Lifted vs stock 4Runner offroad performance

[nedceifus]

For sake of comparison.

Yea, this pretty much sums it up for me. The whole point of me thinking I may convert my truck back to stock height was me just wanting my tires to stay planted on the ground. Thanks guys!

 

[rkntoy]

Yep. Stock rigs on the trails we run would be dead rigs in no time. Gonna miss you on the Dusy this year man. Hope things are well.

Next year!

 

[JayRolla]

Kind of debating this in my head. All other factors aside, (tire fitment) (ground clearence).
What is the best ride height/shock set up for the 3rd gen 4Runner? In my mind a stock height rig with a quality shock will outperform a lifted truck offroad. The added drop of the stock suspension will keep weight on all 4 tires longer as opposed to a lifted truck. Anyone have any real world data to support or disclaim these statements?

I have not read any replies. Literally the best thing you can do for offroad performance is a lift. You could run the best shock in the world and huge tire. Once you lift a tire your stuck. Stock suspension is limited by coil/shock length and sway bars.

The goal is to keep all tires planted at all times. 2nd goal is clear obstacles. 3rd goal traction. 4th goal keep center of gravity low. Actually all four are equally important.

3" to 4" suspension lift will.give you more travel to keep tires planted. The more flexy the better. It also will help the body clear obstacles. Good tires and lockers give you all the traction you need. Dint5go crazy on tire size or body lift. It's better to stay low and tub fenders for tire clearance.

 

[nedceifus]

I have not read any replies. Literally the best thing you can do for offroad performance is a lift. You could run the best shock in the world and huge tire. Once you lift a tire your stuck. Stock suspension is limited by coil/shock length and sway bars.

The goal is to keep all tires planted at all times. 2nd goal is clear obstacles. 3rd goal traction. 4th goal keep center of gravity low. Actually all four are equally important.

3" to 4" suspension lift will.give you more travel to keep tires planted. The more flexy the better. It also will help the body clear obstacles. Good tires and lockers give you all the traction you need. Dint5go crazy on tire size or body lift. It's better to stay low and tub fenders for tire clearance.

I don’t know about that man. Lift does not allow your suspension to cycle any farther up or down on its own. A

 

[DZNUTS]

I don’t know about that man. Lift does not allow your suspension to cycle any farther up or down on its own. A

A suspension lift absolutely provides additional travel, that’s the point. However, a spacer lift doesn’t do anything but lift the body while retaining factory suspension travel.


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[nedceifus]

I guess the whole premise of this is. I have not seen a 4Runner, at stock height tubbed for a larger tire. My idea is a truck with the shocks to handle all of the suspension travel, sway bars either modified or deleted to accommodate max travel. I may Ben getting into the weeds here. It may take a custom spring, shock, sway bar combination. Anyway, all good thoughts & info.

 

[Hopeless Diamond]

A suspension lift absolutely provides additional travel, that’s the point.
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Maybe in the rear, but the front has a finite range of travel, hence why there are Long Travel set ups. The IFS can only cycle so far up or down due to its geometry. You're just trading droop for ride height. The overall range of travel stays the same.

Now, typically with a lift, much better components are installed. Shocks, UCA, bushings, etc that do allow for better and more controlled use of that range of motion.

 

[JayRolla]

I don’t know about that man. Lift does not allow your suspension to cycle any farther up or down on its own. A

Hahahhahahaahhhahahaha

 

[JayRolla]

Maybe in the rear, but the front has a finite range of travel, hence why there are Long Travel set ups. The IFS can only cycle so far up or down due to its geometry. You're just trading droop for ride height. The overall range of travel stays the same.

Now, typically with a lift, much better components are installed. Shocks, UCA, bushings, etc that do allow for better and more controlled use of that range of motion.

Extended mid travel coils, aftermarket UCAs and chop your bump stops in half you can get more travel by a few inches. Disconnect sway bar and yes you get more droop. All this will highly increase your offroad performance. You 100% can get the rear to flex a lot more. But to match the rear lift you need to lift front. The point is a lift is 100 times better than stock coils with better shocks. Now is you use stock coils and shocks that provide lift that works also.

 

[nedceifus]

Hahahhahahaahhhahahaha

So tell me why that’s funny? If you take your shocks & springs out of your truck, your suspension has a certain amount of travel, up & down.

 

[phattyduck]

So tell me why that’s funny? If you take your shocks & springs out of your truck, your suspension has a certain amount of travel, up & down.

The OEM front shocks are shorter than what would otherwise be full droop (limited by OEM upper ball joint if front shock is removed). Similar issue in the rear.

This is a bit old information, but you can get an idea here:
http://www.sonoransteel.com/download/library/1996-2002ToyotaRearShock.pdf

-Charlie

 

[JayRolla]

So tell me why that’s funny? If you take your shocks & springs out of your truck, your suspension has a certain amount of travel, up & down.

There is no suspension left if you take shocks and coils out. Rear is limited by sway bar and gas tank. Extend rear links and you get more travel. Front is limited by sway bar, UCAs and bump stops. Remove sway bar, aftermarket UCAs, cut bump stops in half. More travel is what you will get.

 

[nedceifus]

There is no suspension left if you take shocks and coils out. Rear is limited by sway bar and gas tank. Extend rear links and you get more travel. Front is limited by sway bar, UCAs and bump stops. Remove sway bar, aftermarket UCAs, cut bump stops in half. More travel is what you will get.

Note that at the start of the thread I say stock height, not stock suspension...
Got it. Basically at the stock height you do not have room for a shock/spring combo that can travel as far as a lifted shock/spring. Also an aftermarket UCA can provide a bit more travel. Thanks!

 

[nedceifus]

I was not very clear in how I worded my thoughts. Thanks for all of the input