To be or not be: Icon Mid Travel or LT

Definitely not spring under with the Deaver U748 springs

 

After a lot of searching, its seems there aren't many rear link conversions. I'vs been trying to add up cost of SUA vs 3 link and it seems the price range is pretty close. Am I missing something? I saw LSK kit is really expensive. But after speaking to my fab shop, I could get a 3 link(maybe 4 with a tank relocation) for around 6 grand. This would not include boxing frame and bedsides. Living in the sierras just hammers bushings and my leaf pack. Was thinking that taking care of heims could be easier. Thoughts?

 

Would the lower links be more of a hindrance than the low slung SUA in heavily technical areas? I know links will slide better over rocks, but will also then lift a tire more often I think.
If you’re locked, that presumably is less of an issue.

 

A linked setup like trophy trucks would drag on trails, but a link setup like a jeep won’t

 

Ive just been pondering the idea if the price is relatively close. Your looking at 20+” strapped travel with links. From the few I’ve seen. Yes they hang a touch low. But idk if it would hit more often than the SUA perch or not. Also the stock shock location hangs down pretty low already. From what I’ve seen, the trailing arms are crazy built, and should be able to take whatever they are thrown at. I would be interested to see what performs better on technical trails from leafs vs links. I know this has been widely discussed on other sites.

 

A 20 inch travel setup with links is going to be more trophy truck style with the coilovers mounted on the links. Not really a trail setup.

Also the frame would need to be c notched for that.

Seems way overkill unless youre gonna cage and full race the truck

 

I don’t think I’ll be going full cage. I was thinking upkeep and durability improving. I have no interest in putting in a c notch for up travel. Just plan on boxing and putting in an x-frame.

 

Understandable. The reason i mention is that there is only so much room for up travel. So a simple 3 link system is going to have the same travel really as an sua setup. All the down travel in the world wont change anything. You can only really use so much of that

 

You're not getting the full information for a link vs SUA setup.

Linked you're gonna need a set of coilover in addition to bypasses so add another $3k

Linked you need to relocated the gas tank if you're doing a 4 link, so now your truck won't be street legal. You can do a 3 link (technically 4 link with a panhard bar) like the LSK kit and keep stock tank, but LSK is the only company that has put together a kit. I'm sure other shops can make one, but be sure they know what they're doing with the geometry.

A traditional 4 link kit does not ride the same as a leaf setup. Street manners are different, I've heard them described as "loose". There's a reason you never see them driving on the street. On technical trails they will have a "forklift steering" effect. The rear will steer and turn when the axle is articulated. It makes it very difficult to keep track of your line.

3 link doesn't have those steering problems, but it does have side to side axle movement when going up and down. I haven't heard anybody comment on what this feel like, but the LSK kit will move several inches side to side.

As for bushings, heims require WAY more maintenance than poly bushings. Most of the heims on my truck are only good for 10-15k miles before they need to be replaced. Poly last MUCH longer.

What else do you want to know???

When all is said and done, a SUA conversion will cost less than a linked conversion and depending on what type of setup you go with, it can be significantly cheaper.

 

the ballpark of 6 grand, was for the link set up with coil overs+ bypasses at 2.5”. I’m assuming that’s a little low. But he said around there.

I hear what your saying, we discussed at length a triangulated 4 link with a tank relocation while keeping the stock parts to pass smog. It sounds like a coin flip on if the smog tech would allow it. So I’m leaning towards 3 with panhard bar.
He did go over the drift you get with a 3 link vs 4. I’ve never been in a 3 link tundra so idk how I’d like that. I know Heims go out around 20k. I just thought replacing those would be easier than dealing with all of the rust and stuff I deal with already. My suspension looks beat to hell after 2 seasons up in the sierras.
I’m also tired of replacing my shock shafts damn near every time I get a rebuild done. I’m 7 for 8 in new shafts over the last two rebuilds.
I assumed the SUA would be cheaper, I just didn’t know if it’s only 1,500-2000 cheaper or say 4,0000 cheaper. I’ve got a bit of time to sit on this. And so I thought I’d bring up this question to the fellas that have done it. Hasn’t SPOLAR gone with a 3 link?

 

@roypark did the 3 link LSK kit

No way you're gonna get everything done for $6k. Bed cage, fenders, it all adds up. Total for my rear suspension including all the supporting mods was $11k, but I think DMZ might charge more than that nowadays.

What shocks do you have??? There is a difference in shaft material depending on the brand. Fox uses hardened stainless steel so if you're replacing shafts all the time I would look at Fox.

You'll be replacing heims a lot more often than 20k miles if you live in an area with bad weather. If they do salt on the roads forget it.

I'm not trying to talk you into one set up over the other. I just want all the information out there. That shop telling you $6k is ridiculous.

 

Since the axle perch is right next to the wheel it'll tend to drag a lot less than a link IMO. The TC under bed kit moves the shocks behind the axle and that would, in theory, help save your shafts. Also, boots would help a lot but then they require frequent inspection to be sure they're not hiding water/sand. Roost shields would be ideal and are one of the little projects I'm working on as I get closer to upgrading the rear end.
You've got some fantastic trails in your area. I, personally, don't think linked is the right option having been on a couple of 'em. I feel like linked is better for the desert and high speed. I'm guessing SUA LT would work really well on the Tahoe trails. I'll find out when the snow finally melts.

 

Gonna throw this out there if you’re looking at links and want technical trail performance over trophy truck high speed.

1/4 elliptical will articulate like a motherfucker when done correctly. 3 or 4 link.

 

OH Sh**, here we go.....

 

I took my boots off after over a year and they were perfectly clean inside.

 

You should try that with your underwear.

 

You can shower in your underwear...

 

I don't run boots so I don't know but OP lives in Tahoe where the conditions are pretty harsh, wet, slushy and prone to some pretty big temp swings.

 

Saves on doing laundry.

 

The link build doesn’t include bedsides or bumps. Only the suspension. And that’s what I’m more worried about, since I usually wheel from Fallon through gold country I’d be hitting a ton. I’ve just come to love going fast on my recent desert trips. And will be down in la Quinta and Scottsdale a lot in the winters.
I have boots on the rear, and still messed up both rear shafts. I pressure wash everything after each trip.

 

Would replacing the rear crossmember with an xbrace be enough for a rear lt suspension? Or would it need to be boxed with the x brace?

 

box the rear half with the x brace and make sure to mold the boxing plates to the curves of the brace

 

leave stock x brace. no reason to replace it

 

That’s what I figured, I thought I’d get confirmation. I’ll be pulling the bed this fall and get it all done. Just seeing if there was a corner to be cut without negatively effecting the structure.

 

Just back half it.

 

Link set up will be quite a bit more expensive no matter what. Another issue with links is they are alot more weight sensitive as basically all standard coilover springs are a linear spring weight. The leafs are progressive, although the tundra leafs are really long and that creates its own hurdles as Alex is well aware of.

Heims are expensive, and can have their own hurdles when it comes to maintenance, especially in your climate. Threads seizing, spacers seizing, etc.

Leaf springs will be the better compromise for performance, use, and efficiency. I've personally done both set ups.

 

This is from an install of one of those kits. This is measured with all spring bolts hand tight so no friction. You could get a little more droop with a longer shackle, but as you can see there is already a good amount of negative arch and longer shackle will make that worse and affect the leaf packs life span.

12.5-13" is all a SOA set up is good for on these trucks without creating other issues.

 

Hey Matt, what do you think about a 1/4 elliptical?
You get the benefits of a 3 or 4 link without the drawback of a linear rate coilover.