Cheaper but More Flex? Truth About Extended Travel Coilovers for Toyotas

Clearing up some wide-spread misinformation about extended travel coilovers or mid travel IFS setup for late model Toyota 4X4s. This might not apply to other vehicle platforms.
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0:00 Background
0:32 How Much Extended Travel?
3:02 Other Coilovers' Travel?
4:34 Aftermarket UCA Required?
6:27 Additional Remarks

[@lpruler1]

Dude! You are absolutely killing it with these videos! Thanks for doing the research and for sharing.

[@Bananahammock88]

That thing hitting the back of your throat ?

[@YUKONCAMINO]

Excellent video! So many questions off-roaders have asked over the years answered in 7 minutes! 5100's are extremely popular, and with the rising popularity of the 6112's I would be very interested in a 5100 vs 6112 comparison. Keep up the good work!

[@lateralus4567]

I'll second this request! Love to see a 6112 video.

[@MHam1]

Hear, hear! Although, I’m reading that the travel distance, compressed length, and extended length is the same for both the front 5100 and 6112 shocks.

[@spacecruisers]

I have 6112 in my 03 Sequoia and I was under the impression they are simply a bigger diameter. Interesting question. It would be nice to know if adding a thin spacer would add down travel to my current setup.

[@Tanner731]

my assumption of the 6112 is that its just a thicc 5100, I am running a first gen tundra 6112 because it works out to about .5in extra shock travel over the 4runner. 5100s share the same travel numbers

[@phild9813]

I agree!

[@IJustAccidentallyThe]

This content is phenomenal. Just straight facts, not bs or regurgitated broscience. What a refreshing change from the usual 4x4 and off-road community content.

[@micahwhite9864]

These suspension videos are hands down the best straightforward explanation of IFS out there. Well done and keep them coming. 👏

[@ronaldrussell5481]

Thank you for your continued analysis of the Toyota front suspension. At the very least it is educational and for those who actually off road and can apply some of what you share with us I'm sure they find valuable. It's quite clear that the suspension system on our vehicles is a most important aspect of the vehicle's overall performance. I watched a video the other day of a tour of SVC in California who make/install/tune true long travel suspensions particularly on the Ford Raptor and that was a GREAT video. It doesn't matter how much power you can squeeze out of your engine if you can't put it to the ground effectively.

[@jdyouland3455]

Appreciate all the research and real world testing you do!

[@shalehausler4383]

I have a lot of respect for how you deliver your information. When you find that what you believed for fact from previous videos may not be as clear cut as you once understood, you have no problem showing those facts. Much respect to you for this!!!

[@nictank]

Love how detailed and professional you make these videos. Keep it up!

[@Absolute_Unit135]

Thank you for taking the time to measure and put together all of this data, Kai. Very eager to see new videos.

[@macdaddy1617]

I would love you to list package builds on your opinion from basic lifts to advance. Too many shops just over sell products to consumers that are getting into this field. Your channel is definitely very educational.

[@TinkerersAdventure]

Thanks. That is a good idea. I'll do a video like that in the future

[@daver.2871]

Dude. Your videos are legit. You answer a lot of questions I've had for a long time. I hope you keep making content like this.

[@rideordivekerry4830]

I love how informative and detailed your videos are 💪🏼

[@LimitOfN]

Honestly some of the best youtube content available on the subject. Fantastic job.

[@IdaReggaeMon]

Love these videos. Information packed and well produced. No filler! Keep it up!

[@pn312]

I'd be interested in hearing about digressive vs. linear/progressive damping. Thanks for your detailed information and hard work.

[@bromano843]

As an engineer I appreciate the detailed analysis and comparison.

[@MNunez42]

Even though i have yet to get a long travel kit, let alone a mid travel, I been binge watching all your videos to soak in the information so I can make the best decision!

[@TrevorDyck]

Still loving this series, Kai. So helpful!

