What would you do? 99' 5 speed

[19994Runner5spd]

I picked up a 99' 4Runner SR5 5 speed 3.4l 207k miles fairly recently. Plan to do fluid flushes etc over the new few weekends. I'm trying to decide what my future plans are with it.

My wife and I love to camp and are possible moving closer to the mountains very soon. I have a company car that I drive daily so this will be our weekend driver to explore SC/NC etc. I will not be doing any major wheeling with it just forest service roads, occasional power line trail or getting it down to drag a deer outta he woods.

I currently have 265/70/16 ATs with the factory 99 tall springs. The previous/2nd owner replaced them about a year ago so they are fresh and aren't sagging. They do sag when loaded down with camping gear but not terrible.

Should I go with a 3" Toytec lift and 285's, 3" and 265/75's or just slap a set of 265/75's on it? I most likely will not regear and worry that the 285s will be a dog with 4.10's. I would like the e-locker or ARB though....

Thoughts? What would you do if you were in my shoes today? Money is important but not a deal breaker. Would be a slow build but I plan to keep it for a while so money put into wouldn't be wasted. It's super clean and I'd like to keep it that way at least for a while. Here's a picture of it the day I bought it.

 

[Ol'Blue]

First off beautiful truck!

For what you want I would just go Toytech, some 33's, a full set of skids and call it good.It will do everything you want to do at that point.

Blue

 

[Park]

I really dig the truck too! If your only going on light trails go with a 2" lift kit and 32" tires. Little better on the 4.10s.
I have 285s with the 4.30s. I don't feel like it slows it down too terribly and I'm running 10 ply A/Ts.

 

[meRockboost]

I got plenty of power with my 285's and I'm not thinking of regearing. If you want cheap stay on the talls and get 265's or go balls out and do a 3" and 285's and have fun. I just built it and it's a blast on power line trails.

 

[BrandonF]

I have the manual with 4.10's and a lot of added weight. The gearing is fine for street driving and most wheeling. It's only the steep rocky crawl trails where I hate the gearing. It doesn't sound like you will be doing this, so I doubt that will be a problem.

However, for what you've mentioned, it sounds like the 4runner in stock form will be just fine. Keep in mind that most off-road mods decrease the street drivability. You have a daily driver, so maybe this isn't an issue either.

I would drive it for a while and see if you feel like the 4runner is limiting you in its stock form. Also keep in mind that once the modding starts, it usually becomes an addiction!

And nice truck btw! I've always loved the dark green.

 

[HiLife]

Wow how is it that people like you get such awesome scores??
Nice truck!
The truck is really capable of doing what your planning as is. However, having a locker out back is always a good thing when the conditions get slippery. I would also do the TBU mod.

 

[19994Runner5spd]

First off beautiful truck!

For what you want I would just go Toytech, some 33's, a full set of skids and call it good.It will do everything you want to do at that point.

Blue

I really dig the truck too! If your only going on light trails go with a 2" lift kit and 32" tires. Little better on the 4.10s.
I have 285s with the 4.30s. I don't feel like it slows it down too terribly and I'm running 10 ply A/Ts.

I got plenty of power with my 285's and I'm not thinking of regearing. If you want cheap stay on the talls and get 265's or go balls out and do a 3" and 285's and have fun. I just built it and it's a blast on power line trails.

I have the manual with 4.10's and a lot of added weight. The gearing is fine for street driving and most wheeling. It's only the steep rocky crawl trails where I hate the gearing. It doesn't sound like you will be doing this, so I doubt that will be a problem.

However, for what you've mentioned, it sounds like the 4runner in stock form will be just fine. Keep in mind that most off-road mods decrease the street drivability. You have a daily driver, so maybe this isn't an issue either.

I would drive it for a while and see if you feel like the 4runner is limiting you in its stock form. Also keep in mind that once the modding starts, it usually becomes an addiction!

And nice truck btw! I've always loved the dark green.

Wow how is it that people like you get such awesome scores??
Nice truck!
The truck is really capable of doing what your planning as is. However, having a locker out back is always a good thing when the conditions get slippery. I would also do the TBU mod.

Thanks everyone for the replies and kind words. I originally had a 1990 4cylinder auto in high school and it was a dog. It wouldn't get out of its own way. For the past 10 years I wanted a third gen but haven't been in a financial position to purchase one.

I wasn't even looking but this one fell in my lap on a local gun forum and was perfect timing. I bought it from the second owner. He bought it at 170ish miles and had a spreadsheet of work he'd done to it. The original owner had it serviced at the dealership the entire time they had it. You can't beat that for records!

I paid $4600 for it and feel like I did pretty well. Around here they are quite a bit more.....5 speeds are unheard of.

Anyways to respond to your comments. I know the 4runner is capable of basically anything I plan to do how it is now. They are crazy capable stock.

My biggest oncerns are MPG, additional wear and tear on the drive train and diff gears. if I put the toytec lift and 285's how bad will my mileage be? I can live with 16-17 but 10-12 = no good.I am currently getting an average of 19.3 with combined city and highway for the last 2k miles. These tanks are very little and already aren't big enough as it is.

I understand CV axle height in the front will be rough so plan to get the diff drop if I went with the toytec lift.

