MOLONxLABE's 2014 Build thread

[MOLONxLABE]

Did you just do the engine cage to complete the cage on the truck, along with going with the bumps off the UCA? If you were to keep the original, I'm assuming a slapper arm bump on the LCA, would you have went with the engine cage? Did you feel it was needed or more just a piece of mind thing?

I would always have a shock tower crossmember of some kind involving anything that’s cutting the entire stock shock bucket out.

The truck previously did have an engine cage structure, the bypass shock just did all the work back then. It added a lot more strength to it tying into the cab cage when adding the front bumps (but it can get somewhat difficult packaging it all in with the brake booster, master cylinder, AC lines, heater core lines, etc.). I probably should also have the cab cage stubbed out the back and land it on the top of the bed cage, it all just really helps stiffen everything up (which usually does help the suspension work better) and prevent cracking over time when it’s all tied in front to back.

In regards to the bump stops themselves, bumping off the upper is obviously always better on a setup like this with them only controlling the final couple inches of travel and all that. I know a ton of guys run the LCA bumps which is fine, it’s just all tuned differently with them engaging so close to ride height. I have seen trucks bump off the uppers with just an engine cage (not any raptors specifically) but couldn’t personally speak to the longevity of that. It quite possibly could create too much leverage on these trucks without a cab cage tie in.

 

[SilverGen1]

truck previously did have an engine cage structure, the bypass shock just did all the work back then. It added a lot more strength to it tying into the cab cage when adding the front bumps (but it can get somewhat difficult packaging it all in with the brake booster, master cylinder, AC lines, heater core lines, etc.). I probably should also have the cab cage stubbed out the back and land it on the top of the bed cage, it all just really helps stiffen everything up (which usually does help the suspension work better) and prevent cracking over time when it’s all tied in front to back.

I would always have a shock tower crossmember of some kind involving anything that’s cutting the entire stock shock bucket out.

The truck previously did have an engine cage structure, the bypass shock just did all the work back then. It added a lot more strength to it tying into the cab cage when adding the front bumps (but it can get somewhat difficult packaging it all in with the brake booster, master cylinder, AC lines, heater core lines, etc.). I probably should also have the cab cage stubbed out the back and land it on the top of the bed cage, it all just really helps stiffen everything up (which usually does help the suspension work better) and prevent cracking over time when it’s all tied in front to back.

In regards to the bump stops themselves, bumping off the upper is obviously always better on a setup like this with them only controlling the final couple inches of travel and all that. I know a ton of guys run the LCA bumps which is fine, it’s just all tuned differently with them engaging so close to ride height. I have seen trucks bump off the uppers with just an engine cage (not any raptors specifically) but couldn’t personally speak to the longevity of that. It quite possibly could create too much leverage on these trucks without a cab cage tie in.

I 100% agree with you, would love to have the opportunity to have a full blown caged truck, but for the time being, I really would like to go with the HM LT kit up front, then a Giant Motorsports DD 3-Link kit in the rear. I really only use the truck at silver lake sand dunes in Michigan, so it's not going to be getting pushed nearly as hard as your truck out in the desert. Will for sure be doing some crossmember in the engine bay once I pull out the KHC Gen 2 conversion buckets that I have in right now. Would like something That I can jump, eat up whoops, but then also be comfortable on the road. And I just don't think a caged truck is right for me. Ideally, I would end up with a truck very similar to ntm's truck. Although a cage might be added in the future, it's not exactly in the cards right now