MetalTech rear LT kit or buy something else? ($1k burning a hole in my pocket)

[swapmeet]

Ok guys and gals...

I'm not sure if this is the right site for this, but what the hell!

I have saved up about a grand, which I had intended on using to buy MetalTech's long travel kit for the rear.

So now that I have the money... I'm not sure I want to spend it on that. I wheel once a month currently. Not getting stuck, but I'd like the extra flex that kit offers.

I've been wanting to add some lights to the front using the light bar Mojave Mad Man is making. That'll be $400-ish probably with the lights I want. But honestly I haven't spent much time wheeling at night.

I don't have a winch.... But $375 for a budbuilt hidden mount plus a winch will probably exceed my budget.

I'd like to get a locker for the rear, but it looks like that will exceed the budget too. But I think that would be a smart addition to my truck... So I dunno.

What do y'all think? Help me decide. I'm fine with suggestions out side of the above.

 

[Nyc-Runner]

It's always difficult trying to decide what mod to spend your money on its a never ending problem, for me anyways lol. I'd say do what you think you need or want most and then start saving for the next thing on the list. If you wheel once a month then it's probably not imperative for you to have right now, but on the other hand when you start building your rig you have to start somewhere so if your going to do it anyways down the road then you mid as we'll do it now. It is a awesome kit I will say from experience I love mine and it still amazes me sometimes at the flex I get and how much more capable it made my 4runner.



As far as the lights go their cool I have more lights than I know what to do with but their the thing I probably use the least on my 4runner. I mean it's cool to have them and they been great when I've needed them but lights are also cheaper and can slowly be pieced together over time. For example do a light bar in the front and then down the road add one to the rear or anywhere else if you want.

 

[superman3043]

Lights, winch, locker, bumper, sliders, and CB are goodies that rarely see use on my rig, but are nice to have. For my purposes, daily driver with some occasional wheeling, the same thing could even be said about the suspension and wheels and tires.

Weathertechs, Clazzios, and the nice stereo system are things that I enjoy daily.

That being said, I LOVE my MT rear long travel system and would definitely recommend it. In the end, it's your money and your truck, so buy what you think will make you happiest. Don't know if that helped at all, but good luck.

 

[txbonds]

Looking at your signature line you already have the basics covered with suspension, sliders and skids. If I were in your shoes here is how I would approach it.

If you go Offroad alone or with people without a winch in the group, then I'd do a warn 8000 and bud built hidden mount. Here's the warn for $575 with free shipping. Just fits your budget. http://www.amazon.com/WARN-26502-M8000-8000-lb-Winch/dp/B000182DYM



If the winch isn't an issue, then maybe additional armor underneath like differential skid, rear lower link frame skids, etc.

As mentioned a locker would be great if you could get it installed under $1k but again I bet 90% of folks on this forum only use their locker in limited cases. In those cases I bet 90% of the time the same obstacle could be taken without the locker or overcome with momentum or winch. Not getting rid of mine but just saying.

I agree that lights are not a huge priority if you never Offroad at night and don't have other uses, but if you do have other uses like a farm or a job that requires outdoor work, or a a boat at night on the boat ramp, etc........ The lights can be handy if thought out and placed appropriately.


I guess if it were me, I would look at long travel as a last add on personally as I think the 4Runner is very capable without it and you might get more bang for buck from other things first. Looking at what I wrote I think I vote for a winch for you. LOL

 

[swapmeet]

Thanks guys who responded. I didn't know if I would have 0 responses or 25... this forum perplexes me sometimes. So I appreciate the responses. Especially from the guys who have the MT kit.

Looking at your signature line you already have the basics covered with suspension, sliders and skids. If I were in your shoes here is how I would approach it.

If you go Offroad alone or with people without a winch in the group, then I'd do a warn 8000 and bud built hidden mount. Here's the warn for $575 with free shipping. Just fits your budget. http://www.amazon.com/WARN-26502-M8000-8000-lb-Winch/dp/B000182DYM

As mentioned a locker would be great if you could get it installed under $1k but again I bet 90% of folks on this forum only use their locker in limited cases. In those cases I bet 90% of the time the same obstacle could be taken without the locker or overcome with momentum or winch. Not getting rid of mine but just saying.




