Looks great man.
I have thought about taking my front flairs up a little higher too in hopes that I can fit 35's with new wheels (higher offset) soon.
Good to see someone else doing it.
When are the plans for getting LT installed? Have you found a boxed lower arm set up yet?
With non LT and just extended travel coils up front, have you measured the actual travel you have?
I have been curious to see how much you really gain from an extended travel stock arm setup to LT. I too have been looking at the solo spindles with lower uniball conversion and have been seriously considering those with just a stock length dual shock setup from TC with Kings. But if you are already getting 10" or so (just a guess) with the stock arms, is it really worth the extra cash to do long travel for 3" more travel? Plus given that no LT kit on the market for 3rd gens except race kits address the lower ball joint. So regardless if you get LT you still have the lower uniball conversion to consider. (Only company that addresses it is Solo)
Curious who has actually measured an extended travel stock arm setup to see actual numbers. Also, stock limited flairs would be great to use if you don't have to limit uptravel. Might have to pull my coilovers and cycle the suspension to see if I can get those numbers at some point.
Dammit Todd. You and your rational reasoning of pros/cons is making this even harder!
I don't know about you... But I'd give a lot just to gain a few inches!
Jokes Aside...I've been back and forth on those same questions for awhile. And I'm still grappling with it.
Even the Solo kit from my understanding doesn't address the LBJ. The kit just states "Combine this 14″ long-travel kit with our 3″ lift Fully-Fabricated Spindles and 1″ Lower Uniball Conversion with 7/8″ outer heims and your Tacoma’s strength and durability is greatly improved"
So it's just saying like every other kit. You could add their spindles and uni-ball fun stuff but it doesn't come with it. Lame. That and 4 1/2 inches wider per side is a stretch too far for my liking. I'm concerned enough about 3 1/2.
I have looked into Solos Mid Travel Set up because it comes with their spindles. So I could have a beefy mid travel all-uniball set up. But it seems like a ton of money for all beef with no added travel numbers than I already have.
I haven't measured the wheel travel with my current "mid-travel" set up.
But I don't doubt that Long travel is only going to gain a few inches.
But I'm also interested in gaining better CV axles and adaptability for everything fancy down the road.
I have some OE Tundra CVs and will just modify them like TC does following the link.
Project Tacoma CV Axle Install: Off-Road.com
So the upgraded axle cost isn't anything extra.
I've been considering waiting to see what Front Range comes out with
This 1996 Toyota 4Runner Proves IFS Doesn?t Have to Be Weak
I've seen this truck in person several times and its definitely interesting. I like the control arm shape but its not using longer coilovers and I'm unsure that the travel is really increased much over one of out typical mid travel setups.
In the article it claims:
"The front suspension uses control arms that are 2 1/2 inches wider per side to increase the front wheel travel from 5 to 11 inches"
I have to imagine that the 5 inches measurement was a bone stock truck with the factory control arms AND the sway bar still connected. And the after measurement is WITH the long travel kit AND the sway bar removed. So it's kind of meaningless because most of us would be coming to that kit from a "mid-travel" set up already that is probably very close to those numbers already.
I haven't found a boxed arm kit used yet. Currently waiting to see what a Black Friday sale looks like.
Soooo much to think about man and I'm not taking it lightly.
I just think if I pumped a bunch of money into running bypasses, adjusters, and so on and so on on my stock length arms I'd in the end be wanting those couple extra inches of travel. And all said and done the $2500 extra for the LT kit seems like a better starting point to build from because I'd replace my current coilovers and upper control arms if I were to go wild with the front suspension anyway.
Your thoughts?
I really appreciate you checking in Todd. I think we've had similar taste on our trucks and I use your thread for ideas often so I dig hearing your thoughts on this kinda thing.