Trailing arm mount damage...Is this bad?

[STX4Runner]

I was completely impressed with the ability of a basically stock (just put on Cooper AT3's) vehicle. There were several lifted Jeeps in our group and I had no problem keeping up with them.

Absolutely. These vehicles are very capable. Every time I'm in Moab people are amazed at what a 4Runner can do. Get some protection for those lower link mounts, some sliders and maybe even some skid plates if you're gonna hit harder trails and go have fun. If you're not going to be hitting harder trails I'd still get sliders as the rocker panels are very vulnerable.

 

[willb0125]

Absolutely. These vehicles are very capable. Every time I'm in Moab people are amazed at what a 4Runner can do. Get some protection for those lower link mounts, some sliders and maybe even some skid plates if you're gonna hit harder trails and go have fun. If you're not going to be hitting harder trails I'd still get sliders as the rocker panels are very vulnerable.

The link skids for sure are going on. The factory running boards got some rock love to so they are probably next to get replaced by sliders. The factory skids for the engine and gas did their jobs but I don't know how many more trips they can take.

I also got the feeling the stock shocks and springs are great for a smooth ride but to soft for anything beyond dirt roads and the beach. Even going 0-1 MPH in sections I kept hitting bottom. While watching stock Jeeps with about the same ground clearance roll right through. But that is also why I bought the 4Runner over a Jeep. I had a nice cushy 5 hour drive home, unlike most of the Jeeps.

 

[sandcrawler]

I asked her yesterday if it would be better to get a lift or more protection...she said both. Should i max out the credit cards before she changes her mind?

this question... you're wasting time, man! buy!! buy like the wind!!!

seriously, though, the biggest sales of the year are about to go live. check out the site sponsors/vendors and have your shopping list ready. buy now. do it once, do it right, and save some serious scratch.

 

[Boyds4Runner]

I was just there for the 201 class on Sunday! Love Rausch Creek but even thought some trails are considered "Green" they are still very technical and you need good spotting on lots of parts. My running boards on the driver side got totally bashed this Sunday. I said the same thing on #14 which was Green.

That lower trailing arm mount should be straightened out as suggested by others though.

I have the RCI skids for everything except the trailing arm link mounts. So glad I had the other skids. On #14 a boulder (instead of letting me drive over it) ended up coming out of its spot, rolled up and wedged itself into my driver side front lower control arm and front mount of the running board. I had a hard time getting the darned thing out from under me. Instructors had to bring rocks from other spots to get it out from under me. Lots of scarping and metal on rock. Soooooo happy I had the lower-control arm skids on. Nothing but scrapes on the skids underneath after that. Other than my ego there was no real damage from that boulder.

The instructors were being nice to me though and did insist that it had nothing to do with my driving or rig. Being the second to last one in a line of 13, they said the boulder got loosened up and I just had the bad luck of it rolling out on me.

I too was outnumbered 11 to 1 Jeeps including 1 Cherokee TrailHawk.

2" lift kit from Toytec is coming this month! Have to bend the running boards back into shape so the kids can still get in and out. Sliders with the diamond plate stepping area are most likely the next move after the lift.

Good luck with yours. I would get skids all around and a lift ASAP since the wife seems onboard.

Rausch Creek gets very rocky with basketball size boulder and stumps. "Crawl" is definitely the operative at that place. Some parts you can blast through but not for long.

 

[TOY2G]

Last set in stock and with Rocktek Moving on to other things, it may be one of the last sets anywhere.

Rocktek Rear Control Arm Armor 4pc Set 4Runner & FJ

Oh, and Toyotec BOSS kits on sale for Black Friday.

 

[redkat]

I asked her yesterday if it would be better to get a lift or more protection...she said both. Should i max out the credit cards before she changes her mind?

Remember, think BIGGER tires!

 

[willb0125]

I was just there for the 201 class on Sunday! Love Rausch Creek but even thought some trails are considered "Green" they are still very technical and you need good spotting on lots of parts. My running boards on the driver side got totally bashed this Sunday. I said the same thing on #14 which was Green.

That lower trailing arm mount should be straightened out as suggested by others though.

I have the RCI skids for everything except the trailing arm link mounts. So glad I had the other skids. On #14 a boulder (instead of letting me drive over it) ended up coming out of its spot, rolled up and wedged itself into my driver side front lower control arm and front mount of the running board. I had a hard time getting the darned thing out from under me. Instructors had to bring rocks from other spots to get it out from under me. Lots of scarping and metal on rock. Soooooo happy I had the lower-control arm skids on. Nothing but scrapes on the skids underneath after that. Other than my ego there was no real damage from that boulder.

