Past the point of no return...

[Deleted member 9101]

Looks very high quality!!!!

 

[RusM]

Your observations are always appreciated...

Setp 1) Tub firewall
Step 2) Drop height to match rear
Step 3) ???
Step 4) 37's
Step 5) Profit
:coffeedrink:

 

[TangoBlue]

Top 10 reasons why this truck doesn't sit level

Do you think it doesn't look right?

For all you viewers out there on the World-Wide Web here are the Top 10 reasons why this trucks stance appears a little awkward.

10. I don't have to tub anything to fit 37s in the front...
9. Seriously, think of the approach angle now...
8. Gear slides effortlessly out of the bed for quicker campsite set-up...
7. I can shave in the field using my sideview mirror WITHOUT stooping...
6. Always seated in hip gangsta reclining position...
5. I can hydroplane across lakes...
4. Axle wrap is a thing of the past...
3. I can change all the fluids on the truck without actually getting under the truck...
2. Tweak the front supension to bring it down an inch or so...

and the number 1 reason the truck doesn't sit level now...

1. Waiting on bringing up the rear height with a new leaf pack that ALCAN is making and shipping early next month.

 

[007]

Don't change a thing. Going down hills will be more comfortable and going up will be more exciting.

 

[eli]

Yikes!!!

I don't understand the upper control arm placement ( could be contributed to the consumption of VODKA ! oh Yea! . . .) but Your rig is very cool!

 

[RocKrawler]

General observation from post #81 don't you have to have hair for it to be on fire?

 

[4307]

The ICON CO's are special-purpose built and massive with 10-12" travel,
And the goal is to keep it low enough - I'm a big fan of a low center of gravity.

Very interesting build! I'm totally inspired looking at this build.
I'm currently building up a waggy 44.
I was thinking of doing a 3 link w coilovers, but leafs seem friendlier for the Canadian winters. I've been doing some research about heim's and Johnny joints. Seems like they would be fine for our winters, some TLC every once and a while... blah,blah, blah.
The thing that sets me back with front leafs, is the center of gravity. Some of the leaf sprung trucks in our club are tall and scary, when off camber.

After looking at this build, you sparked a brain flurry. Low center of gravity is my desire for sure, and like you, I'm not a crawler and I have to drive a distance to trail heads. The approach you've taken is really nice for overlanding expo style outings... bravo!

Question: can you forward the specs of the Icons? I'm running Taco Donahoes right now and love them. I cant remember the length of the standard Tacoma coil-over travel length, but the ones you hung look like the same length... which has me thinking.
What coil are you running? Length?
I also noticed you retained the stock shock towers... which really has me pegged on this thread....
I cant wait to see what kind of flex your getting out of the front end.
I love my rear chevy's, but my current ifs front end doesn't compare + i'm also running into the rebuilds you've encountered with your ifs.
A little more height and front end durability is what I really need, I've maxed out my approach angle with my ARB bump, it's taking a beating...

Beautiful build man.. beaut! :bigbossHL:

 

[SAR_Squid79]

I said it would never happen... [I'm ]convinced me that I needed a more durable, proven solution. First of all, I'm no rock-crawler, but I drive long interstate distances to go off-road and often with a lot of gear in addition to the standard offroad armor pushing the already upgraded suspension and drivetrain. Right now, sans gear, the truck weighs 4400 lbs. With the basic load of recovery gear, tools, some spares, and what not adds another 300lbs.

My goal for the truck is ability, reliability, drivability, and ease of maintenance.

Sounds like my thoughts and situation exactly! I think that I'm not going to be very far behind you, Tim.

I wish I could see the pics, but I'm in Afghanistan -AGAIN- and these gov't computers won't show photobucket

I can't wait to see how it turns out - especially since your rig and mine were so similar already!

 

[TangoBlue]

Question: can you forward the specs of the Icons? What coil are you running? Length?
I also noticed you retained the stock shock towers... which really has me pegged on this thread....
I cant wait to see what kind of flex your getting out of the front end.
I love my rear chevy's, but my current ifs front end doesn't compare + i'm also running into the rebuilds you've encountered with your ifs.
A little more height and front end durability is what I really need, I've maxed out my approach angle with my ARB bump, it's taking a beating...

From you this is high praise indeed -- thanks! I've admired your fab skills and creativity for years. I'll get the details this weekend and drop you a PM.

You and me both want to see what flex I get. Right now we're in a hold pattern for my new ALCAN leaf packs until they arrive in January. We're also waiting on a new crossmember solution, which will be the third of its kind in the US. The FROR bracket transmits an impressive amount of vibration and isn't going to make the grade. Wait for it...