[@SPARTAN-107]

You never fail to blow my mind on every video!

[@taliesinangling3564]

These videos are fantastic please dont stop making them

[@samirkadhim2097]

Amazing job. So informative and so clear. You have one of the best quality videos out there!! Keep it up please. I look forward to watching your new videos.

[@osmarorozco963]

Wow! fantastic research and information man! As a proud owner of 21’ trail edition 4R you’ve answered a great deal of thoughts i’ve has regarding doing any suspension mods. Again, great video & great info!! Thank you for all you do here!!. Be blessed brother🤙

[@ericroot8475]

I'll be changing out my stock 1st gen tacoma struts for Bilstein 4600s very soon. I'll do a side by side measurement to check for extended travel. Thanks for your efforts on Toyota IFS.

[@naam92]

That channels deserves way more views. And I’m sure it will, keep up the good content! 🙏🏼💯

[@FJX2000_Productions]

Awesome research! Thanks for the information and for the shoutout in the video! 😁👍

[@TinkerersAdventure]

Thanks for sharing the only numbers i could find on the entire internet!

[@Ironman4x4America]

Another great video, Kai. Thanks for sharing this information with the community.

[@TinkerersAdventure]

Thank you!

[@vegvisiroverland]

Y'all owe Kai some sponsorship money. I've got the Foam Cell Pro in my shortlist to replace my TRD Pro suspension

[@LordVallee]

Thank you bud. I just learned so much more about my TRD Pro suspension. This knowledge is definitely going to help me with my direction of my build out. Great Research!

[@asplenic16180]

I appreciate you share learned material through time. It's a demonstration of science as a process, review the learned information and assess the data for what it says, given new or more information. I've now subscribed after lurking for some Time.. 🤙🏼

[@jerryquintana2508]

This is interesting and great research. Having my Icon extended travel rebuilt. Running 5100 during the rebuild. Going to have to test them out on the trail.

[@travelling_two]

Love your work, keep tinkering and sharing your findings.

[@pmcandrews12]

Keep it up! I went with the eibach pro lift on my 4runner as a beginner it seems to do the job right so far. But I am learning and these are all things I am now paying attention to! Thanks

[@MikeyB00o]

Good year to save money on a simple upgrade. Thanx for taking the time to do this work

[@dirttales]

I'm running Dobinsons extended travel shocks/springs from Apache Offroad, and they definitely add more travel! I'm also running JBA high caster UCAs though which has helped a lot with steering.

[@DrewPeabawls]

This videos are crazy informative! Good work!

[@petyweestraw]

I ran 5100s and OME springs for a couple or so years. Put about 70k hard miles on them. Loved them never had a complaint. The only reason they got replaced with the Dobs longtravel IMS setup was because I wasn't running bumpstops and broke the shaft from one of the lower mounts in the rear. When I pulled them off they still had strong rebound. A guy bought the kit from me for only $100. No doubt he will get plenty more use out of them. Anyhoo great video yet again. Always learn a lot from watching your work.

[@TaylorKelln]

I'm so glad your channel exists

[@evolusd]

Your vids are the best, so technical.

[@Mines220]

This is Gold! Please keep them coming! Thank you!!!!

[@laureano1984]

Your channel is amazing ! I did this same experimentations ona brand new 2023 Toyota Hilux 4x4. And I managed go from 16cm travel to 22cm by lowering down with the sock rod bump stop with a smal spacer. Keeping factory suspension offset. Thanks for the detailed info. As you, I had same issues figuring out all the shock specs and sizes, even for huge companies like Monroe. I live in Argentina BTW and most of the products you show aren't available here.

[@batbawls]

High quality content. Very refreshing to see.

[@1Coolbanana]

Love your videos mate, No one does them like this 👍

[@UrbanOpsOffRoad]

Great analysis dude! You sir have a new follower 🤙🏻

[@bradenb]

Once again, excellent info. Really appreciate these videos.

