Long Travel Advice for the Apocolypse Minded

Hey folks,

I am likely not going LT but I do value strength and durability. I have always been a fan of class 11 and class 9!

I am taking my suspension apart soon for a King mid travel setup and it will be in the hands of a friend who works at a very competent shop. He does great work and will TIG weld everything. At this point doing a little excess with gussets seems like something I want to do.

I want to do some gusseting, but don’t want to go overboard. Overboard would be taking the bed off to plate the frame or doing a CMC if I know I will never need it. But reinforcing suspension mounts makes sense to me, especially since it will all be off for access. I would rather have more than less, without going crazy.

Spindle gussets-I am thinking Total Chaos w/swaybar. Any issues with these?

I was thinking Marlin Crawlers LCA/Cam tab reinforcement kit. Do I understand correctly that installing this will not require the Total Chaos cam tab kit?

I was also thinking the Total Chaos UCA gusset kit. This looks like it double shears the bolt. Is this correct? They also say it is for TC UCAs only..does that seem like a ‘disclaimer’ or can I run different UCAs? I would like to keep my options open.

Rear shackle hangers- any idea what do here? BAMF?

CMC- can I just skip this? I am running Toyo Open Country 265 75 16.

2022 only has 4k miles on it! LOL


Thanks for your help!

 

One tip for the Marlin tab gussets:
If you're going to install LCAs w Zerk fittings on the bottom, don't screw this up like I did.
I didn't think about mocking up the DK arms and checking the zerk clearances.

So I had to cut a relief channel, weakening the gusset system a little. Got in a hurry and proper planning went right out the window. The gussets can be tacked in w enough clearance, if you do a proper mock-up. I obviously didn't.... SMDH

 

By the way...Brett is a horrible name.....

 

Thank you Brent (I am sure you get that a lot).

I do not have any plans for changing the LCA, but yes this would be a good idea to cut a relief prior to install. You never know.

Is that a hole for the zerk covered up by tape and paint in the pic?

 

FYI this is where my mindset comes from. Years ago I memorized every page of this book and it had lots of tips for expensive long travel set ups and Porsche engines and just beefing up stock VW parts.

 

When I go to Baja races I’m only tracking 1/2 1600, 11, 9, 5 and bikes. Hell yeah dude!