View Full Version : Is your 4th Gen worth modifying?$$$$
JP4Crawler
05-29-2006, 08:56 PM
I grew up wheelin' with the family. Dad was always a Toyota guy, I remember the old indestructable Land Cruiser, then came the shiny red 1980 pup, which was passed on to me at the age of 16. Swapped the tranny did some tweekin' & the thing still runs like a champ(won't pass smog in Ca, so she's retired for now). She took me places that's still hard to believe & always brought me home(at least within walking distance).Time came to buy the 1st new vehicle, wife was pregnant with twin boys, so I needed 4 doors & 4Runner was the ticket. The boys liked bangin' around so we hit the trails often. Tougher than nails & Toyota reliable, but the clearance was EXTREMELY limiting. Needed new tires, don't like to spend $$ twice, so I spent the last 3 months looking into what was available for my 2004 SR5 V-8 4Runner. I found myself in several Toyota forums. After lots of digging, found everything I needed to know. Options: modify the 4R or buy junked & build 'er up. I only wanted 2 vehicles, so I opted to mod the 4R & hope the $$$$ would meet my expectations. Met up with Demello Offroad, DR CO up front, Deaver(30%) & Bilstien in the rear, rock sliders cause we like to push it, magna flow exhaust(muffler eating rocks forced the issue), & 285/75/16 Wrangler MT/R's finished her off. I picked up the 4R Thurs., tires arrived Fri.(Sam's club, best price I found), installed, got her aligned & hit the trail Sat. THIS HAS GOT TO BE THE BEST $$$$ I HAVE EVER SPENT!!!! The 4R far surpassed my expectations & I can now continue to build her up. My answer to the title question is "ABSOLUTELY YES!!" This vehicle will go anywhere I dare to take her, depends on how much damage your willing to allow. Thank you to any & all who contribute to these forums, they showed me the WAY. Sorry for the novel, but time I have little of.
Jason
Cruiserhead
05-29-2006, 10:12 PM
That is an awesome post :)
Your rig looks great, as do the pics. Is that the dk. blue? It's a pretty rare color as I don't see many around.
bulldog
05-29-2006, 11:09 PM
Nice looking 4R. I think most people here would agree that the 4R is absolutely worthwhile building up. It has a great platform to work with, just fix the low nose fromt he factory and life is good.
This looks like the nice climb out of Last Chance trail close the Randsburg in CA.
http://www.toyota120.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=88
I came down it in 2003 with my 4R when it was still stock and squashed my exhaust pipe a bit :rolleyes: Its a lot steeper than people think adn had loose sand and very small rocks on it when I went down (making traction very poor, especially with dunflops)
http://www.ezdries.net/assets/images/db_images/db_STeep_downhill7.jpg
http://www.ezdries.net/assets/images/db_images/db_Oopsie4.jpg
Jared
05-30-2006, 07:51 AM
If that's Randsburg, then I think I might make sure I make it on our future toy120 randsburg trip!
JP4Crawler
05-30-2006, 08:55 AM
It's the Dark blue. That's the hill just outside Last Chance. Red Rock is only 1 hr from me, so I go pretty often. It's a great place to test things out. The Cherokee I was with couldn't make the transition from wash to rock so I actually came back down. Photos don't do justice, it's very steep. Here's a couple photos of carnage before mods & the 4R contemplating an obstacle in Last Chance I call "The Wedge", very doable, but if you loose your line, major CARNAGE! I had my boys, so I chose to skip it, but I love to consider it. One of these days.
Jason
bulldog
05-30-2006, 10:16 AM
I love that area, we are definitely going to organize a trip there sometime later this year. Most of the trails are not that hardcore, but some can be. Just need to find a good camping area to use as base though.
my034runner
05-30-2006, 11:00 AM
At least you did it right the first time Jason! Good job. Oh and YES, the answer to your original question (of which you answered yourself) the 4th gen 4Runner is a great vehicle to build on. It is amazing what they are capable of!! Back when I first got My034runner, there wasn't that many options. So, I started off with the Revtek kit. But, as Andries did, junked that first system for the Hoe's and custom springs, and this suspension kicks arse!! :rockon: :bigok: :banana: :banana:
And as you can see from the banner (my034runner) this set up works great!!
