Must Read Tech!!!!

[DESERTSPORT]

Sorry for the tittle, It may not be all that technical. Ive been reading your site for a while, and have some questions. I just purchased a 06 tundra DC, and have been looking at a couple of suspension lift kits for the truck. The two Ive researched are total chaos long travel and the new RCD 6" lift for the tundra. I was curious to get your input on the two kits if you have them, please only post real world experiences, not what you have heard or read... my offroading has mainly been with jeep and hardcore rockcrawling. I have personally installed 4 link suspensions, installed axles, re-gears, arb instalations as well as many other mods. the reason I say this is so you dont think I am a web wheeler that looking to get my truck 10 feet off the ground. I am looking to use this truck in desert terrein, and sand dunning, and camping expeditions it is not for rock crawling or mudding. My goal for this truck is the have the most possible ground clearence, running the largest size tires, have a great amount of flex, while keeping it as low to the ground as possible. I am open minded to fender trimming and more extreme modifcations if nessicary.

As far as the Total chaos the web site and instruction manual recemends tire size up to 33's. Have any of you managed to stuff 35's if so what to you do to achieve this. ie body lift, cutting. Also with this lift If you were to add glassworks fiberglass or hannenman could you fit 35's? for the people that use this kit where did you get your 300mm axles from? How much lift from the coilovers do you use without putting on to much stress with the cv's and axles? what combination has been working for you, what type of terrain do you mostly wheel on and what have you broke, when, and how long did it last.

As far as the RCD kit. I havent read to much info on that kit. I guess its still pretty new. I would like to know what you guys think of that kit, or if you have another kit of theres installed on your rig. I havent read to much about there quality, and the information on there website leaves me with some questions. Maybe I havent read enough info yet, but it looks like to me that there drop down kit lowers the front diff. if thats the case the axle and cv angle should be correct in in spec with factory. how much more dose this kit increase the drive shaft angle..

from what Ive read on your site rcd and total choas make the two best kits. Has anyone tried or does any one have first hand knowlege on combinig the kits. Ive looked at both install manuals and it seems possible to use the RCD drop down bracket and the total chaos long travel A arms, to make a superior suspension.

My goal in this thread is to find a suspenion system that will have the height and ground clearence of the rcd and the flex and travel of the total chaos. please post any addtnl info that I may not have looked at yet. or info as far as problems I may encounter, why or why not it will work.

Thanks for all your help in advance.

Regards chris.

[Imdone]

I can't speak for the Total Chaos kit first hand but it sure looks like one helluva setup.

I have the RCD kit and can tell you that it does try to get the front halfshafts to OE specs but they are still at a downward angle after installtion.

I haven't jumped my truck but it handles really well on rocks, hills, washboards and climbing. I haven't duned it yet just been in the forest and desert thus far.

I have been really impressed with the RCD kit. For being a drop bracket kit it is really stout.

I like your idea of adding the two together though. I can't think of a reason that it wouldn't work since both kits change out so many part from stock but the ones that rcd changes the T/C kit does not and vise versa.

Very interesting and you really may be onto something really cool here.

[DESERTSPORT]

Originally Posted by Imdone

I can't speak for the Total Chaos kit first hand but it sure looks like one helluva setup.

I have the RCD kit and can tell you that it does try to get the front halfshafts to OE specs but they are still at a downward angle after installtion.

I haven't jumped my truck but it handles really well on rocks, hills, washboards and climbing. I haven't duned it yet just been in the forest and desert thus far.

I have been really impressed with the RCD kit. For being a drop bracket kit it is really stout.

I like your idea of adding the two together though. I can't think of a reason that it wouldn't work since both kits change out so many part from stock but the ones that rcd changes the T/C kit does not and vise versa.

Very interesting and you really may be onto something really cool here.

Ive been thinking that that are a lot of benifets of adding a couple of really good kits togeather. My main concern is more focused on axle and driveshaft angle. from what ive seen pictures of and read It would be possible. I would hate to give my tundra a solid front axle. there are just so many benifits to the ifs. another problem Ive been trying to work out is fitting the tires. I havent decided what tires may fit in the situation but most likley 37s-38s with glass fenders. I would like to get some more pics of glass fender on tundra to get a idea if they are wide enough to fit a tire that size or if fender trimming is needed. I think adding bumpstops will control the up travel, to stop the tires from hitting the fenders. a good combo of coilovers and springs with limit straps as no to stress out the front to much. Im sure that there are some axle manufacturs that can make some axles to spec. Ill have to reasearch some rock crawling forum with trucks with ifs to see how they are mataining there lift at whatever height they run at. and as far as the two kit runnung togeather. if the total chaos kit runs and replaces the stock a arms and the rcd kit uses the factory a arms with there kit, I dont see that runung the two kits togeater would be problem at all. Problibly with little to now mods to there kits. I think the real problem is to figure out how to take the stress off the drivetrain, and them work out the problems form there. Id like to start odering parts within the next couple of months

[HBjeff]

you could use the TC and RCD kits together. you're just replacing the UCA and LCA with the TC stuff. the problem is how much you would be spending!!!! like 6,000 on suspension?

and is the RCD subframe strong enough to handle the extra beating a long travel kit will give it?

