Icon Stages - Real Life

[joneseyyy]

While all of us are a far way off from [MENTION=51030]joneseyyy[/MENTION]'s setup, He is experiencing some issue with the TC gussets allowing the shock towers to hit the power-steering pump in certain situations. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...it-5th-gen-toyota-4runner-12.html#post1430629
Just something to consider when mix-and-matching parts. He is running a largely Icon setup.

Okki

My issue was not a mixing/matching issue and is mostly related to being an early adopter of a more involved setup and probably will never apply to 98% of people reading the thread.

My advice for people new to offroad driving is to take a 4x4 class like those offered on the East Coast by Overland Experts (no affiliation) or to join a club or groups with experienced leaders or participants. Drive your stock 4runner offroad and learn its abilities, dynamics, and limitations in stock form. For most people, the truck in stock from is all they need. Most others benefit from a tire upgrade and need nothing more.

After actually driving the stock truck offroad a few times, you should have a good idea of what types of offroading you like and how hard you want to push your truck. At this point you're in a much better place to intelligently seek advice directly from Icon, Toytec, King, or whoever about he right suspension setup to meet your needs, should you feel you need the extra clearance and damping ability to suit your offroad adventures.

 

[Jeremy556]

My "If I had it all to do over again, knowing what I know now..." list of mods, in order.
1. ARB dual compressor - I have gone through a lot of cheap up to high end Viair compressors, and am currently building a new dual compressor setup from some of my viairs which will probably be similar in CFMs to the ARB unit. I have probably spent 2-3 times what the ARB costs, but never all at once.
2. Stauns deflaters (spelling?) - These were probably my number 2 purchase, and still one of the most useful.
3. Tires.
4. Tools. A tool roll from Amazon, plus hand picked pieces out of a few socket sets, ratcheting box end sets, etc. 1/4 and 3/8 ratchets, extension, U Joint, sockets regular and deep 8-21mm, allen wrenches, Chinese cable and pirated TechStream.
5. Armor. Skid plates, sliders, bumpers. I made the mistake of going with ARB's, as they were cheap and light, and at the time I was doing pretty mild wheeling. They don't endure rock crawling, at all. I have spent more than the difference in price having new brackets made out of much stronger steel, and the ARB plates gusseted and bent back into (sort of) shape, than a more comprehensive set of Bud or Shrock skids would have cost.
6. Suspension - the stock suspension (with KDSS) is great on road. Only slight complaint was the nose dive. The aftermarket stuff works much better off road (as long as you are aired down) and can take larger hits without bottoming out. It all seems to have WAY too much low speed compression damping, I'm not sure why. I may just be spoiled, as I am used to running Ohlins dampers that are custom valved and have wide ranges of adjustability for compression and rebound damping.

 

[Matt's4Runner]

This is great stuff! Exactly what I've been looking for.

Unless it breaks some sort of rule, I'm going to start a new thread with that exact title. Thanks guys!

 

[DirtVdr]

Stage 1 is all you need if you are a responsible light trail driver. I have stage 1 and I take my rig down triple black diamond trails weekly, I rock crawl with it and I've occasionally taken it fast down very rolling roads and it's been great. I also have a 5th gen 4Runner trail p with demello rock sliders and 33" BFG tires. I needed to get the stage 1 with the 0-3" lift kit to accommodate the tires, I have it set at 2.5 but sometimes rub when I'm flexing a lot on technical trails