Jared
05-30-2006, 02:06 PM
At least you did it right the first time Jason! Good job. Oh and YES, the answer to your original question (of which you answered yourself) the 4th gen 4Runner is a great vehicle to build on. It is amazing what they are capable of!! Back when I first got My034runner, there wasn't that many options. So, I started off with the Revtek kit. But, as Andries did, junked that first system for the Hoe's and custom springs, and this suspension kicks arse!! :rockon: :bigok: :banana: :banana:
And as you can see from the banner (my034runner) this set up works great!!
On that note, what's up with the banner? It's now taken over by a single dirty black 4runner. What a ripoff, one guy taking up the whole area. I call foul play.
bulldog
05-30-2006, 02:22 PM
On that note, what's up with the banner? It's now taken over by a single dirty black 4runner. What a ripoff, one guy taking up the whole area. I call foul play.
:iagree :iagree
You have to speak to the mod about that one!!! :jester: :jester:
AlexJet
05-30-2006, 02:27 PM
It worth every penny for mods, just sometimes it takes too may pennies to do the mod :rotflmao:
my034runner
05-30-2006, 03:14 PM
On that note, what's up with the banner? It's now taken over by a single dirty black 4runner. What a ripoff, one guy taking up the whole area. I call foul play.
Hey, I happen to think that it's the best banner yet!!
:iagree :wavey: :rockon: :bow: :banana: :guns: :moon:
And you saw just how dirty it can get Jared!! :rotflmao:
my034runner
05-30-2006, 03:16 PM
Oh yeah, Thanks James!!!!! I love the new banner!!!!!:bow: :bow: :bigok: :rockon:
Jared
05-31-2006, 08:16 AM
Oh yeah, Thanks James!!!!! I love the new banner!!!!!:bow: :bow: :bigok: :rockon:
Bullocks!
:flipoff:
JP4Crawler
05-31-2006, 09:23 AM
I love that area, we are definitely going to organize a trip there sometime later this year. Most of the trails are not that hardcore, but some can be. Just need to find a good camping area to use as base though.
Nothing too hardcore there, more like a middle school playground, stick to the washes & there's some fun sections. There used to be canyons open that could get pretty extreme, but have been closed for years now. I've always camped at Cudahy Camp, there is a no camping sign posted now, but the Rangers have never given me problems. They're looking for riffraff. There's plenty of legit camping in the area. Next time I'm out I'll find some good spots to recommend. I've camped all over there, but don't know the legality.
my034runner
05-31-2006, 01:07 PM
Nothing too hardcore there, more like a middle school playground, stick to the washes & there's some fun sections. There used to be canyons open that could get pretty extreme, but have been closed for years now. I've always camped at Cudahy Camp, there is a no camping sign posted now, but the Rangers have never given me problems. They're looking for riffraff. There's plenty of legit camping in the area. Next time I'm out I'll find some good spots to recommend. I've camped all over there, but don't know the legality.
The trail was pretty cool, it was fun. Wasn't too extreme, but with people of various experience, didn't need to take a double locker trail. As it was, we turned Mike and John (black FJC) because they didn't have sliders. Without them, they would have had some damage (rocker panels, etc....) I scratched the crap out of my sliders, but that's why I have them.
:rockon: :iagree
I'd be interested if you have some other locations in mind. This trail was probably a 4-5. The pictures don't do it justice. :wavey:
JP4Crawler
05-31-2006, 06:16 PM
I wish I was talking about your Red Rock in Nv, it looks a lot more interesting than the Red Rock I was refering to, which is in Ca btwn Mojave & Ransburg. I don't even come close to using my sliders there. BTW, I give full credit to the pioneers, such as yourself, for me doing it right. All I had to do was a little research & reading, you guys risked the $$$$ & found out what works.
Jason
my034runner
05-31-2006, 09:14 PM
I wish I was talking about your Red Rock in Nv, it looks a lot more interesting than the Red Rock I was referring to, which is in Ca between Mojave & Ransburg. I don't even come close to using my sliders there. BTW, I give full credit to the pioneers, such as yourself, for me doing it right. All I had to do was a little research & reading, you guys risked the $$$$ & found out what works.
Jason
I thought that you were talking about the area that we were in this past weekend. We were @ Stoddard Wells OHV area in Barstow, and there Are some nasty double locker trails out there. And the trail that we did would probably qualify as a 5.5, with body damage if you don't have sliders. As it was, I scratched the hell out of my sliders, but that is why I have them. I don't want to think of what my rocker panels or my doors would look like if I didn't have them. That's why we turned back the two vehicles that didn't have them, because they wouldn't be happy if they were to continue on. As for the area you're talking about, I don't know where Ransburg is!