I guess if it were me, I would look at long travel as a last add on personally as I think the 4Runner is very capable without it and you might get more bang for buck from other things first. Looking at what I wrote I think I vote for a winch for you. LOL

So here is my issue, or my perceived issue anyway LOL.
The last time I went wheeling, my truck was the weak link. (two jeeps with basic lift open difs and 35's, 3/4 ton 85 chevy 4x4 truck, 4x4 Fullsize Bronco with mudders) I couldn't get over obstacles that others had little to no issue crawling over, UNLESS I used momentum. I feel like i'm gonna break something ramming my truck over rocks etc.

I could probably use new tires more than anything. I'm trying to wear out my 265/70 Terra Grapplers but they won't wear out. I'm planning on getting 285/70 Duratrac's eventually.

 

[MORK]

See, this seems strange to me. If you are using ATRAC properly, I don't see too many obstacles where you should have problems - especially considering your company. I have found it to be surprisingly capable UNLESS you are jabbing the throttle.

In my opinion, a hidden winch is probably your best bet with the budget. Or save up a couple hundred more and get an ARB and have it put in, even then, a winch might be more useful.

Better to get out of where you get stuck first before being able to get stuck deeper.

 

[xpeppyx]

From what you just said I'd agree with you that larger more aggressive tires are what you need.

A winch is something you don't want to have to use but is nice to have when you need it. If you have any plans of a front bumper don't waste the money on a winch mount. Sometimes I regret getting a winch. My bumper was a birthday present and I bought the winch because I felt the bumper looked incomplete without it, lol. A winch may help you get over obstacles, but not the fun way.

You could repair the tail lights you trail damaged with that money...

 

[swapmeet]

See, this seems strange to me. If you are using ATRAC properly, I don't see too many obstacles where you should have problems - especially considering your company. I have found it to be surprisingly capable UNLESS you are jabbing the throttle.

In my opinion, a hidden winch is probably your best bet with the budget. Or save up a couple hundred more and get an ARB and have it put in, even then, a winch might be more useful.

Better to get out of where you get stuck first before being able to get stuck deeper.

I know man... I go easy on the throttle, try to let ATRAC do its thing (I can hear it working) but most of the time I just spin tires. So after spinning for 15-30 seconds trying to get traction... sawing the wheel a little, trying lines etc... I back up a bit and hit it with a little more throttle. If that doesn't work, back up hit it with a little more than last time. The latter part of that explanation is how I generally end up getting past most everything.

 

[swapmeet]

You could repair the tail lights you trail damaged with that money...

LMAO :bash:

I have my replacement! But I'm waiting for the weather to warm up so I can tint it to match the other side.

 

[txbonds]

Based on your last few posts I would spend the money on larger tires with more tread. Some 255's or 285's would add ground clearance and more grip.

I guess I just don't see how a rear long travel is going to make that much difference the way you are describing it.

 

[swapmeet]

There is a couple great threads about it on the 120 forum. This is one

But for ease of explanation.

 

[txbonds]

I gotcha. So the idea is keep the outside rear tire on ground for more traction. Problem solved then. You need tires and long traction with winch for backup. :rofl:

 

[Nyc-Runner]

I know man... I go easy on the throttle, try to let ATRAC do its thing (I can hear it working) but most of the time I just spin tires. So after spinning for 15-30 seconds trying to get traction... sawing the wheel a little, trying lines etc... I back up a bit and hit it with a little more throttle. If that doesn't work, back up hit it with a little more than last time. The latter part of that explanation is how I generally end up getting past most everything.

Yep that's pretty much wheeling in a nut shell haha,your not always going to get thru or over the obstacle the first time or 2nd or 3rd but that's also the fun/challenge in it! A lot of different things come into play with that, which line you take, the difference in your wheel base say compared to a jeep that are nice and wide etc i will say that tires do make a world of difference even more depending on how much psi you running and so on and so forth. That could be a big part of your problem because the terra grapplers are really not great tires for going off the pavement. My buddy used to have them and they pretty much didn't do well in anything except dry conditions and even then he would have over compensate with the skinny pedal in many situations but in snow or mud or anything wet forget about it. Certain at tires are a little more aggressive and tend to better off road like the BFG at ko or I had the general grabbers at2s(very similar tread pattern to the BFG at ko) and the where also really good off road in just about everything except deep mudd. The dura tracks are a great all around off/on road tire!

So I kind of have to agree with everybody else on the tires. Plus that toytec set up should still perform pretty good! But worse case you could always do the long travel rear and tires after. Whatever makes you happy at the end of the day!