Bumper, Winch and Suspension Combination

[ProfessorP]

Thinking about adding a winch and bumper(partial) to my 2019 4Runner Off Road. I've had the 4Runner for five weeks and already been off road six times for a total of about 280-300 miles. Have the pinstripes to prove it! Had to abort the most fun and interesting Jeep trail last weekend for fear of getting stuck without a winch.

I'm considering the Green Lane Off Road Stump Aluminum Winch Bumper and a Smittybilt 98510 X2O or 98495 XRC synthetic rope winch. Both the winch and bumper add between 108 and 129 pounds net (depending on winch) to the front of the 4Runner after removal of the stock aluminum bumper.

As a test I sat my 121 pound daughter right next to the hood latch while I took some before and after measurements from the bumper to the garage floor. With her in place the front end is 3/8" lower than without.

I really don't want a lot of lift or leveling, but I'm considering Bilstein 5100 Ride Height Adjustable shocks up front set to the lowest lift setting. Should net about 1/2" of lift up front with the winch and bumper installed.

Am I missing something?
Thoughts?

 

[MisplacedTexan]

Doing the 5100 lift I would think it's going to ride a bit rougher, but I may be off on that. My take on it would be spend a few hundred more and get the whole lift and get it over with. If you do the Bilsteins and a year or two from now want a lift to clear bigger tires or whatever then you're almost out that money. You'll also be able to swap spring rates around a bit to adjust for weight changes if you add or drop stuff on front or back.

I did a full OME lift on mine when I added the bumper and winch....which I got rid of a while back also. Glad I went with the lift right off the bat. Haven't had to jack up the 4runner since to change the oil, and now that I'm on 285's its a cake walk.

I know when I added all my stuff I did it before my lift and not only did the front SAG, but it would nose dive pretty hard under braking.

Thankfully my lift showed up a week later and I got all that fixed.

 

[MAST4R]

Thinking about adding a winch and bumper(partial) to my 2019 4Runner Off Road. I've had the 4Runner for five weeks and already been off road six times for a total of about 280-300 miles. Have the pinstripes to prove it! Had to abort the most fun and interesting Jeep trail last weekend for fear of getting stuck without a winch.
...

Am I missing something?
Thoughts?

That's an excellent start! I started the same way and I am a few dozen miles short of 2,000 now and closing on 100 runs.

I think what you are missing is that you need new springs, not new shocks. Or, better, new springs and new shocks. In addition, you would be mixing different types of shocks front and rear.

If I were you, I would talk to mike_dobinsons because they offer great springs and he is the rare salesman that actually takes customer need into account instead of just pushing the priciest setup possible.

If you prefer monotube shocks, why not take Eibach instead of 5100? Same function, but a more sophisticated (better valved) take on an OEM-style, long-lasting shock.

And if you touch the front, you should also touch the rear. I did the Dobinsons 59-238 front coils and while they were a great improvement in the front (even on stock shocks, but no winch etc) they exposed the rear not to mention leveled the vehicle too much (1.25). So I then added Eibach 1" rear springs. The rear is massively better coming down off rocks and steps and loaded I sit where I used to be empty. The Dobs and Eibach springs on stock shocks improved offroad ride quality massively. I am not sure what exactly the OEM springs have going for them other than price point for Toyota. It stands to reason that they should be more comfortable but they absolutely are not.

Of course, all of that has been just tinkering, I will do a 6112/Icon 2.0 for a 1.2/1.0 lift as hopefully a longer term setup but I will also keep my assembled 238 fronts and rear shocks for spares and in case I don't like the 6112s.

In short, if you touch the front, do a comprehensive spring-shocks upgrade front and rear and be done with it. Unless you are like me and are just interested in seeing how each component affects the whole.

And avoid stiffly valved shocks in the rear since you have family (like the 5100).

 

[ProfessorP]

Doing the 5100 lift I would think it's going to ride a bit rougher, but I may be off on that. My take on it would be spend a few hundred more and get the whole lift and get it over with. If you do the Bilsteins and a year or two from now want a lift to clear bigger tires or whatever then you're almost out that money. You'll also be able to swap spring rates around a bit to adjust for weight changes if you add or drop stuff on front or back.

I did a full OME lift on mine when I added the bumper and winch....which I got rid of a while back also. Glad I went with the lift right off the bat. Haven't had to jack up the 4runner since to change the oil, and now that I'm on 285's its a cake walk.

I know when I added all my stuff I did it before my lift and not only did the front SAG, but it would nose dive pretty hard under braking.

Thankfully my lift showed up a week later and I got all that fixed.

Thanks for the input. You mentioned getting rid of the winch. Was that the winch and bumper? If so, why?

 

[ProfessorP]

That's an excellent start! I started the same way and I am a few dozen miles short of 2,000 now and closing on 100 runs.

I think what you are missing is that you need new springs, not new shocks. Or, better, new springs and new shocks. In addition, you would be mixing different types of shocks front and rear.

If I were you, I would talk to mike_dobinsons because they offer great springs and he is the rare salesman that actually takes customer need into account instead of just pushing the priciest setup possible.

If you prefer monotube shocks, why not take Eibach instead of 5100? Same function, but a more sophisticated (better valved) take on an OEM-style, long-lasting shock.

And if you touch the front, you should also touch the rear. I did the Dobinsons 59-238 front coils and while they were a great improvement in the front (even on stock shocks, but no winch etc) they exposed the rear not to mention leveled the vehicle too much (1.25). So I then added Eibach 1" rear springs. The rear is massively better coming down off rocks and steps and loaded I sit where I used to be empty. The Dobs and Eibach springs on stock shocks improved offroad ride quality massively. I am not sure what exactly the OEM springs have going for them other than price point for Toyota. It stands to reason that they should be more comfortable but they absolutely are not.

Of course, all of that has been just tinkering, I will do a 6112/Icon 2.0 for a 1.2/1.0 lift as hopefully a longer term setup but I will also keep my assembled 238 fronts and rear shocks for spares and in case I don't like the 6112s.

In short, if you touch the front, do a comprehensive spring-shocks upgrade front and rear and be done with it. Unless you are like me and are just interested in seeing how each component affects the whole.

And avoid stiffly valved shocks in the rear since you have family (like the 5100).

Thanks for the input. The research continues!

 

[MeefZah]

You could also opt for a hidden winch and depending on the winch and cable you go with you could have a weight gain of only about 45 pounds.

I have a writeup with specs and particulars here:

SDHQ hidden winch installation

But failing that you need new coils set for the weight you'd be adding.

 

[MisplacedTexan]

Thanks for the input. You mentioned getting rid of the winch. Was that the winch and bumper? If so, why?

I got rid of it because I plan to get a different bumper. It was the Addicted Offroad bumper and while it's a great piece, I just could never get entirely happy with how the plastic bumper was trimmed to fit. So eventually I'll buy a 4x4 Labs and do a full swap.

Lucked out that I found someone with the same color 4runner and swapped front ends and some cash and I'm back to stock for now.

 

[ProfessorP]

You could also opt for a hidden winch and depending on the winch and cable you go with you could have a weight gain of only about 45 pounds.

I have a writeup with specs and particulars here:

SDHQ hidden winch installation

But failing that you need new coils set for the weight you'd be adding.

Thanks!