Realistically Speaking - Offroad Capabilities

[DH4Runner]

For those of you with experience, tell me realistically, the benefits of having a 3 inch lift and 285's over the 99 tall coil springs and 265/75's.

Now I understand the ground clearance and all around off road abilities will benefit from a 3" lift and larger tires but how often is it really the case when wheeling that a 'stock' runner wouldnt make it?

I guess in a round about way I'm trying to justify something like the ss system 3 as opposed to something more expensive, etc...

 

[brian2sun]

It depends on the trails, but 265s and a 1" lift will still get you through a lot of stuff. The biggest difference is if you're playing in the rocks or not. You'll just take a lot more scrapes and damage to the undercarriage, bumpers, and rocker panels the less clearance you have.

That said, if you get sliders, off road bumpers, and skids, then you can bash your way through most stuff with 99 coils and 265s.

 

[Mr. Leary]

It depends on the trails, but 265s and a 1" lift will still get you through a lot of stuff. The biggest difference is if you're playing in the rocks or not. You'll just take a lot more scrapes and damage to the undercarriage, bumpers, and rocker panels the less clearance you have.

That said, if you get sliders, off road bumpers, and skids, then you can bash your way through most stuff with 99 coils and 265s.

Well said.

I'll add a little local spin, since I live in Denton...

I wheeled all over the place on 265s before lifting and locking. I have a 99, so no difference in coils was needed. Generally speaking, the lower stance will make you have to drive more on the trails... thats about it. When I take groups out for trail runs, the problems arise when the lower trucks try to take the same lines as the taller trucks, which also tend to have more experienced drivers. You will need to be more careful in the bumpy spots, but will have the advantage of being supremely stable on the off camber stuff (great for NW Arkansas).

I'm not sure what your skill level is, but your truck is capable of completing all the reasonable trails around here. May not fair too well at Bridgeport OHV park, but it will do the K-trail, Little Sahara, Palo Duro area, and everything in between just fine. I would recommend sticking to a 70-75% aspect ratio for a lower truck, just because you will need a little more flotation due to lack of overall clearance (265/75/R16 is perfect). Sticking to a tire size closer to stock will allow you to avoid a re-gear. When you have 3" of lift, you will want taller gears, which are expensive.

As Brian said, you will leave your mark on more of the trail, but with some improvements to the armor, this should not be an issue. If you are looking to get into some harder wheeling, the lower stance is probably not the right choice, but if you are more interested in light wheeling and the occassional jaunt down a dirt road to a deer lease, camp site, or local fishing hole... the 99 coils and the 265s will be a very good choice.

Hope this helps.

Lets just put it this way... a truck with 265/75/R16s can complete the Rubicon, but a truck on 315/75/R16s can do it without body damage. If you want hard stuff, go big or go home. If you want versatility and reliability, stick close to stock specs.

Leary

 

[puppetz007]

I like the info Mr. Leary, helps out quite a bit as I have been to the Rubicon before.

 

[maclean216]

Depends on what you are wheeling, but if you can't justify it to yourself you probably don't need it.

 

[DH4Runner]

Well said.

I'll add a little local spin, since I live in Denton...

I wheeled all over the place on 265s before lifting and locking. I have a 99, so no difference in coils was needed. Generally speaking, the lower stance will make you have to drive more on the trails... thats about it. When I take groups out for trail runs, the problems arise when the lower trucks try to take the same lines as the taller trucks, which also tend to have more experienced drivers. You will need to be more careful in the bumpy spots, but will have the advantage of being supremely stable on the off camber stuff (great for NW Arkansas).

I'm not sure what your skill level is, but your truck is capable of completing all the reasonable trails around here. May not fair too well at Bridgeport OHV park, but it will do the K-trail, Little Sahara, Palo Duro area, and everything in between just fine. I would recommend sticking to a 70-75% aspect ratio for a lower truck, just because you will need a little more flotation due to lack of overall clearance (265/75/R16 is perfect). Sticking to a tire size closer to stock will allow you to avoid a re-gear. When you have 3" of lift, you will want taller gears, which are expensive.

As Brian said, you will leave your mark on more of the trail, but with some improvements to the armor, this should not be an issue. If you are looking to get into some harder wheeling, the lower stance is probably not the right choice, but if you are more interested in light wheeling and the occassional jaunt down a dirt road to a deer lease, camp site, or local fishing hole... the 99 coils and the 265s will be a very good choice.

Hope this helps.

Lets just put it this way... a truck with 265/75/R16s can complete the Rubicon, but a truck on 315/75/R16s can do it without body damage. If you want hard stuff, go big or go home. If you want versatility and reliability, stick close to stock specs.

