Looking for Build opinions

[snif6969]

Hello all,

I am the very happy owner of a 15 TRD Pro that I enjoy very much.

During the last week I took a trip to SC and had the chance to spend the day in an Off Road park, a pretty rocky one (Gulches OffRoad Park:thumb3 I pretty quick I realized the lack of clearance my TRDP has !

I knew those side steps where more of a hassle than anything so I have a pair of actual rock sliders in the way (thanks to the AllPro Offroad GB!)

Story aside, I want to improve my 4R's clearance, and I would like to keep it smart when it comes to my wallet.

Ideally I'd like to be able to throw a pair of 33's, and it is my understanding that I need a 3in lift in order to do that.

Therefore I have a number of questions :

-Is the Toytec TRD Pro lift kit sufficient for that ? At what point do I need UCA ?

- Do I need a TRD Pro specific lift kit for my TRDP4R or any 4R 5th gen would do ?

- What's the sweetspot when it comes to money/quality for a 3in lift ?

Sorry if it seems like a lot to answer, I'm new to this and the 4R forum has too much information to digest

Thanks !

EDIT : Definitely cannot afford new UCAs for now, decided on dropping the 33s also. Maybe just sticking with a Toytec TRDP lift kit.

Can I install that kit without the need of UCAs ? (+2in i believe)

 

[aroslv]

-Is the Toytec TRD Pro lift kit sufficient for that ? At what point do I need UCA ?

- Do I need a TRD Pro specific lift kit for my 4R or any 4R 5th gen would do ?

- What's the sweetspot when it comes to money/quality for a 3in lift ?

Sorry if it seems like a lot to answer, I'm new to this and the 4R forum has too much information to digest

Thanks !

Yes, you will have to upgrade the suspension to get bigger tires. Even then you may still get rubbing without modifying further.

I would definitely get new UCA to help get a better alignment. (If your lifting 3")

I went with the toytec kit because I am not playing to do crazy offroading in my daily driver. Very happy, great deal for the price

TTBOSS-4R210 - ToyTec BOSS Suspension System for 10+ 4Runner

 

[snif6969]

Thanks for your input, I also want to keep my 4R on-road worthy as it's my DD.

So you didnd't get the UCAs ?

 

[Toyojay]

I would suggest you get UCA's period. They keep the suspension geometry as close to factory spec as possible, meaning your alignment can be spot on. That will keep your tire wear even, and it will feel solid at highway speed.

My friend has a 4th gen (very very similar suspension design) with a 2.5" lift on it, with the factory UCA's and at anything above 65-70 mph that thing is all over its lane.

Another bonus, if you get UCA's with grease-able ball joints you'll virtually never have to worry about replacing them again as long as you keep them greased and make sure the boots are intact.

 

[aroslv]

Thanks for your input, I also want to keep my 4R on-road worthy as it's my DD.

So you didnd't get the UCAs ?

I got Total Chaos UCA's, they are great and have had no alignment or driving issues because of the lift. Check out my build thread in my sig

You should definitely not cheap out and skip new UCA's, the extra money is worth it to avoid the issues the other poster mentioned.

 

[vintage]

I had a 15 Pro but just traded in for a 17 Pro. Did alot of research on good lift options for the TRD Pros with out breaking the bank. Since I already paid up for the pro suspension I didn't want to scrap it. I'm going with Toytec TRD Pro spaciers in front (Top and Bottom) which gives you a extra 2 inches combined with the 1 inch already on the pros for a total of 3" lift for front. Toytec sell a the kit with 2" rear springs or 1.5 SAW rear springs but seemes allittle to high for my taste. I wanted my rear to have a more level stance with the front so for the rear springs I opted for Wheelers T13 rear springs. I'll be running the stock tires for a while but plan on upgrading to the 285/70/17 next year. I have a appointment next week for the lift install and will try and post pics when complete.

 

[snif6969]

thank you all for your answers,

I am not in a place (financially speaking) where I can afford suspension kit with modified UCAs.

Therefore I think I'll have to draw a line on those sweet 33s.

But does the Toytec TRDPro kit requires UCAs?

Any experiences with that kit ?

thanks

 

[mvt4r]

thank you all for your answers,

I am not in a place (financially speaking) where I can afford suspension kit with modified UCAs.

