I want to go fast offroad

[Iron duke]

As the title states, I want to go fast offroad. I don't have the money to long travel the front end, But I do have 12" Fox reservoir shocks out back. What's the best front suspension for soaking up washboard, ruts, and other similar terrain at 60mph and up? I know long travel may be the best option here, but I don't have 5k. Was looking in the price range of $1500 and below for front coilovers that would be best suited for this. Thanks

 

[clearock]

save ur $ for a while and read read read read up on what others have done, not saying this to b an ass, a lot of other parts involved in go fast and not killing/hurting urself and others... ie brakes, sway bars, suspension geometry, etc etc. again not saying this to knock ur "idea" just a lot of other factors that need to be addressed at the same time as shocks.

 

[brillo_76]

Then by a side by side or a motocross motorcycle.. . I am sorry I just had too.

On a serious note. The 3rd gens weigh close to 4k pounds. So you want to send 2 tons air borne. Man I like were this is headed. Varrompa.

Nice thought though.

Going to need roll changes and 5 point harness seats with helmets...

Sent from my SM-A536V using Tapatalk

 

[alexperrucci]

I can't speak from personal experience but it seems long travel is definitely the way to go for this. Idk how fast I'd want to be sending it down rough terrain with just coilovers.

EDIT: Maybe if you can run hydro bumps on a mid travel setup it would be bearable?

 

[Devbot]

LOL you're gonna be looking at $1500 or more just in shocks if you truly wanna go pre-running speeds - comfortably at least. I've hit some rough forest service roads at a solid 50+ and obviously the car can handle it, but it would be borderline migraine inducing for any length of time. You'll probably get by with single reservoirs but doubles would be a much better idea. Just my 2 cents
Save your money, else you'll probably end up doing it twice
Edit: the terrain you expect to see would also be pretty important information. Going fast in dunes vs dirt roads are fairly different

Then by a side by side or a motocross motorcycle.. . I am sorry I just had too.

On a serious note. The 3rd gens weigh close to 4k pounds. So you want to send 2 tons air borne. Man I like were this is headed. Varrompa.

Nice thought though.

Going to need roll changes and 5 point harness seats with helmets...

Sent from my SM-A536V using Tapatalk

Check out Dunenit Apparel on YouTube, dude gets some CRAZY air in his 3rd gen

 

[Iron duke]

First of all, thanks for the advice. I didn’t go into much detail, so thanks for being honest, looking out for my safety and letting me know the limits of these rigs. I do want to say that where I go, I can see if anyone is coming from a very long distance, and although it’s risky, it’s calculated risk. Pre-run, rerun, then freerun for sure.

save ur $ for a while and read read read read up on what others have done, not saying this to b an ass, a lot of other parts involved in go fast and not killing/hurting urself and others... ie brakes, sway bars, suspension geometry, etc etc. again not saying this to knock ur "idea" just a lot of other factors that need to be addressed at the same time as shocks.

Definitely. I haven’t seen any info on stock geo front ends trying to go fast. Fortunately I have beefed up sway bars, TBU, adjustable rear control arms, etc so the bones are kinda there.

Then by a side by side or a motocross motorcycle.. . I am sorry I just had too.

On a serious note. The 3rd gens weigh close to 4k pounds. So you want to send 2 tons air borne. Man I like were this is headed. Varrompa.

Nice thought though.

Going to need roll changes and 5 point harness seats with helmets...

Sent from my SM-A536V using Tapatalk

I’m not really interested in going air born, I’m in South Georgia so we have a lot of wide open dirt roads that are just corrugated and I’m some areas rutted out a little bit. I know there’s risk involved, but only to me, and it’s relatively calculated at that.

LOL you're gonna be looking at $1500 or more just in shocks if you truly wanna go pre-running speeds - comfortably at least. I've hit some rough forest service roads at a solid 50+ and obviously the car can handle it, but it would be borderline migraine inducing for any length of time. You'll probably get by with single reservoirs but doubles would be a much better idea. Just my 2 cents
Save your money, else you'll probably end up doing it twice
Edit: the terrain you expect to see would also be pretty important information. Going fast in dunes vs dirt roads are fairly different

Check out Dunenit Apparel on YouTube, dude gets some CRAZY air in his 3rd gen

My rear is holding up fairly well, it’s just the front that is terrible (thanks to the billy 5100’s). I was just wondering if there was any suspension on stock geo that could take high speed offroad without full blown LT. I’m exclusively talking about long wide open dirt roads in South Georgia where you can see everything 1/2 mile in each direction. They’re corrugated dirt roads, sometimes having small ruts/brake bumps, and then sand/dried clay.

 

[phattyduck]

If you aren't doing big travel stuff (desert pre-run style), then any of the big body coilovers will be a big upgrade to what you are currently running.