[DESERTSPORT]

Originally Posted by HBjeff

you could use the TC and RCD kits together. you're just replacing the UCA and LCA with the TC stuff. the problem is how much you would be spending!!!! like 6,000 on suspension?

and is the RCD subframe strong enough to handle the extra beating a long travel kit will give it?

I had thought about that, I would add gusset to the sub frame and weld the subfarme to the tundra frame. again I have a rock crawler and wont be jumping this truck at all. The idea here if to beef up the suspension and drive train componets enough to stand up to mild offroading, exploring the desert, and sand duning. Im not saying I wont take it offroad, but I already have a rock crawler if I really want to do any real tough trails. I would jus really like more ground clearence and a larger tire size. Any idea's on how to handle the drive train.

And also If anyone knows at what angle do the front shafts really start stressing at, and how much travle on the shafts in acceptable, What ther componets have been know to break with either of these kits?

all problem I would like to start working on asap.

compnets needed form RCD 2000
componets needed from TC 2000
new larger axles 450
new front coilovers 1000
misc materials 1000
wheels and tires 1700
fiberglass painted fenders 700
est total 8850 for the front

I will install a four link in the rear est cost 3000 with wheel and tires

Plus the cost of new front gears and a new rear axle which I have not decided on yet.

Other ideas Ive been pondering are to make some of the componest my self, like the a arms and the drop down brackets in order to same money. I dont see there designs beeing very dificult to reproduce.

[HBjeff]

get a ford 9inch rear if you want beef. new ones from currie are under a grand i think. custom tie rods would be a good thing too.

check out camburg engineering. their LT kit costs 3200 including coilovers.

[DESERTSPORT]

Originally Posted by HBjeff

get a ford 9inch rear if you want beef. new ones from currie are under a grand i think. custom tie rods would be a good thing too.

check out camburg engineering. their LT kit costs 3200 including coilovers.

I would need to get completly different coilovers because of the drop down bracket, The coilover would not extend or compress right. Also as far as I know you cant get a complete axle from currie for under a grand, I would rather get a junk yard axle and build it to my specs for under 1200, that would be more stout than a 1000 dollar currie axle.

Good that you have mentiond steering, that was not somthing I considered yet.

[Imdone]

You are in CA right!?

Just drive down to Donahoe and have them make up a set of custom coilovers. This would be the best way to go.

As for the subframe of the RCD being strong enough, that is a without a doubt. It puts the stock frame to shame. The real question is the stock frame strong enough where it meets with the RCD frame?

Your biggest concern is going to be running 37s - 38s with the stock front diff, there is NO WAY it will hold up to that size of a tire and jumping or crawling. You will need to come up with something different for that one.

[HBjeff]

for the cost and complexity of this project why not just do a solid front axle. IFS offers nothing over a sfa except for a smooth ride. which you can kinda take care of with a coilover sfa setup.

like imdone said, the front diff cannot hold up to tires that big. the rear axle could have trouble too

[DESERTSPORT]

Originally Posted by HBjeff

for the cost and complexity of this project why not just do a solid front axle. IFS offers nothing over a sfa except for a smooth ride. which you can kinda take care of with a coilover sfa setup.

like imdone said, the front diff cannot hold up to tires that big. the rear axle could have trouble too

Again I wont be jumping this truck or rock crawling with it. It will be more of a cruiser. I want the ground clearence for exploring the desert area and the long arm suspension for crusing over the dunes at octillo wells.

I'm sure that stock axle and other front end components wont be enough, so I will be upgrading as I see fit. Like Ive said I have a hard core rock crawler, This truck will be more for camping with the family and over night trips with friends to explore the desert. I wont do be doing anything hard core. Its just I fell the tc Lt kit dosent allow for the ground clearence ill need and the rcd dosent allow the the performance Ill need. I dont need another, go through anything beet it up rig. Just more of a all purpose family fun vehicle....

[Imdone]

You know as well as I do that even though you don't plan on doing anything "too hard" with the truck it IS GOING to happen, it is just the way it goes.

Definitely change the rear axle to a ford 9" and I don't know what to do with the front but something will have to change for the front diff and run 5.11 or 5.13 gears whichever are available for 37-38" tires and you will have one bad arse rig.

Let us know what you end up with for the front diff.

[HBjeff]

you could maybe try and get a 9.25 inch chevy 3/4 ton diff to fit?

