Looking into suspension... those with front bumpers

[kafene]

I'm looking for a suspension set-up for my 2004 4Runner. I'd like something that will give me just 3" in lift but be able to support a new bumper with a winch. I'd like to eventually get a back bumper that I can support my spare.

I was originally looking into the Sway-A-Way coil-over setup which I believe costs around $1,500.

What other options can I look at within or below that price range that can meet what I'm looking for? Quality is certainly important, but within a budget. Those with front bumpers, what kinds of set-ups are you running?

Thanks always...
kafene.

[Crinale]

There are a couple guys around here with 4th gen 4runners, but not really with bumpers.. you may get a better/faster response over at http://www.toyota120.com/forum/index.php its a forum dedicated to the newer (120 platform) 4runners and trucks

[Ric]

Ive got an 04, with the Demello bumper, no winch yet, Im running the Toytec Ultimate lift, and Im VERY happy.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3eXVtY1Mrpw/ToHYdz3LTJI/AAAAAAAASeU/O4lhrOPLfHM/s576/DSC_2172.JPG

[Crinale]

Oh ya i forgot about you Ric :P the only person i could think of with a non-stock bumper was Lance XD

[kafene]

Ive got an 04, with the Demello bumper, no winch yet, Im running the Toytec Ultimate lift, and Im VERY happy.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3eXVtY1Mrpw/ToHYdz3LTJI/AAAAAAAASeU/O4lhrOPLfHM/s576/DSC_2172.JPG
Be carefull on T120, IIRC the owners of that site also own overland wareshouse, and they dont like compitition lol


The Toytech has been able to handle the weight of the bumper well? I may have to put that back into the list of possibles, then.

kafene.

[Ric]

Ive got an 04, with the Demello bumper, no winch yet, Im running the Toytec Ultimate lift, and Im VERY happy.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3eXVtY1Mrpw/ToHYdz3LTJI/AAAAAAAASeU/O4lhrOPLfHM/s576/DSC_2172.JPG
Be carefull on T120, IIRC the owners of that site also own overland wareshouse, and they dont like compitition lol


The Toytech has been able to handle the weight of the bumper well? I may have to put that back into the list of possibles, then.

kafene.

YES, very much so... search and you will see my 99 with the Armorology bumper and Warn 9.5TI and I was running the Toytec Ultimate lift, it was awesome, thats why I went with it again, on the 04. Handles GREAT both on and off road, I honestly love this lift.

[brodykeith]

OME also puts out a heavy duty lift if you're working on a tight budget. i was told that it was a bit of a rough ride on the street tho. i went with the ICON stg3 and have been real happy with it! its incredibly smooth on and off road out here on the east coast. its a more expensive kit but i bought it knowing that i would be adding the weight to the front and rear. ICON is well known and so far has been quite dependable.. the question is tho are you ready to give up your XREAS? its a high quality suspension and is great for controllability on those colorado roads. have you thought about doing a spacer lift to give you more ground clearance and allow you to still put bigger tires on? if you were to go that rout you could keep your XREAS and have more height.. there are a few threads on toy tech that had guys that got rid of their areas and noticed "a lot of roll". just saying that i would've waited to run my XREAS into the ground before getting rid of it completely. Day star has a descent spacer kit that could give you a couple extra inches for 400-600 bucks..

my ultimate goal is to do a SAC tho so i purchased my 4.0L with out XREAS or a crazy amount of extras.

Ric, how do you like that bull bar of yours? did it go on well and did it come already with holes for mounting your extra lights? what made you choose to go with that one instead of ARB or Shrockworks?

