Marlin Crawler vs All Pro vs Trail Gear

[88yota96taco]

What are you guys running for solid axle kits? And why did you opt for them? Im saving up for it now and I plan on doin it this winter. I was thinkin about going for the Trail Gear 3 inch because I allready have a 2 inch body lift. I want to keep the body lift because it makes workin on things easier. Im thinkin the truck would be too top heavy with the 4 inch plus 2 inch body. My truck is an 88 xtra cab 22RE. Any advice or suggestions would be great. Thanks, Pete

[subliminaltrips]

id go with the 4 inch, the body lift is nice when your twisted up and the tires a re stuffed up in the wheel wells. i used a trail gear 5" kit and i may end up going to a 1" 4 crawler body lift or even a 2"

[88yota96taco]

yeah, you dont the 4 inch plus the 2 inch will make it top heavy? Id like to have the truck fairly low so I aint tippin over everywhere.

[subliminaltrips]

my buddy has an 84 longbed with a 5" kit and a 3 inch body lift with 38x12.50's it does fine. on the trails. it flexes like a mug....

[subliminaltrips]

heres a few pics of his....


http://www.subliminaltrips.com/sean%20pass.JPG

http://www.subliminaltrips.com/sean%20strattling%202.JPG

[88yota96taco]

I thought with the number of dudes on here with SAS's that this post would have been juicy. Would anyone else mind posting up some pictures of your trucks and let me know what you are running for kits. Thanks.

[bodo]

I thought with the number of dudes on here with SAS's that this post would have been juicy. Would anyone else mind posting up some pictures of your trucks and let me know what you are running for kits. Thanks.

I think the reason for the lack of feedback is because this topic has been beat to death on several boards and it always ends up being a pissing match between Marlin and trailgear users.

I did mine about 5 years ago and I used the allpro 4" kit with no complaints. With a 4" suspension lift and a 3" BL I can get 36x14.50s to rub if a try real hard especially on the front valance.

[subliminaltrips]

w0rd on it being beaten to death and a pissing match.


i think all 3 companies are great, i also think you can build a truck with superlift springs, rears up front and chevy springs in the back or a whole ton of other options and it will still flex like a mugger, the "kits" these guys offer are just an easy way to eliminate the guess work , in depth fabrication and engineering..

basicly its just a heluva lot easier to get a kit and depending on how you do it can usually be done cheaper with a kit. a body lift wont hurt you unless yor running skinny tires with a narrow wheelbase.

[bodo]

w0rd on it being beaten to death and a pissing match.


i think all 3 companies are great, i also think you can build a truck with superlift springs, rears up front and chevy springs in the back or a whole ton of other options and it will still flex like a mugger, the "kits" these guys offer are just an easy way to eliminate the guess work , in depth fabrication and engineering..

basicly its just a heluva lot easier to get a kit and depending on how you do it can usually be done cheaper with a kit. a body lift wont hurt you unless yor running skinny tires with a narrow wheelbase.

X2

What get's me is the biggest bitch is that Chris (one man) stole everything from Marlin and Allpro and started another company which screwed them. If that did happen then let patent infringement and no compete lawsuits come forward with force. So far none of the BIG vendors have filed any suits and all YOU as readers have to go on is a thread on Marlins site.

I have some more food for thought.

Who invented the combustion engine? It damn sure wasn't Toyota.

Is it okay for someone working for Ford to leave and work for Toyota?

This is the United States of America, if I can build something just as good or better for less money then I win.

OFFTOPIC: Why do the BIG three continue to build trucks outside the United States while the "JAP" automakers choose to build them here?

To the original poster, NOW you will get some feedback, or maybe not but atleast you'll see how these threads go

[88yota96taco]

Ok, I personnaly dont care much at all about the controversy and i really dont know why others do so much either. As long as we are getting a quality product at a competetive price why should we care? Am I right? O and I am unfamiliar with the term flexing like a "mug" can someone give me a little background on this?

[subliminaltrips]

just a nice way to say mother fuc#ker "mugger"

[88yota96taco]

I got a rig very similar to your buddies there in the pictures. Mine is and xtra cab with a custom bed. Would the wheelbase of my xtracab shortbox be the same as your buddies regular cab long bed? You can check out a picture of my rig in the "official post up pictures of your rig thread" i just posted it. The picture is from my cell phone.

[subliminaltrips]

yes thats the same wheelbase. if you put a standard cab on your truck you could drop a long bed on there and vice versa....

[Loki]

sky drop hanger front
allpro 5" springs
tg axle guts and gussets

i didn't want to buy a kit. i liked certain parts from differant manufacturers so i pieced mine together

[leorn]

i have an 85 so I'm not familiar with sas kits. However I reccomend you:
-get a drop hanger like loki it will help pinion angle, help keep the tire out of the firewall, help keep the pitman arm from contacting the springs. I wish I would have done this.
-get springs that move your axle forward. I have mine at least 3" forward to keep 39's out of my firewall. this will also help approach angle. Also I run 6" lift for those tires. you will probably have to relocate your steering box further forward.

Also I run 6" lift for those tires. it requires some fender trimming, but I wish it were lower. I think your 2" bl and 3" springs is good. If you need to add a leaf to the pack you always can.

[subliminaltrips]

just be carefull adding too much thickness to the front springs because they will hit the tie rod on your high steer.

[leorn]

agreed. I have 6 leafs in my pack and its fine. seems to be more of a problem with shims, but too many leafs would do it as well.

[dagwood]

whats up? newbee hear at wild yots! i have a 86 runr and have bn running the all pro 5" kit and love it!! i dont feel to tipsy! flexes way good i am running 35 and still cuts into my fenders!

[subliminaltrips]

beat in your pinch weld.... that or a 1 or 2 inch body lift.