Why don't you sign up for our 1st annual Toyota120.com Mojave Road trip in September? It's not that hard of a trail, but it is without question, an awesome run. See the Trip planning thread. :bigok: :bow:
:camping: :beer: :chowtime: :drink:
JP4Crawler
06-01-2006, 06:08 PM
I'd love to run the Mojave, I haven't been there since I was 4 or 5 yrs old with Pop. But, twin 18 month old boys, 2 homes under construction & a full time R.E. business make it tough to get away. I might make Big Bear Sunday & run into you guys. If you make it. Mostly day trips is all I can do & I usually don't know till last minute. I haven't been to Barstow in years, but I used to get into some pretty good stuff out there, in my P-up, in the good ol' days. But, you never know, If I sell one of my homes, it will take off a lot of pressure & I'll want to celebrate. I'll keep it open. Thanks for the invite.
Jason
Jason,
Truck looks great, and great choice of equipment.
We should go wheeling sometime and see the difference 20% springs vs 30% springs make. Also I want to see your sliders close up :)
-Mike
JP4Crawler
06-09-2006, 09:42 PM
I'm definitely glad I went with 30%. Just carrying the full size spare, ice chest, recovery gear & a couple bags seems to make a difference. Still rides great, but I can see I'll have a sag issue W/ rear bumper/ tire carrier, gas cans, ice chests & camping gear later on. I bet the 20% feels like heaven.
I usually try to go wheelin' every weekend, Sat or Sun, depends on my schedule, it can change quickly. Tomorrow I'll stay local. Got a dry creek bed where the boulders get big, only 5-10 min away. I might try Big Bear for a day trip when everyone is there, but can't be sure. I'll be hittin' Miller again soon. It's always better after you've done a trail once, as you know what to expect & can enjoy a little more. I'll post up every time I plan on anything worthy & we'll hook up. Thank the stars for these forums, it sure makes it easy to do it right.
Jason
JP4Crawler
06-09-2006, 09:46 PM
Oh ya. Sliders are a must!! I am very happy with the Demello weld ons. High quality stuff. Already saved my arse a couple times. You'll like em.
Jason
my034runner
06-10-2006, 12:20 AM
Both of your 4Runners look great! :bow: :cheers:
Mike, have you got your rock sliders yet?? :confused: I know that you saw what an important thing they are to have a couple of weeks ago. :eek:
Check out our banner, I was at about a 38 o angle and was resting on my sliders with about .5 of an inch till my door met the rock. So, I'm certainly glad I had them. But I wouldn't have done it without them.
I'm going to try to make it to Big Bear maybe on that Saturday after work.
Also, I hope that you can both make it to our Mojave Road trip in September. :camping: :beer: :chowtime: :drink: :guitar: :thrasher: :gimmie: :tequila:
Yeah - sliders are on the top of the list... just trying to decide on which ones I want! I can't wait get out on the trails again, maybe this Sunday for a bit.
I'd love to join in on the Mojave Road trip - trying to work out my schedule!
-Mike
my034runner
06-10-2006, 03:48 PM
Yeah - sliders are on the top of the list... just trying to decide on which ones I want! I can't wait get out on the trails again, maybe this Sunday for a bit.
I'd love to join in on the Mojave Road trip - trying to work out my schedule!
-Mike
Mike, just go back and have Jason Demello weld his on. They seem to be great quality, and he already knows your 4Runner. Or get the bolt on set from ShrockWorks, they also seem really nice, and we know that they're going to build a quality product. Just my 2 cents!!
As for our Mojave Road trip, yeah, it would be great to see you back out in the dirt again! Don't think that there's too much dirt to play in in Hollywood!
But there is plenty of time to plan for this one, we have three (3) months.
You're going up to Andires house tomorrow aren't you? I guess you all are running to someplace called Hollister Hills.
Peace!!
Robert
I wanted to go to Hollister, but unfortunately couldn't do it tomorrow - this weekend filled up and it's a real long drive. So I'll have to wait - but I did put my license plates on today - finally!
-Mike
my034runner
06-11-2006, 01:02 AM
I wanted to go to Hollister, but unfortunately couldn't do it tomorrow - this weekend filled up and it's a real long drive. So I'll have to wait - but I did put my license plates on today - finally!
-Mike
YES!!!! :rockon: :bow:
It's about time! :cow:
What about Big Bear? :camping: :beer:
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