74 Weld Portals

The driver view isn’t optimal but it’s fine. I like being able to run the Rubicon then drive two hours and hit the dunes.

 

I get your point. But the discussion was about spending 20k on 74Weld portals and where that gets you. Nothing stopping someone with a Jeep running the dunes. I have nothing against portals if the vehicle was designed around them. Portals are also not just a bolt on and be done. The vehicle will still need a long list of additional upgrades just as a mid-travel or a long-travel set up does to work well.

 

Sure but folks likely to buy portals are doing that anyways. I'm >$30k in on my long travel. I could have saved ~$10k off it and put the rest into portals for ~$40k total and be better off. It's not a bad fit for some folks. I personally couldn't because 5" track width is too much.

It was discussed a lil' in the JD Fab thread for folks with more money than sense invested in their suspension:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...el-and-934-cv’s.626274/page-847#post-28880064

 

Haha agree! It's also much nicer driving a Tacoma down the road w/ IFS and a more aerodynamic body design. Any of the jeeps I've ridden in are bear to drive on the highways I know people will likely yell at me saying "if you're building a rock crawler you should trailer it", but not everyone wants to tow their rigs to and from the trail.

 

Trailering is way less fun. I ride with some friends with a SxS and we always have to return to where we started at the end of the day. Out here in NorCal I could crawl all day on 5 separate trails and never go back to the trailhead of the first one. Fuck that.

 

I’ve talked to Quinn at 74weld quite extensively because I was serious about getting these. After some talking through with friends and more research, this is not the way to go for my current build. If you already put low gearing, have a lift, on long travel, it just won’t make sense. I’m seeing some conversation online where people are saying that a few rigs on portals showed up in Sand Hollow last month that were not impressive. Instead, they became a liability because of the sheer lift, 40 inch tires, and center of gravity issues. Particularly when they were off camber over rocks. I think this is more of a set up for those that has a bone stock Tacoma. That said, they will make these in forgings apparently sometime in the 4th quarter of CY 2024. That should bring down the price. For those getting the 4th gen bone stock, this would be a great solution.

 

I too drive over 5gallon buckets. The end result is a orange grenade of Home Depot shrapnel flying out from under neath, with the metal loop handle slapping the sign thrower guy for Domino's in the face.

 

I don't think any of those drawbacks are unexpected or particularly bad. Yes, larger tires and lift will change your COG but you're not functionally dissimilar from a Wrangler at that point and it's still perfectly capable.

My biggest issue is the width. You're getting pretty fucking wide once you add in portals. I couldn't fit on most technical trails near me like e.g., Barrett Lake with a track width like that.

 

So I talked to a friend who was just out in Cougar Buttes yesterday with Tacomabeast’s portals. He said it was very disappointing. All these other tacos on 35’s and 37’s were getting over all these obstacles like no problem. The one on portals was struggling heavily and they had to spend some time having to winch it out. Important to note that tacomabeast’s set up is heavy with all that overland jazz and a dual swing out bumper. He said he drove it to test it as he’s already committed to portals with 74weld. He was disappointed on how tippy it was and the brakes sucked. And yes, the wider track makes up for it and is probably the saving grace from completely rolling over. Nonetheless, it struggled all the way through. He mentioned that Tacomabeast’s limitations were his rear set up not having enough flex. All in all, to me aside from the 20k for the portals, you have to consider putting more $$$ to either a spring under set up or a shock relocation, better flexible leaf springs to max out flex, and better brakes up front, new tires, and new wheels with a positive offset. You will end spending more than 20k easily.

 

Unreal. I could replace every suspension component twice for less than that. And it's still less capable. Cool idea, not very practical.

 

when is the giveaway raffle