[brodykeith]

before
http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa323/brodykeith/Image.jpg

after
http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa323/brodykeith/Image1.jpg
http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa323/brodykeith/Image2.jpg
http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa323/brodykeith/Image-1.jpg
heres the stock suspension that i would love to sell if any body is interested...
http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa323/brodykeith/Image1-1.jpghttp://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa323/brodykeith/Image2-1.jpg

[Ric]

Ric, how do you like that bull bar of yours? did it go on well and did it come already with holes for mounting your extra lights? what made you choose to go with that one instead of ARB or Shrockworks?


well the bumper was at a good price, lol I got in on a group buy, no it did not come with holes to mount lights, Id NEVER give shrockworks any of my money, they are known to flat out lie, to customers.
Overall, Im pretty happy with the Demello bumper as Im not as hardcore with this rig lol

[expatoz]

Heres a quick overview. You could look into these companies to supply what you are looking for in your price range

1. ICON has an excellent stage 1 coilover kit
2. Old Man Emu (OME) provides several shocks and spring rates/lengths below your price range
3. Radflo sells coilovers in two variations for the 4R. I recommend you ask them about the system that has the Overland Warehouse specs which are tuned to the 4R.
4. Toytec also has a basic system for the 4R that would work for your needs.
5. Fox
6. Kings

In most cases, companies can offer with a 2.0" bore or a 2.5" bore shocks/coilovers. The basic differences are the amount of oil to provide cooling. Bigger bore = more oil = less fade as oil heats up.

Some companies also offer extended length setups depending upon the lift you need.

If you want a more detailed conversation, please feel free to pm me and I can get into the nitty gritty.

[edit = good times - clean up comments]

[kafene]

Ive got an 04, with the Demello bumper, no winch yet, Im running the Toytec Ultimate lift, and Im VERY happy.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3eXVtY1Mrpw/ToHYdz3LTJI/AAAAAAAASeU/O4lhrOPLfHM/s576/DSC_2172.JPG


Ric,

Just ordered the ToyTec Ultimate Lift. Did you install it yourself?; and if you did, any issues? I'm looking at the instructions from their site and I'm hoping that it's going to be detailed enough to do it. I take it I'm going to need a spring compressor for the install?

kafene.

[Seanz0rz]

kafene,

if you need help installing, let me know. I'd be willing to help, and have all the tools necessary here in Redlands.

[Crinale]

If you've never installed a suspension before, they aren't difficult as long as you are mechanically inclined.. If you are uncomfortable about it at all, help from someone who has done it before is invaluable, and I would suggest taking Sean up on his offer if this is the case.

[Seanz0rz]

I've done far more suspension work than I'm comfortable admitting, but it has given me a lot of experience!

you really should get that suspension done before pismo!!!

[kafene]

I've done far more suspension work than I'm comfortable admitting, but it has given me a lot of experience!

you really should get that suspension done before pismo!!!


Thanks for the offer Sean! I'm somewhat mechanically inclined. I've done suspension work before on my old Maxima, but never on a truck. How long does it take? If it's going to take a few hours, maybe I'll swing by! If it's a day project, I'll do it at home.

Mark.

[Crinale]

I'm not sure what the ToyTec lift entails.. But based on the fact that your truck is pretty new, and, when I saw it, didn't look beat up at all, the old pieces should come off without too much fuss. So if the coilovers are already built than probably 3-5 hours with Sean's experience, if they are not built add about 2 to that.

The biggest time taker is with the older trucks like mine or older where you ALWAYS inevitably need a few parts that you weren't counting on because they either break while being removed or are way more worn out than you thought before :chair:

[kafene]

Ive got an 04, with the Demello bumper, no winch yet, Im running the Toytec Ultimate lift, and Im VERY happy.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3eXVtY1Mrpw/ToHYdz3LTJI/AAAAAAAASeU/O4lhrOPLfHM/s576/DSC_2172.JPG


Just got done installing the Ultimate Lift (not without some hiccups). Now I need some tires. What size are you running? I currently have P265/70R17.

kafene.

[Seanz0rz]

:pics:


seriously though, what problems did you run into? glad you got it all installed and cant wait to see it on some dirt or sand again!