[@michaelbias3438]

Wow, another outstanding video. Thank you for putting these together. They're helping me a l

[@White_buffalo_4r]

Great info as always. I've often wondered how much more travel the ext. travel coilovers added. Cause I would think that in the end it's limited by Lower control arm down travel and my the tires hitting on the upper control arms reducing the travel.

[@EvergreenOffroad]

Once again great info. You do a good job of explaining it so it’s easy to understand.

[@chadsmall9447]

Bloody brilliant yet again by far the best no bs facts love it mate cheers

[@jankydriveway4694]

I love this guy. Such excellent videos. Love the dry humor too.

[@RoyFJ65]

It makes me happy to have Bilstein 6112 Kit from TRD for my FJ Cruiser that was used in the TTUE FJ Cruiser. The performance on and off road is excellent.

[@VikingsGarage]

Thank you so much for this super useful information. I’m much better informed now that I am shopping for coil overs.

[@tire26]

I truly appreciate your videos. Thank you!

[@overlandme]

Very informative...I have got TJM XGS coilovers installed on my toyota fortuner...Fortuner front suspension is exactly similar to FJ and prado...TJM XGS is 2 inches longer than my fortuner standard coilovers and I found significant improvement in suspension travel distance

[@dorkyninja04]

Kai exposing all these companies! Keep the videos coming!

[@rhcockrum8746]

Awesome video. I am getting ready to level my 2019 Tundra. My local shop suggested the Bilstien 5100's over a spacer block. I have watched several of your videos, and they have clearly explained all of the nuances to making suspension changes on a Toyota. I wish it were possible to get have a one-on-one chat with you about my application. I think it would likely save me some money! Thanks again for your time.

[@TinkerersAdventure]

thanks. send me a note here and i'll see what i can do. tinkererdesign.com/pages/contact

[@BaconCruiser]

Best suspension videos on YT!

[@robertjustin1291]

Top notch content my friend ❤

[@scottcollyer9096]

Thankyou for your time and research. Very informative.

[@TheGunner11]

Fantastic video, seriously some of the best info out there.

[@lorenzoronpedrique2952]

Best channel for Toyota fans on KZbin

[@jailbreakoverlander]

Man your banging these vids out, awesome info as usual brother.

[@TinkerersAdventure]

Thank you Richie!

[@Kiwigd]

Loving the content, still looking for resources related to torsion bar front suspension 😉

[@mattgrover3096]

Your videos are great bro!

[@KenJohn777]

Well I can tell my experience on the Toyota Hilux, the suspension between the tacoma, prado, 4runner and FJ is very similar. The factory UCA is good up to 2" of lift. With a extended ball on the factory UCA you can go from +2" to +3.5" of lift, even 4" but with some flex limitations. UCA replacements are stronger but some of them limit the flex a lot and will be hitting the coil spring like the Dobinsons UCA.

[@PhoTheNguyen]

I'm a huge fan, thanks for all the info!

[@agnstthegrain]

Man your videos are the Shiznitz! Thanks for all the info, this is exactly the type of explanations i needed to make sense of all this crap that i already thought was marketing BS and nonsense in many areas. Your explanations are perfect in an understandable way for all of us to come to our own conclusions for what we want to achieve. I dont regret saving some money and buying the ironman stuff lol

[@billah18]

Looking forward to the UCA video! Have some coming in and might just get them installed anyway as I may not get to see the video in time. Although from your remarks it sounds like for my use there may not be a reason. I have a 2010 trail 4runner with kdss and getting bilstein 6112/5160

[@jvogler_art4708]

Alright i'm pulling the trigger on some 5100's for my next upgrade on my 3rd gen 4runner thanks to your research. Gonna run TRD tundra springs for that optimal 2 inch lift you showed in the other video.

