Alabama thread!

I’m stoked to hop in the ford after being crammed up in the taco all day. It’s like going from a Cessna to a 747.

 

Basic SAS can be done pretty cheap, if you use leaf springs it is a lot cheaper than linking it. Like anything you can spend as little or as much as you want. If you have to pay someone to do it then you should go another route but if you do it youself the price is not bad. I really like my setup, I don't even think about breaking anything.

 

That’s basically what I’m saying, if I did everything myself got same axles you have lockers swap kit linked (if I’m going SAS then im linking), steering box firewall clerancing, welding/ frame modifications, welding wire, cauldron gas and about 1.5 months of me working when I can in my garage on it I’d probably be about 2k-4K more invested than an equivalent LT kit that I can basically do some math and bolt on I’m about a days time working in the garage and sped absolutely no fab time on and it be perfectly fine for me. Or I could spend 10k simmilar to rclt kit and have a little harder install time but have very simmilar performance to a SAS without all the labor time invested. I’m not crying about labor time I’m just saying it’s something to consider. Like I said to skip I think an entry level LT kit can be had for less money than an entry level SAS kit including labor times and consumables

 

I like the comfort of independent suspension, I even rode in a LT Tacoma on 40s before I sold my truck. But when I drove a linked truck on 40s I didn't think twice about selling my Tacoma. To build one like I have you can probablly TL three or four Tacomas but I used the same stuff Busted Knuckle uses on $90,000 buggies. When I get the RCV axles I shouldn't ever have to worry about anything. I am under powered and way over geared so it should all last a long time. When I finish this other Samurai I am planning on SAS my 2000 Tacoma too. Everyone wants different things mine is just solid axle right now, who knows I could sell it all and go a different way tomorrow, lol.

 

I’ll probably SAS a first gen one day and cage it one day. The 2nd gen once it get retired from camping trips will get 37’s and possibly a rear link at some point. I’d rather leave it as is though and spend money on a hauler first though. I’ll probably look at that once prices crash.

 

You'll never get the same performance out of an RCLT as a SAS without LOTS and LOTS of fab work unless it's just a cheap ass SAS job. RCLT is no harder than any other LT it's all the little things that kill you in getting the performance out of it. UCA gussets, air bumps, setting up the bump and strap correctly, steering upgrades, high clearance the front approach, clearance the inner fenders and firewall appropriately, etc., etc., etc.. That's what gets people it doesn't matter the kit brand it matters what effort you put in. Without doing all those extra steps all you are doing is bolting on LT that will gain you disappointment compared to advertised travel. That's what I was getting at you have to put similar time into the LT. It's not as simple as throwing it on and up I got 13" of travel now. Every corner you cut with LT you just waste money at loosing performance at a lot of money for some suspension. I've seen it on here and in person with people disappointed and have issues out on the trail because they cut corners with LT and cheaped their way to throw it on.

Plus a big reason why big mike's flexes so well is the rear compliments the front. He's got IDK how many months of someone linking it then redoing it, and redoing it again. He's also admitted to limiting the shit out of uptravel he's a hype man and makes pretty big claims without spilling all the beans on what is actually needed to use the full potential of the kit.

 

Marlin is all about the hype and total BS. Claiming everything is bolt on and this tire fits without doing yada yada. All marketing and no support or communication. I bet when you check out he asks for your insta so he can ship to those who have the most followers first. Not to mention the crazy above market price tag.

Any kit will have to be fine tuned. It ain’t cheap to do LT or SAS right. A well performing mid travel would outwork a shitty performing long travel or SAS. I second that the rear will fall behind after LT and soon need more than what a relocate can offer. @Brian422 I think a crawl box would probably do more for you offroad than LT since you’ve got a 4cyl and are loaded slap full with weight and 35’s. If you were geared lower you would have crawled at Stony super easy.

 

That's killer, Also reminds me. That guy I work with that had the 300 just traded it and an older Harley in on an Africa Twin. He came cruising through the lot on it last Friday. First one I have actually seen in person.

 

I'd love an Africa Twin.......but that price

 

yea i have read through that thread about him talking about limiting the up travel to gain down travel. I understand the geometry and work that goes into putting a kit together that gets you the desired outcome. Ive been doing the math and factoring in all the Bump stop placement limiting strap locations stroke of shock etc. Should be fairly close to my desired outcome once i get it on truck. I was just saying for me its a way better choice since im really only wanting my front to catch up with my rear. Im still driving my truck to the trail and that kind of riding where i would need %100 efficiency is only like 1out of every 5 trips i take so for me if i gain another 2 inches out of my travel id be happy lol. Im trying to create a truck that can do it all not just be a wheeling beast on the trail so i think that's where things get lost most of the time. But i agree you cant just follow the instructions and slap on a kit and expect the advertised travel there is some work involved but id rather do that than cut the whole front end of and figure out a whole new system.

 

@Dayman Karate You got those 37s on yet? I am excited to see you crawl with them. Your truck did very well as it is but I think the 37s will make it a beast.

 

I barely got them started last night. Just got the guy that did his regear out of the garage yesterday afternoon. I’ve got to slap on these lighter coils up front too to get a little more flex. I’m anxious to see how it does.

 

I would say a crawl box would help with hard obstetrical where im pushing my truck %100 but that's very few and far between. Like i said above i think where there is a disconnect is my not trying to have the most cable truck on trail. That will come in a different build. For this one im trying to have one that i can still do everything in and still ride comfortably down the road. I think with the new tuned shocks and front end it will help tremendously. Im just trying to catch my front up to my rear. Id honestly rather have a SC instead of a crawl box on my Taco. But that's just me. I enjoy its versatility.

 

should've gone bigger lol.

 

Haha I thought about it for sure, but I might build around the 37s and jump to 40’s at some point if it makes sense. I’m still surprised at how far the road mud terrains are taking me

 

Went with the heavy ass wheels huh

 

Your arm will be hurting torquing all those bolts. I think I had to torque mine five or six times each before everything stayed torqued, then after a few rides torque them some more. Get a five gallon bucket to set them on while torquing them makes it a lot easier.
I like those wheels.

 

A supercharger makes more since for the highway

 

yea sadly i dont think ill be dropping 6k on one anytime soon.

 

I thought about getting one for the Tacoma I had but I couldn't see where it would help me with that build.