 315 weigh in at 63 lbs a tire. So definitely gonna ditch the heavy falkens. I've had K02s before and I like them, but it's super tempting looking at General grabber ATXs. I'm on 4.56 gears already, so thinking why not. Anyone have experience with them?

 

The locking quiklatches are no good. The regular ones are very good i highly recommend them

 

I just got autofab hood pins - cheap, easy to source and super durable. I'll restore my factory latch as well.

https://www.kartek.com/parts/autofa...ssembly-with-q-clip-bolts-and-nyloc-nuts.html

 

Same. Easy to install and look decent

 

I ended up cutting mine, then supporting the star with a short piece of DOM and hitting the stub of the axle shaft with a 20# sledgehammer. That popped them right out.

In retrospect I should have just paid JD Fab to do it.

 

Yeah cutting the axles out is a bit of a pain but not bad. I’ve done 3 sets and never had an issue, just cut them off then take it to a machine shop with a 50 ton press and $20 makes quick work of it. Also been running aerocatchs with aluminum pins and locks for a year and a half and you just gotta clean and lube them every once in a while but never had an issue with them.

 

Well that looks much stronger anyway. These core supports are garbage for heavy use

 

Haha yah I’ve been told to just cut them. I already ordered the TC shafts but then thought of JD and also another company that sells 2 completes both would have been much easier

 

Where about a should I cut? I may just do that