Modified Tundra Rack Swap Preorder

What about making the weld in bungs for the new racks you are making? That way folks can have an easier time just measure cut drop in and weld.

 

You'd still have to cut out the old bungs. They move less than the wall thickness.

 

It looks like in these pictures he has the new barrels welded in and they are pretty far from stock location or am I missing something and these are for something else?

 

He moved those pretty far forward. Helps with clearance in the frame tunnel.

I'm not sure if you could put the rack into that location with the old bungs in.

 

Gotcha. Good to know.

 

Yea I could...but I need to manage my time...doing bungs adds like 4 hours of work if I'm making 4 or 5 pairs

What ur thinking are the new barrels are in fact the front diff mounts...not the rack

 

Makes sense I completely agree on the time management.

 

If anyone does decide to move the rack forward for frame or tierod/coilover clearance, you’ll lose some Ackermann effect.

 

Not really enough to make a difference and if you have 4wd the diffmounts are in the way...mine is as close as you can get to those mounts...drivers side one gets in the way the most.

Your Ackerman really doesnt change because your not changing the relationship between tierod length and the length the steering knuckle is away from the kpi axis

 

I had to read that a couple of times at first I thought you were just saying Ackerman is just about the kpi. I hate the term kpi it is so old and antiquated for today's modern suspension. I agree with you and don't see how Ackerman changes maybe a gain in positive toe but you'd have to move the rack quite a bit and have some poor tie rod angles.

 

That makes more sense.

 

I first brought it up with the guys at LSK because of some contact between the tierod and coils. They illustrated that looking from the top down, the angle of of the tie rods should be going forward from the rack to the spindle for there to be Ackermann and advised I not move the rack beyond 3/8”. Would it be correct to say if the rack was forward of the steering knuckle, Ackermann would work in the opposite of what’s wanted?
(Similarly, the height of the rack in relation to the spindle affects bump steer.)

Sounds like from what you’re saying I won’t even have that much available with 4WD. My rack is still sitting on a shelf.

 

Yes that's correct..and like I was saying in the beginning at least for 4wd folks the rack pretty much shows you where it needs to go because of the limited space...it ends up being really close to the stock rack geometry wise.

 

Man I need this. It's a good price too, just can't afford it yet.

How long do you see yourself making these?

 

As long as I can reasonably source tundra racks and there is interest

 

Thank you for the help Travis.

This is my review of the install and rack so far.

Size comparison


Travis and I met up at 8am yesterday and by 9:30 I had the old rack out. Travis then cut the old solid frame mounts for the rack out of the frame. Then he plated the upper side of the holes.



Then he mocked up the new solid mounts on the tundra rack and then on the frame.





He then cut a hole for the mount and sliped it into the frame. After looks at clearances he tacked the mount in and drilled a hole for the bolt. Then we mount the drivers side of the rack to see if any adjustments need to be made. The he cut a hole on the passenger side and put the mount in and drilled the hole. The passenger side took a couple tries to get the frame mount in the right spot. Then we bolted the rack down and check tolances. Then we removed the rack. Painted the frame. Removed the steering shaft and cut alittle off in the middle.



Then we bolted it all back in. We were off a few splines on the first try pairing the rack with the steering wheel. The second try got us closer and now the wheel is at 1:30 on the clock dial. The tires are strait and an alignment should correct the wheel. We finished around 6:00pm

The truck turns like a car. Feels weird at first but I dove 140ish miles home last night and got use to it. I love it so far. Needs some trail testing and and alignment but its great.


If someone asks if a modified tundra rack fits, Id say no... except in this magical unicorn place on the frame that travis found. Everything is so close. Its literally the biggest rack you could fit by milimeters.

I went with stock tacoma tie rods for now. I figure it protects the rack and its a cheap weak link thats easy to replace.

Can you see the bolt under the diff mount bolt.

 

Makes me want to do this moar.

 

Pretty sure I'm out. It's nearly impossible to get my old rack out with my front bumper design. I've only done it once after the shop did it the first time. They said they unbolted the engine mounts and jacked the motor up to get the rack out. I had to do the same.
I am in need of a new rack though.

 

Sounds like you need a new bumper too.

 

Make a new bumper...mine I can get in and out barely and my bumper is super duper welded on