I may do a second post in general discussion but offroading may make more sense for now!!

First off, as with any purchase in my life, first thing I do is search for "That item" and FORUM and then surf/read the reads to see what the current owners are doing/thinking.

Been lurking on here less than a week but managed to read most of the various FAQs and threads on the topics of interest.

So I have come up with a list of questions / thoughts prior to purchasing a new 2007 4Runner and hoping some of you will have thoughts on these.

First of all, what I am planning on doing with the 4Runner. This will be my daily driver, to/from work is 18 miles each way, 90% interstate, currently getting about 15.x mpg in my diesel powered Excursion, as long as this does the same/better I am good. Gas is cheaper than diesel right now anyway....

Towing: We own a 27' Travel Trailer camper, it weights 5,080lbs dry, probably closer to 5,500-5,700 with the various junk we have put in there. The camper has a weight distributing hitch on it, and it tows just fine behind my father in law's 2006 Tacoma 4x4, v6, Access Cab, with a brake controller. I will likely buy the air bags I have read about on here to level up the rear of the 4Runner. (Or...in theory I can get the Limited with the air bags option)

Offroading: I have been "wheeling" for 13 years now, first trail rig was 72 GMC Jimmy, stock, 32s, winch, and added locker later on, then I went BIG with a 1990 Wrangler, 36" TSLs, lockers front & rear and handled like crap on the road. So now...I want something stockish that I enjoy driving and can hit easy to medium trails at my local forest. (Uwharrie National Forest in Troy, NC) I am confident the 4Runner can handle anything there...though I am a bit skeptical on the "trac" system until I see it truly work. Would have preferred the TRD rear e-locker but...


So...with the above in mind, here are my actual questions! First of all, I am a big believer in the "Warn Locker", and want to add a winch to the 4runner as mod#1. What I am thinking is to fabricate a front end "hitch" that I could slide in a winch, have pre-wired quick connect cables so the winch could be used on front or rear and stored inside.

The link below is a setup used by XJs, wondered if anyone had seen something similar or other "hidden" winch setups to be used with the STOCK front bumper? Would prefer not to go full ARB bumper style if I can help it..


Receiver Mount on XJ


OK, question #2....saw the various sliders....could not tell quickly from the pictures if any of them project out enough to the side to act like a running board for getting in/out? I am sure I will end up welding my own anyway, but "plans" are always nice to see! I like Rocky Road's version and have "known" Glenn since he first opened up his shop, just seen him on various forums/lists over the years.


Skids? Any experience here of..."the stock xyz skid is junk, replace it with your own beefier version quickly?" Or other similar items...like that "prerunner" alum skid you can get for front airdam looks worthless but I could be wrong?


Final thought/question for the day....CB & Ham radio antenna mounts.... I have seen mounts that come up from hood area in a Z shape, another pics of how you mounted YOUR CB antenna? (Ham antenna just looks like the old external cell phone antennas)

Thanks for the help, hoping to sell the Excursion soon on ebay and take the cash to a 'yota dealer near me!!


Sam Hinton
KI4ARL

Hey and Welcome! Well for your air bag question, its much cheaper to buy the SR5 and then install the Firestone Airbags yourself than the Limited with factory air bags.
As far as your first question, as far as I know there is now front receiver hitch, BUT you can probably fab. one, and to conceal, if you wanted to, the frame I think is right around the front license plate, so you would be able to cut a hole there and fab a hinge for the license plate.
As far as I know they don't project far enough, but there are some that do.
There has been alot of discussion skids, I suggest to use the search button to get more in-depth info. The stock skids are sort of thin, but will do its job and getting custom ones are much better.
As far as the CB mount i have seen many mounted near the rear bumper with a custom fabbed mount.

Once again welcome.

Try GOOGLE to see if any of the hitch manufacturers makes a front hitch for your truck, if not you'll have to fab one yourself.

Some sliders can act as running boards/steps, you'll have to do some searching to see what's available for your 2007, or make your own.

As for skid plates, I'm not sure if Budbuilt makes anything for an 07, but if he does it will be the best thing available !

As for 2 way radio antennas, you really shouldn't have to ask that question. But for what it's worth, all my 2m, 6m, 70cm, 10m, etc. antennas use big magnet mounts, on the roof.

Interesting on the Ham radio mounts, I am surprised you are going with mag mounts instead of perm? I realize we do get better reception dead center of the car...hmm

I was thinking of drilling a hole and mounting my 2m stuff on the hood / fender, biggest issue is 'brush' / tree limbs knocking it off but that could be true anywhere.

That is actually the main reason mag mounts on roof have not worked for me in the past, it seems inevitable a low lying limb knocks it over/grabs it etc.

Ok, will do some more searches, had forgotten about the hidden hitch mounts behind the license tags!

Will be around a while, maybe long while if all this works out, always good to be on the boards/active of the cars you own!!

Sam Hinton