1 ton first gen Tacoma

Yes they are

 

Nice rig man, looks like Thompson bull in the background? I love just down the road but I haven’t seen you around town yet

 

No bs, this build is inspirational. I don’t think I’ve written on this forum since I first bought my truck in 2017. So props dude.

I’m in the information phase of a SAS dream ATM. I think your build has motivated me to start sourcing 1 ton axles and planning on a radius arm kit.

Sorry if I missed this part but from what I can tell, with the wfo kit, on the axle itself, are the stock location/mounts used for the radius arms, drag link, and coilovers? So only mount required to fabricate on the Dana 60 is for the track bar? And if you run 12” coilovers like the Wfo site says, you used stock front driveshaft and didn’t have to mess with any extra fab for your pinion angle?

Sorry for the drawn out questions, just trying to go into this with as much knowledge as possible.

 

I don’t think you’ll get a response since OP was last seen active in 2022. IIRC, he ended up selling or trading the radius arm DC setup for a 4WU extra cab 3 link.

WFO will be easier to setup vs a 3 link but radius arm don’t articulate and are frown upon. Honest opinion, you’re better off getting a 3 link if you planned on rock crawling. Not saying the radius arm can’t play, they have one too many limiting factor.

If you want something more sturdy than IFS for the pavement princess or FSR, yes, radius arm will get the job done. Just don’t expect the radius arm to perform like a 3 link. Honestly, a properly setup leaf spring will out flex the radius arm and cost 2-3x less.

You’re better off buying someone else’s built SA Tacoma because it will cost way less vs trying to cut and figure it out on the fly, trying to set yours up.

 

I hear you, thanks for the input. I’m sure you can make a 3 link much more capable than radius arms utilizing factory ford axle mounts. I haven’t ruled out a 3 link with birfield Toyota/rock assault etc axle or 44. I do worry about road manners and getting it dialed in. Can’t buy another truck, I’m maxed out with my parking/garage situation, and I can’t imagine giving up this truck. It’s not my daily anymore since buying a 3rd gen so I’ve been dreaming for a while about what direction I want to go with it. I like the simplicity (in theory lol) and durability of the WFO kit from what I’ve seen. My son is in love with this truck and one day it’ll be his, and for a truck that will possibly be daily driven again, I’m just trying to be prudent with which kit will be all around most durable.

 

TBH, any SA swap setup isn’t ideal to be a DD, speaking from experience. Especially one with 1t axle. The pumpkin of a 1t hangs way too low that 40s will provide enough clearance as a Toyota type axle on 37. Ideally, the 5vz (if that’s what you got) is already gutless and now you’re adding additional weight combined with taller tires will make you not want to DD. If DD is your intention for the long run and you still want to pour money into the pit, I would LT on 35 with 5.29 gear and supercharge.


I built plenty of road worthy rock crawlers from my home shop in almost 20 years and ended up selling every single one of them. Owned this DC since 2014 and went from 31” to 35” tires with IFS and now full blown 3 link front and rear on 42s. Registered and drives great with excellent road manner, can cruise at 80+ mph (yes, still have cruise control) with one hand without bump steer issue, death wobble or anything that will cause concerns. But throughout the years, I drive the her less and less. I think last year, I put on less than 1k miles and 90% of those mileage were traveling to remote fishing and hunting grounds where regular 4x4 can’t get to. Yes, she’s not a trailer queen and I still get groceries with it when I feel like driving her. Will I sell her? Everything’s for sale if the offer is right but more likely she’ll sit in the garage until I passed. She’s the final product and last dream SA built of mine. I dumped everything into her minus a 2UZ or 1GR swap, which can still happen in the future as the SC 5VZ is getting tired. I don’t think I can add anything else (parts or performance wise) as she sit. I had more fun with her when she’s IFS because majority of the trails were still challenging.

I toy with the idea of MCLT my GX470 on 37s. Will I? Probably not because I dumped too much money into the Icon Billet setup and 35s. I find myself driving the Prius to work more often and the GX or the wife’s 4th gen 4R when going out of town. They’re better on gas.

 

Damn, that’s a badass build. If I had room, I would ask what you wanted to sell it for, but I’m sure it’s out of my price range. Thanks for the input, maybe I’ll pick your brain later in the process if I go through with this.