Marlin Crawler RCLT HD – Proven Heavy Duty IFS & Steering Performance

Hello Tacoma World!!

It's been a while since I last posted and with many updates to RCLT HD I thought it was time for a fresh thread dedicated to info, tech, and FAQs. Our original thread from 2019 captured the early days, but we've come a long way since then. Today, RCLT HD has matured into a proven, heavy-duty system built for drivers who want reliability no matter how far from civilization they travel.

What is RCLT HD?

RCLT HD is the first replacement IFS suspension + steering system built strong enough for rock crawling, which is the harshest proving ground for any suspension and steering setup. It's been tested for years on trails and in Ultra4 competitions like King of the Hammers, with eight consecutive competitions without a single IFS or steering failure.

And because it's proven in rock crawling, it's equally at home on every other use case — from overlanding trips and backcountry exploration to weekend trail rides and even daily driving. If it can thrive under the punishment of rock crawling, it can deliver confidence and reliability for any driver, anywhere.

RCLT HD is designed to solve problems every IFS driver knows too well: weak steering racks, fragile knuckles, poor ground clearance, and limited tire fitment options. With RCLT HD, those compromises are gone.





Features at a glance

• Heavy-duty, more powerful MarRack steering – replacement steering rack engineered to handle harshest of trails yet comfortable for daily driving. Billet steering arms and 5/8" double-shear tie rod ends have racked up over 100K+ miles on 40" tires with zero failures.
• All-new lift-specific geometry – restores alignment and handling for smoother on-road manners and predictable off-road control not found in other lifted setups reusing stock knuckles
• Patented forward-offset geometry – fit larger tires with less effort than any other setup (up to 38s with no body mount chop or relocation)
• Massive double-shear billet steel knuckles – CNC-machined and built to survive the hardest off-roading, ensuring strength and reliability in every scenario.
• Unmatched Articulation – Up to 14" at the hub from only a +2.75" mid-travel design.
• Strength Everywhere – Double-shear ball joints, reinforced frame mounts, 1/4" internal gusseting
• Industry-leading ground clearance – equally valuable on the rocks or on fire roads loaded with gear.
• Industry-leading approach angle – protect bumpers, winches, and accessories whether climbing ledges or weaving forest tracks.
• Integration – Retains ABS, cruise, traction control. Mostly bolt-on with detailed instructions. Transferable between compatible 2003–2024 Toyota/Lexus platforms.

Proven in the Real World

On my own Tacoma running 40s, I've clipped rocks hard enough to whip the wheel out of my hand and stall the engine. Each time, I expected carnage, even my air bags to go off. But my steering wheel never went out of alignment and my truck tracked true back on the highway. After years of testing, I don't even carry spare steering parts anymore. That's the kind of confidence I built RCLT HD to deliver.





Value Comparison

Most long-travel kits still rely on stock racks, gusseted knuckles, and tie rod upgrades, which are all weak links that add up fast. By the time you patch those gaps, you've spent $8K–$9K and are still left with many compromises.

With RCLT HD you get the only fully-integrated heavy-duty IFS + steering solution:

• Heavy Duty MarRack steering
• Billet knuckles & heavy duty control arms built for abuse
• All-new geometry engineered for lifted applications
• Proven performance in Ultra4, KOH, and countless on-road and trail miles

This isn't about throwing more money at bandaids, it's about investing once in a system designed to eliminate failure points for good.

Special Offers (Valid through August 31, 2025)

• 10% off long travel chromoly axles, coilovers, and frame mount kits (savings up to $600).
• FREE Genuine Toyota 200-series Land Cruiser steering rack with RCLT HD purchase ($895 value).
• Total savings: up to $1,500 (effectively RCLT HD + MarRack for only $4,500).

In Closing

RCLT HD was born from rock crawling, the most punishing environment an IFS system will ever face, and we've spent years pushing IFS further than anyone thought possible. That means whether you're picking through granite ledges, running loaded overland trips deep into the backcountry, or just wanting your daily driver to be free from weak links, this system is built to last the life of your vehicle.