 

[TangoBlue]

Sounds like my thoughts and situation exactly! I think that I'm not going to be very far behind you, Tim.

I wish I could see the pics, but I'm in Afghanistan -AGAIN- and these gov't computers won't show photobucket

I can't wait to see how it turns out - especially since your rig and mine were so similar already!

You know, for a rust pickin' squid you got more field time than most grunts! Stay safe and keep your head on a swivel... I do not want to see you at Bethesda; Armado, yes - Bethesda, no. Remember that.

Your truck with its drivetrain and this suspension would be awesome - runs like a scalded dog comes to mind! My 3RZ power will always leave me wanting a little more grunt, probably more so when I put 35's on it.

The good news is that for what little I've driven it so far it feels good on the road, very smooth, tracks well, and corners nice; the addition of the Currie AntiRock sway bar, even sitting as high as it is right now, contributes to the solid feel up front. It will get a little more suspension tweaking over the next couple weeks. I'm going to OX11 so if you're back in April you'll have to take it for a spin to see what you think.

Send me a PM with your email and I'll shoot you some pics. Have a safe, quiet Holiday mon frer. mmm, delicious DFAC chow!

 

[Ala5ka]

It's so beautiful...I'm wiping the tears from my eyes, It comes dow to this or my $47K in tuition bills next year hmmm

 

[4307]

Thanks man.
You know I cant sleep at night, the info suspense is killing me, idea's floating around my head.. sheesh I feel like a kid waiting for a toy at christmas. :wings: I was staring at my D44 for a good hour yesterday...LOL

Seriously, really innovative approach to a SAS. Toyota should have built the Taco with a solid axle, but that would deprive us of projects like this.

so guess-timating how much lift do you figure you gained over your previous setup?

 

[4307]

Now that I subscribed to this thread, I'll have a heap of questions for ya.

T-100 oil pan question.... Did you end up drilling the engine block to relocate the dip stick and add the T-100 guide tube? Or did you keep the stock dip stick and trim it to 1/8" below the fill line?

 

[valleythunder]

Would you let me know when this is done and out of the shop. I'd like to drive down and check it out. Thanks.

Me too! Actually I'd like to see your truck and the work from iron-Pig!! I live in Dahlgren not very far.....

 

[TangoBlue]

Thanks man.
You know I cant sleep at night, the info suspense is killing me, idea's floating around my head.. sheesh I feel like a kid waiting for a toy at christmas. :wings: I was staring at my D44 for a good hour yesterday...LOL

Seriously, really innovative approach to a SAS. Toyota should have built the Taco with a solid axle, but that would deprive us of projects like this.

so guess-timating how much lift do you figure you gained over your previous setup?

No, I think it's the Poutine. I felt that way after eating it when I was recently in Montreal; couldn't sleep, just staring at stuff...

It's just radius arms... I got the idea from staring at a lot of 80-series Land Cruisers. Is there any debate about what a good truck it is on the trail... globally? Nope. Nor does it take a lot to make an 80 ready to tackle the most challenging terrain. They are an "Overlanding Gold-standard," but they aren't outrageously tall either.

Many other domestic trucks use radius arms too, but most Toyota SAC's seem to use leaf springs or go for a 3-link; and like you also observed are just way too tall. After looking at the 70-series Land Cruiser mine builds on a thread from this forum closely, you can see they used a 1-ton Diamond axle housings and slapped some 80-series radius arms on them. We even thought about doing that with this build too. 4WD Toyota Owner Magazine had a great article about different suspensions set-ups and that really convinced me to go for a radius arm set-up based on my other criteria for overlanding travel, reliability, maintenance, etc.

Cam at IPOR says it ended up to be 4 inches above the 3 inches I already had but he's going to tone it down an inch or so with some different coils (200# to 150#) and relocating the Currie AntiSway bar. Should bring it down at least an inch and soften the feel of the front end.

Now that I subscribed to this thread, I'll have a heap of questions for ya.

T-100 oil pan question.... Did you end up drilling the engine block to relocate the dip stick and add the T-100 guide tube? Or did you keep the stock dip stick and trim it to 1/8" below the fill line?

Relocated it and used the T-100 guide tube and dip stick. There is also a Toyota OEM cap for the old oil hole. I don't recall the PN but one of the guys at the shop stumbled upon it doing some research and the local Toyota parts dept. had it in stock.

I'm glad you enjoy it - just "paying it forward." I've lived vicariously through, and learned much from, so many others projects here and in other forums. Yours included 4307. That rear bumper and roof top carrier you built were brilliant!