Wyoming B.S. Thread

Nice, can't wait to see it. I like the idea of a "mild" LT setup, not to do any crazy stuff but just a step up from mid travel in terms of comfort and speed. Just don't like the width and price tag lol

 

Width really isn't that bad... price tag...yes haha

But dude. It is amazing what that extra 7" of travel does.

 

They were pretty nice when I had the axle on the truck. Threw my speedo way off, which made it hard to keep track of exactly what the speed/RPM ratio was, but made pulling up hills and maintaining speed on the highway way easier.

Trails around here are usually very tight with all the trees. I have a buddy with a 3rd gen, and the extra 6" width makes it almost impossible to fit down some lines. Even with my 1.5" spacers and 35's has changed how I have to approach stuff sometimes.

 

I'm pretty excited. It'll just be second gen width but with 35s. That's the most I can talk myself into being okay with when it comes to extra width. How anyone can justify taking a full size on trails is beyond me. I want to be able to go as fast as I want without feeling like I'm beating the absolute piss out of the truck. I was pretty close to that in my grey truck, but I wasn't going to get there. I think the price tag will be worth it for my uses. probably wouldn't be for some guy that was going to just go out and haul ass in the desert over two and three footers. But for the kind of stuff I like to do it should be top of the line, and it won't hang me up in the occasional (even though I'd like to do more) technical area.

This is actually really good info. I wasn't sure how the lever ratio is going to affect the spring rate. I was half tempted to try 600s but I think I'll go for the 650s. My truck is going to be light again for sure. I've never been one for the everything and the kitchen sink type build. I'm not sure how I'm going to walk the lightweight line this time. The only real weight concern I have versus last time is skid plates.

 

Yeah man thats cool. Im sure it helps.

While it is wider, the truck isn't wider, just the tires....okay and fenders a bit, but not fully 7'' wider. I mean hell my sliders are 8'' kick outs. They are just a touch narrower then the wheels.

I have only turned around once due width, and that was really only because I was alone. Most the time, just drive over whatever the problem is haha If a 3rd/2nd gen can make, a 1st gen on LT for sure can.

You'll love it. When I dialed mine in we took it to Boulder basin and holy fuck I had so much fun. It's a huge improvement. And Frank's rear end was NEVER high performance, somehow It still worked quite well..never know why haha but it was just a blast to drive even with the rear end setup I had. Can't wait to have the rear even better.

Its a killer combo with 35s.


Yeah I wouldn't go over 650s for sure. I might even be so inclided as to suggest just 600s. But what you have a plate bumper...what skids? Gonna run a winch?

Im SOOOO close to saying fuck it and buying aluminium skids. Seriously, like, I get into some tight spots here and there, but idk, 80-90% of the time or more I never need them. Hell I've NEVER had a belly pan skid so in some ways I haven't done rocky enough trails yet...I want to(Brett im coming to CO for the rock tour!) But still, with 35s, LT, eh...doesn't seem super needed. Bob's been running them for a long time now and they've done good. Saves so much weight too.

 

I feel like you’re better off trying to reduce your weight somewhere else than skids. You’re removing weight from the lowest possible point on your truck when going to aluminum skids. Maybe that’s not an issue for you though

 

Yeah I'm not sold on aluminum skids. I'm probably going to internally rib a set of 1/8".

 

Only reason I advocate for full steel skids everywhere is because I've used every single one of them. But, I'm also practically stock height on stock size tires still so they hit on nearly every obstacle. Would be nice to find a good middle ground, but I feel we're better off focusing on weight reduction in other areas if that's the intent of aluminum skids.

 

I totally get that, I smacked my skids a couple times on our last little trip and that's due entirely to the fact that my suspension was 20 years sagged and I was only on 33s. But typically in the past it's been a rare occurrence, given I'm usually 2" lifted at least. This time around I aim to sit pretty low on the 35s, not trying to be jacked up tall and I want to run some tougher stuff. So hopefully a sort of midgrade skid set made out of 1/8 and braced internally will work on a lightish truck.

 

I'm positive that I would tear aluminum with some of the hits my steel skid has taken. Going fast and bottoming out the suspension while hitting a rock that normally would be no problem does a good number on 3/16 steel.

In for the rock tour!

 

Did someone say Rock tour? Hit all those trails we drove past?

SOB, Wheeler Lake, Holy Cross, Iron Mike, Chinamans, Grizzly Lake/Iron Chest. I can add a few more. I think I need to finally hit Blanca Peak too.

 

Eh maybe. But still. I don't think it would be all that bad.

And again, different lever ratio on long travel.

Well again with 35s and the long travel which I did not have cranked up on Frank my frame height was like 21" I think. Had a lot of clearance. I don't think I'd hit stuff all that much.

Well I'm going to use my elite bumpers because...well otherwise I'd do a rear aluminum one for sure.

Yeah but dude so many people with long travel run aluminum skids as it it's for when they bottom out and stuff. It's very common. I don't see it being an issue in that use case at all. It's actually more the Rick crawling I'd be worried.

 

Yes, yes, and yes.

This will happen!

 

I'd like to be included, sounds like a blast

 

That's my understanding, 650 seems about right for my uses. I'm about 70lbs lighter than the grey truck in the front, some of that is unsprung though. After a winch it should be about the same. But I preloaded my 650s on the grey truck a good bit. I'm thinking on this setup I can get away with no preload.

 

Looking forward to seeing how the new truck turns out, Zane!

Are you doing a build thread?

 

Hell yeah. I mean I gotta build a truck first haha

Sort of yes but also the lower shock mount is in a different place so the shocks are more of an angle as well to help with the leverage if the longer arm. This is different kit by kit usually though minimally different.

650 will do well here I think.

 

Thanks Jason! I'm excited, Wheeling it basically stock a couple weeks ago was fun and reminded me that I want to continue building. I needed that.

I uh, don't know though. I'm not as good as everyone else when it comes to documenting what I do. Taking pictures and recording details (ones that I don't need for future reference myself) slows me down quite a bit. It's a strong maybe, I might on this truck because it's something different than usual. I really stopped recording things with the grey truck because it was so much of the same stuff you see everyone do and even I was bored with it haha.

 

I totally understand all of that! I’m sure you’ll post updates in here anyway.

Regardless, it’s good to see you back in a Tacoma!

 

Solid line up

Are they out pounding mostly sand? Or dirt roads with rocks mixed in the bunch?