User Tag List

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rating: Thread Rating: 2 votes, 4.50 average. Display Modes
Old 10-03-2006, 08:16 PM #16
4by4th's Avatar
4by4th 4by4th is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Texas since 1981
Posts: 269
4by4th is on a distinguished road
4by4th 4by4th is offline
Member
4by4th's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Texas since 1981
Posts: 269
4by4th is on a distinguished road
We took the 4Runner to our reliable local mechanic today who did the Jeep yesterday and they said it was okay, no charge.

I would like to be able to check it myself in the future, so any suggestions would be appreciated.
__________________
My 4th 4x4: 2004 V6 4Runner 4x4 (dealer replaced engine at 70,000 miles 2006 - http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showth...ight=nightmare), Mich. Cross Terrains, Nitto T/G, now BFG AT KO's 265/70/17, Leather, Husky mats, Escort, iPhone (phone, GPS, iPod), USA Spec Bluetooth Interface, Fumoto Valve
Current daily driver: 2008 Honda Accord EX-L w/Navi
4by4th is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 11-29-2006, 10:36 AM #17
SHINTON SHINTON is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Kernersville, NC
Age: 53
Posts: 7
SHINTON is on a distinguished road
SHINTON SHINTON is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Kernersville, NC
Age: 53
Posts: 7
SHINTON is on a distinguished road
I thought I would give some insight on modifications for your 4x4! These are based on personal experience and listening to fellow 4x4ers who have been doing this a LONG time.

First modification should be the ability to get yourself UN-stuck! To start with, this means reliable tow points, front and rear on the vehicle. Sometimes factory tow points are ok, on some rigs you may need to add these.

Then you will want to buy a tow or "snatch" strap. Get the kind with loops on both ends and some "D" rings for hooking them up. I keep mine in a bag along with my winch gloves and a short piece of chain. (More on the chain later)

Continuing on with getting unstuck, the next "cheapest" unstuck device is a HI LIFT Jack! They are called farm jacks for a reason, they have been using them forever! You can literally use it as a winch and pull yourself out 48-60" at a time if nothing else!

Read up on how to use and MAINTAIN them properly. You will see lots of "cool rigs" who leave their Hi-Lift mounted outside their rig all year long without any cover over the mechanics. These are usually the same guys whose Hi-Lift levers get stuck, have to "hit them" with a rock to move, etc... Keep it lubed, and stored properly. They have some nice plastic molded cases you can get for them now, or covers, or mine stays in the garage unless I am taking a trip, and I lube/check it before loading up.

CHAINS ARE dangerous, please do not use them as a strap, because it literally could turn into a life/death situation, especially crappy non-rated chain. They have ratings just like bolts, straps, ropes, etc.

With that in mind, I STILL carry about a 6' chain with the "links" for hooking them together in my GO bag. The reason is..some of these rigs suspensions are so flexy, even my 60" hi-lift cannot get them off the ground. So instead, I loop the chain around the frame/axle, holding them together, THEN I am able to jack it up a MUCH shorter distance to get a wheel off the ground. (Lower = SAFER too!!) I have seen rachet straps used the same way with great success, chain is just what I have used.

Ok...final thought for today is this....bigger lifts and bigger tires and lockers all usually mean you can go MORE places and get stuck "deeper" in the woods than before!!

My #1 mod before ANY LIFT or bigger tires or lockers is a winch. We call it the "Warn Locker", the most imporant locker of them all. It will save you body damage, keep you safe, allow you to "walk" up something too hard to drive over safely, etc.

Buy a brand name winch...even if this means waiting another 2-3 months of saving up your cash, you will curse that cheap "chinese/generic" junk when it conks out on you 1/2 way up the gully and you have to get someone ELSE to winch you up/down. I have owned both Ramsey and Warn and like em both. (Look at the WINCH SAVER product, saves your winch cable/gives you a nice weight on the line, etc)

Another winch line tip...don't do the "hook it to the D ring on your bumper" and winch tight thing. If you do this any length of time you have just created the breaking point on your cable! That "bend" is a kink/weak spot, you are much better off to use that winch saver or just winch in VERY carefully with just the hook sticking straight out of the fairlead.