The instructors were being nice to me though and did insist that it had nothing to do with my driving or rig. Being the second to last one in a line of 13, they said the boulder got loosened up and I just had the bad luck of it rolling out on me.

I too was outnumbered 11 to 1 Jeeps including 1 Cherokee TrailHawk.

2" lift kit from Toytec is coming this month! Have to bend the running boards back into shape so the kids can still get in and out. Sliders with the diamond plate stepping area are most likely the next move after the lift.

Good luck with yours. I would get skids all around and a lift ASAP since the wife seems onboard.

Rausch Creek gets very rocky with basketball size boulder and stumps. "Crawl" is definitely the operative at that place. Some parts you can blast through but not for long.

One of my group from 101 on Saturday was staying for the 202 on Sunday. Woman and her daughter in a Black Rubicon. Nice people.

My running boards didn't get bent but there are some chunks of plastic missing for sure.

The stumps were bad in some parts on Saturday. I was more worried about them then the rocks, they looked like tire killers for sure.

 

[willb0125]

Remember, think BIGGER tires!

I just put the Cooper AT3's on it like 2 months ago. Stock size...I guess I need to drive more and burn through them ASAP!!!!

 

[adam2562]

the trails can be kinda inconsistent, here's a video of me on a black trail at Rausch that i probably should have just stayed away from about 2 yrs ago.. but i made it thru! LOL. i too need a trailing arm mount skid, i've beat mine up good but they seem fine!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKtECNX1d7k

 

[BlackWorksInc]

I'll be honest, it does't look great; but it's far from catastrophic. It's a bit buckled, which can easily be repaired as was mentioned above. There's plenty of bolt-on/weld-on reinforcement for that area, I been meaning to do the same for my 4th gen as those mounts have some damage as well. It might tweak the thrust angle of the rear axle a bit, but unless you've noticed it dog tracking severely I wouldn't worry about it until you get adjustable rear trailing arms.

 

[willb0125]

the trails can be kinda inconsistent, here's a video of me on a black trail at Rausch that i probably should have just stayed away from about 2 yrs ago LOL. i too need a trailing arm mount skid, i've beat mine up good but they seem fine!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKtECNX1d7k

Yeah that's brutal, the sounds of rocks hitting the bottom made my teeth hurt. Think I'm going to stick to the green trails for a long time. Those rocks never did noting to me so I think I will leave them alone.

 

[marshal]

Just man up and cut the whole mount off and weld on some 1/4" Poly Performance mounts.

 

[willb0125]

I'll be honest, it does't look great; but it's far from catastrophic. It's a bit buckled, which can easily be repaired as was mentioned above. There's plenty of bolt-on/weld-on reinforcement for that area, I been meaning to do the same for my 4th gen as those mounts have some damage as well. It might tweak the thrust angle of the rear axle a bit, but unless you've noticed it dog tracking severely I wouldn't worry about it until you get adjustable rear trailing arms.

The truck is tracking totally straight so I don't think axle is out of whack. I am going to get it repaired before putting some skids over it. I don't want to just cover up the problem.

Now I just have to find a decent shop around here (central Long Island) to do the work. Unfortunately I don't have the space, tools or time to try and do it my self.

Anyone from the area have a suggestion on a good shop?

 

[willb0125]

Just man up and cut the whole mount off and weld on some 1/4" Poly Performance mounts.

I got a hack saw and some Gorilla glue. Will that work? :scared:

 

[DesertCanyons]

I asked her yesterday if it would be better to get a lift or more protection...she said both. Should i max out the credit cards before she changes her mind?

Uhhh, no. Save the money and then buy the mods when you have the cash.

And yes, get rid of those factory/dealer step bars. Get some rock rails. Imagine if you hit the rocker panels (lower body edges) that hard. Lots of good advice here on how to fix and protect the lower trailing arm brackets.

 

[Boyds4Runner]

One of my group from 101 on Saturday was staying for the 202 on Sunday. Woman and her daughter in a Black Rubicon. Nice people.

My running boards didn't get bent but there are some chunks of plastic missing for sure.

The stumps were bad in some parts on Saturday. I was more worried about them then the rocks, they looked like tire killers for sure.

She must have been way up front lol.

I was second to last in the group of 13 and don't think I saw her!

I don't like the boulders in the water pits. You can't see them and they make lots of noise clunking and rolling around under and into your rig. I bet there are stumps in there too!

 

[willb0125]

She must have been way up front lol.

I was second to last in the group of 13 and don't think I saw her!

I don't like the boulders in the water pits. You can't see them and they make lots of noise clunking and rolling around under and into your rig. I bet there are stumps in there too!

100% agree on the submerged rocks. I'm pretty sure that is what got my LCA mount all bent up. Very hard to deal with something you cant see.