[@markmitzlaff8672]

Glad you mentioned Hayden, you guys should Collab. Love both of your channels

[@bj7815]

My rear cheap icons are slightly longer than my old 5100. And run those in the back with longer sway bar links and 5100 up front on 1.75”/1” lift. Running 255/80r17. Perfect set up, although I kinda want to stuff some 255/85 in it. Not sure I even need to do much.

[@virtualrain]

Awesome helpful content! Keep it up! It would be great to know if those with 6112 setups can add a 0.5" spacer to get the same travel as 5100s

[@TinkerersAdventure]

Thanks and I hope so! Most shocks I’ve seen have over 0.5” of compression left at bump stop

[@ryanchambers7378]

This is FANTASTIC content!

[@agentchowdown4938]

I’ve been rewatching these videos over and over ever since you uploaded them, today I finally got around to measuring my Freedom Offroad Coilovers, and they are a full INCH longer than the stock ones. Talk about extra extended travel! By motion ratio that’s 1.85 inches longer. I’m flabbergasted, especially given the fact they are only $550! I wonder how their upper control arms are, I’m debating between them, the SPC’s, and the JBA’s. They also make lower control arms but they aren’t long travel… very interesting! Great video!

[@TinkerersAdventure]

hmmm, that sounds way too much to me if your measurement was accurate. I'd watch out for your inner CV binding. stock UCA will probably bind right around there too. Check if the top hat bushings were installed properly because that would affect the overall length.

[@timglascock5558]

Excellent videos! I've watched them multiple times to make sure I get the most out of them! Im looking at ways to maximize travel without going LT and have been frustrated by the lack of details. It would be amazing to see how much travel each brand has, similar to what you did here. Similarly, it would be really interesting to see how the rear suspension does as well. I know there are several different strategies for gaining length such as the Metal Tech LT which uses a longer shock but requires a 3" bumpstop compared to the Sonoran Steel Radflo option that is the same length as stock but uses a remote resi and internal trickery to give about the same length as the MT LT but with the stock bumpstop. It seems like they provide a similar length of travel but in different ways. Being that I have KDSS, I'm also interested in the different panhard bars that attempt to alleviate contact with the KDSS system on uptravel. It would be great to see if the different strategies like Treaty Oaks KDSS spacer, basic panhard bar upgrade (i.e. Dobs, Ironman, etc.), or Sonoran Steel bar make a difference. Love everything you are doing and cannot wait to see what you come out with next. Definitely interested in the UCA convo, especially since I've had a OME lift with stock UCA for 90k miles sitting at 23.5 up front (effectively 3.5" lift) with no issues at all. I'm sure an extended travel shock and slightly less lift would help the ride since it's pretty stiff but that's a whole other story!

[@TinkerersAdventure]

Thanks! You have some good points made. I pieced together my rear long travel with random shocks for other vehicles just to help retain up travel. If you haven't already, check out my KDSS video which I showed how the rear panhard and kdss spacer help.

[@roberthohlfelder9780]

Thanks for another outstanding video. I feel like I have to play these at slow speed so I can keep up with the fire hose of information.

[@lonesomecricket7721]

I am running the Bilstein 5100 and OME med coils up front and Bilstein 5160 with OME coils in the rear on my 07 FJ Cruiser. It’s a great budget lift.

[@PhildoBaggins]

Thanks for actually breaking out a tape measure and checking things. Rare these days.

[@MrStanYoung]

Love these videos! Can you also do a video that looks at rear travel and shock length? I've done extended setups before and the shock I used was a Fox 10" but I don't recall the exact length it was with the stock arms. I want to build something similar with my FJ and I have extended length sway bar links but not sure what shock to go with to get the added droop.

[@boostbogan]

I bloody love your videos mate, only facts, no anecdotal "evidence"

[@abrahamsanchez6950]

Thank you for the great videos.

[@roadrider1100]

Another clearly articulated video

[@downtownDSM]

Thanks for another great video!

[@wOhtest]

You're a beast bro. Thanks for this information.

