Overland Suspension

A

ade678

New member
Hi All,

Can anyone offer advice or opinions about an “overland suspension”. I’ve seen plenty on the forum about lifts”— aesthetic and functional — off roading, rock crawling, etc., but less about what, for lack of a more specific term, I’ll call an “overland suspension”

Let me be a bit more specific: I get to live an overland lifestyle with wife and kid a few month during the summer — this year It’ll be East coast to Arizona to California to British Columbia, and eventually out to Newfoundland (and back), all the while looking to get as far away from civilization as possible — while the rest of the year I drive lots of highway miles with a mostly empty rig.

I’ve made a few slight mods to my 2016 4Runner TE with KDSS: a full set of aluminum underarmor from RCI, a stealth Gobi rack, and soon an undercover hidden winch mount (and winch). The weight adds up, especially when the the rig is packed. Finally, I often tow a custom built off road teardrop trailer (see pic).

…by now I wonder if I’m beginning to over stress the stock suspension. I’ve thought about small fixes like spacers, perhaps a set of Bilstein 5100s up front (thanks to everyone’s excellent advice in this thread), but maybe I should think a bit bigger? A moderate lift (1” or so?) and/or adjustable (stiffer) suspension to accommodate both offroading and daily driving…an “overland suspension”? (Nothing big...I'd like to keep the overall appearance as close to stock as possible)

(I did find this, but can’t tell if it’s an advertisement or an honest review).

Thoughts?

Many thanks in advance for your advice!
 

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ade678 said:
Hi All,

Can anyone offer advice or opinions about an “overland suspension”. I’ve seen plenty on the forum about lifts”— aesthetic and functional — off roading, rock crawling, etc., but less about what, for lack of a more specific term, I’ll call an “overland suspension”

Let me be a bit more specific: I get to live an overland lifestyle with wife and kid a few month during the summer — this year It’ll be East coast to Arizona to California to British Columbia, and eventually out to Newfoundland (and back), all the while looking to get as far away from civilization as possible — while the rest of the year I drive lots of highway miles with a mostly empty rig.

I’ve made a few slight mods to my 2016 4Runner TE with KDSS: a full set of aluminum underarmor from RCI, a stealth Gobi rack, and soon an undercover hidden winch mount (and winch). The weight adds up, especially when the the rig is packed. Finally, I often tow a custom built off road teardrop trailer (see pic).

…by now I wonder if I’m beginning to over stress the stock suspension. I’ve thought about small fixes like spacers, perhaps a set of Bilstein 5100s up front (thanks to everyone’s excellent advice in this thread), but maybe I should think a bit bigger? A moderate lift (1” or so?) and/or adjustable (stiffer) suspension to accommodate both offroading and daily driving…an “overland suspension”? (Nothing big...I'd like to keep the overall appearance as close to stock as possible)

(I did find this, but can’t tell if it’s an advertisement or an honest review).

Thoughts?

Many thanks in advance for your advice!
Click to expand...



Seems like Air Bags would be a good choice to give you the extra weight capacity when needed, but not make it too stiff when you don't. Check out this thread, right in the first post: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/92013-antmans-thread.html#post806239
 
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Second the vote on air bags. Great way to firm up the suspension when needed. I have the identical truck as you and my overland setup is Trd pro shocks up front with .5" top spacers and 5100's in the rear with Firestone air bags. Simple, great on road and with the slight lift in front I now run some super challenging and fun class 4 roads in VT with confidence.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
A mini-overlanding trip with the same gear you'll take wouldn't be a bad idea to test what's necessary and what's not. The more you modify (and go aftermarket), the less the reliability.
 
I think Airbags are a good suggestion for the rear but if you're going to add a winch you'll want something up front too. 5100's with OME springs will net about a 2" lift and help with the weight. You could also do the bilstein 6112's up front if you wanted to spend a little more $.

There is also this option if you haven't seen it.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/231576-dobinsons-5th-gen-toyota-4runner-suspension-options-lots-choices.html

You can run their springs with the Dobinson shocks or with 5100's.
 
Here's the reality....

You drive 97% of your "overlanding" on paved surfaces....why not be as comfortable as you can with 6,379 extra tons of shit strapped to your truck and trailer going from point A to point B??

Get a suspension that will serve you well for the majority of your driving, and allow you some flexibility to rockcrawl, or wheel, or off road like a boss when you and the asphalt have parted ways.

p.s....I gave you 10 extra Overlanding points for matching the rims on the trailer...
 
Sorry, I don't have any advice for you. My wife and I also tow a TC Terdrops ORE and we have an icon lift with the "regular" rear Icon springs and we get a little bit of sag as well. Airbags are an option, but I was told that the airbags would limit offroad travel when used. We are in the middle of building a box for the back of the runner that will hold recovery gear and may install OME medium springs after this.

Here is one of the most informative threads I've found regarding the differences in rear spring types:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/147846-most-stiff-rear-springs.html

Here is an example of the slight sag we get when fully loaded:
 
Airbags if your ass is sagging but the best advice is always to leave it alone and learn what exactly you will need for YOUR situation.

Your truck is already more capable than the driver and trust me that your suspension will let you know if it needs anything, just like your undercarriage will yell at you if you don't have enough clearance for where you drive.
 
I wouldn't worry that you're over stressing your suspension. These trucks are designed to do what you are doing with it. I would leave it alone and enjoy the extra money in your pocket. If things start wearing out, that is when I would look to upgrade. These things are incredibly capable in stock form.
 
with armor, rack, winch&mount, tounge weight its possible he could be over GVWR if he is travelling with passengers and gear, in that case suspension upgrades are worth it over stock equipment
 
my bad, here is a picture fully loaded post lift, and we had the shop leave a tiny bit of rake in to account for towing:
 
OP, You actually drive 97% of your Overland trips on pavement or do we have psychic's rolling around this community..damn! This community gets better every day.


