SAS or REKON

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SAS or REKON

Postby donkbb on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 1:18 +0000

Hi Everyone

long term reader, first time poster...

Been reading a bit about the REKON gear (which looks bloody awesome) but also have been reading about PARRS make over and his SAS truck and it has got me thinking. Basically - how does the REKON gear compare to a SAS truck or normal coil / solid front end. Does the REKON gear "close the gap" between the two? what would be the pro's and cons of each? Ive had the lux for two years (coming out of patrol ute) and for everyday use and the odd trip to the high country, the IFS has been good. Ive just come back from the a Simpson crossing however and whilst the ute performed faultlessly, i couldnt help but feel my old patrol (suspension wise) would have just done everything that little easier.

thoughts, comments, suggestions.....does this make sense??? Should i be saving my money for the REKON or SAS

Brett
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Re: SAS or REKON

Postby Monster Rides on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 1:38 +0000

Hey Brett,

Good questions there Mate... you certainly have opened Pandora's Box!

This is something Bud and myself have been discussing for a while... there may or may not be a friendly little wager on the outcome of back to back comparison!

I guess it all depends on a few things:

1. Budget
2. Onroad use %
3. Offroad use type of terrain
4. How long you'll keep the truck

The SAS'd and 4 Linked Hilux's Bud is turning out are outstanding. Having driven one of them a fair bit on 35's I can tell you it is the best driving solid axle vehicle I have ever driven. Period. Makes a Patrol seem very ordinary on road that is for sure. No death wobbles and they drive a treat... plus with the addition of the new rear swaybar they will be even better again. Haven't wheeled one offroad as yet, but that shouldn't be far away.

On the other hand Rekon equipped trucks have been embarrassing solid axle trucks all over the country for a little while now, and really making a lot of old hard headed solid axle stalwarts really consider coming across the fence into the green lush pastures of the IFS Hilux. Banger had an awesome trip up to the Cape this year and out drove lifted/locked LandCruisers all the way there and back and really surprised a lot of people. The combination of lockers, extra wheel travel, 33's and good clearance under the front diff really help to keep the truck moving in places where some solid axle vehicles start lifting wheels and dragging diffs. The ability of the driver has a lot to do with it as well.

A Rekon equipped truck with all the sauce will cost roughly a bit under half of a SAS. Both trucks would really benefit form the 4 Link rear so that's and even bet $$$ wise.
Re-gearing will be a bit more expensive on the IFS, but is part of the conversion with the SAS, so this is also a consideration as well. I'll try to put together a direct dollar comparison over the weekend with lockers and re-gear so we can compare apples with apples so to speak.

Over the next few months we will have some good opportunities to compare the two set ups back to back, on the same tracks on the same day and get some really clear comparisons to show the public in the "SAS v Rekon" death match :lol:

Toddie will be able to give a first hand owners perspective, having had the Rekon kit for a while, and now upgrading to a SAS and 4 Link.

I think it will be a really good comparison between the 2 trucks, though might be hard to get a level playing field to test on... as the SAS'd trucks will usually run 35's and the Rekon guys will have 33's!
Might need to "handicap"the SAS trucks with 33's for a day of testing.


Anyway hope this info helps and I look forward to this comparison unfolding over the next few months.

Game on Bud :twisted:



Cheers
Matt
Last edited by Monster Rides on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 2:12 +0000, edited 1 time in total.
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SAS or REKON

Postby D4D luxy on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 1:48 +0000

Oh so very keen to see this :D :D:D
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Re: SAS or REKON

Postby Alby on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 1:52 +0000

Great question and good response from Matt, this should be an interesting thread.

Out of curiosity are Bret are you running stock suspension now or ???
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Re: SAS or REKON

Postby donkbb on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 1:58 +0000

Hi Alby
I have EFS 2" suspension. I had this on the patrol and never had a problem so thought id give it a try. So far its been good and hasnt been an issue although it has sagged a touch since the simpson (not much though but noticable). It has been on the truck for 18-19 months now.

Thanks Matt - that sounds more than interesting. Cant wait to here / see some results
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Re: SAS or REKON

Postby pisso01 on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 2:01 +0000

I agree ^^^. This question has crossed my mind quite a few times. Will be interesting to see what happens.

Cheers,

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Re: SAS or REKON

Postby amitch888 on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 3:16 +0000

Which is most reliable? And how does the 4 link rear go for traveling with a load on, canopy full of camping gear?

Interested to hear more on this topic :geek:
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Re: SAS or REKON

Postby dave06 on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 4:21 +0000

amitch888 wrote:Which is most reliable? And how does the 4 link rear go for traveling with a load on, canopy full of camping gear?

