Fabrication Project to make an extended cab rock crawler

My friend as an 07' Tacoma access cab and he wants to know if he can shorten the overall length of his truck by getting new leaf springs and relocating the leaf spring shackles to just behind the rear shocks.


In other words, He wants to relocate the leaf spring shackles right next to the rear shocks so that there will be no rear overhang when he goes off road.


Since the bed is composite, he wants to convert his truck into a flat bed and here are the attached photos of his trucks leaf springs in its current form

 

i was asking if it is possible? are there any good fabrication shops in nor cal?

 

when you say link the thing, what do you mean?

 

If your buddy truely wants no overhang, you need to ditch the leaf springs. Leafs will have just as much overhang behind the axle as in front. I agree with MJP, link it!

 

i will tell my friend about the daily driver link kit from ruff stuff. Thanks!!!

 

Check out this thread for some ideas.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-builds/23170-building-beast-8.html

These guys linked the front but not the rear.

 

will the daily driver link shorten the trucks wheelbase as well and eliminate the overhang?

 

You keep mentioning eliminating the overhang. Overhang is only one of several limitations that affect the Tacoma in stock form when off-roading.

Out of the box, the departure angle on the Tacoma is quite limiting. But you can reduce it by

simply adding a high clearance bumper,

or bobbing the rear end at the hangers

or building a complete linked rear end.

From what you've written, especk's flat bed build sounds like it might be about what your friend has in mind:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...specks-10-reg-cab-ome-4x4-26.html#post6151392

But for a tacoma to have any prayer of navigating the trails that would require that linked rear end - it'll also need considerable and expensive changes to the rest of the truck as well as just eliminating the rear overhang.

 

bjmoose- I talked to my friend and he is interested in having a complete linked rear end.

http://giantmotorsports.com/content/view/89/109/

 

It's cool man. I'm just throwing out less expensive options. It's not my job to tell you how to spend your money.