Buying a beach buggy

[surffshr]

I've been researching a while now, and have decided on buying a 3rd gen 4runner for my beach truck. I'm very pumped about it actually. Recreation only with majority of time taking the wife and I fishing on the beach. Two things I'd put on the truck once I buy it, and one of these I'm having trouble finding info about.

1. Front receiver hitch. I'd use this to hold my rod holder/cooler that I had on my last beach truck.

2. Lift kit to get at least 32's more better 33's...lots of info here on the lifts available.

Anyway, 32's will get the job done for the offroad duty down the beach, but I really need a front receiver option. The last one a friend of mine fabbed for me, but that was on a seriously lifted suburban. I'm thinking for the 4runner I may want to replace the front bumper and have a receiver in the replacement bumper to help on ground clearance issues. I'd appreciate y'alls advice and thanks for all of the other good information here.

 

[JustAnotherT4R]

there is a memeber on here that fabbed up something to hold his fishing pole's in the front of the 4runner. i cant seem to find the picture.

 

[surffshr]

I'm a little concerned about fabbing an entire bumper because I have never done this for a vehicle with an airbag. I'd assume that makes a difference, but admit I don't know. I'm thinking that I should be able to come off of the frame somewhere in the front and be ok for approach angle. This really isn't that big of a deal here on the beach but I don't like some front receivers I see that obviously are in the way.

This is a link to the rod rack I have. It is the Rod Rack II model and mounts via a 2' receiver hitch.

http://www.cpidesigns.com/rodracks.php

These things are very handy for fishing on the beach/keeping the fish cooler out of a vehicle. I'm thinking with this setup and the other gear that tends to ride on these excursions I will what to lift the truck heavy duty (load) OME springs.

Again, thanks for any advice y'all have.