What gen is the best for off-roading?

[Aquafbody]

3rd gen is rated higher than 1st gens? Call me an A** hole but how does anything especally an ifs compair to the rugged and easly modded 84-85's. Just sayin' let's see a third gen do this for under $9K in suspension work.

This is a class 8 trail after all the flooding in Colorado in 2013. Bone stock 85 other than a 4" lift on 31's

 

[sn0wrunner]

:doh: :shrug:

 

[Rockdawg84]

3rd gen is rated higher than 1st gens? Call me an A** hole but how does anything especally an ifs compair to the rugged and easly modded 84-85's. Just sayin' let's see a third gen do this for under $9K in suspension work.

how about this opcorn:
<iframe width="853" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/r_TysSPUnF8?list=UUIHGBcXcFApookJMCry7apw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

BTW I have under $600 in Suspension

 

[TheArkMaster]

how about this opcorn:

BTW I have under $600 in Suspension

Are you locked in the front?

 

[02SE]

3rd gen is rated higher than 1st gens? Call me an A** hole but how does anything especally an ifs compair to the rugged and easly modded 84-85's. Just sayin' let's see a third gen do this for under $9K in suspension work.

I'm going to guess that 9+ years ago when this thread was created, there were more 3rd gen owners on this site than any other generation.

Beyond that, it all depends on what particular characteristics you think makes a vehicle the "best" off-road.

 

[Rockdawg84]

Are you locked in the front?

LOL Yes ARB's front and rear. :biggrin1:

I said 600 in suspension not in Difs.

 

[TheArkMaster]

LOL Yes ARB's front and rear. :biggrin1:

I said 600 in suspension not in Difs.

I wasn't questioning your logic, just your ability to make that climb locked/open :naughty:

 

[Rockdawg84]

no worries that response was tongue and cheek. I think I could have made that climb with only a rear locker but it would not have been nearly as gentle. LOL

 

[Aquafbody]

LOL Yes ARB's front and rear. :biggrin1:

I said 600 in suspension not in Difs.

4" lift that's it. Just $200 in leaf springs.

 

[KidVermicious]

Not sure what a "class 8" trail is, you mean an 8/10? No offense, but I know some really really good drivers that would not be able to complete an 8/10 in an open/open truck on 31s.

The pic you're showing is nothing a mildly built 3rd gen couldn't do, they'd just take a different line is all.

 

[Aquafbody]

Not sure what a "class 8" trail is, you mean an 8/10? No offense, but I know some really really good drivers that would not be able to complete an 8/10 in an open/open truck on 31s.

The pic you're showing is nothing a mildly built 3rd gen couldn't do, they'd just take a different line is all.

Is that why you yourself drive a first gen?

 

[Aquafbody]

I'm sorry that was rude. I'm simply stating from experence that it costs way more to lift an ifs than it does a solid axle. I have owned S-10 Blazers, Rodeos, Grand Cherokees, etc. I have spent plenty of time in and under both styles of suspension. Like that fella said before he spent $600 on his lift, I spent 1/3 of that for the same height and for those of us that don't make a fortune and can't affort to go nuts the simplicity and factory abilities of the solid axle are way more appealing than spending tons of money at the local 4 wheel parts just to get shown up by a stock YJ because all you have is a 2.5" lift and open diffs. Because I am a visual kind of person here is the result of 30 seconds of googling.

here is a 6" lift for a 99 Taco for $2,136.85

Fabtech® K7003 - Toyota Tacoma 1999 Lift Kit-Suspension w/Shock

And here is a 7" lift for and 85 4runner $907.77

Skyjacker T307RKS, | Skyjacker

 

[02SE]

Who are you trying to convince? Everyone has the 4Runner they are comfortable with. If not, they'll do something about it.

I don't care if you have $500.00 in your truck, or $50,000.00. If it meets your needs and desires, that's all that matters.

 

[Rockdawg84]

I'm sorry that was rude. I'm simply stating from experence that it costs way more to lift an ifs than it does a solid axle. I have owned S-10 Blazers, Rodeos, Grand Cherokees, etc. I have spent plenty of time in and under both styles of suspension. Like that fella said before he spent $600 on his lift, I spent 1/3 of that for the same height and for those of us that don't make a fortune and can't affort to go nuts the simplicity and factory abilities of the solid axle are way more appealing than spending tons of money at the local 4 wheel parts just to get shown up by a stock YJ because all you have is a 2.5" lift and open diffs. Because I am a visual kind of person here is the result of 30 seconds of googling.

here is a 6" lift for a 99 Taco for $2,136.85

Fabtech® K7003 - Toyota Tacoma 1999 Lift Kit-Suspension w/Shock

And here is a 7" lift for and 85 4runner $907.77

Skyjacker T307RKS, | Skyjacker

No offence bro. I was just having some fun with you. You challenged us to show you a 3rd gen that could do what you were doing for less than 9k So I did. LOL. you might have noticed that I have a 84 runner that I absolutely love. It will go pretty much anywhere even on a level 8 trail. My wife drives a 4th gen that is pretty built and will hold its own. I agree that 1st gens rule and are easy to build but I don't care what gen you have any stock runner will out wheel a YJ plane and simple. Keep wheeling and building your Runner and it will serve you well for years and years.

Sam

 

[KidVermicious]

Is that why you yourself drive a first gen?

I'm sorry that was rude. I'm simply stating from experence that it costs way more to lift an ifs than it does a solid axle.

Depends on the IFS and how you lift it, but that's kinda beside the point. What everybody is saying is that the difference in raw capability between a stock solid axle first gen and a stock fifth gen Trail Edition and everything in between is negligible, and largely comes down to driving style and preference. Sure, there's maybe a couple places that the first gen could get to that the TE couldn't, due to slightly better clearance angles and such, but there's places the TE's locker would make the difference in the other direction.

I wheel my first gen because it's cheap to build and I'm a broke MFer (and because the top comes off, musn't forget that), not because it's inherently superior to other 4Runners or even other 4WDs in general. And I don't get offended at the results of the poll in the OP because I know this board is infested with mobbing groupies who will ALWAYS vote their own gen regardless of the question .

 

[ray122]

Personally i believe that the 1st gens(esp '95s) are most capable.

1st gens(esp '95s)???

95 is 2nd gen.

 

[D Farms]

id have to say a stock 99 with the elocker would be the best from the factory. the 1st and 2nd gens didnt have the option for an elocker, and the wheel travel by comparison on stock trucks is going to be better on a 3rd gen. it came with bigger tires and has much better approach and departure angles than the 4th and 5th gens. plus the 5vz engine has decent power and is pretty reliable.

obviously with mods the only real difference is going to be the actual size of the truck, which the 1st 2nd and 3rd are about the same without flares, the 4th and 5th start getting bigger, so take your pick. and yeah you can sas any of them obviously the 1st and 2nd gen are easiest for that, but at the same time the ifs is good enough for the girls i go out with har har. once you take the sway bar off it does alright anyways(look at my massive sig pic )

 

[socal_4crawler]

i vote 3rd gen

 

[cconlon4]

3rd gen with elocker and 33s is best, even better if you can find one supercharged. Even better with suspension work and body lift for clearance. If you are going to do more work to it though then doing a SAS kit makes those rigs bad.ass....

 

[SpookyMulder]

I'd say it's a tie between the 85 1st gen and 99 3rd gen with factory e-locker