Leary

Very informative Leary. Thank you.

I'm pretty sure I'll stick with the 99 coil set up with some 265/75's. At this point, I don't see myself going too crazy with this. All I know is I need to do something because I have a blown rear shock so I figure this is a good time to do a little something.

As for my skill level, that's a good question. I can't find anything in the immediate DFW area to test myself and I haven't yet made it a priority to make the trek somewhere however, the longer I look at this forum and see all the excellent wheeling pictures... I might have to change that!

 

[bak3rme]

i'm thinkin..if u have 285's and stock gears..it might hurt ur tranny if u wheel hard in the long run. but i could be wrong

 

[scottyb]

With a good 3" suspension lift you can get more articulation which will help keep your tires on the ground in tougher areas. That way you still have traction and can keep moving on down the trail. However, with lockers or good driving or both a stock configuration can do really well, you'll just sustain more damage like people are saying.

I just put on the 3" toytec lift and 33" tires and my buddy I wheel with has a stock tacoma with the rear locker. He gets up low traction areas better than I do, but I can get up the areas that demand more articulation. We both get down the trail, just sometimes we need to take different lines suited to our vehicles strong points

 

[steezemcqueen]

With a good 3" suspension lift you can get more articulation which will help keep your tires on the ground in tougher areas. That way you still have traction and can keep moving on down the trail. However, with lockers or good driving or both a stock configuration can do really well, you'll just sustain more damage like people are saying.

I just put on the 3" toytec lift and 33" tires and my buddy I wheel with has a stock tacoma with the rear locker. He gets up low traction areas better than I do, but I can get up the areas that demand more articulation. We both get down the trail, just sometimes we need to take different lines suited to our vehicles strong points

:iagree:

its more about the extended travel vs the overall height.

 

[Mr. Leary]

Very informative Leary. Thank you.

I'm pretty sure I'll stick with the 99 coil set up with some 265/75's. At this point, I don't see myself going too crazy with this. All I know is I need to do something because I have a blown rear shock so I figure this is a good time to do a little something.

As for my skill level, that's a good question. I can't find anything in the immediate DFW area to test myself and I haven't yet made it a priority to make the trek somewhere however, the longer I look at this forum and see all the excellent wheeling pictures... I might have to change that!

If you can get a good deal on 99 coils, then go for it. If you are buying new, go for the Old Man Emu coils. They are extremely durable and give you a little extra height. TRDParts4U places regular stock orders so you will not have to pay for shipping. Suspension is easy, and the DFW guys have regular wrenching parties... you could bring your truck over and have it done for a case of beer.

If you want to go on some trail runs and see lots of different setups, come out the the Lone Star Jamboree.

I will be leading some trail runs, and there should be a few 4Runner guys out there.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/general-discussions/60599-texas-4runner-meet-up.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/t4r-m...o/77577-lone-star-toyota-jamboree-2011-a.html

 

[DH4Runner]

That Jamboree looks awesome. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make that.

So what you are suggesting, Leary, is the 4RUNNER OME NITROCHARGER SPORT Soft Suspension Kit as opposed to the SS System 3?

 

[nucleardean]

:iagree:

its more about the extended travel vs the overall height.

As an example: On the way to a camping trip in OR I drove my 91 acura integra down 2 miles of badly rutted rocky dirt road to the campsite filled with lifted trucks, h2s and jeeps.

Long story short... the plan was to drive as far as i could park and walk the rest of the way. If you drive around the bumps and rocks you can get far.

I got stopped a couple dozen yards from our site by a huge puddle.

To be fair I did end up with a dented heat shield and two tires that needed replacing. But the story and the looks were worth it! I would have been much happier in the 4Runner.

 

[Mr. Leary]

That Jamboree looks awesome. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make that.

So what you are suggesting, Leary, is the 4RUNNER OME NITROCHARGER SPORT Soft Suspension Kit as opposed to the SS System 3?

I'm saying that you shouldn't be buying brand new 99 coils. I have been very impressed with my OME suspension, and I think you would be very happy.

Here are your basic OME choices. If your truck is light weight, get the soft coils, if it is heavy (stock +600 lbs) get the firm, if it is like my truck and very heavy (stock +1200 lbs), you will need to get with Jacque and figure out what is best for your truck (probably Prado coils in the rear and 882s in front).

I have never run SS suspension on any of my trucks, so I can't talk about them knowledgeably like I can the OME stuff (I have run two different sets of OME suspension on my 4Runner).

http://www.trdparts4u.com/Scripts/p...talogid=-1&catalogname=OFFROAD&idCategory=-79