Questions about 5th gen extended travel options

[470SNC]

I just think its funny that MetalTech brands it as a long travel rear end setup, so you would think to pair it with a long travel front end for speed, but you would bottom out on little things due to hitting the bump stops way early at speed. I'm more of a speed junkie so I looked into these for my FJ when they came out but after hearing reviews of people bottoming out at speed easily I decided against it.

 

[Jono.ful]

In my experience, my LT has allowed me to keep all four tires planted on the ground, and therefore maintain traction in situations where others with stock length aftermarket rears have been teetering up on 3 wheels. Without a locker, once you find yourself in a situation where you're on 3 wheels, it can be game over in a big hurry. And a-trac is only so much help before it over heats.
In these cases, it is the extra down travel that wins the day.
When we're talking about a true long travel front, the extra wheel travel is accomplished through the shocks, but also with extended upper and lower control arms, as well as extended axle shafts. All this together nets you significantly more up and down travel, which is a good thing when we're talking about high speed runs in rough country, as the front end takes a lot more abuse.

 

[Jono.ful]

Extra down travel on a metaltech/Icon set up

 

[wfo9]

I found a great thread over on jfCrusierForums.com "superflexy on the cheap"

superflexy on the cheap, or more expensive if you're into that :bigthumb: - Toyota FJ Cruiser Forum

He is running some procomp shocks (that are cheap) with the metalTech springs. They result in a 1/2" less total travel, but don't require extended bump stop spacers. In the real world, the icons may be better for overall traction in crawl situations since the rear can still drop more.

I found another good build thread over there where he is running the extended travel ICONs with the camburg ball joint UCAS with success.
Project Snow Leopard - Page 5 - Toyota FJ Cruiser Forum

I think I know what my next mod is. This hobby is starting to get expensive!

 

[wfo9]

Extra down travel on a metaltech/Icon set up

What exact setup are you running. Looking good!

 

[Jono.ful]

What exact setup are you running. Looking good!

the photo of the flex is a buddy's truck - he has remote resi 2.5" Icon LT, metaltech adjustable upper and lower links with their medium progressive rate LT springs. His front set up is 2.5" extended travel Icon remote resi coilovers, no sway bar, and Light Racing LCA's. He's running 285/70/17 Duratrac's on FJ steelies.

the photo of the stuff if my truck, which is the same, but I also have an adjustable panhard bar, and my shocks are remote resi 2.5" Radflo LT. And we both have the sway bars off, as well as Metaltech bump stop drops and extended brake lines. My front is 2.5" extended travel Raflo coilovers, medium duty Eibac springs, Total Chaos UCA's and LCA's, with no sway bar. I run 285/70/17 Goodyear MTR's in the summer, and studded Duratracs in the winter on 17x9 -12mm offset Ultra Bolts.

They do pretty well for the cross country/crawling/mud/mountain wheeling we do here.

 

[paddy1337]

I found a great thread over on jfCrusierForums.com "superflexy on the cheap"

superflexy on the cheap, or more expensive if you're into that :bigthumb: - Toyota FJ Cruiser Forum

Best thread ever. So much data and measurement provided. Also, people that are gaining significant travel without losing any compression or needing bump stops. Great info