I have the 25's on and it isn't a bad ride. You don't really want to light of a bar with the long travel arm because of the increased leverage. For slow stuff I think you have the good bars. If I didn't do quick stuff too, I would definitely switch.

If you can, post a flex shot on level ground and then a pic of how cranked your arms are in relation to yoru bump stops. I am curious how our rigs are compared. I like my arms just a touch cranked past the center of travel. I think yours is cranked a bit past mine, but maybe softer because of the lighter bars. hmmmmm

 

These 3 pics were taken the day I finished the install a couple months ago. Sorry, but I dont think you can see the bump stops, but you can see I am well above level mark on the T100 axles. The other 2 were taken later in the day with my downey rear springs on. They failed miserably in Moab.
http://photos23.flickr.com/33063859_b1cc8b09c4.jpg
http://photos23.flickr.com/33063860_081ab3c1eb.jpg
http://photos22.flickr.com/33063858_91990404eb.jpg
I will try and gets some more pics this weekend.
I would also like to see the same pics of your truck Deathrunner.
Man I am gonna have to change the name of my truck, cause it does not sound good for people asking to see pics of my Michael Jackson. LOL
JMach1

 

and here is a video that shows some flexing going on, right click and save as:

http://sethmetal.com/truckimages/Deathrunner89.mov

This is all with my rear downey spring packs (3") I pounded and flexed em hard for about a year and I never hurt em like you did. I wonder if the large shackle is the culprit in your case.

My rear suspension is completely different now and the runner is less michael jackson like also.

 

That video is awesome. Wish we had somewhere like that here near Denver to go and screw around. I have some video of Moab but I am pretty computer illiterate to post it. Love your Runner. Ya drive it like they are are supposed to be driven..
JMach1

 

I'm glad more people are doing the long travel IFS thing, I think it's well worth the money and a much more versatike ride than an SAS.

You'll have to come out to the California deserts with Pinnacle and I. We'll have a 1st gen long travel run.

 

If you guys don't mind me asking, what did you guys pay for your kits? How long have you guys been running this set up? Have you guys encountered any issues?

 

I have had my kit for just under ayear now. I have necountered no problems so far. It aligns great and rides better than stock, better handling, better flex.

Costs are steep. My kit (Jd Fabrication T-1) cost about 2,250.00
Then you need to fabricate shock hoops. Run a larger shock (I run swayaway 2.5"x8" shocks) get t-100 axles, get fiberglass.

I didn't do any of the work myself, so total cost with parts and labor was about 5,000.00

It's expensive, but well worth the money in my opinion.Overall, including the original purchase and my latest developements (Stay tuned for that stuff), I have probably invested 20,000.00 into my whole rig. Sounds lie a lot. But when you consider what 3rd gens and 4th gens cost new, or a fullsize truck costs....it ain't bad. Especially since there isn't a factory truck for any price, let alone 20,000.00 that can take the kind of beating that a long travel built truck can.

I knew it would be an expensive endeavour, but the benefits outweighed the negatives.

 

Chaos cost me about $2300, Fiberglass all the way around was $800 with shipping, shocks and hoops about $500. All of the extras were another $1000. I did all the work myself except for the welding. Thank God I have friends that weld for a living. That cost me beer and some dinners at restaurants that I would normally not go to. I think it was well worth it. Truck rides alot better up front. And I do get alot of looks. I have been running this setup for 3 or so months, I have not had any problems with it, wheels nicely as in Moab and then in the Rockies as well.
Oh Yeah, $1500 for inch worm 4:1 transfer case
$400 for 2 1/4 inch magna flow exhaust
$1800 for ARB bumper and Warn winch
$300 for PIAA lights
$200 for OME torsion bars
$400 for Alcan rear leaf springs
$200 for rear Rancho shocks, which I hate
$300 for those POS downey rear springs
Cant let my wife see this list or she will have my *&%'s
Oh yeah I spent $800 for the truck itself.

JMach1

 

I really dont like to think about it that much, but here it goes:

Gen II Caddy Kit - $1400(bought used, but never was installed)
TC Shock Hoops - $225
Lower Uniball Conversion - $375
Heimed Steering - $350
8" King Coilovers - $1100
Frame Truss - $35
Fiberglass Fenders - $350
T-100 Axles - $150

I've been running the kit for about a week. I've got to get down to San Diego next month if you guys (the SD crew) are going on run. The only thing I've encountered is a squeeky uniball, but that is fixed now.