Interested to hear more on this topic :geek:


Thats another good question,

In the test would be good to do a track with the trays empty then run the same track again with some decent weight put in the back of both the SAS & IFS trucks, something to compare for us guys that love to wheel of a weekend but also do long trips simpson, cape, kimberlys etc. I myself carry alot of weight & from my knowledge leafs are the go, but are they if you have a live axle front end in your hilux??

Make sure the video cameras are out in force that weekend
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Re: SAS or REKON

Postby KTM525EXC on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 6:15 +0000

watching with intrest :ugeek: it will be intresting to see what comes out on top overall.
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Re: SAS or REKON

Postby helmut79 on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 6:49 +0000

I want to know more about the 4 link rear aswell
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Re: SAS or REKON

Postby Parr on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 7:08 +0000

I LOVE MY TRUCK. That is all... :twisted:

No but really.
Load isnt an issue mine is running 2" cruiser springs so is if needed heaver springs. I have mine loaded for mud bulls and it hardly moved. The foxes actully handle alot of weight by themselfs. The suspension is just starting to settle in mine and the shicks need some tuning to get the perfect. In the corners myntruck has less body roll that my old boys stock 200.

The thing with 4 link rear is the need to relocate the fuel tank meaning you will have to find a new home for the spare.
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Re: SAS or REKON

Postby helmut79 on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 7:13 +0000

Parr wrote:IThe thing with 4 link rear is the need to relocate the fuel tank meaning you will have to find a new home for the spare.


Rear swing away, problem solved
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Re: SAS or REKON

Postby amitch888 on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 7:38 +0000

helmut79 wrote:
Parr wrote:IThe thing with 4 link rear is the need to relocate the fuel tank meaning you will have to find a new home for the spare.


Rear swing away, problem solved


Wouldn't look right with a tray... Behind the cab would be the go
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Re: SAS or REKON

Postby helmut79 on Fri, 04 Nov 2011 8:09 +0000

amitch888 wrote:
helmut79 wrote:
Parr wrote:IThe thing with 4 link rear is the need to relocate the fuel tank meaning you will have to find a new home for the spare.


Rear swing away, problem solved


Wouldn't look right with a tray... Behind the cab would be the go


Your right Mitch but with the tub It would be awesome
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Re: SAS or REKON

Postby ronnyfergo on Wed, 23 Nov 2016 12:17 +0000

I've been away for bit but keen to see some me ore on this myself
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Re: SAS or REKON

Postby where'smycat on Mon, 16 Jul 2018 11:04 +0000

Old thread, and my questions not about about Rekon Suspension, but I'm getting close to pulling the trigger on a suspension overhaul and am a bit stuck which way I want to jump. Going to either go down the road of Ultimates smart lift and 33's, or a SAS and 35's. Either one would be engineered and legal. The rear will be leaves which ever way I jump.

It's a 2010 dual cab, so it's a lot of money either way for an older ute (I'm planning a bit of a dream build), but it's been serviced every 5000km since new and I'm planning on keeping it for a while.

My head is telling me that the 4' smart lift and 33's is the way to go,and I'll have a massively capable rig (2" and 32's at the moment with a rear locker). But my inner 8 year old keeps yelling 'SAS it! 35's 35's 35's'!

It's my daily as well.

Any opinions? Any guys that have done the solid axle swap regret it?
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Re: SAS or REKON

Postby hiluxxury on Mon, 16 Jul 2018 11:42 +0000

Yep, I've thought long about this as well.

Questions I wondered about:
- will the smart lift provide the same suspension travel as a SASed rig?
- are you stuck with the same front wheel bearings, CVs etc as a stock IFS lux in the smart lift? They are a weak point with larger tyres.
- is there much price difference?

I think if I was to do it, I would get mine SASed. It's solid, simple and well proven.
I might be wrong.

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Re: SAS or REKON

Postby where'smycat on Mon, 16 Jul 2018 6:15 +0000

I know the smart lift increases travel by giving you your down travel back if you've lifted the ute, but I can't see how it's going to compete with a well set up solid axle. Win for the SAS.

Yeah, you keep the same bearings, cv's etc. The CV's are probably a little safer because they're sitting at stock angles, and they won't pass anything bigger than 33's with a smart lift at the moment. Whole new/reconditioned front end with the SAS and they'll pass 35's. Win for the SAS.

There is a big price difference. The smart lift isn't cheap once you factor in a brake upgrade and re gearing, but with the options I got quoted, I'd be spending about 6-7k more to get is SAS'd......can't take it with you I guess :D

Thanks hiluxxury, I've answered my own question :D
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Re: SAS or REKON

Postby hiluxxury on Mon, 16 Jul 2018 6:34 +0000

Awesome! Yeah, the SAS is the way to go IMO. I get 26cm of travel with stock upper and lower control arms - that's at the real limit of the CVs.

I've been interested in the total chaos stuff in the past to get more travel but then I always go back to the old SAS.
I might be wrong.

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