I hope that helps, I have been taking out new 4x4 owners for about 6 years now, hitting the trails for the first time and this is the same advice our club gives them. I cannot tell you how many of them have gotten addicted to the hobby and have gone on to build huge rigs!!

Sam Hinton

Last edited by SHINTON; 11-29-2006 at 10:43 AM.
SHINTON is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 11-30-2006, 01:41 AM #18
Chuck4x4 Chuck4x4 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: WA
Posts: 25
Chuck4x4 is an unknown quantity at this point
Chuck4x4 Chuck4x4 is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: WA
Posts: 25
Chuck4x4 is an unknown quantity at this point
Quote:
Originally posted by SHINTON
My #1 mod before ANY LIFT or bigger tires or lockers is a winch.
Is it possible to add a winch to the 4Runner without replacing the front bumper?
Chuck4x4 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 11-30-2006, 09:32 AM #19
SHINTON SHINTON is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Kernersville, NC
Age: 53
Posts: 7
SHINTON is on a distinguished road
SHINTON SHINTON is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Kernersville, NC
Age: 53
Posts: 7
SHINTON is on a distinguished road
Chuck I don't know yet for sure, my guess is it can be done, but it will be custom. Look up the term "Hidden hitch" for the front of vehicles, the newest 4runners are not mentioned but olders ones are I believe.

Essentially what you are doing is adding a tow hitch under the front bumper, with a receiver sticking out, usually where the front tag is.

Then you mount a winch on a plate/receiver, and can move to front or rear.

OR...my personal plan B...is to see if there is enough room in there to "hide" the winch behind the lower air dam area, with a fairlead coming out the grill down there. In both cases, I will be keeping the front stock bumper...

Sam
SHINTON is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 02-01-2007, 05:15 AM #20
DB208508 DB208508 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Winona, MN
Posts: 36
DB208508 is an unknown quantity at this point
DB208508 DB208508 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Winona, MN
Posts: 36
DB208508 is an unknown quantity at this point
IMO the toyota stock bumpers are kinda chinsy and wouldn't risk mounting anything like a winch to them, if I was going to make it so I could keep the stock bumper I would extend the mounting brackets/frame and put a plate over the gap, and mount the winch to that
__________________
1988 4runner 195k

1993 pontiac bonneville SSEi 219k summer speeder-alpine deck, PG Xenon 200.4,2x12W1,S-type 6x9's in rear
www.bonnevilleclub.com

1992 F-150 302 4X4
DB208508 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 02-02-2007, 03:33 PM #21
fourwd1's Avatar
fourwd1 fourwd1 is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: the Socialist State of Maryland
Posts: 11,432
Real Name: The Chosen One
fourwd1 is just really nice fourwd1 is just really nice fourwd1 is just really nice fourwd1 is just really nice
fourwd1 fourwd1 is offline
Moderator
fourwd1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: the Socialist State of Maryland
Posts: 11,432
Real Name: The Chosen One
fourwd1 is just really nice fourwd1 is just really nice fourwd1 is just really nice fourwd1 is just really nice
Kinda like this ?
Attached Images
Off-roading Tips-img_6065_cropped-jpg 
__________________
- the Internet - the mother-ship of people who don't know much and aren't afraid to go public
'84 4Runner - ARBed 5.29s F&R, 4.7 & 2.28 t-cases, 2" drive train lift, BudBuilt x-member/skid, 30 spl Longs
'83 Toy P/U - Buick 231 V6, Holley 4 bbl, Weiand intake, Downey headers, TH350 w/700R4 low gearset,
'89 4Runner SR5 - stock
fourwd1 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 11-08-2007, 05:40 PM #22
gotmud?13's Avatar
gotmud?13 gotmud?13 is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 193
gotmud?13 is on a distinguished road
gotmud?13 gotmud?13 is offline
Banned
gotmud?13's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Posts: 193
gotmud?13 is on a distinguished road
hey all. great thread. it has helped me out a LOT. on e of the pressing issues i have and also have a great fear of, is recovery. winches dont do everything they say they do. there are more forces holding a mired (stuck) rig down than you would expect. PLEASE READ THIS ARTICLE, and take it into account next time you are wheelin and get stuck... thanks,
Jake Engel

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/billav...ery/index.html
gotmud?13 is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 01-14-2008, 03:44 AM #23
mcqueen mcqueen is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Age: 37
Posts: 3
mcqueen is an unknown quantity at this point
mcqueen mcqueen is offline
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Age: 37
Posts: 3
mcqueen is an unknown quantity at this point
off roading

Very helpful tips you got there.