Maybe hydro bumps if you are getting too much bottoming.

There's no way to fake the funk on long travel to soak up bumps though - you can only do so much with 8-ish inches of travel...

-Charlie

 

[rideexileex]

As the title states, I want to go fast offroad. I don't have the money to long travel the front end, But I do have 12" Fox reservoir shocks out back. What's the best front suspension for soaking up washboard, ruts, and other similar terrain at 60mph and up? I know long travel may be the best option here, but I don't have 5k. Was looking in the price range of $1500 and below for front coilovers that would be best suited for this. Thanks

Most realistic option - sell the 3rd gen 4Runner and buy a 4th gen with mas cajones that already has an LT setup on it. You'll get more value that way than starting from scratch on a budget. The 3rd gen is too underpowered for LT in my opinion...

 

[connorms]

Most realistic option - sell the 3rd gen 4Runner and buy a 4th gen with mas cajones that already has an LT setup on it. You'll get more value that way than starting from scratch on a budget. The 3rd gen is too underpowered for LT in my opinion...

Couldn't agree with this more. I got LT hoping to go fast in the dunes and jump 20+ feet, but unless you swap the motor out with something bigger you're not going to have enough power to do much. If you really want to go fast out there, I'd recommend something like a Tundra or anything with a bigger/swapped motor. Something to also consider is you're VERY limited on up travel in the rear unless you're okay with cutting the shit out of your 4runner. This isn't really an issue with a truck since you can just cut holes in the bed/backhalf it, but you'll be much more limited on this platform. There's a reason there aren't many SUV prerunners, let alone 3rd gens :tongue:

 

[brillo_76]

LOL you're gonna be looking at $1500 or more just in shocks if you truly wanna go pre-running speeds - comfortably at least. I've hit some rough forest service roads at a solid 50+ and obviously the car can handle it, but it would be borderline migraine inducing for any length of time. You'll probably get by with single reservoirs but doubles would be a much better idea. Just my 2 cents
Save your money, else you'll probably end up doing it twice
Edit: the terrain you expect to see would also be pretty important information. Going fast in dunes vs dirt roads are fairly different

Check out Dunenit Apparel on YouTube, dude gets some CRAZY air in his 3rd gen

Nice. Just send it.. lol. I just don't want to see folks get hurt is all. At those speeds your going to be bouncing all over the place...

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[brillo_76]

I can get what your after. The trick is getting what you want at the prices your after. I am just razing you a bit. It's your call what you want to do. Long travel is probably your best route.

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[Iron duke]

Most realistic option - sell the 3rd gen 4Runner and buy a 4th gen with mas cajones that already has an LT setup on it. You'll get more value that way than starting from scratch on a budget. The 3rd gen is too underpowered for LT in my opinion...

Couldn't agree with this more. I got LT hoping to go fast in the dunes and jump 20+ feet, but unless you swap the motor out with something bigger you're not going to have enough power to do much. If you really want to go fast out there, I'd recommend something like a Tundra or anything with a bigger/swapped motor. Something to also consider is you're VERY limited on up travel in the rear unless you're okay with cutting the shit out of your 4runner. This isn't really an issue with a truck since you can just cut holes in the bed/backhalf it, but you'll be much more limited on this platform. There's a reason there aren't many SUV prerunners, let alone 3rd gens :tongue:

The thing is, going fast offroad for me doesn't require a lot of suspension travel per say, but just suspension that can keep up with high speed chatter. I've gone about 70mph for like 10 seconds ( which is as fast as I'd ever like to go) and it gets a little unnerving because my front end feels like its a pogo stick. I know the washboard and 1-4" ruts is not bottoming out my suspension, it's just overwhelmeing it

 

[Iron duke]

I can get what your after. The trick is getting what you want at the prices your after. I am just razing you a bit. It's your call what you want to do. Long travel is probably your best route.

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I'm afraid you may be right...I just don't want to give up hope that there's an option that's 90% as good for my specific purpose that's 3 times cheaper lol

 

[Reinout]

[MENTION=621983]Iron duke[/MENTION]: If your 4Runner is a daily driver, just don't do it. If you don't care about the truck, send it.

OR

Find a junker for your washboard action!

 

[rideexileex]

I resisted saying it before, but I can't hold back... Ricky Bobby.

Anyway - sounds like you'd be interested in a custom valved shock with a flutter valve. I have them on my setup and washboard isn't a thing anymore.

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

Get some UCAs, good coil overs valved properly, Wheeler's Super Bumps (cheap bottom out insurance), and a compressor. Air them tires down to about 15psi and that will soak up a good bit of the terrain you are describing. But, anything over 45 or 50 could be catastrophic without proper safety.

