Kromealt's offroad Limited build

[kromealt]

why do they say you can't go off road with a limited? Maybe less capable than a trail...

Not sure if serious or trolling? Limited is nearly the same platform as trail with full time 4wd minus crawl control and locking diffs. Off the showroom floor with no mods, yes a Limited is slightly less capable than a trail but that's primarily due to crappy approach angles on the bumpers/trim and the 20" rims. A-Trac is a sufficient enough substitute for crawl control unless you live near a beach and I can always add locking diffs if needed. Also, the full time 4WD is the same bulletproof system used on the Land Cruiser.

IMO it's down to creature comforts vs crawl control....I'll really never ever need crawl control.

How much all this cost??

I'm in the 15k ballpark with everything.

 

[kromealt]

Camped at Middle Saint Vrain this weekend - good times. Really put my skid plates to work...

 

[kromealt]

Ordering Metal-Tech 3" rear springs tomorrow, while I'm sorta happy with my SAWs unloaded they can't handle a full load and sag terribly...I also HATE the 4runner Lean and didn't realize Metaltechs are the only springs to compensate for it.

Don't really want a rake again but I'd prefer a rake over lean.

 

[4rNoob]

Not sure if serious or trolling?.

Not trolling.

the full time 4WD is the same bulletproof system used on the Land Cruiser.

I didn't know this. Cool.

Seeing is believing. Your pictures are proof enough. http://im.toyota-4runner.org/images/icons/icon14.gif

 

[nb rob]

awesome thread. I love well-appointed limiteds. I think my next 4r might be a limited for the winter benefit. It would be nice to let someone drive my truck in the winter without giving them the "when to use 4x4" lecture.

nice pups too!

cheers

 

[kromealt]

awesome thread. I love well-appointed limiteds. I think my next 4r might be a limited for the winter benefit. It would be nice to let someone drive my truck in the winter without giving them the "when to use 4x4" lecture.

nice pups too!

cheers

Thanks! I push it pretty hard, wish I had a cameraman for half of it. Limited is a stronger rig than people give it credit for and the pups enjoy having some room during overlanding.

 

[kromealt]

Installed Metal Tech 3" LT Rear springs - I had my doubts but damn do these things ride great...sooo plush. Still have 4R Lean which annoys me but I need to lower my passenger coil preload (Have more preload than Driver side) before I pass judgement on that. Had to get a spring compressor on these bad boys to get in there, install was not fun.

SAW 1.5 (2") rear springs for comp:

 

[Kaprice]

Had my first major snafu on Sunday, caught my door against the garage.

That all happened from simply opening the door into the garage wall???

 

[Kaprice]

You've not found a need for any diff locks? From your pics, it seems you're doing reasonably hard core stuff. ATRAC did the job? You didn't wish you had a locker?

PS: Really impressed with what you've done here.

 

[Kaprice]

Any idea how much weight your mods added? And the new Metal Techs handles it all just fine?

Really glad to hear that you're liking the ride. Most LE mod threads I've read, people didn't like the ride after removing XREAS.

 

[Kaprice]

You mentioned wanting a drawer system. This is the only place I've found that sells a system specifically designed for the 5th Gen 4Runners. No wasted space. Strong and beautiful. But, a bit heavy.

T4RSA ? TrekboxX Expedition Systems

 

[kromealt]

You've not found a need for any diff locks? From your pics, it seems you're doing reasonably hard core stuff. ATRAC did the job? You didn't wish you had a locker?

PS: Really impressed with what you've done here.

Sorry didn't get notified of your replies. I used to be a locker fanboy and really did expect to run into cases where a missing locker would cause a problem but I seriously find ATRAC to outperform past vehicles that had lockers...and I've had a Rubi, Raptor and PWagon.

My truck has dominated Ouray and most of Moab, intentionally hit some of the hardest stuff available while following a jeep crew - poison spider was nothing and I really felt invulnerable until I got deep into Pritchett canyon and was sliding on my rails more than not!

Soo, IMO without ATRAC a locker is a must but otherwise I've yet to miss it. I even planned to install a locker but now probably won't - we'll see after the winter.

 

[kromealt]

That all happened from simply opening the door into the garage wall???

More than just a smack (fixed now), I had the door open while backing out of garage. :wow:

Any idea how much weight your mods added? And the new Metal Techs handles it all just fine? Really glad to hear that you're liking the ride. Most LE mod threads I've read, people didn't like the ride after removing XREAS.