I think the most important part is to also make sure that you drive with mud terrain tires to ensure better grip and smoother driving off road
mcqueen is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 04-14-2008, 11:46 AM #24
rafal_c rafal_c is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Western Australia
Age: 39
Posts: 54
rafal_c is an unknown quantity at this point
rafal_c rafal_c is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Western Australia
Age: 39
Posts: 54
rafal_c is an unknown quantity at this point
i learnt this the hard way..

when driving on dunes, when you reach the crest SLOW DOWN. the laws of physics can really work against your wheel alignment, and may cause severe stress and hardship to unsuspecting passengers
__________________
http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/7516/scarsd0.th.jpg

me and my recently purchased 4runner!!!

http://img352.imageshack.us/img352/7516/scarsd0.jpg

international playa baby!!!
rafal_c is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 04-01-2010, 08:45 PM #25
97blkt4r's Avatar
97blkt4r 97blkt4r is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Lake Forest (Orange County)
Posts: 53
97blkt4r is on a distinguished road
97blkt4r 97blkt4r is offline
Member
97blkt4r's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Lake Forest (Orange County)
Posts: 53
97blkt4r is on a distinguished road
Very great information for me, someone who is interested in eventually doing some off-roading. Anyone want to post info on driving in snow?

Last edited by 97blkt4r; 04-06-2010 at 08:16 PM.
97blkt4r is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 04-02-2010, 04:30 PM #26
MikesToy MikesToy is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 4,086
MikesToy is on a distinguished road
MikesToy MikesToy is offline
Banned
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Colorado Springs, CO
Posts: 4,086
MikesToy is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by 97blkt4r View Post
Anyone want to post info on driving in snow?
First, drive slow. Expect some ice on the road. Even tho if you don't see it, you will eventually run into some patches of ice. If you feel that you're about to slide before the whistles and bells ring, downshift one gear or two pending how bad the road is. DO NOT slam on your brakes, just step on them as you normally would, the ABS and VSC will do the rest. On intersections where you have to run a yellow/red light, RUN thru it b/c you will not be able to stop on a dime. Don't worry, the other vehicles on the other side cannot pull up that fast. Best time to practice is late at night when no one is around the road. Once you get the hang of it, driving in snow is easy.
MikesToy is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 04-28-2010, 07:10 PM #27
Carl_G's Avatar
Carl_G Carl_G is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Posts: 660
Carl_G is on a distinguished road
Carl_G Carl_G is offline
Member
Carl_G's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Vancouver, B.C., Canada
Posts: 660
Carl_G is on a distinguished road
Driving in snow

Quote:
Originally Posted by 97blkt4r View Post
Very great information for me, someone who is interested in eventually doing some off-roading. Anyone want to post info on driving in snow?
OK I learned the hard way and here is some of what I learned:

1. It doesn't matter how capable the vehicle is, driver error can cause problems.

2. Walk the area first before you drive it. Although the snow all looked the same I had the driver wheels on hard ground and the passenger wheels on compacted snow. All 4 tires were spinning in 4-LO with diff-lock. So the ATRAC was trying to help but not enough traction anywhere. Shovelling under the skidplates only caused the passenger side to sink lower.

3. Not being careful can be expensive. $90 for the towing bill.

I know it doesn't look like it's that stuck but believe me it was!

Some people offered to help pull it out but no one really was confident with it so we decided to pay the tow bill and get it out professionally rather than have a chain snap and break a tailgate window or something.
Attached Images
Off-roading Tips-photo-jpg  Off-roading Tips-photo-2-jpg 
Carl_G is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 04-28-2010, 08:43 PM #28
Mr. Leary's Avatar
Mr. Leary Mr. Leary is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: DFW
Posts: 858
Mr. Leary is on a distinguished road
Mr. Leary Mr. Leary is offline
Member
Mr. Leary's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: DFW
Posts: 858
Mr. Leary is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carl_G View Post
OK I learned the hard way and here is some of what I learned:

1. It doesn't matter how capable the vehicle is, driver error can cause problems.

2. Walk the area first before you drive it. Although the snow all looked the same I had the driver wheels on hard ground and the passenger wheels on compacted snow. All 4 tires were spinning in 4-LO with diff-lock. So the ATRAC was trying to help but not enough traction anywhere. Shovelling under the skidplates only caused the passenger side to sink lower.

