wasted my money on ifs

[toymech]

  Hey guys,its been awhile. Ive decided im chopping off my IFS. During the past couple of months I lifted the truck with a little downey ifs kit,nothin major. Got rid of my 31s in favor for some nice goodyear mtrs 33s. Now i have nothing but clearance problems and im not going to trim any fenders or anything. Ive decided to start over and sell all this crap. I figure If I sell my front diff I bought for the Ifs itll allow me to start buying some parts for my sas swap. Im looking for an 85 axle to build up in the meantime. Im also planning on the Trail Gear SAS kit,ive heard its the same exact kit as marlins. How bad is the swap to do? If I wasnt worrying about chopping up the frame to install this stuff it woulda been done already. How much would everything cost to get rid of the IFS and can I just use blocks in the rear with my downey kit for the meantime? Thanks guys,gimme your opinion.  Mike

[blackdiamond]

I would suggest purchasing the SAS parts from Marlin so you can get some customer support.  The Trail Gear kit might be cheaper because it comes with fewer parts...do your research.

It isn't ideal, but you can run up to 3 inch blocks in the rear without too much problem.

[unclejpl4x4]

i got 3 in body with 33s and no rubing.  Just put on a 1' body lift if you wana save some cash.  but if you realy wana SAS it i say go for it

[86 4runner]

I would suggest purchasing the SAS parts from Marlin so you can get some customer support.  The Trail Gear kit might be cheaper because it comes with fewer parts...do your research.

It isn't ideal, but you can run up to 3 inch blocks in the rear without too much problem.

it comes with more actually

[Cheesemaker]

I wouldn't waste my time with Trail Gear!  I've been on 6 or 7 different boards, locally and abroad, and they all have the same conclusion!  Trail Gear has great prices, but the service and customer support sucks!  Alot of guys on other boards have bought their stuff and in the long run wish they hadn't.  Please do your research!  Trail Gears main objective seems to be aimed at Marlin's jugular!  Not any other company!  Marlin stands behind his products 100%.  He will not skimp on quality products!  Where does TG get there stuff?  Not from the same companies that builds factory toyota parts, thats for sure!  What does Jon from All-Pro run for his dual adaptor on his taco that was just featured in the July issue of OFF-ROAD?  It's Marlin's!  Even though he sells Advance Adaptor's for dual adaptors!  That tells you alot!  I don't mean to be ragging on about this, I just want people to be informed before they make a decision! 

[toymech]

 Ok,guys. Thought the trail gear stuff was the same. Ill be using Marlins stuff. Anyway,figured this would be a nice project for my 4runner. How streetable is this kit going to be,im thinking about the marlin 4 inch kit. I figure this actually raises it around 6 inches and clears 35"s,correct? Mike

[RustyToy]

your funny cheese...

[blackdiamond]

Make sure you get good shocks with the Marlin Springs.  In my opinion, they are a bit too soft for the street.  Gotrocks 4runner seems to handle OK on the road with the Marlin 5" springs, but I'm not a big fan of major body roll in town.

Maybe that is why my truck doesn't flex better than it does. 

[toymech]

 Ok,ripped apart my IFS today. My goal this week is to find a complete 85 axle around here. Does Marlin sell 3 inch lift springs and if so can they be used on the swap without modifications? Im trying to keep it low cause I do drive this thing around town alot. My Ifs I wouls imagine will cost me around as much as the solid axle kit to fix up and still will be inferior. Im planning on just welding the tubes and hanger on for the meantime until my axle is done. Has anyone had a bad experience putting in this kit,like the frame cracking? I know how to weld and im not bad at it but just a lil worried about chopping a hole in the frame rendering it useless. Thanks for the opinions guys,im still planning this out to fit my budget. Thanks.  Mike

[IronClad]

I wouldn't waste my time with Trail Gear!  I've been on 6 or 7 different boards, locally and abroad, and they all have the same conclusion!  Trail Gear has great prices, but the service and customer support sucks!  Alot of guys on other boards have bought their stuff and in the long run wish they hadn't.  Please do your research!  Trail Gears main objective seems to be aimed at Marlin's jugular!  Not any other company!  Marlin stands behind his products 100%.  He will not skimp on quality products!  Where does TG get there stuff?  Not from the same companies that builds factory toyota parts, thats for sure!  What does Jon from All-Pro run for his dual adaptor on his taco that was just featured in the July issue of OFF-ROAD?  It's Marlin's!  Even though he sells Advance Adaptor's for dual adaptors!  That tells you alot!  I don't mean to be ragging on about this, I just want people to be informed before they make a decision! 

hey smart guy.. trail gear and marlins kit  is the SAME. the  non usa springs are the same.  and  marlins usa springs are made by the same people that make all pro's.  maybe YOU should get informed

[Ramrod]

hate to be  hater but get the trailgear kit and save some money plus ive talked and hung out with those guys and they are cool as hell.  Also what the deal with everyone using an 85 front axle?  i'd get a 79 and gusset the top and have some extra clearence if it was me

[Shoyrtt]

Ok,guys. Thought the trail gear stuff was the same. Ill be using Marlins stuff. Anyway,figured this would be a nice project for my 4runner. How streetable is this kit going to be,im thinking about the marlin 4 inch kit. I figure this actually raises it around 6 inches and clears 35"s,correct? Mike

I have Marlin's 4" kit on my 4 Runner and it is very "streetable" with 35" MTRs. If you are running the factory hard top, you may want to run 5" in the rear if you don't like the saggy look. 

[95Toyota]

Im going to use trail gear to save the money cause i hear they are trying their hardest to give good service, and ive heard a million places that their using the same distributers, and im with Team Ramrod.. gusset it yourself, it comes in the trail gear kit any way..

[79coyotefrg]

Im going to use trail gear to save the money cause i hear they are trying their hardest to give good service, and ive heard a million places that their using the same distributers, and im with Team Ramrod.. gusset it yourself, it comes in the trail gear kit any way..

i believe after the trailgear merger fiasco  Marlin found a different source for his springs

and trail gear could never offer the service Marlin does

[Ramrod]

i

and trail gear could never offer the service Marlin does

again not to get a bad name around here and I totally like the whole marlin family but how can you say that?  have you ordered from marlin lately? its not exactly easy to get ahold of them on the phone.  Or maybe a better question is have you ordered or dealt with trailgear in any way so you can prove that statement?

[86 4runner]

ive never had any problems with trailgears service. i think there great and they have killer deals ecspecially since they offer free shipping which save a load of money on top of the money you already saved. i love marlin and ive ordered quite a bit from there but  i dont like spending more money on the same thing i could get from trailgear.

Love ya marlin,   im just poor     

[Rocksurfer]

It's never a waste, someone will benefit from your investment.

[synwars]

Love ya marlin, im just poor.

That goes for the majority me thinks... I love Marlin's crew, workmanship, ingenuity, and guarantee... but my loyalty goes as far as my wallet. If I counted my pennies right and I definitely have the money, I'll go with Marlin. If I don't, what can I do? Go in debt to show my support?

Count your costs.

Write down on paper the minimum you'll make by selling your downey stuff. Then add up how much you're willing to spend out of any monies you've saved up. Then compare that with both MC's SAS kit & TG's SAS kit and you might as well check out Sky's while your at it...

[95Toyota]

The only problem with skys kit is they say the hanger for the front gets crushed by rocks too easy, if it hits them, unlike the marlin and trailgear ones..    just a thought..