[DESERTSPORT]

Originally Posted by HBjeff

you could maybe try and get a 9.25 inch chevy 3/4 ton diff to fit?

the rear axle I'm not too concerned about. those are easy to find at junk yards. I have no problem finding one and rebuilding it to my specs. My main concern is the front axle. I have talked it over with my wife, and because of some other projects I currently have going, I cant go full throttle on this one yet. She might get upset, If I leave the projects I have around the house left and un finished. My plans as far as time line have now changed. I am going to buy the rcd lift now since I can run 35's and have a nice looking truck untill I can put the time in to building longer A arms. Also after looking at the rcd design drop down bracket, I feel that they put a lot of time into the design and dont know If I could duplicate somthing similar. You can tell by looking at the install instructions that It would take a lot of trial and error to duplicate that part, especially to make it work. also I need to finish some things arond the house so I dont want to wait 5-6 months before my truck gets lifted. So the plan for now is to purchase the rcd kit, and get some 35 inch tires.

A few question before I purchase.
What is the stock tundra BS?

Are there any other parts that are not included in the kit I need to purchase?

Are there any other parts that you would recemend I purchase to help the performance of the lift.

Do you fell that with the stock 3.92 gearing you are lacking power off road and on road. I would like to regear in the future but dont want to put the money into the current axles that are on the truck now.

Also just a misc question. For those of you that have installed this kit, have you noticed any performance gains besides higher groung clearence.

thanks for all the help so far.

regards,
chris

Oh yea, Imdone. I know exactly what you mean. My jeep started out as a mild mannerd trail vehicle, and now I think Ive broken and replaced everything on it except for the engine and the tub. So I will try to keep the truck as much as a expedition and camping vehicle as I can.

[Imdone]

There aren't any other parts that you absolutely have to buy, but what I did was replace all the OEM hub and knuckle components and had them installed on the RCD knuckles before I did my install. This made it a lot easier and I had all new stuff when I put it together. These are the only other items needed if you go this route. I also went this route because I didn't have easy access to a press to pull everything out.

You will be down right depressed with the OEM gearing and 35" tires. If you plan to take 6 months or so before you start with the long travel part of the kit then plan to take more time to design the kit I would say just put new gears in. I read before that you have done this yourself before so it should only be the cost of the gears and the time which should be around $500 for both sets and install kits.

I had the Cornfed spacers before the RCD kit and after I took it them off and put the RCD kit on it was a night and day difference. I was super impressed with the ride charactaristics as opposed to OEM and with the Cornfed spacers. The RCD was hands down much better in performance.

I have had it off-road a few times since installing it and it performs wonderfully offroad and the ground clearance with the lift and 35s is outstanding.

I wouldn't recommend that you get any other parts for this kit since you plan on doing long travel ontop of this kit.

The OEM backspacing for the wheels isn't enough for the new tires and they aren't wide enough for 35s so you need to get new wheels. You can go up to 4.5" b/s on the wheels though, unlike the directions saying Max of 4". I have 4.5" b/s and they are fine.

[DESERTSPORT]

Originally Posted by Imdone

There aren't any other parts that you absolutely have to buy, but what I did was replace all the OEM hub and knuckle components and had them installed on the RCD knuckles before I did my install. This made it a lot easier and I had all new stuff when I put it together. These are the only other items needed if you go this route. I also went this route because I didn't have easy access to a press to pull everything out.

You will be down right depressed with the OEM gearing and 35" tires. If you plan to take 6 months or so before you start with the long travel part of the kit then plan to take more time to design the kit I would say just put new gears in. I read before that you have done this yourself before so it should only be the cost of the gears and the time which should be around $500 for both sets and install kits.

I had the Cornfed spacers before the RCD kit and after I took it them off and put the RCD kit on it was a night and day difference. I was super impressed with the ride charactaristics as opposed to OEM and with the Cornfed spacers. The RCD was hands down much better in performance.

I have had it off-road a few times since installing it and it performs wonderfully offroad and the ground clearance with the lift and 35s is outstanding.

I wouldn't recommend that you get any other parts for this kit since you plan on doing long travel ontop of this kit.

The OEM backspacing for the wheels isn't enough for the new tires and they aren't wide enough for 35s so you need to get new wheels. You can go up to 4.5" b/s on the wheels though, unlike the directions saying Max of 4". I have 4.5" b/s and they are fine.

I will buy the kit, can you suggest a good supplier to purchase from, or maybe some one in california. I can drive to and save on shipping. I think Im going to drive it around for a while and then decide If I need to regear. I just hate the thought of putting time and money into installing a couple of gear sets just to part them out later.


Another thing before I start looking at wheel. does anyone know what the stock bolt pattern is for the tundra?????

thanks for all the help so far.

Regards,
Chris