Therefore I think I'll have to draw a line on those sweet 33s.

But does the Toytec TRDPro kit requires UCAs?

Any experiences with that kit ?

thanks

The main question is what do you want to do with the truck? It is never going to be a competitive rock crawler unless you go the T40R route

The standard TRD Pro has lots of ground clearance for driving off road and decent tires (I think, compared to all the other 4runners which really have street tires). The rock sliders are a good bet, and extended skids will help protect the bottom.

If you are going to be off road more (not at off road parks) you also have to decide whether suspension and tires are the next thing or if you need recovery gear to get out of trouble - i.e., a winch and associated rigging.

If you are really going to go off road, I'd put the money in more skids and save up for a winch before suspension and bigger tires. Remember, the bigger tires only buy you 3/4" or so of clearance to the diffs. The lift will get you body clearance in many situations, but the TRDP is a very capable vehicle even without a lift.

You should also consider an air down and air up option, as those can run a few hundred dollars for a setup that is efficient (CO2 or powerful compressor).

 

[Jetboy]

Unfortunately there's the same bad information that shows up in many of these threads. The lift you're talking about will not change the tire size you can fit.

A lift that does not replace BOTH control arms and/or relocate the mounts will not allow you to run larger tires. The control arms have a fixed geometry and fixed motion range. The tire fitment is a function of the control arm mounting points, length, and wheel offset. Wheels with less offset (stick out further) will also mean smaller tires.

Whatever tire you can run with a 2 or 3" lift, you can run at stock height. It's just a physical fact of independent suspension.

The higher you go, the worse the ride will be. That's also just a physical function of the geometry. Keeping the exact same shocks with spacers will still have a harsher ride if you start with a static height 2" up.

So... that doesn't mean there aren't advantages of ground clearance and belly clearance with higher static ride height. Just that the tire size doesn't change with lift height unless you either go to long travel or bracket lifts.

IMO - stick with 1" lift over OEM. You can probably get away with a spacer to get you there without too much trouble. Put a 1.5" lift rear spring in. Throw on some 285 tires and call it a day.

I would use P285s for lighter weight and softer flex for everything except desert racing. If you're desert racing - E rated may be worth the extra weight. And so is the $ for King or Fox shock upgrades.

Good luck!

 

[snif6969]

A lift that does not replace BOTH control arms and/or relocate the mounts will not allow you to run larger tires. The control arms have a fixed geometry and fixed motion range. The tire fitment is a function of the control arm mounting points, length, and wheel offset. Wheels with less offset (stick out further) will also mean smaller tires.

...

IMO - stick with 1" lift over OEM. You can probably get away with a spacer to get you there without too much trouble. Put a 1.5" lift rear spring in. Throw on some 285 tires and call it a day.

Idk if I read your reply in a wrong way, but it seems contradictory !

Also, how necessary are UCAs with a +2in lift on the TRDP ? Some pleople say it's fine OEM some say UCAs are mandatory...

 

[Cymon]

What [MENTION=118321]Jetboy[/MENTION] mentioned above and check out this thread from [MENTION=148378]Dobinsons Mike[/MENTION] .

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/238640-trd-pro-4runner-lifted-coil-options-dobinsons.html

 

[1badFJ]

Few things to consider:

1) Get a new UCA - I'd suggest Total Chaos (They're awesome!)

2) Check out FOX's Factory Series 2.5 shocks

3) Watch Total Chaos video on Youtube, it'll be a huge help when installing your UCA's/Coilovers.

 

[1badFJ]

If you can't afford to do it all at once, save and wait it out until you can. You'll be much happier at the end of the day!

 

[billnourse]

I went with the ToyTec Ultimate set at about 2.5". It aligned perfectly without UCA according to the dealer tech that did the alignment. It drives and handles well and goes straight down the road at all speeds.

I have 12.5 " of clearance under the front skid plate. Total cost was less than 1,700 including installation and alignment. It is not a hardcore setup, but it is good for my off roading and as a daily driver.

I am running stock tires and wheels so I can't address clearance issues you might have, but my dealer says that 285's will work fine on my setup.


Bill