Upgrade Time 05 4runner

[troyslegacy@yahoo.com]

Hey all,

I just completed my first off-road trip in my 2005 4runner on Barlow Road. Unfortunately we were unable to complete the trip due to some previous engagements back home and had to leave early. I plan on alloting plenty of time in the future though to complete the entire trail. I was fairly impressed with my truck during the trip but I am looking for some upgrades. I am looking at some OME 884 front coils and some 895's for the back with the matching nitrocharger shocks. I don't plan on upgrading my tires which are brand new <1000miles and are already a tad bigger then stock at 270/65/17. I wanted to see if anyone here would recommend anything that won't break the bank other then the suspension? I am also working with my friend on getting my amateur radio license and plan on taking the test next month. I found the whole package in Oregon for $780 that I can pick up here in the WA area tax and shipping free. Also, if anyone knows a good suspension shop in the Tacoma/Olympia area that would much appreciated. Thanks

[alanh]

A lot depends on what kind of trips you want to do and how big the bank is!

If you plan to go on rougher roads or trails, personally, I'd start thinking about protection.

A decent skidplate can protect some vital stuff underneath the rig. I'm not sure about the 05s, but for the 3rd generation 4Runners you can get two piece plates that go from the front back to the transfer case. They aren't cheap, but I don't think the prices are outrageous.

Lots of pepole (including me) add sliders for rocker panel protection, although in my own experience with my 2000 4Runner with no suspension lift, the skid plates have taken way more abuse than the sliders. (I'm not out doing real rockcrawling - just some pretty rough roads.)

Straying from the mechanical upgrades, and liking to tinker with electronics, I think electrical system upgrades (power distribution block for fuses etc.) to power various gadgets is good no matter what kinds of roads you're traveling on.

I'm slowly, very slowly moving things from the 4Runner to a Tacoma, so things are kind of torn up at the moment, but I have or have planned CB radio, ham radio, electric fridge, computer, GPS, extra lights, air compressor, small inverter, and various other things that need power.

Navigation equipment in the form of a good GPS that can use topo maps or a GPS/laptop combo is a good idea too. A beefy rig may not be much use if you don't know where you are or where you're going!

I could ramble on, but that's probably enough for now.

Alan

[nightfoam]

Yeah, I'd agree on the Skid Plates definitely. I can't remember, do you have the rear locker in your 4Runner? If so, I'd say the gray-wire mod (allows use of locker in 4hi) should be in your future. I know Casey (in the silver Tacoma this weekend) put just a spacer up front and then a 2~3 inch shackle in the rear, and with his rock sliders he is now QUITE capable

[Steve]

alanh summed things up great for an adventure vehicle.

The only thing I would add is too purchase the OME springs that match the weight carrying capacity need for the future (winch, bumper, cargo, extended fuel tanks, etc). You may have already considered this with the OME part numbers listed below.

I know you didn't mention it, but I hear a lot people think they need to go out and buy lockers for their rig before they consider recovery gear (ie winch).

In my opinion (and its only my opinion), that money is better spent investing in a winch than lockers. My reasoning is that a winch will usually get you out of trouble. A set of lockers (which I think are a great investment, even if you do not use them alot, and I will eventually add them to my land Cruiser), will not only let you get further along on the trail (and do less damage too), but they will also get you a lot more stuck than you would have if you were unlocked.

No winch + lockers + getting stuck = deep trouble

Again, this is only my opinion.

Steve

[alanh]

Steve's mention of recovery gear before lockers is the same reasoning I used for protective gear. Best to protect the rig before or at the same time you get lifts, etc. that can get you into places where you really need it.

Recovery gear reminded me I didn't think about things like good points to anchor tow straps front and back and all the other non-permanent stuff that it is a good idea to have along as well, like straps, shackles, tools, and on and on and on....

[troyslegacy@yahoo.com]

Thanks for all the replies. I went ahead and got the coil springs and matching shocks that I had mentioned in my first post. I don't plan on going with an ARB bumper or anything, I am saving that money up for a BMW GS. I will check into the skid plates for the 4runner. Are the one's that come with the truck not very good? They seem to cover the majority of the underbody. The truck has a center locking differential so I am not sure if the gray wire mod that works on the Tacoma's will work on the 4runner.

[AWDios]

Best use for Toyota stock skid plates is a mud shovel. They're basically sheet metal, and offer a little bit more than no protection.

I'm suprised the 884's would be recomended for a 4 runner since the 885's are recomended for the double cab 05 taco and I would thin the 4runner is heavier.

I think my greatest investment has been my sliders, followed by the front and rear bumper.

Remember there's also some good accessories to have to keep in your rig, such as recovery strap and gear, maybe a hi-left, shovel, axe other tools, spare parts etc.

[Toy Man]

In my opinion (and its only my opinion), that money is better spent investing in a winch than lockers. My reasoning is that a winch will usually get you out of trouble. A set of lockers (which I think are a great investment, even if you do not use them alot, and I will eventually add them to my land Cruiser), will not only let you get further along on the trail (and do less damage too), but they will also get you a lot more stuck than you would have if you were unlocked.

Makes a lot of sense but of course I did it in reverse.
I ran dual lockers years before I purchased a winch. I do a lot of solo driving and used to get myself into 'interesting' predicaments while learning where I could/should go (and more importantly - not go). I did know enough not to force it using the lockers and typically used them to get me out of trouble. They worked great and saved my rear on numerous occasions - some of which I don't think a winch would have worked.

Rock sliders have saved me a lot of body damage plus they work great as high lift jack points.

Having an installed tow hitch has worked most excellently as a rear slider.

An after market (TJM) front bumper was probably my best investment as it provided a LOT of clearance over the OEM bumper.

Toy Man

[Steve]

...good points to anchor tow straps front and back....

I second this. So many vehicles do not have recovery points and it's easily overlooked until you need them.

Steve

[troyslegacy@yahoo.com]

I went to ARB to pick up the coils and shocks today. How lucky I am that the warehouse for one of the two ARB distribution points in the world is 30 miles from where I live. I was able to get the stuff tax free by purchasing it through a company in Oregon and then doing a "will call" directly at the distributor. I was also able to check out about six of their vehicles that you see in their product catalog. A lifted FJ with an awesome auxiliary tank and a Tacoma with numerous improvements. As far as using the 884's over the 885's my thinking was I still wanted a somewhat comfortable highway ride. The 884's are recommended as well for a V-8 4runner and will give that about 1.5 lift in the front. I should get about 2 inches in the front with the 884's and about 2.5 inches in the rear with the 895's. I crawled under the truck today for a comparison. The 884's are much thicker then stock so I am sure I won't be losing any capability. Having nitrocharger shocks at all ends won't hurt either. I am going to look into some good skidplates when I get a chance.