Suggested Off-Road Mods

[sdot2010]

I'm going to the masses. I have officially overwhelmed myself with the possibilities of engine/body/suspension mods and am lost in the weeds.

I have stock '87 with 163k and an IFS that was recently purchased. I want to do enough mods that I can take off-road but it can remain a daily driver, but like many others, I'm on a tight budget.

Do I go with an upgrade for suspension, or a body lift for bigger tires? I need new tires so I'm at the point where I go with 31s or put a lift on it an go with 33s. Or something totally different?

I want ALL opinions.

 

[jgilbreath]

I would go suspension lift (no body lift), the lightest weight 15" wheel you can find, and some 33 x 10.5 x 15 all terrains.

For specifics:
OME suspension
Mickey Thompson wheels
Bfg at ko tires
Trail gear front tube bumper and sliders

 

[off-road runner]

That's a good looking rig for an '87. My opinion would be to not mod too much. If you're short on cash... just maintaning it may cost you plenty. You could spend coin on tires, lift, etc and the tranny or some other major part lets go and you've lost your DD. I'd just put new springs in the back (~2" of lift) to get rid of the rake. Decent AT or MT tires in a 31" will serve you well. If that's a 22R motor it won't be able to spin 33's in mud or snow and without A-TRAC you're gonna want to be able to spin the tires... I know from experience. I don't want to discourage you from building a trail rig but with a truck that old and wanting it as a DD also you may have to compromise. JMO.

 

[Ron4RNevada]

Leave it stock. Put some AT or MT tires on it same size as stock.

 

[CAN-03runner]

I'm going to the masses. I have officially overwhelmed myself with the possibilities of engine/body/suspension mods and am lost in the weeds.

I have stock '87 with 163k and an IFS that was recently purchased. I want to do enough mods that I can take off-road but it can remain a daily driver, but like many others, I'm on a tight budget.

Do I go with an upgrade for suspension, or a body lift for bigger tires? I need new tires so I'm at the point where I go with 31s or put a lift on it an go with 33s. Or something totally different?

I want ALL opinions.

What is your idea of offroading? Everyone's idea ranges from very mild to very hard core.

I would get rock sliders, and look into skids so you are protected.

For an extra just in case, a winch mount. Trailgear sells one with just the mount and then a 8000# winch. So even if you are not all locked up and riding on 35's+ you can self recover out of a bad spot and be protected with the sliders and skids while you are doing it.

And then see how far you can get with your existing tires, or go for 31s and see how far you can get. I bet you'll do pretty good with armor and a winch up front. And will still be decent for daily drive.

 

[KidVermicious]

Leave it stock. Put some AT or MT tires on it same size as stock.

This this this this this this and this.

OP, your truck is an SUV, built back when that meant something. You don't need mods to take it "off road". You need a decent set of tires and that's about it. Nearly everything you do to make it more capable offroad will make it less useful as a daily driver, so put away the check book and just drive it.

As you wheel it, you will learn what it can do and what it can't, and you'll have a better idea what you want it to do and what you can live without. Then you can decide for yourself what mods you need to add and what impact to it's usefulness as a daily driver you can tolerate, without asking total strangers on the internet who have no idea what you mean by "offroad". In stock form that 4Runner is way more truck than you know what to do with anyway, so get to know it, develop your wheeling skills, and worry about the mods later. If you have to spend money RIGHT NOW, spend it on recovery gear and armor (sliders and skid plates). Check out the Zukmod for a cheap fix for the sagging rear, and go get it dirty.

 

[Ruff]

Take care of the engine and get rid of rust.