Keep in mind that most dirt roads don't have a good shoulder and trees are everywhere unless your in pasture land, then that is obviously more forgiving, although ditches are a serious hazard too. It doesn't take much to get out of shape and shit hurts a lot at 50+ mph. That Georgia clay gets slick as a greased pig too lol.

This is a video of my 4th gen V8 with a $4k (2018 prices) mid travel set up. C-rated 35" Tires aired down to 17psi. I think I topped 50 mph for a few seconds, but it's difficult to peep the speedo at those speeds because things are happening pretty quick. This is on a designated ohv power line road that's opened up a good bit, compared to a 2 lane dirt road. But there are side trails I slow down for to make sure no one is popping out on to the main. This past summer I've at least installed racing seats w 6 points and a harness bar. I don't have the money for a much needed cage unfortunately. Because I'm addicted to it now.

 

[Dezert4Runner]

You can definitely get a 2.5” coilover body with reservoirs and mess with them a bit to get a better valving but realistically you’d want to go mid travel by getting the extended travel version with the internal spacer removed, which requires adding a quality performance UCA and limit straps.

Later on you could always get the aftermarket stock length lower control arms with a secondary shock mount and add a hydro bump or even a double/ triple bypass (with a TC coil bucket or similar tower mount added) as the budget allows over time. That’s going to far exceed the cost of basic long travel kit with 8” coilovers so really it’s going to cost you north of $4k either way.

I think 2.5” coilover for now and adding a set of durobumps will definitely increase your control and comfort in the speeds your current setup feels sketchy. That’s probably $2k new right there though. Honestly, paired with the rear shocks you have, it will perform pretty damn well on a fire road at speed.

It really depends on what your goal is for performance. The biggest thing I noticed from a 3.5” LT kit is how much more stable it was than just a pair of quality 2.5” coilovers. That wider stance is a real game changer with stability.

 

[Iron duke]

I resisted saying it before, but I can't hold back... Ricky Bobby.

Anyway - sounds like you'd be interested in a custom valved shock with a flutter valve. I have them on my setup and washboard isn't a thing anymore.

What’s a flutter valve and how do you get the setup you’re talking about? I’d love to know more about it

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

What’s a flutter valve and how do you get the setup you’re talking about? I’d love to know more about it

I'm just learning this stuff, and I know there are way more qualified people to comment on this, but here is a picture of a flutter valve set up that I took out of my rear smoothies. It was just too light of valving for the weight I have on my 4th gen. I think there are quite a few variations of this type of setup depending on terrain, driving style, suspension capabilities, vehicle weight, etc. Bleed holes are a thing too. I've read good things about the Fox DSC reservoirs also. Spend a little time on AccuTune's tech page and it might help a little.

 

[Romeo1]

The best cheap option is

-Bilstein 6112 shocks up front
- air down some very strong C rated tires
-good sway bar link setup adjusted properly
-5160 Bilstein rears
- whatever rear spring (2890 ome gives me way more rear travel before hitting the Duro bumps.
-Duro bumps
-sort out the panhard bar once above 1.5-2" lift.

Your in the $1500-$1700 ish range I'd say with those parts. I can rally rough fire roads in the 40 to 60 mph range pretty easily. That's going to be as good as you can go without getting too far in the custom parts and that will still keep it a regular-ish vehicle.

Beyond that, things get a lot more complicated and way more expensive.

I'm going to probably say something that may not resonate well here. But if your goal is truly extremely high speed, I think you have the wrong machine. You need, most likely a side-by-side with some awesome travel and power. Even long traveled out 3rd gen or 4th gen with extra power, is still not going to perform like a Can-Am or a razor. It's the power to weight ratio always that determines the outcome.

Go find a used or new side by side, get it financed on the cheap and go rally.

If your requirement was hey, I need a full body vehicle with air conditioning, five seats, I want to do some spirited offloading, maybe some crawling, and still have space for luggage, then yeah, you have the perfect rig.

But a full body rig for the all out speed rally..... naw. It'll never deliver on your expectations. Get a turbo side by side. Once you need beyond the factory suspension capability seek out the companies that can do better. My neighbor spent $4000 on valving and springs for his to 2 seat can am turbo. It's a monster. Quite literally eats large bumps like nothing. Bumps that would break my 4runner in half at 65. Of course, he used to race stock cars, has a basement full of trophies, and wasn't too sad when he wrecked the roll cage on it and we put a new one on. So there's that I guess. But he also goes to Yuma Arizona in the winter time and they will rally their side-by-side's into Mexico doing hundreds of miles per day of road. They run the helmet radios, neck braces and the whole bit.

If speed is what you are really after, I think you are wasting your time with a 3rd gen 4runner. I say this as a guy that absolutely loves 3rd gens as it is probably my favorite vehicle.

I do wish it had power like my 2023 tundra through. That damn thing launches like a roller coaster.