What Is a Long Travel Suspension? (Plus FAQs)

Dedicated gearheads, especially off-roaders, have probably done almost every major modification in the book.

Aside from switching to off-road tires, installing steel bumpers, and adding roof racks, one of the most popular modifications truck drivers do is installing a long travel suspension kit. Long travel suspension is a modification that basically changes the distance the wheels are allowed to move vertically as allowed by the suspension components.

Basic Suspension Principles

Before we dive into a discussion of what a long travel suspension system is, it’s important to get a good grasp of the basic suspension principles first.

A typical suspension system has links, arms, and joints that work together so that the wheels can move up and down with ease. In the case of a front suspension system, steering parts are a separate set of components that turn the front wheels and provide the necessary geometry for handling during turns.

All suspension systems must provide transverse (side-to-side) and longitudinal (front-to-back) wheel support.

Transverse Wheel Support

The suspension system must accommodate the up-and-down movement of the wheels without causing them to move away from the vehicle or toward the center of the vehicle.

Longitudinal Wheel Support

As the wheels move up and down, the suspension system must prevent them from moving backward whenever the vehicle travels over a bump.

What Is Suspension Travel?

Suspension travel refers to the distance between the center of the wheel from full extension to full compression of the suspension system.

Simply put, it’s how many inches your wheels can move up and down while maintaining a controlled ride.

What Is a Long Travel Suspension?

A long travel suspension system is a set of control arms, shocks, axles, and other parts that change suspension geometry. These are essentially longer than the usual components, and many off-road enthusiasts opt to install a long travel suspension kit for several reasons.

What Are the Advantages of Long Travel Suspension?

When launching off dunes, having a long travel suspension can soften a vehicle’s landing. A long travel suspension setup also means longer wheel travel, which improves tire traction.

Longer suspension parts will cause the wheels to sit further out, creating more room for up and down movements without hitting the firewall and frame.

Vehicles with a long travel suspension system have a wider stance than those without one, which makes them more stable when traversing on uneven road surfaces.

A Quick Look at Independent Front Suspension Systems

Independent front suspension (IFS) vehicles like the Ford Ranger and Toyota 4Runner are commonly modified to have long travel suspension.

IFS is a type of front suspension system that uses a separate control arm for each wheel. With this setup, the movement of one front wheel won’t affect the other wheel.

What’s In a Long Travel Suspension Kit?

A long travel suspension kit is like your basic suspension system but longer.

Extended-Length Upper and Lower Control Arms

The control arm links the steering knuckle or wheel flange to the entire frame. One end of the control arm uses a ball joint or bushing to connect the flange. Meanwhile, the other end is attached to a frame member.

Extended-length control arms can push the wheels away from the center line by up to six inches, giving more room for the wheels to move vertically.

Extended-Length Coilover Front Shock Absorbers

Shock absorbers (together with struts) dampen and control the springs’ motion. Shocks are also referred to as dampers. Without them, the vehicle will continue to bounce even after hitting bumps.

Longer shocks can help the arms to move farther. The shocks on a long travel suspension setup usually come with remote reservoirs that help reduce shock fade on intense terrain.

Extended-Length Constant Velocity Axles

Constant velocity (CV) axles transfer torque from the transmission and send it to the drive wheels. Longer CV axles push the steering knuckle away from the center line.

Extended-Length Brake Lines

Brake lines carry hydraulic pressure from the master cylinder to the wheel cylinders until it reaches the brake calipers.

In a long travel suspension system, the brake calipers are farther from the frame, which can affect the vehicle’s stopping power during sudden stops. Extended brake lines can help prevent the loss of braking power.

Bump Stops

All suspension systems have their limits. If a vehicle travels over a bump large enough for the suspension parts to hit the frame, it’s the job of the bump stop to absorb the impact.

Bump stops or suspension bumpers are typically made from rubber or microcellular urethane. Sagging springs and worn-out shocks can damage these bump stops, affecting ride quality.

Extended Fenders

Extended fenders can help cover your tires and prevent them from flinging rocks and other debris on your windshield.

In most cases, long travel suspension kits use steel uniballs instead of conventional ball joints. Some kits also have secondary bypass shocks for extra tunability and improved damping performance.

What Are the Disadvantages of a Long Travel Suspension?

Like other major modifications, converting your suspension system can be quite costly. And if you want a long travel suspension that’s going to do its job, you’ll need to replace more than a few parts.

You might need to replace your stock wheels, get wide-body fenders, install gussets, and other upgrades to accommodate the extended track width and other features that come with a long travel suspension setup.

When it comes to performance, long travel suspension systems can hinder trucks on tight trails because of the modified width. Body damage should also be expected because of the wide fenders.

The Verdict: Is a Long Travel Suspension System Worth the Hype?

A long travel suspension system isn’t for everybody, and having one isn’t exactly a requirement if you own a truck.

Off-roaders might see this kind of setup as a necessity, but that will depend on driving styles, habits, and hobbies.

Most off-roaders with a long travel suspension system might tell you that ride stability and control are two of the main benefits of this setup, but you should also expect some downsides that come with having a wider track width.