And... to recap what the hell we're talking about. The site apparently crashed yesterday after I posted my update. Did I break the internet? So here it is:
Installed King shocks and JBA UCA's Saturday.
So when I scripted out these moves, I was sort of at that cross-road that most face at this point of maturity in their builds; Long travel or SAS? Unpacking that question led me toward the path of long travel. And then ole' mister sensible kicked in once again and I wound up with yet another mid travel set up.
First off, just about everybody I talked to with a long travel kit while doing my research loved theirs and would do it all over again if they had to. But those that were being honest with themselves were more than happy to share the downsides to help educate me a little bit.
At the end of the day, I opted to stay MT and here is why:
1) Initial Cost - I don't have to go in on this. Them shits expensive.
2) Cost of Upkeep - Kit's require more maintenance than I want to do.
3) Install complexity - More than I want to deal with right now
4) Application - Admittedly, my build is way overbuilt for what I'm able to use it for, so really no sense in going "whole hog". If the riding out here was more high speed desert play maybe it makes sense. But trails are tight and slow and track width and turning radius are factors to consider.
5) Alignment issues
6) Race truck noises - Goes back to point #4. Race truck parts on a non-race truck.
7) Body Roll
I think these are some of the points that deterred me personally. I'm sure there were more. Was just the right decision for me at this time.
My brother recently had a short fling with a Nissan Frontier and during which I learned that they have a budget friendly, "factory-ish", LT solution in which they swap out the front end suspension with that of a Titan. If we could do a "Tundra Swap" to gain more travel in the front of our trucks, I might be in for something like that.
So... What's one to do if they still have the itch to experience long travel but want to do so in a factory-ish type solution? If only somebody offered such a thing that maybe came with +3.5" LT from the factory... stock rear locking differential, 35's, a truck bed, full size cab, and maybe even those sweet amber grill lights that everybody seems to be doing these days would be huge bonus. If maybe I could turn my WRX into something like that, that'd be pretty sweet...
Hmmmm...... 🤔