[Iron_Will]

The maximum recommended payload for the 4runner in most cases is 1,500 lbs. I plan on buying, building/modding one throughout the next 3 years to live in with shower, stove, minifridge, bed, etc. and I've tallied up all of the weight modifications (minus small items like food, flatware, clothes) and it comes to about 1,500. I'm assuming the small items will add maximum of 300 lbs, so looking at max of 1,800 lbs with is 300 over the GVR.

My question is (since I'm not a suspension expert), what would be the best route to go in order to safely handle this amount of weight and keep the longevity of the vehicle working as intended?

I'm assuming I will need 33" higher load index tires (Falken Wildpeak 3,168 lb seem the best choice)
I'm also assuming I'll need to upgrade my brake pads but don't know how that would work.
The suspension I'm clueless on, and would need any grateful advice you guys and gals could give.

[ahtoxa11]

Two ways about it.

1. 300 over isn't something that's going to break a lot of stuff all the sudden. Many here are way over that, I bet. It's not a good idea and I don't recommend it, but I also think it's within reasonable margin. As you upgrade, ensure the suspension you want can carry the weight at the height you want. No single answer here, but you can talk to Dobinson's with your specs and they will make a pretty good spring recommendation for you.

2. You're probably underestimating the weight you'll have. Have your rig build, then weigh it on a scale, determine load over each axle, then determine tires and suspension you need for it. This would be a more accurate way to go about this as you'll have actual weight per axle to go from.

[sn_85]

A shower, stove, bed, and other living items should not tally up to 1,500 lbs unless you're bringing an inordinate amount of junk with you. The only vehicles I see over GVWR are ones that are fully kitted out with front & rear bumpers, sliders, skids, roof rack, roof top tents, dual battery systems, winches, drawers, etc etc. What else are you bringing that weighs so much?

[Jetboy]

You'll want firmer springs most likely in both front and rear just to maintain the same ride height. Also firmer shock valving would probably be a good idea.

Otherwise - It should be just fine as far as weight carrying ability. The running gear is pretty large for the vehicle. Brakes should be no problem at all. They're huge for the vehicle and should not need anything to handle another 1500lbs. The front brakes are bigger than the fronts on my F250 diesel. They don't have the best feel to them which is a software choice by Toyota - but they'll stop you very well.

My primary advice here - and I'm serious about this - if you're going to want to constantly haul 1500+lbs of cargo around, stop now and go buy a LC200 or a GX460. The 4Runner is great at many things. Power is not one of them. With the effort and $ you're looking to spend, I'd go for one of the 4Runner's stablemates with more power. It'll make life a lot nicer down the road.

[adventure_t4r]

Firmer springs front and rear are definitely the way to go.

[Iron_Will]

Originally Posted by sn_85

A shower, stove, bed, and other living items should not tally up to 1,500 lbs unless you're bringing an inordinate amount of junk with you. The only vehicles I see over GVWR are ones that are fully kitted out with front & rear bumpers, sliders, skids, roof rack, roof top tents, dual battery systems, winches, drawers, etc etc. What else are you bringing that weighs so much?

Everything you said minus the rooftop tent. The roof rack will house a flat ironman 15 gal water tank with a pull out shower tent assembly, thule cargo shell, pull out awning, with side accessory panels each housing 2.5 gallon fuel pack. Back rear bumper will house dual swing out panels housing 2 25lb propane tanks, 1 5gal fuel can, 1 5gal drinking water can. so all of that is looking at 300 lbs Im guessing with the liquid weight factored.

Will have pull out drawer systems, bed platform, flip down 24" monitor with laptop, around 1500 watt inverter, gas fueled low wattage generator (for recharging inverter and gold prospecting stream pumps). 700 watt microwave(for when bad weather omits cooking outside with the pullout camp stove). I think the liquid weight is what pushes it so far up the ladder.
It will have the winch, back bumper, rock sliders as you said...due to the need to get to difficult places to prospect.

[STX4Runner]

Keep in mind too that the payload figure of any vehicle does not include the weight of fuel or driver, so add another 300 or 400 lbs for the gas and driver depending on how much you weigh.

Also, don't put 15 gallons of water on your roof. Get that low. I put a 5 gallon water can on the roof when I go camping, but that's because I don't have anywhere to securely tie it down inside. But 15 gallons plus all that other stuff is a lot of weight up high.

[Iron_Will]

Originally Posted by Jetboy

You'll want firmer springs most likely in both front and rear just to maintain the same ride height. Also firmer shock valving would probably be a good idea.

Otherwise - It should be just fine as far as weight carrying ability. The running gear is pretty large for the vehicle. Brakes should be no problem at all. They're huge for the vehicle and should not need anything to handle another 1500lbs. The front brakes are bigger than the fronts on my F250 diesel. They don't have the best feel to them which is a software choice by Toyota - but they'll stop you very well.

My primary advice here - and I'm serious about this - if you're going to want to constantly haul 1500+lbs of cargo around, stop now and go buy a LC200 or a GX460. The 4Runner is great at many things. Power is not one of them. With the effort and $ you're looking to spend, I'd go for one of the 4Runner's stablemates with more power. It'll make life a lot nicer down the road.

