Best Lift+Tires+Rims for Under $3,500?

[bagelsjustbagels]

Hello Everyone,
Looking at buying a stock 4Runner very soon, -the 4.7 V8.

That being said- will be using the vehicle for Overland style offroad travel. Looking for good quality performance parts. The more clearance - the better! Also, I will have some decent weight in the back, so nothing that is too soft please.

I know there is a thread of wheels and tires and lifts. But not many people are explaining prices, nor the offroad capabilty.

As of right now, I know I really enjoy the 33" BFGoodrich Mud-Terrain T/A KM2's

Also, I Narrowed it down to three kits- within striking distance - is there any insight as to which of these 3 would be best and why?

1. Icon 4Runner Stage 2 Kit w/ Tubular UCA's $2243
2.Radflo 4Runner Stage 2 Kit w/ TC UCA's $2245
3. 4Runner Radflo 4Runner Stage 3 Kit $2770

 

[Toyotafan03]

I have ordered the stealth 6 series wheels from stealth customs. I think they are a really good quality wheel for the price. $675 before shipping. Check their website out- www.stealthcustomseries.com

 

[Xrider237]

no offense but this is kind of a strange thread- why would you want others to choose your suspension wheels and tires??

 

[bagelsjustbagels]

no offense but this is kind of a strange thread- why would you want others to choose your suspension wheels and tires??

I have narrowed it down to three kits, but I am having trouble determining if the kits are worth the overall price- and also- if they will give the offroad help I need.

It would be great for someone to reply and say..
"Radflo's are great" "The total chaos kit is good, but i think the icon kit better for the overall quality of the shocks. "

Etc. etc.

 

[HOJeepster]

Option #3 above looks good to me, that's what I'd go with. For tires, I'd do 285/70/17's

 

[YotaDan]

Icon or Fox setup. With your choice of UCAs up front. If you are going to be hauling a lot of weight then the Icon 52800 Overland Springs out back.

 

[G.I.G.]

Have you considered the Old Man Emu setup? It's more cost effective than the options you have listed and designed specifically with overlanding in mind. The rear springs run a bit stiff (which is why many here don't like them for daily driving) but handle great when their is some weight in the rear. It's the setup I have on my 4Runner and I've been very pleased. The stiffer ride also helps keep the truck level in the turns on the road.

Also, like Toyotafan03 mentioned, check out Stealth Custom Series wheels. I'm considering a set for my 4Runner and they are priced extremely well for what you get. Not to mention, they are designed specifically for Toyota trucks.

 

[ARK_SWAMP_RIDER]

Of your choices, I'd say #1. I had Radflo and switched to Icon, much better product IMO. However, none of the options you've listed will allow you to stay under budget and get everything done. My second choice would be OME. Its a high quality kit that will suit your needs, only downside is the lift height in the front isn't adjustable like the Icon or Radflo setups. You can do OME with new UCAs and stay under budget.

 

[yosh2000]

suspension: ome for an overland build.

tires: depends on what you will be doing: sand, snow, mud, mall crawling...etc.

wheels: depends again on terrian, as tire sizes will dictate wheel width required.

not giving us much to go on except that you want to spend $3,500. sounds to me like you should do some more research into exactly what you would like your suspension to do for you, what terrian you will be "overlanding" in and what guys that do this type of stuff run.

there was a great article on the top ten performance mods (or lack there of) for overland vehicles on Expedition Portal.

i would also assume those guys would be able to give much better advice than the form over function guys here!

 

[bagelsjustbagels]

Thanks for all the input guys, I dont mind being a little more expensive if its worth it in the long run. I come from Long travel jumping my 2nd gen, so I think going directly to OME would be tough, and I prefer a softer supension setup.

As for tires, I like my KM2's! they were relatively quiet, but a little rolly and soft on the sidewalls. I plan to do anything from sierras dirt roads with the occasional rocks and mud & snow, to sand and freeway travel.

General consensus seems to be the first (and cheapest kit) with Icon's seems to be best, is there any way to integrate this with Icon kits or shocks?

Also, whats so great about those Stealth custom wheels anyways? rotational mass?

 

[G.I.G.]

Also, whats so great about those Stealth custom wheels anyways? rotational mass?

They are hub-centric wheels (vs. lug-centric that you most commonly see in aftermarket wheels) designed with Toyota trucks in mind. I believe I saw a post where someone mentioned the SCS wheels weighing a bit less than their OEM wheels, but I'm not certain of that. Most importantly, they look bad a$$

 

[Xrider237]

a question you have to ask yourself is how much of this build will be for performance and how much for looks (not that there is anything is wrong with that lol)...if its strict performance maybe stick with the stock wheels and put that money into suspension and other essential off road parts or you could get a badass set of wheels and less expensive suspension setup

one things for sure is that you will have a very nice rig!

 

[yosh2000]

good article i was talking about on expedition portal:

The 10 Commandments of Modifying an Overland Vehicle | Expedition Portal

as mentioned above, seems like the true overland vehicles are not flashy, but strictly functional.

 

[bagelsjustbagels]

a question you have to ask yourself is how much of this build will be for performance and how much for looks (not that there is anything is wrong with that lol)...if its strict performance maybe stick with the stock wheels and put that money into suspension and other essential off road parts or you could get a badass set of wheels and less expensive suspension setup

one things for sure is that you will have a very nice rig!

Oh no, I want purpose built for sure. Hence me asking what was so great about the above wheels.

I would rather do $2500 on suspension, and then just get some steel wheels. But figuring out the best way to spend that $2500 would be great. The OME kit seems to be too rough, and the toyotec seems to be good for the money, but I could spend an extra 1k above the toytec ultimate and get a real nice set up.

But what exactly would that be? What is the best suspension youll get for $2400 max? It could be the toytec with Total chaos UCA's ? But I'm not positive

 

[Troymclure]

Id go with a set of Fox or King coilovers out front, Total Chaos uniball UCA, and the Metal tech LT springs with Icons shock designed for the LT out back. Would probably be right around $3k for it all, but itd be hard to beat in terms of quality and performance

 

[yosh2000]

Why go a desert coilover (icon, fox, radflo) on an overland build? I am having trouble understanding why an OME setup is not at the top of the list. Then steel wheels, decent tires for the terrain and you would have 1500 left over for overland goodies.

 

[razzyrazz]

OME ride is very nice.

 

[Toymaker]

My two buddies both got the icon vehicle dynamics package. They love it definitely the way to go.

 

[bagelsjustbagels]

Id go with a set of Fox or King coilovers out front, Total Chaos uniball UCA, and the Metal tech LT springs with Icons shock designed for the LT out back. Would probably be right around $3k for it all, but itd be hard to beat in terms of quality and performance

Do you know which coilover would be best for front, as well as which metal tech springs that would be appropriate for the weight i plan to put in the back? not to mention how it would compare to the icon's? I have a hard time seeing that it would be worth an extra $600 for those shocks up front.

Why go a desert coilover (icon, fox, radflo) on an overland build? I am having trouble understanding why an OME setup is not at the top of the list. Then steel wheels, decent tires for the terrain and you would have 1500 left over for overland goodies.

I am coming from Long travel jumping my truck - land. So a mid travel kit for overland spells out comfort!

I think Old Man emu will be a little too basic, its not only overland, but its very technical terrain I plan to go on, and it never hurts to be a little excessively prepared- but within Reason.