[@electricstartclint]

Your videos are fantastic. I’d love to see you feature some Dobinsons parts at some point

[@Boostedgreengo]

Such great info!

[@jhreels874]

Finally someone is doing this... great video.

[@Fremlin]

Well done as always

[@aflo6475]

I also worry about the thinner diameter above the mount to the lcas on the cheaper shocks after having one snap

[@007johnie]

Love the videos. At 1:22 you showed the wheels droop, I think you should split the screen right in the center of the wheel instead to show the difference in before/after instead of overlapping the footage cause it just blurs it. Keep the videos coming.

[@TinkerersAdventure]

That is a great suggestion. I will keep that in mind for future illustrations. Thanks!

[@fouUili684]

Thanks for your research, this just makes me want to buy any Toyota trd pro version and keep all the suspension stock going off of what you’re saying. I have king shocks “regular” not extended adjusted to about 2” to level the front on my tundra like the trd pro with stock UCA and it bottoms out quite a bit going fast off-road hitting some unseen little whoops

[@TinkerersAdventure]

You can rebuild your King and let them swap in a shorter top out spacer to gain some down travel. I really like the TRD Pro Fox coilovers. They are internal bypass, which gives ride characteristics these Fox/King/Icon 2.5 diameter coilovers can't even touch.

[@fouUili684]

@@TinkerersAdventure yea I was gonna take them off soon to get rebuilt and tell them that, like you said Toyota made the pro suspension with stock UCA so I’ll stick with that

[@jamesvo3709]

I am REALLY looking forward to your UCA video… because I need ucas and can’t decide between spc or jba

[@TinkerersAdventure]

it is coming up next! stay tuned!

[@bc4198]

I would love to see your take on fancy bumpstops.

[@Agent.K.]

Great info as usual. Can you do something on leaf springs and shackles? For example LC 70 series.

[@TinkerersAdventure]

Thanks! Maybe one day. I don’t have much experience with leaf spring yet

[@That1Guy708]

Can you explain the use of having adjustable rear upper and lower control arms to set pinion angle for vehicles like 4Runner and FJ cruiser?

[@markwilson5699]

I just fitted bilstein 5100 was about 25mm longer than the factory coil over from my 2015 n70 toyota Hilux. I ordered a 2inch lift kit.

[@Radryannn]

Great video as always. Does this apply to all 5100s? Keep em coming !

[@TinkerersAdventure]

Thanks! Not sure about other vehicle platforms but very likely

[@craigboke]

Great series, I learned allot!!! Did you find any data on 6112s providing extended travel?

[@conradium117]

Great videos. Debunking myths through actual engineering and not just marketing lingo. Carpe Diem! Following your style, it would be great to see a side-to-side comparison of the most popular coilovers. Something similar to what Project Farm in his channel does. Would gladly help you set something up for that.

[@robbergstrom943]

As always, fantastic material and discussion. I have the 6112s on my GX460 and have been happy with their performance off-road. I wonder if they have similar extended travel to the 5100?

[@virtualrain]

According to Bilstein (who I've been exchanging emails with) they are same as stock.. 21.62". But putting a 0.5" spacer on top of a 6112 might work just fine to get the same extended travel. Someone needs to test this.

[@TinkerersAdventure]

Thanks! I don’t have first hand data. Looks like Chris got your answer. But bilstein’s tech support is horrible. Before I posted this video, I gave them a call to asked them why they didn’t advertise the extended travel for 5100. The guy tried to convince me 5100 doesn’t add travel and down travel is not limited by coilover length.

[@RingerRacing]

on my gx470 (which i mob) , my cross weights are trash and truck wallows , the 45lb battery is in the very front drivers side behind the headlamp, driver side also has fuel tank and my weight... im raised 1.5"f and 1" r with spc upper arms for -1.8 front camber and a decent amount of caster ..

[@kindasupersonic7114]

I went with the bilstiens 6100 series for my Tacoma and oh boy !!!! I can not be happier