To your question and looking at your setup, suspension/lift is just that so with mid travel there are a lot of mild lift options if that is what you choose...a lot of threads on them here...many running Bilsteins. Choosing your springs wisely will balance your setup
 
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greatape said:
OP, You actually drive 97% of your Overland trips on pavement or do we have psychic's rolling around this community..damn! This community gets better every day.


To your question and looking at your setup, suspension/lift is just that so with mid travel there are a lot of mild lift options if that is what you choose...a lot of threads on them here...many running Bilsteins. Choosing your springs wisely will balance your setup
Click to expand...

Well...excluding the posers...they travel EVERYWHERE off road. Even a trip to the local 7-11 for a pack of chokes requires Maxtrax, a Gobi ladder....and a ****ing Trasharoo
 
OP, like everyone else said, find out what you actually need and go from there. There's no real thing as "overland" suspension, many people have different perspectives on what works for them and what doesn't. [MENTION=129593]MTN4RNR[/MENTION] and some others have gone the stock suspension route, [MENTION=89562]bimrunner[/MENTION] [MENTION=49966]mikey's2010SR5[/MENTION] and [MENTION=124732]LawnDart[/MENTION] have gone long travel. You can overland with almost any kind of suspension. Countless others have done setups in between.

I'll also agree with everyone who said that most "overland" travel involves paved surfaces, and heims, uniballs, and other aftermarket compenents usually require a rebuild before their OEM counterparts. Keep that in mind when choosing what parts you are going with.

FWIW I had great success with my old Bilstein 6112/5160 setup until I really started loading down the rig. I think it's a really good bang for the buck if pair it with the right springs.
 
Titanpat57 said:
Well...excluding the posers...they travel EVERYWHERE off road. Even a trip to the local 7-11 for a pack of chokes requires Maxtrax, a Gobi ladder....and a ****ing Trasharoo
Click to expand...

If you park on top of one of those grassy areas in the parking lot, that counts as overlanding though
 
Titanpat57 said:
Well...excluding the posers...they travel EVERYWHERE off road. Even a trip to the local 7-11 for a pack of chokes requires Maxtrax, a Gobi ladder....and a ****ing Trasharoo
Click to expand...

I remember that word poser many decades ago as a teen skateboarding which was used and said to some and LIKED by others.. It was a label and it grew into groups/division. Is that what we are doing on this great forum now? Labeling people...I thought this forum was for people who love Toyotas and specifically the 4Runner here period...

There are a lot of great people here loving their rigs and offering/sharing love on how and what they do with their rigs like the cool sh!t you've done to your rigs that could have appealed to a lot but we all enjoy the adventure.

Maybe, I am missing something here..who knows???

Lastly, OP goodluck Brother...this is your thread! Hope you and your Family enjoy that Runner as much as I have all of mine..Last words..out...
 
greatape said:
I remember that word poser many decades ago as a teen skateboarding which was used and said to some and LIKED by others.. It was a label and it grew into groups/division. Is that what we are doing on this great forum now? Labeling people...I thought this forum was for people who love Toyotas and specifically the 4Runner here period...

There are a lot of great people here loving their rigs and offering/sharing love on how and what they do with their rigs like the cool sh!t you've done to your rigs that could have appealed to a lot but we all enjoy the adventure.

Maybe, I am missing something here..who knows???

Lastly, OP goodluck Brother...this is your thread! Hope you and your Family enjoy that Runner as much as I have all of mine..Last words..out...
Click to expand...


lol...

Ok...bye
 
ade678 said:
Hi All,

Can anyone offer advice or opinions about an “overland suspension”. I’ve seen plenty on the forum about lifts”— aesthetic and functional — off roading, rock crawling, etc., but less about what, for lack of a more specific term, I’ll call an “overland suspension”

Let me be a bit more specific: I get to live an overland lifestyle with wife and kid a few month during the summer — this year It’ll be East coast to Arizona to California to British Columbia, and eventually out to Newfoundland (and back), all the while looking to get as far away from civilization as possible — while the rest of the year I drive lots of highway miles with a mostly empty rig.

I’ve made a few slight mods to my 2016 4Runner TE with KDSS: a full set of aluminum underarmor from RCI, a stealth Gobi rack, and soon an undercover hidden winch mount (and winch). The weight adds up, especially when the the rig is packed. Finally, I often tow a custom built off road teardrop trailer (see pic).

…by now I wonder if I’m beginning to over stress the stock suspension. I’ve thought about small fixes like spacers, perhaps a set of Bilstein 5100s up front (thanks to everyone’s excellent advice in this thread), but maybe I should think a bit bigger? A moderate lift (1” or so?) and/or adjustable (stiffer) suspension to accommodate both offroading and daily driving…an “overland suspension”? (Nothing big...I'd like to keep the overall appearance as close to stock as possible)

(I did find this, but can’t tell if it’s an advertisement or an honest review).

Thoughts?

Many thanks in advance for your advice!
Click to expand...

Also remember to check out this

The 10 Commandments Of Modifying An Overland Vehicle
https://expeditionportal.com/the-10-commandments-of-modifying-an-overland-vehicle/

That link is not an advert, but the reality for you may be different. Everyone has different needs and wants. There is no one right answer.

For me its about keeping things simple. I want to know I fix things or find parts anywhere I end up. It sounds like you are planning a very long trip.
Something I do is call local auto parts stores on my planned route. Pick a few small towns and call asking for a replacement shock. See if they can even get something what would work. If you are outside the USA, you never know what you'll be able to get without crazy shipping charges.

If you really want to keep things simple and easy, go with a moderate OME package.

Just my 2 cents
 
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