If you're thinking about tugging the trigger on Tundra long travel suspension kits, you're likely tired of your truck bottoming out out every time you hit the decent-sized bump in the desert. It's a common crossroads for Tundra owners. You start along with a leveling kit, move to several nice 2. 5-inch coilovers, and suddenly you realize that will while the vehicle looks great, it's still not dealing with the rough stuff the way you want it to. That's where the "long travel" conversation starts, plus honestly, it's a whole different ballgame than your regular lift kit.
What long travel actually does with regard to your truck
Most people obtain confused between a standard lift and a long travel setup. A raise kit usually just pushes the suspension right down to give you more height, which often results within a stiffer trip because you're losing "droop" or downwards travel. Tundra long travel suspension kits work differently. Instead of just rising, they go out there. By using longer upper and lower handle arms, these kits increase the actual range of motion of your own wheels.
Think about it like this: if your share suspension has about 7 or 7 inches of overall movement, a solid long travel kit can bump that up to 13, 14, or even sixteen inches depending upon how crazy a person want to get. That extra travel is exactly what allows the particular truck to bathe up huge openings and "whoops" without having sending a spine-shattering jolt through the cab. It's the difference in between skipping on the terrain and crashing into it.
The particular width factor and why it matters
When a person install one of these kits, your front tires are likely to stick out considerably further—usually 2 to 3. 5 inches per side. This wider track width is a massive part of why the particular truck feels therefore much more steady. When you're cornering at speed or side-hilling on the trail, that extra width keeps the particular center of gravity more manageable.
However, this isn't just about looks. Because the arms are more time, the angle of the suspension routine is flatter. This implies your alignment stays more consistent because the wheel moves down and up. On a stock-width truck with a high lift, the particular tires tend to "scrub" or move back to the inside as the suspension compresses, which can make the steering feel twitchy. Along with a long travel kit, the geometry is just very much more refined intended for high-speed dirt function.
What's generally included in these kits?
When you're shopping close to, you'll notice that will Tundra long travel suspension kits aren't just a package of shocks. To get this done right, you're looking at a pretty extensive list of hardware.
- Expanded Control Arms: These are the heart of the kit. They're generally made from boxed steel or heavy-duty chromoly tubing.
- Longer Axle Shafts: As your wheels are today further out, your own stock CV axle assemblies won't reach. Many kits require a person to swap in longer heavy-duty internal and outer shafts.
- Prolonged Brake Lines: Your share lines will take the first time the suspension completely extends, so metal steel braided ranges are a have to.
- Particular Coilovers: You can't simply use any shock. You will need a "long travel" specific coilover that has a longer stroke to match up the brand new range associated with motion.
- Tie Rod Plug-ins: Your steering rack must reach those brand-new spindle locations.
Most guys furthermore end up including secondary bypass shock. While the coilover keeps the of typically the truck, a bypass shock allows you to tune the damping in different points within the stroke. It's total overkill for the grocery getter, but if you're trying to move fast 4x4, it's the gold standard.
The particular "hidden" costs associated with going long travel
Here's the particular part where I actually have to become the bearer of poor news: the kit itself is simply the starting point. You can't simply bolt on Tundra long travel suspension kits and call it a day. Because the wheels sit down a lot further out, they will absolutely shred your factory plastic material fenders the very first time you hit a bump.
You're going in order to need fiberglass fenders. These are wider, flared-out fenders that offer the clearance for that extra upward travel. Then, you possess to aspect in painting them those fenders in order to match your vehicle, at least wrapping them.
After that there's the rear of the vehicle. If you possess 14 inches of travel in the front side and a stock leaf spring setup in the back, the truck will be going to manage like a see-saw. Many people eventually shift to a "spring under" conversion or even at least a very high-end leaf pack with long-travel bypass shocks in the rear maintain with the top. It's easy regarding a $5, 500 project to turn in to a $15, 500 build before you even realize what happened.
Is definitely it worth this for the daily drivers?
This is the big query. Can you every day drive a Tundra having a long travel kit? Technically, indeed. Actually, on the highway, it'll probably be the smoothest-riding pickup truck you've ever owned. The wide position makes it feel planted, and the particular high-end shocks convert potholes into minimal suggestions instead of real obstacles.
But there are trade-offs. The truck is currently wide—really wide. You'll find yourself staying away from tight parking garages and narrow drive-thrus. You might also need to stay on top associated with maintenance. These kits use uniballs plus rod ends instead of factory rubber bushings. While they're much stronger, they're exposed to the elements. They could obtain squeaky if you don't keep them spending lubricated, and they'll eventually need in order to be replaced. It's not a "set it and forget it" type associated with modification.
Installation isn't exactly a driveway job
I'm all intended for DIY projects, yet installing Tundra long travel suspension kits is really a serious executing. You're often working with grinding away factory bump quit mounts, welding upon new shock hoops, and sometimes actually relocating batteries or washer fluid reservoirs to make room intended for the larger shock towers.
In the event that you aren't comfortable with a welder and also a grinder, this will be a purpose of a professional off-road shop. The particular alignment alone is definitely tricky; you need a store that understands how to align a long travel automobile, not just a guy in a wheel chain who appears at the manufacturing plant specs on a computer screen. If the angles is off, you'll eat through costly off-road tires in a matter associated with weeks.
Choosing the right kit for your needs
There is a few of companies making these kits, and so they all have different philosophies. Some concentrate on "expedition" style long travel, which gives you a bit even more travel without making the truck really wide. Other medication is out-and-out race kits meant for the Baja 1000.
Before you purchase, be honest about how you use the truck. When you spend 90% of your period on the sidewalk and 10% burning down roads, a full long travel setup might be more headaches than it's worthy of. When you're the particular person who usually spends every weekend in the dirt, hitting the desert or chasing races, then nothing else will probably fulfill you.
Once you feel the way a Tundra handles with the proper long travel setup, there's really no going back. It transforms the particular truck from the heavy workhorse in to a legitimate off-road weapon. Simply be prepared for that rabbit hole you're about to leap into—it's deep, expensive, and incredibly fun.