3. Not being careful can be expensive. $90 for the towing bill.

I know it doesn't look like it's that stuck but believe me it was!

Some people offered to help pull it out but no one really was confident with it so we decided to pay the tow bill and get it out professionally rather than have a chain snap and break a tailgate window or something.
First rule is to ensure that you can get yourself unstuck before you dive in...
Mr. Leary is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 10-12-2010, 04:40 PM #29
Tornadom's Avatar
Tornadom Tornadom is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 82
Tornadom is on a distinguished road
Tornadom Tornadom is offline
Member
Tornadom's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 82
Tornadom is on a distinguished road
I see this thread was brought back up from the dead by a spammer, but nevertheless it gives me a chance to read it and add some.

1). know your limits as a driver. 9 times out of 10 your vehicle has higher limits than you do.

2). practice in the safest environment you can, with more experience people surrounding you if possible

3). have a backup plan. Maybe you only make it 35 miles in on your 70 mile out and back trail excursion... be sure you can either survive until help arrives, or be able to get back out

4). food and water. I have a fast metabolism, so I am always eating and drinking. I make no exception on off-road trips. Be sure to carry your trash back out, or dispose of it in proper trail head receptacles.
__________________
Used to have: 1990 Toyota 4Runner, SR5, V6, 5spd, 4wd, 4.56 gears, 31x10.50r15 ATs, all options... sold due head gasket and other issues.

Have: 1991 Jeep Wrangler, 4.0L High Output, AX-15 manual transmission, NP231 transfer case with 4:1 low range conversion, slip-yoke eliminator, CV driveshafts front and rear, sway bar and track bar quick disco's, 4" suspension lift, extended shock towers, Bilstein shocks, 2" body lift, custom stinger front bumper, 33x15.50-15 Swamper TSL-SX bias ply tires on 15x12" steelies. Ford 8.8", gears and lockers coming soon.
Tornadom is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Old 11-07-2010, 12:12 AM #30
810moto's Avatar
810moto 810moto is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Long Beach, Ca
Posts: 1,089
810moto is on a distinguished road
810moto 810moto is offline
Senior Member
810moto's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Long Beach, Ca
Posts: 1,089
810moto is on a distinguished road
well i found this on another site but it is most certainly worth checking out. great specs and tips on recovery equipment.

Pirate4x4.Com - Extreme Four Wheel Drive
__________________
2004 SR5 2WD,285/75 Nittos,RB-1.5"BL,K&N drop in,LED interior Ltg,12v mod,Debadge,Daystar lights,Optronics rear lights,FJ swap,Fog Light mod, All-Weather mats,ES swaybar bushings & end links,Spidertraxx,HCF delete,1/2" toytec spacer,2custom cargoboxes
810moto is offline   Reply With QuoteReply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Some 4WD tips for novice wheelers. Jay Off-Roading 12 12-01-2019 09:33 PM
manual vs. auto for off roading? brian2sun 3rd gen T4Rs 69 03-20-2014 10:29 PM
tips for waxing roof LBeard87 Maintenance/Detailing 8 05-05-2010 05:49 PM
Looking for Tips on Driving the Dempster Highway (YK, NWT) Dycker_98SR5 4th Gen T4Rs 7 03-28-2008 04:47 PM
First Time in Snow...Any Tips?? MikeinCincy 4th Gen T4Rs 2 12-14-2007 07:30 AM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.2

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:56 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Feedback Buttons provided by Advanced Post Thanks / Like (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
User Alert System provided by Advanced User Tagging (Lite) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
***This site is an unofficial Toyota site, and is not officially endorsed, supported, authorized by or affiliated with Toyota. All company, product, or service names references in this web site are used for identification purposes only and may be trademarks of their respective owners. The Toyota name, marks, designs and logos, as well as Toyota model names, are registered trademarks of Toyota Motor Corporation***Ad Management plugin by RedTyger
 
Copyright © 2020