This truss is designed to give you the torsional rigidity required to run a link setup well. Use it without the optional side gussets and it is great with Leaf Springs too. We all see lots of tube style trusses in use but a tube dosen't address the twist introduced with torque input, tubes will make the axle stronger and give a place to mount your upper links but do little beyond that. Then there are the plate steel variations that also are great axle strengtheners and even better mounting points for links but again, do little about torsional twisting. Our truss designs incorporate a full torsion box for strength in every way others do but the box design also resists' the twist incurred with extreme torque input. The 9" housing is strong in its own right but not strong enough to do what we are asking of it in Rock Crawling and Desert Speed Running! the truss alone ends 3/4" before meeting the spring perches, for a linked setup get the optional gussets and go all the way to the flanges. It is 1/4" thick formed steel with a 3/8" formed base to complete the torsion box.