*Rickashay's 04' Tundra* - A build of Compromises

tyv12

tyv12

Adventurer
Additional components:
- upgraded heim steering
- HD ps rack for the extra stress on the steering
-alignment cam bracing
-rear longtravel to match the front including shocks through the bed sprung under:)
-secondary bypass shocks
Sounds like it would get close to 10k in a hurry



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rickashay

rickashay

Explorer
City_Rider said:
Indeed, finding the 'right' ride for YOU is always difficult - your demands will always be changing. It's good that you're acceptance of compromise hasn't swayed you away from modifying, I think you'd love the LT set up but your pocket book wouldn't. Also, less time on the road for the vehicle I predict. Maintenance and breakage will always be there and when removing stock components and getting a bit more confident may push a vehicle farther than it was ever intended and big things break catastrophically. Dirtco's latest shock experience provides some evidence. If you provide the means to go faster and go bigger then the tendency is to do so - but when things go bad, they go really bad.

Additional LT components 'required':
- Front Fenders (or some chopping as you're math indicates)
- Longer axles - not locally available when sourcing parts for rebuilds / purchasing replacements
- Front bump cans (cause hitting the shock inner limit isn't an option - is using hard mounted rubber bump stops an option?)
- Longer brake lines (front and rear - probably sourced locally as you'll need custom length)

You've had basically every configuration of vehicle (small truck, suv, V8 truck) and obviously talk to people who have every sort of vehicle out there. Hopefully this set up will keep you satisfied for years to come, whichever way you decide to proceed.
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Good points. My comment on initial cost covers all the extra components though. Have longer brake lines already for the mid travel setup. Bump cans are not a must but probably something if your going to jump it (which I 100% wont be). Excellent point on the axles, you would probably want to build 3 or 4 of them so you have ready trail spares. @ $350 per custom length shaft, it gets pricey!

I'll have to look at Dirtco's thread and see what happened.

tyv12 said:
Additional components:
- upgraded heim steering
- HD ps rack for the extra stress on the steering
-alignment cam bracing
-rear longtravel to match the front including shocks through the bed sprung under:)
-secondary bypass shocks
Sounds like it would get close to 10k in a hurry



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Click to expand...

Heim steering isn't necessary and I wouldn't do it... all the LT Tacoma guys here in Calgary ran the heim upgrade and went back to OE as they didn't wear out as fast. The heim stuff is stronger but carrying a couple spare OE TRE's isnt that hard and easy to do on the trail.

Steering system is a concern but do you think it would be more stressed due to the longer tie rod arms (the extension pieces) or more so because of the larger tire size attached to the end? My thinking is more so the later. I do have a aluminum steering cooler that I plan on installing to help keep the system running cooler with the big meats. I assume to go through PS racks at a quicker rate already with the larger tires. Safari LTD apparently sells a "beefier" rack for the 1st Gen Tacos and 3rd Gen 4Runners.... I wonder if it's a direct fit? Also cheaper than new OEM.

Alignment cam bracing... another excellent point I forgot about. Totally agree.

Rear long travel to match isn't necessary. I want the LT for travel not speed, so all the comments about the rear not keeping up with the front because I don't really care. haha From what I've read, with factory shock location we can get 12" of travel from the rear setup with Deavers. Although the rear does need to get addressed later, and a Deaver SUA with shocks through the bed is at the top of my want-list right now. I take it you've been down this road before? It's like your taking the words right out of my mouth! haha

Secondary bypass would be awesome but again, just additional bling and not necessarily needed components unless your baja bound. If the argument is due to the weight of the tundra, then the argument of need for this with mid-travel is the same.



Excellent discussion guys, I appreciate the feedback. I'm going to slap together a spreadsheet and ad it up officially. I've dont it in my head several times but the list certainly does grow once you go down the path of no return.
 
tyv12

tyv12

Adventurer
Ha, yup considered it and I realized I'd rather be out there wheeling more than getting so out there that you end up selling it cuz "it doesn't have the greatest road manners" sound formular:):)

Steering rack, Safari ltd has a specific rack for the tundra, I've got one in mine and my dad has one. The internals are brass instead of poly and is a noticible steering upgrade . It's not listed on their website so just call them and I've gotten a discount on both cuz I whined about the Canadian exchange rate fyi, they also have really good prices on factory Toyota stuff of you but parts from them.

I've built a couple rigs already that I thought would be my wheeling and drive down the highway rig but they get so ridiculous they suck on the highway but are amazing off-road, in Alberta a big portion of any trip is still gonna be highway I'd think

http://www.sleeoffroad.com/project_vehicles/100SAS-PAUL/100sas_paul.htm

For me this is the cats ***, built kinda back to stock as a solid axle low slung, I'd like to take this idea and do it in a Tundra just to compare not sure if you have seen that


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tyv12

tyv12

Adventurer
Sorry to plug up ur thread but have a lot of time on my hands sitting with a newborn so i spend too much time on Tapatalk lol


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rickashay

rickashay

Explorer
tyv12 said:
Ha, yup considered it and I realized I'd rather be out there wheeling more than getting so out there that you end up selling it cuz "it doesn't have the greatest road manners" sound formular:):)

Steering rack, Safari ltd has a specific rack for the tundra, I've got one in mine and my dad has one. The internals are brass instead of poly and is a noticible steering upgrade . It's not listed on their website so just call them and I've gotten a discount on both cuz I whined about the Canadian exchange rate fyi, they also have really good prices on factory Toyota stuff of you but parts from them.