Thanks for that advice...I'll look into it

[STX4Runner]

Just make it easy and get a full size truck. Way more space and ability to haul that cargo without having to get crazy racks and swingouts and such. Just get a truck with a topper.

[Iron_Will]

Originally Posted by STX4Runner

Keep in mind too that the payload figure of any vehicle does not include the weight of fuel or driver, so add another 300 or 400 lbs for the gas and driver depending on how much you weigh.

Also, don't put 15 gallons of water on your roof. Get that low. I put a 5 gallon water can on the roof when I go camping, but that's because I don't have anywhere to securely tie it down inside. But 15 gallons plus all that other stuff is a lot of weight up high.

Yep I know. I didn't want to but it was a matter of gravity feed for shower and space location. Now that I think about it...I might have just figured out a nice place for it instead of the roof rack, but it will need the installation of a 12v water pump for the shower facet of it. that shouldn't be a problem since I will have a water pump for prospecting in streams. Since I'll be removing the second row seats, I'll have a spot for it under the bed platform. Not sure about gallon size yet, but my engineering mind will figure it out. Thanks.

[sn_85]

Originally Posted by Iron_Will

Everything you said minus the rooftop tent. The roof rack will house a flat ironman 15 gal water tank with a pull out shower tent assembly, thule cargo shell, pull out awning, with side accessory panels each housing 2.5 gallon fuel pack. Back rear bumper will house dual swing out panels housing 2 25lb propane tanks, 1 5gal fuel can, 1 5gal drinking water can. so all of that is looking at 300 lbs Im guessing with the liquid weight factored.

Will have pull out drawer systems, bed platform, flip down 24" monitor with laptop, around 1500 watt inverter, gas fueled low wattage generator (for recharging inverter and gold prospecting stream pumps). 700 watt microwave(for when bad weather omits cooking outside with the pullout camp stove). I think the liquid weight is what pushes it so far up the ladder.
It will have the winch, back bumper, rock sliders as you said...due to the need to get to difficult places to prospect.

Hate to say it but your poor 4Runner is gonna run like shit and you're going to realize you picked the wrong platform. With all that you're bringing you either need to get an overland trailer like a Patriot, Turtleback, AT Overland or just simply get a full size truck and get a camper. You can live out of a 4R but you have to have a backpackers mentality. You're bringing everything and the kitchen sink (Microwave applies here).

Originally Posted by STX4Runner

Just make it easy and get a full size truck. Way more space and ability to haul that cargo without having to get crazy racks and swingouts and such. Just get a truck with a topper.

Seriously. 4R does not have enough payload, power, MPG, and space. Full size truck with a slide in camper seems appropriate here.

[mrblah]

Originally Posted by sn_85

A shower, stove, bed, and other living items should not tally up to 1,500 lbs unless you're bringing an inordinate amount of junk with you. The only vehicles I see over GVWR are ones that are fully kitted out with front & rear bumpers, sliders, skids, roof rack, roof top tents, dual battery systems, winches, drawers, etc etc. What else are you bringing that weighs so much?

the wifey......

well not so much the wifey, its what the wifey brings!!!!!

[Cymon]

Originally Posted by STX4Runner

Just make it easy and get a full size truck. Way more space and ability to haul that cargo without having to get crazy racks and swingouts and such. Just get a truck with a topper.

@Iron_Will I think this is great advice. Get a full size truck with a Go fast Camper top or something similar. If you are really planning on off-roading it, the 4runner is going to be a bear with all of that weight, especially up high. For the water, if you decide to go ahead with the 4runner look for a footwell storage like the one Frontrunner has.

Footwell Water Tank - by Front Runner

@sn_85 also makes a great suggestion about getting some form of Overland Trailer. You can go as simple as you want and modify with something like the CVT trailer, middle of the road like Schutt Xventure or Turtleback or full-on with something like the Patriot Campers. Heck even look into something like Mission Overland trailers or Teton Hybrid. From these you can get to like 99% of the places you would take your 4runner and then basecamp from there to explore the other 1%.

Just my .02 from traveling with everything and the kitchen sink plus 2 kids. We went from RTT, to RTT on Military trailer to now small family camper. Don't go down the rabbit hole like we did and just get the final solution. We ended up with a Taxa Cricket to basecamp and then we explore from there.

[ahtoxa11]

Originally Posted by STX4Runner

Keep in mind too that the payload figure of any vehicle does not include the weight of fuel or driver, so add another 300 or 400 lbs for the gas and driver depending on how much you weigh.

You are partially correct. Payload calculation takes into account 'wet' weight, which means all fluids - oils, coolant, full tanks of gas. You are correct that driver weight is separate and must be deducted from overall payload published. The gas does not.

[Iron_Will]

Originally Posted by Cymon

For the water, if you decide to go ahead with the 4runner look for a footwell storage like the one Frontrunner has.

Footwell Water Tank - by Front Runner

thanks for that link...I hadn't seen that tank. looks like it would work perfect and would supply enough water for 3 showers (3.5) gal without refill. As for the camper top...I just like the all in one encapsulated vehicle/home approach and 4x4 ability of the 4runner. Im single so it won't be cramped living at all. I appreciate the advice though