Solid Axle Swap BS Thread

I think there's a bunch of toyota fan boys out there that are a bit too optimistic about some products

As a matter of fact, i was just reading the other night yet another build of a guy that had a nightmare with that kit. There's another build of a guy that bought the allpro kit used cheap but ended up replacing stuff anyway. Now your story is added to the list! There are other stories buried on forums.

 

I am using the frame side link brackets from the all pro kit, no complaints they are nice but that's all from the kit. I would have used 4wu but he apparently didn't give a shit about making a sale. Couldn't be bothered to help or have any sort of time frame. Weeks and weeks of "oh another few weeks they will ship" finally gave up and had all pro brackets in a few days. Just my experience, 4wu kit looks nice and most seem to have no issues, bummed I don't get to rep it.

 

I'm finding this out too, and I totally agree. And I'm assuming that you are installing on your first gen? Its even worse for me because the second gen "kit" is actually the same kit they sell for the first gen. The frame plates are obviously for the first gen. Instead of cutting them up and making them work, I'm having someone make me better frame plates made for my truck...
Way too much fab work to consider this a kit. Gotta cut out both IFS crossmembers, and the trans crossmember. Our already flexy frame will be even weaker. Once the sas is complete, I'm gonna have to see where there is room to put in my own X members. The frame link brackets are nice tho.
But the good news is I got my FJ transfer case and twin sticks ready to install
lots of pics of my progress at the end of my build thread.


First gen frame plate on a 2nd gen frame. That not gonna go on my truck

 

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No the first time I hear about poor customer service with 4WU. Same thing with Marlin Crawler (long wait times)

This is why I gave up on having toyota driveline and suspension components for my SAS. Well...i still have the tacoma engine, tranny and drive shafts

There's BS too in other parts of the offroad industry. Difference is that there's more abundance of suppliers, so shit gets to you fast.

If you want some bad ass customer service for fabrication parts, Ruff Stuff rocks man. Seriously, those guys have the best customer service ever. Prices are right and they ship extremely fast.

Sorry to hear that. Hope you figure it out without incurring in too many additional expenses.

Ironically, I have had good luck with other products from Allpro. I was extremely pleased with their 3" leaf packs for the 1st gent tacoma. It's a really good product. I also have their rear tube bumper. Very happy with it.

I just wouldn't trust anything with the word "kit" on it from them

 

It is my fault tho. I should have done more research and hung out in this thread more before pulling the trigger. I drank the kool aid when I saw the black Betty build
I tell you what tho, you do a lot of research and reading when you waiting on parts!

 

LOL! Very true. That build makes their kit look so easy and straight forward. But they don't show you the behind the scenes issues with it haha. Many people believe the kit is really more for the 1st gen tacomas.

Yea, Allpro - like Trail Gear - are good with marketing. But at least they ship parts fast.

BTW...you could hack that frame plate by cutting that corner and welding it at an angle separate from the rest of the plate

 

I always had good luck with ruff stuff, however they fucked up 4 out of 4 of my friends orders last month, for sure donr order gears from them...

All pros leafs kick ass and their rear bumper is nice. They screwed me over on a disc brake kit, however it was better in the end because i bought the fj80 rear and couldnt be happier.

You sound like you should own a jeep!!

Used junkyard toyota parts FTW!!

 

Yeah, but I've spent so much money already, might as well get a custom one I might save that plate incase I need material to make something else. If I don't end up cutting it up, I'll probably give it away to a first gen owner.
and actually, I'm a machinist at Pearl Harbor, so I really could make my own frame plate, but we are pretty busy right now with a ship in dry dock.

 

I almost own a jeep now LOL!

I just like how easy to source Dana axles really are man. It's a whole different world. The atlas came as result of marlin crawler never coming through on an order.

But I MUCH prefer a toyota over a jeep for everything else

BTW...I am not critizing toyota truck...just frustrated with vendors that make our lives miserable!

I guess I have only dealt with ruff tuff for fabrication parts only. Interesting to hear that you friends got screwed over with the other stuff they sell.

 

Wish I knew of your misfortune before cause I bought my plates from TG not too long ago. Could have used yours!! I think the frame plates is the only thing I've purchased from TG now that I think of it haha

If you can fab your own go for it. It should be pretty easy actually.

 

Back pedal, back pedal

If i go tons, im buying an old full size extra cab and hacking evreything but the cab off of it, cage it, upgrade the shafts, and run some 40s on the stock suspension. Ill have money left over for a tow rig and trailer with practically zero work! I wheeled at a toyota event where a guy did this because his truck would not be done. He bought an old ass chevy truck for 500 bucks a week before the trip, did the above and wheeled evrey hardcore trail in Monteagle. He was thinking of ditching the tacoma after that trip!

I have no sympathy for my friends, i told them what vendor to use and they ignored me LOL and went with ruffstuff. If you need to buy gears, use Barefoot offroad on pirate 4x4, and you get a pirate4x4 discount. Got everything i needed, right the first time!

I have all ruffstuff brackets and love them.

 

I could, but there is still lots of other things I could be doing instead. Plates are already in the mail anyway. I also have a pretty decent machine shop in my garage too

 

Talk about hack builds LOL. But hey, if it works it works haha

True, you can go long ways with 1ton axles with minimum work. But if you build them right from the start, it AIN'T cheap!

holy crap! Wow, that's a dream garage right there. Great set up man.

 

Thanks bud
If you wanna see what I make, search my user name on Instagram

 

sick garage @bullaculla .. one day my garage will be like that

 

actually it's not going on my truck. it's going on to another First gen 4 door. Yeah im getting paid to do it so that makes me feel better. I honestly thought about doing that kit at one point but they said max tire size for it was 37 and you know i gotta be able to clear 44's.

 

You are right about that, I am running their complete rear axle, perches, u bolt kit, shackles. Front axle and both 3rd members, can't go wrong with Ruff Stuff.

I don't want to bash anyone else but let's just say I made a list, and the list of positive experiences with vendors on this build was very very short

 

Did they just provide the housing and you sourced your internals or did they build the axles to your specs?

 

The rear is their "crate" it comes with everything from rotor to rotor sans shafts and a 3rd. The front was just a bare housing, no knuckles or C's, most of that stuff came from SOLID and ecgs.

 

Part of the problem is that many people play the "good understanding customer" card for too long. Been there done that myself. all that does is enable companies that have poor business practices.

And I learned another important lesson: never pay in full unless the parts are ready to ship when u make the payment! If the finished product is not ready, a deposit it's the way to go.