I've built a couple rigs already that I thought would be my wheeling and drive down the highway rig but they get so ridiculous they suck on the highway but are amazing off-road, in Alberta a big portion of any trip is still gonna be highway I'd think

http://www.sleeoffroad.com/project_vehicles/100SAS-PAUL/100sas_paul.htm

For me this is the cats ***, built kinda back to stock as a solid axle low slung, I'd like to take this idea and do it in a Tundra just to compare not sure if you have seen that


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tyv12 said:
Sorry to plug up ur thread but have a lot of time on my hands sitting with a newborn so i spend too much time on Tapatalk lol


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Hey No problem, I really do appreciate the discussion. I am going to organize my thread with links to the pages that contain truck stuff so this will be a more organized reference for Tundra people in the future.

Yah I agree, in part. I even considered LT on my 3rd Gen 4Runner but ended up selling it for my LX. I've driven a couple 2nd Gen Taco's with LT and that's really the beauty of it, it DOESN'T feel like the crazy SAS flex project IMO and that's where it's so appealing. Sure the cost and extra maintenance is one thing (a BIG thing, especially the cost factor) but it's kind of the best-of-all-worlds from what I've seen. I agree, we drive a lot of highway to get to the trail, which is why IFS is so nice for us. I sold my LX partially because it sucked on the highway.

Regarding that Slee SAS. Don't even get my started, if I had unlimited funds it would be just that - a proper 100 Series SAS (or a 200 Series LT). That 100 is SO nice but what kind of boggles my mind is that they used the 80 series front end design and radius arms, which is known to be a relatively binding solid axle suspension design. More travel than the IFS it replaced but not more than any LT kit will net you. If it was mine I would have 3-linked it and done a currie sway bar setup that you could disconnect at the trailhead. Spending all that money to replicate an 80-series front end seems silly to me. It probably would have been more cost effective to 2UZ or LSx swap an 80. Gorgeous rig regardless though and the owner seems to have taken it to some pretty amazing places around NA.
 
bkg

bkg

Explorer
rickashay said:
We need reasoning man! Hahah I accept your prediction but want some merit behind it.

LT negatives:
- initial cost
- excessive width
- higher cost of maintenance
- substantially more time involved to get setup correctly

LT positives:
- mad travel
- strength of components
- stability due to track width increase
- comfort level over long distance travel offroad
- looks awesome
Click to expand...

Three reasons...

1 - the Tundra build was predicated on the enjoyment/respect of the Tundra's ride/capability.
2 - you mentioned/implied overbuilding of the LX
3 - the tundra will not be a rock crawler or desert racer, so I think you are over-thinking an extra couple of inches of "articulation"... Quoted intentionally. Going LT will detract from the overall flexibility of the truck.

Building a truck on compromises is risky enough... Over compromising is overly risky, IMHO.
 
rickashay

rickashay

Explorer
bkg said:
Three reasons...

1 - the Tundra build was predicated on the enjoyment/respect of the Tundra's ride/capability.
2 - you mentioned/implied overbuilding of the LX
3 - the tundra will not be a rock crawler or desert racer, so I think you are over-thinking an extra couple of inches of "articulation"... Quoted intentionally. Going LT will detract from the overall flexibility of the truck.

Building a truck on compromises is risky enough... Over compromising is overly risky, IMHO.
Click to expand...

1 - True, which is why it was fairly attractive for a base and what made me thoroughly enjoy it so much after a years worth of dedicated highway cruising.

2- Negative. I mentioned selling the LX because the powertrain sucked with the bigger tires AND the suspension design proved painful on long distance drives (think SA vs. IFS). My modifications actually hit the mark perfectly. IMO I need 35's for the terrain that I frequent. I essentially built the truck around that tire size keeping it as low as reasonably possible while still clearing those tires. It just so happens the armor and the large tires and the lift contributed to the already painful powertrain and multiplied the bad handling characteristics yet attaining the capability I required of the truck. Move that forward to the Tundra. Still want the 35's, still want the capability, already have the V8, want to keep the highway drivability in check.

3 - True BUT The factory suspension cycles around 8" of travel. LT will cycle a conservative 12", which would be a 50% increase over stock - a significant improvement IMO. Am I over-thinking it? Undoubtedly.
 
bkg

bkg

Explorer
Indefinitely think you are over thinking the value of what ill call "travel on paper." I vote MT and stock fenders... Build of compromises and all. :)
 
toyotech

toyotech

Expedition Leader
Ah LT it. You know what your using your truck for better than we do


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seanpistol

seanpistol

Explorer
I think your boy Stumpy has proved that mid-travel(wait, doesn't he just have 5100s with stock arms and a 3 pack add-a-leaf?) with 35s and armor can take you anywhere.. But if you've got money to burn, might as well do long travel.
 
4

4Running Daily

Observer
seanpistol said:
I think your boy Stumpy has proved that mid-travel(wait, doesn't he just have 5100s with stock arms and a 3 pack add-a-leaf?) with 35s and armor can take you anywhere.. But if you've got money to burn, might as well do long travel.
Click to expand...
Think about all the places your 3rd gen got you with mid travel. Now you're going to have that same amount of travel, along with more power, and with the lockers, more traction.

If you have to run glass, then I vote against Long Travel. Glass for 1st gen Tundras is hideous.
 
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