TowndawgR50

If you have some time and space,a welder, drill, protractor and a saw capable of cutting metal you can make the kit yourslef. you'll need to make: 4 blocks to space the subframe 2 engine blocks 2 strut spacers 1 Panhard drop bracket you'll need to buy: steering link extension extended brake lines various hardware i think thats everything.. the subframe spacers are super easy to make, cut the box tube to length and drill holes spaced accordingly. the strut spacers need 8 degrees of angle with identical bolt patterns on the moubting plates that mimic the strut mounting plate design. You buy the steering extension from a US based company whos name I forget right now. the brake lines can be had from a local autozone or O'Reilly and are listed as stock lines for different nissan vehicles, frontier rear lines and Rouge front lines. This is if u want to build it yourself and save money. I completely understand the desire or need to just pay for a complete product sometimes.

Good choice. I like those KO2s. They've done really well in the snow since Ive moved. I had zero experience in cold weather wheeling so Im not the best judge but i plowed through were most were getting stuck on a christmas tree trail.

To be clear though, I did trim the lower rear part of the front flares and inner wheel well a little.

Sounds like fun. Would you be interested in checking it out in the warmer months? Maybe a three day weekend? Memorial or something?

I run my BFG KM2 33x12.5 on a 15x10-3.75BS rim with tons of strut clearance and no spacers.

Thanks!

I prefer that type of "destination" wheeling in a national forest. Any particular areas you recommend?

Christmas tree prospecting in the Mt Baker Snoqualmie national forest with a local Suzuki club. The truck did really really well on the KO2's. Good times.

hey! I was over in those parts just south of Port Angeles last summer. Definitely will be heading back in the warmer months. Any opportunities to wheel out that way?

yup. Modified Smitybilt. i like the looks but its its not ideal. Leaves huge portions of the lower radiator support and AC line susceptible to damage and it doesn't cover the forward portions of the fenders. Its gunna go pretty soon. Just haven't had the time to make a proper unit. I got it cheap a while back and loved the aesthetic so I thought Id give it a try. Don't let the pictures fool you. In person its not so hot. Looks funky.

Haha, nice. Yea, its a whole new approach to vehicle ownership for me. The "DMV" here is strange for sure. There are 2 departments- Licensing and vessel registration. I got my WA license from the licensing group which is state run and the registration portion is through a 3rd party, at different locations, which takes care of plates and the likes. Both were unbelievably fast. I had to go to the main building in downtown Seattle for my plates because they were personalized and anticipated CA style long waits and grumpy service. When I got there of course there was no parking except for public pay garages so I coughed up 12 bucks for 2 hours expecting long lines and run arounds. Got into the office and saw a huge line out the door but as I walked closer learned it was for taxis and uber folk and the vessel reg line was empty. In and out. Unreal. 12 bucks down the drain. Lol. To top it off you can get all your outdoor passes needed, which kinda sucks because WA makes you get passes or permits for any outdoor parking. And there are like 4 or 5. Discover pass, wilderness pass, Mt rainier pass etc....Its kinda weak but I picked up the discover pass which covers most of the wilderness areas around me ( I hope)

Got my registration and plates taken care of. Emissions test here was faster than a coffee house drive-thru window. And cheap as hell. 2 minutes and 15 bucks later and I had the paper I needed to get tabs and plates. Which immediately made me think of all the goodies I can get now that are illegal in CA...headers, test pipes etc. They didnt even do a visual or lamp and brake inspection or any kind of vehicle verification at all. It was all paper based. Im so used to the CA way of vehicle ownership this all seems so easy and quick. The emissions test was just an OBD2 scan to verify I had no active CEL. Mind=blown The DMV was almost as quick and easy. No wait, no fuss and best of all, NICE PEOPLE. Why are all CA DMV clerks idiots w a massive chip on their shoulder? Oh well, doesnt matter anymore. HELLLOOO PNW!!

Just moved to Issaquah. Headed to the Mt Baker Snoqualmie forest off 90 to find a Christmas tree this weekend or the next. Quick little snow wheeling trip. Hope to meet some of you in the future.

So I made it up to WA without too much trouble. Ran the KM2's anticipating snow at the Siskiyou pass but it was just rain and fog thankfully, despite temps in the low 30's. Horrible gas mileage was the result. But peace of mind and not having to jump out and throw chains on my towing tires was priceless. Overall it was about 18hrs of driving with TONS of rain and traffic on thanksgiving day. The standing water on the freeway in Portland was insane. Was hit with tidal waves coming from the traffic going the other direction and had to drive blind for a moment while the wipers ran at max trying to evacuate the water....scary stuff. Was able to load just about everything in my uhual and keep a space for a foam pad to sleep very comfortably Wednesday night in the back of the truck. Fueling up just before the Siskiyou pass in 33 'F weather with high winds Resting place for the night Made it The truck fits in the garage!!! (just barely)

Like he said, they only make MD for the rear but would have run HD if they made them available because of the trailer I tow. I run HD in front for the weight of the bumper and winch (yet to mount the winch but sits under a workbench waiting)

Yes, I run the R50 specifc units.

I have the OME HD & MD springs with air lift bags and love the setup. Perfect for what you're doing. I pull a converted 18ft toy hauler trailer with this setup, pretty hefty tounge weight, and couldnt be happier. Honestly, I run the bags aired up 24/7 because I prefer the way it handles with the bags pressurized.

Well it was nice while it lasted. After Tuesday I'll finally be moving up to WA so this awesome shop space will be a thing of the past. Got as much done as I could but still have plenty left to install and fab. Rear locker, bumper, air compressor, sliders, rear tire carrier, underbody armor and so on. Made the most of my last time in the shop with the truck and did fluids in preparation of the long haul up. Engine oil, tranny oil/strainer and rear diff oil. Its been fun California....so long. Hello PNW Original strainer? Sizing up the strainer o-ring so I can snag one from the shop. Old LSD oil

i cant recall what your older units looked like

haha, no. But if you do happen to use this design for your website sales I only ask you seriously consider calling it a "Jacobs Link"

....patent pending

So i had a quick moment to make a Missing Link and the results are good so far. Massive improvement in positive braking and steering. Very solid. Why i waited to make this is beyond me... Used 1.5" .125 wall square tube and milled the top off for access and used an annular cutter to make room for the washer and a 22mm impact socket. Of course one of the bolts was fubar'd, yet another casualty of the fantastic work at Shaffers Off Road of Alameda Ca ( Dont ever go there) Luckily I was able to run a tap through the subframe threads and snag a new bolt from the shop so it all worked out.

Yes, but i question everything they touched. God damn butchers.