Coming soon: Tacoma Trailhunter Westcott Preload Collar Lift Kit

[bdigital00]

Hey folks, Bob out here in Gilbert Arizona with one of the first Trailhunters in the area. This Friday I'll be going in to get one of the first production Westcott Designs PreloadCollar Lift Kits for the Trailhunter. As many of you know the website does not list the collar kit for the Trailhunter, as the ARB Old Man Emu suspension dimensions are different than the rest. I'll have the truck on display Saturday for Rigs and Roasts at Westcott and hopefully soon after Jeff will have the kit up on the website for order. Stay tuned for details!

Right now I'm running completely stock suspension with Toyo AT3 35x12.5x18. Crash plates and front mud flaps removed, after about 3500 miles the suspension settled and it's rubbing on the front left at full lock and during articulation wheeling.

 

[bdigital00]

Here’s the same angle after 5500 miles. Noticeable drop in the front. View attachment IMG_7061.jpeg

 

[Independence Overland]

Excited to see this. For the rear I will be putting Dobinson's in soon, but I have been hoping we would see some options for the front ends of these things. Very nice riding shocks off road, its a shame they don't offer more spring options for their "heavy loads for long distances" trim. Glad you guys are stepping in to help solve that problem. Mine is about to get heavy in the next 5 weeks.

 

[sog]

For loading your truck with heavy loads this guy https://www.youtube.com/@TalonSei said that he replaced rear springs with tundra ones. Not sure why you need this

 

[Independence Overland]

For loading your truck with heavy loads this guy https://www.youtube.com/@TalonSei said that he replaced rear springs with tundra ones. Not sure why you need this

He did for the rears, because the Dobinsons werent available at the time. But for the fronts, the Trailhunter, Pro, and the other models are all different. So in order to keep the Trailhunter front suspension the same, a spacer lift would compress that spring just enough to help carry some load. Hopefully ARB launches more spring options for the Trailhunters in the future, but they have not yet.

 

[sog]

He did for the rears, because the Dobinsons werent available at the time. But for the fronts, the Trailhunter, Pro, and the other models are all different. So in order to keep the Trailhunter front suspension the same, a spacer lift would compress that spring just enough to help carry some load. Hopefully ARB launches more spring options for the Trailhunters in the future, but they have not yet.

Ah got it, thanks. Im waiting for my bed rack from xtrusion overland. Got majority of my purchases already, so once i load up everything i got i might just get the tundra rear springs for now. The bumpers that out there right now are not for me, ARB front bumer with a bull bar thats what i want . Next year i plan to get portals from 74Weld and put 37x12.5x17 tires and i think im good for now haha

 

[ZR2KLR]

These have a good rake to them. I chickened out and did 285/75 instead of 35/12.5. I had to remove the crash plate and front mudflaps for clearance. I haven't taken it off road yet to see if the is any rubbing when articulating. The front collar will definitely help. I am waiting patiently. Hopefully WD can get it into production before the others.

 

[BG]

@ZR2KLR - Damn that's a good look dude!

 

[bdigital00]

Excited to see this. For the rear I will be putting Dobinson's in soon, but I have been hoping we would see some options for the front ends of these things. Very nice riding shocks off road, its a shame they don't offer more spring options for their "heavy loads for long distances" trim. Glad you guys are stepping in to help solve that problem. Mine is about to get heavy in the next 5 weeks.

Did you ever end up upgrading the rear springs? I just got a GFC installed this weekend and am definitely gonna sag once I’m loaded up. I had only medium amount of gear for this trip and was pretty level. As soon as I add water, cooking gear, fridge etc it’s gonna sag.

 

[sog]

Did you ever end up upgrading the rear springs? I just got a GFC installed this weekend and am definitely gonna sag once I’m loaded up. I had only medium amount of gear for this trip and was pretty level. As soon as I add water, cooking gear, fridge etc it’s gonna sag.

View attachment 1749

update when you can please, will help me with my plans . was thinking upgrade rear springs from tundra for now and invest in icon cdev later. Still waiting on my xtrusion overland xtr3 bed rack :/

 

[bdigital00]

update when you can please, will help me with my plans . was thinking upgrade rear springs from tundra for now and invest in icon cdev later. Still waiting on my xtrusion overland xtr3 bed rack :/

Will do. My rear kings should be in this week and need to make a decision. Got a few messages out now, I’ll update the thread when I find out.

 

[Independence Overland]

Did you ever end up upgrading the rear springs? I just got a GFC installed this weekend and am definitely gonna sag once I’m loaded up. I had only medium amount of gear for this trip and was pretty level. As soon as I add water, cooking gear, fridge etc it’s gonna sag.

View attachment 1749

No not as of yet, the Alucab should be getting put on in the next 3-4 weeks. I will be looking to Dobinson for sure. The front may get a preload spacer for the time being. I will see how it rides/sits to determine if I need it.

 

[bdigital00]

No not as of yet, the Alucab should be getting put on in the next 3-4 weeks. I will be looking to Dobinson for sure. The front may get a preload spacer for the time being. I will see how it rides/sits to determine if I need it.

Check your DMs on IG.

 

[FishTaco]

I have my Stock Trailhunter on 35's now and I have some rubbing. Is this Westcott kitt the right fix for me?
Doesn't this put more pressure on the shock and maybe make weird connection angles? Maybe I've misunderstood things I've seen elsewhere?

 

[Independence Overland]

I have my Stock Trailhunter on 35's now and I have some rubbing. Is this Westcott kitt the right fix for me?
Doesn't this put more pressure on the shock and maybe make weird connection angles? Maybe I've misunderstood things I've seen elsewhere?

Might be your wheel offset, but that kit might correct it.

 

[bdigital00]

I have my Stock Trailhunter on 35's now and I have some rubbing. Is this Westcott kitt the right fix for me?
Doesn't this put more pressure on the shock and maybe make weird connection angles? Maybe I've misunderstood things I've seen elsewhere?

I had the same experience, once the suspension settled. The Westcott kit will not fix this. You are right in that a collar preload kit like the one Westcott offers will put more load on the spring, which is how the lift is achieved.

Where exactly are you rubbing? For my Toyo AT3 35x12.5x18 I had to pull back some of the fender liner on the fronts, when backing out in reverse I would rub on the inner fender. Here’s what has worked for me:

 

[FishTaco]

I had the same experience, once the suspension settled. The Westcott kit will not fix this. You are right in that a collar preload kit like the one Westcott offers will put more load on the spring, which is how the lift is achieved.

Where exactly are you rubbing? For my Toyo AT3 35x12.5x18 I had to pull back some of the fender liner on the fronts, when backing out in reverse I would rub on the inner fender. Here’s what has worked for me: View attachment 1773View attachment 1774

Thanks for sharing this. I need to get in there and mess about and get it sorted.
I love thes forums and the help that's always here.

 

[FishTaco]

Might be your wheel offset, but that kit might correct it.

Stock wheels. I like them a lot actually.
I did note in one of your videos you mentioned not liking the 18's and I was curious why you felt like it was a detriment?
What is the significant advantage of 17's?