BrandonF, so you don't have any issues with the 285's and 4.10's? What kind of MPG are you getting? I'm not worried about the gas cost just the limiting range of a full tank with lower MPG.

 

[19994Runner5spd]

Wow how is it that people like you get such awesome scores??
Nice truck!
The truck is really capable of doing what your planning as is. However, having a locker out back is always a good thing when the conditions get slippery. I would also do the TBU mod.

The 231 Tundra break upgrade is definitely on the list when these brakes wear out. From what I've read the 231's won't fit on the current rims I have?

 

[19994Runner5spd]

Post 5 here talks about tundra struts and LC 8 wrap coils.Help Tire and Suspension !! 98 4runner | IH8MUD Forum

Might be a cheaper route than the toytec lift.

My concern with that is sag in the rear when loaded down.

 

[BrandonF]

BrandonF, so you don't have any issues with the 285's and 4.10's? What kind of MPG are you getting? I'm not worried about the gas cost just the limiting range of a full tank with lower MPG.

My one complaint with street driving is the occasional need to downshift into 3rd on steep highway climbs. Other than that, it's a bit more sluggish off the line and easier to stall. I've gotten used to it so it is what it is.
For gas mileage, I've been getting 17.5-18 mpg mixed. My last tank was all city driving and I got 16.5 mpg. It's not that much lower than stock really. I typically fill up around 450 km (280 miles) with 16 gallon fill ups.

 

[19994Runner5spd]

My one complaint with street driving is the occasional need to downshift into 3rd on steep highway climbs. Other than that, it's a bit more sluggish off the line and easier to stall. I've gotten used to it so it is what it is.
For gas mileage, I've been getting 17.5-18 mpg mixed. My last tank was all city driving and I got 16.5 mpg. It's not that much lower than stock really. I typically fill up around 450 km (280 miles) with 16 gallon fill ups.

That's not terrible really. By chance do you happen to h e pictures of yours on 265/75 then the 285's? Read through your other threads and saw you had those before.

I wonder how it would look with the tundra struts and LC coils with 265/75's?

 

[meRockboost]

I don't drive much but was surprised at how decent my mpg is. I did a full time up then the lift and tires so it's not that bad of a hit to mileage. 17ish for my last tank and I live 2 hours from a highway so not bad, I just go easy on it.

 

[StreetCreeper]

The 231 Tundra break upgrade is definitely on the list when these brakes wear out. From what I've read the 231's won't fit on the current rims I have?

You are correct. The 199s will fit though.

Also, you may want to consider some air bags in the rear springs to combat the sag when you are heavily loaded. I know I would be quite happy if I had fresh factory 99 springs all around and some airbags for the occasional heavy load while camping.

 

[Ol'Blue]

I'll throw this out there. My 01 even with a solid axle swap amd 37.12x50sx17s can still pull 17-19 on the scan Guage on the hwy if I drive like a normal person. With that being said I'm normally around 10 with that truck because it's just fun time and foot is into the skinny pedal most the time. It really boils down to driving style in them.

Blue

 

[MuddyButt]

I have 265/75/16s and i feel like they are small with my 3 inch lift (lots of gap in the wheel wells) but good thing is i can stuff the tire really well and not rub. If I were you i would just buy the 265/75/16s and not lift it since you have the tall springs. It would look clean.

 

[MTwEeZi]

I think it looks good as is. Your paint is better than mine with 100k. But I would hate to scratch something that clean.

 

[BrandonF]

[MENTION=127668]19994Runner5spd[/MENTION] Here are some pictures of the 265's vs 285's. Same suspension set up (Stock Tundra Coils with 5100 Bilsteins and land cruiser shocks with 7.5 wrap coils). With the 285's, I have the added weight of the winch, skids (except the one on the jack obviously) and full size spare tire so the suspension is slightly lower. With the current setup Im at 2.5" front and 4" rear. With the 265's, it was more like 3" front, 4.5" rear.

The wheels make a huge difference appearance-wise. The stock wheels with 1.25" spacers and the 265's always looked too narrow with the lift IMO. The 285's are on land cruiser wheels and I left the 1.25" spacers on to clear my 231mm tundra brake calipers. They give a way wider track and a more aggressive look

265's




285's

 

[markwilaoto]

It will do everything you want to do at that point.

 

[KidVermicious]

I'd skip the lift unless you just really want a taller truck. You've got plenty of clearance with 265/75s or even your current tires for 99.99% of the roads in your area, and a lift will just lead to more complications (higher COG, worse MPG and handling, suspension parts wearing out earlier, etc). Ditto for the 285s, it doesn't sound like they're necessary at all for what you're going to use the truck for, and there's all kinds of downsides that come with that much upsize.

It sounds like you're not intending on any hard wheeling, so I think the closer you stay to stock the better. These are super capable trucks even with no mods at all, I say stand pat, at least until you've driven the truck for a while and have a better idea exactly what mods you need to get where you wanna go. If you need to spend money now, invest in recovery gear and a winch.

 

[Ol'Blue]

^^^^^^ Agree 100% with above.

With good tires you will be amazed what a stock 4Runner will do with a good driver in it. A rear locker helps even more.

Blue