 

No worries, steve, my balls squeaked on my first run. I won't be doing any runs until the Deathrunner is released from the opperating room. I'm driving up to Hemet tomorrow to visit Allpro to pick up sliders. Then the sliders need to be installed, and front and rear bumpers fabricated. Once that is doen, my rear suspension needs soem major tweaking and then the front will be adjusted and aligned. Then my windshield needs replacement and, then.....finally I will have it in my hands....

But I will still have some interior stuff to do, but that is stuff I will do.....fabbing rear panels, swapping seats, SR5 cluster tweaks....etc.


Oh yeah, good eye on the frame truss, steve. I wouldn't consider a long travel setup without it.....totally necessary.

 

This is getting me pumped! I just order my TC ball joint long travel kit yesterday. I ordered the SAW torsion bars with my kit, i'll be doing more trailing with my runner though.

 

I cant imagine being without my truck for that long. Mine was in the shop for a week and I just wanted it back. The only thing I really have left to do to the front is the TC idler arm and a bumper with skid plate and some (3 hella rallye 4000's) lights. Then its on to the rear. I'm debating on running some 63" chevys or 63" deaver. The rear probably wont be done until sometime next year.

 

Yeah, it kills me to be away from it, but it' sthe summer and it's too hot for the desert anyway. It's kinda funny, your almost exactly a year behind me as far as progress goes. I did my front end about this time last year. I planned it that way. Plus, my job allows me to visit the truck about 3 times a week. I'm very instrumental in the design of the truck and it is pretty custom. Keep in mind, the front end of these trucks is much easier than the rear, especially the way I plan to run it.

My truck will function somewhere between a prerunner, moderate crawler, and expedition vehichle of sorts. It is a wierd rig.

The rear is odd too. 62" tundra springs over axle, with the shocks laid under the bed, the bedsides trimmed and sealed with the hannemann bolt on flare. It' slooking slick. Hannemann was snapping photos of it, I guess they were impressed with Protrux's work on the rear and said they hadn't seen a runner done like mine. The rear bumper is gonna be a bit of work too. I want ti to carry my 33, a 5 gal fuel cell, and my hi-lift. And it needs to handle that stuff at high speed. We designed a 4 point mounting system so the swingout doesn't move.

My friends were saying they didn't knwo why it was taking so long....but once they saw some of the progress, they got quiet. It's pretty exciting. It has taken over my life, that's half teh reason I geek out here so often...it's all I can think about.



Soarerjizz30- These kit's do great on trails. you'll be pleased. I recommend cranking in as little lift as possible if you want it flexy on the trail.

 

Have you posted any pics of it with the rear flares? I added it all up lats night and I can now blame this thread for my consideration of blowing my retirement and sellinng my wifes 1966 Mustang. Good job guys

 

Oh how this thread is killing me, time to go turn tricks and manwhore for $$ to build mine as a long travel

 

Lots of good info in here. Thanks fellas!

 

I haven't posted any pics of the rear yet.You'll have to wait till I get her back. hahahaha!!!! This is what the rear flare looks like:


The rear fender work is pretty crazy, very labor intensive....but it's turning out clean. I was gonna put on full truck bedsides......forget that. These bolt ons match my front glass great, and I didn't have to mess with relocating the filler and messing with smog laws.

Shiftless- I payed for the whole thing with the money I earned turning tricks. I definitely recommend that as a means to generate long travel funds. As we speak my jaw is sore and I walk like a cowboy (No offense Texas dudes), but it is all worth it when I see my runner.

I can't wait to see Pinnacle's in a year. That thing is gonna be rad when it is complete and painted and ready to race.

 

This is a GREAT thread...

Just been gettin the 4Runner back into operating condition.

I wanna run a TC setup but budget isnt there quite yet.
Currently runnin
- SAW 300M torsions cranked a small bit
- AOR springs - broke my Deavers
- Downey dual Bilstien up front (rewelded too many times)
- 7100s in the rear

Want to extend shocks up into the bear area but still have it sealed off....

Also - an option for bedsides is to go full glass and then mod the inner fenders....

ANd they DO make 4Runner glass fenders
http://www.toyotafiberglass.com/4runner.htm


Pics of the rig

 

Thats a lot of custom work your getting done. In the end it will be worth it. Do you know what spring pack you are running?(ie-F55, F67, F80, G57)
I'm going to run the F55 62" deaver pack, 0" lift stadium pack with a 9" shacke under or through the frame.

I'm going to be taking it easy for a while. I'm going to be selling my tacoma, getting a 350z, paying off all my bills and start saving for a place of my own. Then once thats all taken care of I will start saving for the rear and getting some other things done.

 

Sounds like you are on your way though. Thats a pretty decent setup your running now. The fiberglass you are refering to is not flaired at all. They are just replacement pannels.