With RCLT HD, you invest once in a suspension and steering system that eliminates the compromises of stock IFS. No more bent knuckles, broken steering, or patchwork fixes — just reliable strength, predictable handling, and confidence every time you turn the wheel.

Click here to learn more: marlincrawler.com/products/suspension/rclt

I plan to share more in-depth info below so for all my fellow tech junkies stay tuned

Post up your questions below, and for current RCLT HD owners, share your rigs and trail shots!

Regards,
BigMike

 

Reserved for Product Showcase & Engineering Proof

 

Reserved for Sharing Trail Pics & Customer Rigs

 

Reserved for videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBx-BZeTcvA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIyr6I3-ZGE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SgC0uzvhpc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00wKv07d12w

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F37sbkpovXQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbcfQEKje7c

 

I received my kit from you guys, still need to order a couple little things. I also need to order coilovers, then I’ll be ready to start the install. The RCV axle boots have me worried seem to be horror stories and possibly a poor boot design. Mine shipped with the orange boots and that has me cringing. This should not even be a concern, but it is unfortunately. I mean the RCLT HD aint worth shit if i have to service the expensive axles every few hundred miles.

i will post updates when i get started with the installation.

 

Hey Paul! Awesome, thank you for choosing RCLT HD! Have you opened up the boxes yet? If so, how does everything look?

Agreed with the boots. They make the strongest axles on the planet but feature boots made out of paper from Japanese sliding doors

What we have heard is that in order to have boots pigmented or dyed with their trademark orange, this is negatively affecting the performance properties (durability, flexibility, etc...) of whatever synthetic rubber their boots are made out of. Before this, they used black inboard and outboard boots which lasted faaaaar longer than these orange ones, and I think I heard the new upgraded boots are going to be black once again

Here is one of our original customers lostinthewoodst4r who ran black outer RCV boots, which lasted I think 4 years of a lot of wheel'n.



This is his setup at the beginning of this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmuw6PUFVbo

 

I’ve heard of them send Black boots to certain customers, why don’t they switch back to those and ship with those? I drive my truck a lot, so that’s why I’m worried, I don’t want to wait a week for parts every few months.

Yes I've opened the boxes and everything seems to be there. Ill probably order a second rack bracket and center support. And probably some cv boots for spares. I just hope after spending all the money that its worth it.

 

I hear ya. When you put this much into your truck, you don't want to be chasing down steering or axle issues. The good news is the MarRack was designed from day one to eliminate the weak links that plague the factory setup.

Your stock rack mounts with just two undersized 11mm bolts torqued to 68 lb-ft. The MarRack upgrades this to 14mm hardware torqued to 111 lb-ft, plus a wider mount stance to the frame with larger frame sleeves. That alone is a major step up in strength and durability and is why I was able to run 40s for years without tearing the rack out of my frame.




For owners who want extra peace of mind, we offer optional reinforcements you mentioned:

Double-Shear Mount for MarRack Steering Rack




Double-Shear Mounts cap the rack from above with 1/4" steel so upward forces at full droop aren't carried just by the bolts. You application should be able to upgrade both sides.


Heavy Duty Center Mount for MarRack Steering Rack




Center Mount cut and formed from even thicker 5/16" plating & ties into the Land Cruiser rack's unique third mount point (something no mid-size Tacoma/SUV or even Tundra racks have). It controls torsional twist and side shove under big hits.

Together, they add three independent load paths: vertical, torsional, and horizontal, keeping the rack locked solid no matter the obstacle. They're not required, but they're a great upgrade if you want absolute confidence.

You won't be wasting your time or money. The base MarRack is already proven tough, and these add-ons are simply there for those who want to push even harder. Either way, you'll be enjoying your truck instead of worrying about bent knuckles or wandering alignment after every trip.

Looking forward to your install updates!

Regards,
BigMike