Newbie with lots of questions

[Sam Ogle]

I have a 1999 4Runner I have had for several years, and thought of trading it off, as it has 260,000 miles. BUT, it runs good, so I have decided to keep it and do some upgrades to make it more of a Hunting/Fishing wagon. Yes, I really hunt and fish.

Forgive a 70 year old guy from asking stupid questions, but with a sun roof, can I put a roof rack on it?
Also, bigger, wider tires.......do I need different wheels?

Sam Ogle Lincoln, NE
ps; do we dare put our email address on this forum, or will I pick up a lot of spam?

 

[Gerdo]

Welcome Sam
This thread http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/66976-3rd-gen-4runner-lift-information-faqs.html has tons of info about lifts and tires.

This http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/66976-3rd-gen-4runner-lift-information-faqs.html is a thread that I did. Basically, with stock suspension you can run a 265/75-16 with little to no rubbing, which is a little bigger than stock. You can go up to a 285/75-16 but will have rubbing and will need to do a little cutting and pounding.

As far as a roof rack. You can stay to the back like I did. I mounted a Yakima rack in the factory tracks. There are full length racks out there like the Gobi Gobi Toyota 96-02 4 Runner and maybe others.

 

[Hepar]

Well said Gerdo. Read through those threads and if you still have any questions, come back and ask away. We'll be more than happy to answer.

 

[Sam Ogle]

Newbie

Thanks guys for the kind responses:
I will look into those tires.
Another loaded Question: Is there a "chip" that I can put in to up power a bit?
I have an 18' fairly heavy inboard outboard boat I want to pull, and last time I did, it seemed to strain things a bit.

Sam Ogle, Lincoln, NE

 

[Hepar]

Thanks guys for the kind responses:
I will look into those tires.
Another loaded Question: Is there a "chip" that I can put in to up power a bit?
I have an 18' fairly heavy inboard outboard boat I want to pull, and last time I did, it seemed to strain things a bit.

Sam Ogle, Lincoln, NE

There are plenty of chips out there. Will they do anything? No. Don't waste your money. They are pretty much worthless on normally aspirated engines. You can go two routes to add any sort of noticeable power. One is to completely redo your intake and exhaust system (including headers). Downside is that the headers are where you will notice the most gains, but it is the part that is the biggest pain to install on top of being the most expensive. The other is to boost it by either a turbo or a S/C. TRD did make a completely bolt-on supercharger for these engines and there are quite a few guys running them on the forum. They have their up sides and downsides too.

 

[Sam Ogle]

Gerdo; You said I could go to 265/75-16 tires: Do I need to get 16" wheels?
Or can I put those on my stock wheels? I have to do things one at a time (money)

ps; I have a son in Phoenix: He and buddies go into the high desert with their jeeps & Toyota's, and go places that take my breath away. We go down hills that my first reaction is "We can't go there.......then there we go! Anyway, he told me that after '99, Toyota made the 4Runners wider, and they did not work as well for off roading. That kind of off roading doesn't really fit quite what I do; which is going dove and deer hunting in the Sandhills of Nebraska, where clearance is required to go over Yucca plants ("soapweeds"), and drive in soft, sandy hills. So, I am thinking better clearance, better running lights, a rack on top to hold deer and "stuff."
God Bless you guys on this forum.
Sam Ogle, Lincoln, NE

 

[Hepar]

Gerdo; You said I could go to 265/75-16 tires: Do I need to get 16" wheels?
Or can I put those on my stock wheels? I have to do things one at a time (money)

ps; I have a son in Phoenix: He and buddies go into the high desert with their jeeps & Toyota's, and go places that take my breath away. We go down hills that my first reaction is "We can't go there.......then there we go! Anyway, he told me that after '99, Toyota made the 4Runners wider, and they did not work as well for off roading. That kind of off roading doesn't really fit quite what I do; which is going dove and deer hunting in the Sandhills of Nebraska, where clearance is required to go over Yucca plants ("soapweeds"), and drive in soft, sandy hills. So, I am thinking better clearance, better running lights, a rack on top to hold deer and "stuff."
God Bless you guys on this forum.
Sam Ogle, Lincoln, NE

If you have stock 16" wheels, then they will fit with no issues.

I think your son is thinking of the switch from the 3rd gens to the 4th gens which happened in '03 ('02 being the last year of the 3rd gens). All of the 4Runners from '96 to '02 are the same width (difference in some being the wider flares). This really is one of the more perfect platforms to build a trail rig while maintaining a good performing daily driver.