Metal tech springs are one of my favorite mods to date, I'm simply enamored with their quality. Fully kitted out for trips there's upwards of 500lbs back there at least with no sag and superb ride quality, they put the sway-away springs to complete shame.

You mentioned wanting a drawer system. This is the only place I've found that sells a system specifically designed for the 5th Gen 4Runners. No wasted space. Strong and beautiful. But, a bit heavy.

Yea, I've looked at those and every other brand out there. If I keep the Runner (considering a JL this summer) I'll probably just get a passenger side ARB drawer with fridge on top. I haul around quite a bit including gravity chairs so need some head room on one side.

 

[Kaprice]

Sorry didn't get notified of your replies.

That's strange. I didn't get any notifications of your reply, either. I get other notifications, so that's pretty weird. I only noticed this by reviewing my profile notifications.

Anyway, I appreciate your replies and I am absolutely in love with your build.

I also love the look of your front bumper, but I'm surprised there's no bull bar protection. I've read a lot about how much more protection they provide.

Personally, I think bull bars are ugly but I don't want to trade protection for aesthetics.

I'm curious about your thoughts on that.

 

[Kaprice]

If I keep the Runner (considering a JL this summer)

With any luck (okay a LOT of luck), summer is when I'll be in a position to buy my first 4Runner.

So, if you do end up selling drop me a PM. It would be amazing to grab one fully kitted rather than building my own (even though part of me thinks that would be fun, too).

I'm curious what you see in the JL that you don't have in the 4R?

 

[Xtremluck]

Sorry didn't get notified of your replies. I used to be a locker fanboy and really did expect to run into cases where a missing locker would cause a problem but I seriously find ATRAC to outperform past vehicles that had lockers...and I've had a Rubi, Raptor and PWagon.

My truck has dominated Ouray and most of Moab, intentionally hit some of the hardest stuff available while following a jeep crew - poison spider was nothing and I really felt invulnerable until I got deep into Pritchett canyon and was sliding on my rails more than not!

Soo, IMO without ATRAC a locker is a must but otherwise I've yet to miss it. I even planned to install a locker but now probably won't - we'll see after the winter.

I've come to the same conclusion. I've been in so many situations where wheels are up in the air in steep cross axle traction situations and the ATRAC works really well. Of course lockers are a huge benefit, but for me the justification for air lockers is pretty low now.

 

[Kaprice]

Is there a downside to getting a rear locker (other than cost)? Does it increase the chance of something breaking? Does it add unreasonable weight?

 

[Xtremluck]

Is there a downside to getting a rear locker (other than cost)? Does it increase the chance of something breaking? Does it add unreasonable weight?

No, it would only improve things to be honest. Fully Locked > ATRAC, however will this justify the 2-3k cost per axle to get this done? That is the real question. Ill be adding a dual ARB air compressor for my build mostly for airing up/down. The original plan was to also add front and rear air lockers. Again, my recent experiences in technical situations has me second guessing the cost justification of adding lockers.

 

[kromealt]

No, it would only improve things to be honest. Fully Locked > ATRAC, however will this justify the 2-3k cost per axle to get this done? That is the real question. Ill be adding a dual ARB air compressor for my build mostly for airing up/down. The original plan was to also add front and rear air lockers. Again, my recent experiences in technical situations has me second guessing the cost justification of adding lockers.

Yep, same boat here. Added my compressor for both tires and locker but just can't justify lockers anymore. ATRAC is simply amazing.

Hit some steep climbs in moab where jeeps needed to lock up and my atrac pulled me through - granted my longer wheelbase influenced a lot of it, some though I really put atrac to use and it just works.

 

[kromealt]

With any luck (okay a LOT of luck), summer is when I'll be in a position to buy my first 4Runner.

So, if you do end up selling drop me a PM. It would be amazing to grab one fully kitted rather than building my own (even though part of me thinks that would be fun, too).

I'm curious what you see in the JL that you don't have in the 4R?

My primary (maybe only) reason to switch back to a jeep is bigger tires and clearance/approach angles - talking 37s to 40s. I crawl a TON and while 33" tires are great for nearly everything, clearance for the ultimate trails is an issue. It would be an unreasonable fortune to make my Runner into a 40" crawler compared to a jeep.

Also, I've been waiting for a jeep update; the JK is long in the tooth in many areas with no technology but the JL fixes almost all of the complaints I had with my JKUR.

We'll see. Already have a fortune in my Runner and kinda tired of constantly changing rigs - on the plus side some of this stuff can move platforms.