[kafene]

Hahaha... I'll be posting some pics soon. I wanted to take an "after" shot before posting. Everything was fine, but the job is definitely a two man job (the second person mainly needed for holding stuff out of the way or holding something down, etc.). I ended up accidentally cutting the wire in the back. The ABS and traction lights lit up in the dash. I was able to splice the wires back and use shrink wire tubing to fix it. I noticed that there's some leak in the CV boot. That was there before the install. The other side was already changed prior while under extended warranty. The CV boot looks intact, but is leaking at the small hose ring area. I just got some CV boot grease. I'll inject it back in and clamp it with a hose ring I have laying around.

Any thoughts on what size tire I can get now? I'm thinking of getting the same size I have now of P265/70R17, but thought I'd be able to go bigger now that I have the lift installed. :clap: Not sure how big I can go without major cutting (some cutting I don't mind). I want to go bigger, wider if possible without using spacers (not that I mind, but I just can't spend the money).

[Crinale]

I dont know a whole lot about 4th gens, but I would guess you should be able to fit 285/70r17 now

[kafene]

I dont know a whole lot about 4th gens, but I would guess you should be able to fit 285/70r17 now


I ended up ordering the 275/70R17 today. Can't wait! 8)

[Ric]

Ive got an 04, with the Demello bumper, no winch yet, Im running the Toytec Ultimate lift, and Im VERY happy.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-3eXVtY1Mrpw/ToHYdz3LTJI/AAAAAAAASeU/O4lhrOPLfHM/s576/DSC_2172.JPG


Just got done installing the Ultimate Lift (not without some hiccups). Now I need some tires. What size are you running? I currently have P265/70R17.

kafene.

sorry for coming in late, but Im running 285s on the stock wheels

[kafene]

Thanks Ric... I ended up going with the 275 on stock 17's. Didn't want to risk it not fitting.

http://www.ohmark.com/blogimages/2012/09/newtires/2012.09.08%204Runner_008.jpg

http://www.ohmark.com/blogimages/2012/09/newtires/2012.09.08%204Runner_002.jpg

Here are the pics with the ToyTec.

This was the truck stock:
http://www.ohmark.com/blogimages/2012/09/toytec/2009.11.23%204Runner%20006.jpg

Removed XREAS and stock suspension.
http://www.ohmark.com/blogimages/2012/09/toytec/2012.08.25%204Runner_001.jpg

Installed ToyTec.
http://www.ohmark.com/blogimages/2012/09/toytec/2012.08.26%204runner%20ToyTec%20install_001.jpg

Here's how the truck sits now.
http://www.ohmark.com/blogimages/2012/09/toytec/2012.09.08%204Runner_005.jpg :clap:

[xonetruthcrewx]

Looking good man!

[Ric]

looks good,, dont you wished our rig came from the factory like this...

[Good Times]

Lookin good mark! Now get rid of that plastic running board!! :)

[kafene]

Lookin good mark! Now get rid of that plastic running board!! :)


Haha... thanks guys. The sliders are definitely next. Linda already said I can just order them early, but I'm waiting until after the Jamboree. Want to show her I'm being a good boy and waiting. 8)

[Crinale]

Looks good! sliders and skid plates and you'll be ready for most things :thumbup:

[kafene]

Looks good! sliders and skid plates and you'll be ready for most things :thumbup:


Skid plates?! Damn, you! How much do THEY run? LOL.

kafene.

[Good Times]

mark for you "one millllion dollars!" ;)

[Crinale]

Skid plates?! Damn, you! How much do THEY run? LOL.

kafene.


I would guess this price is pretty average, and they look like good quality (you really only NEED the front engine one until you start wheeling harder..

http://www.man-a-fre.com/pa4/4Runner03-09SkidPlates4plus.htm

[kafene]

Thanks Kev,

Not as outrageous in price as I thought. :)

Mark.

[Crinale]

:thumbup: