What would you do

[twitchee2]

For the last two years i have been DD my CCLB 2500HD duramax, i have a whole 3.5 mile commute to work. I have kept my 4runner as a toy/camping rig, however with a purchase of new house the 4runner has lived in my parents spare garage and I drive it a couple times a month.

This last weekend I took it for a weekend camping trip with my gf and we had a blast. I forgot how much fun this truck actually is, but is is very obvious my 4runner has seen better days and needs a lot of work. Nothing is bad but it needs some love, in particular every thing that moves in the suspension and the horribly uncomfortable seat. I realized how bad the seat was when I sat down in my truck.

For fun I went and drove a 2014 Trail Premium and just a standard 2014 Trail. While both were very nice and have all the fancy electronics there was nothing I loved about it and I really loved the idea of not having a payment. The cloth seats were very nice and I really liked them, this is probably the biggest selling point to me if I go that route.

I plan to use the 4runner for exploring places like death valley, zion, and the eastern sierras. I go camping at pismo and out in california city quite a lot as well. My wheeling has turned more into expedition style with some higher speed stuff in the desert and pismo. The gf wants a camping trailer of some kind. I want a RRT on a small expo trailer, I know she wants something a little bigger. What ever I do, the 4runner has to be able to pull it.

What I have:
215k on the clock
Recently did valve cover gaskets and timing belt/everything thing that goes with it.
tundra brakes - needs new pads and rotors
solid drive train

What I need:
Seat swap - not sure what seats i need but this MUST happen.
suspension:
Long travel or just stock with sway a ways which route?.
Front -total chaos with 2.5" sway a ways and keeping 4wd.
Rear - probably will keep it simple and do what chaplain did and get ~12inches of travel out of the stock rear end.
tie rods, sway bar bushings/end links and most of the moving parts
Full length roof rack
Obviously there are lots of little details but this hits the really important stuff.

I know there is a lot in this post but what would you do?

 

[ARC]

For the last two years i have been DD my CCLB 2500HD duramax, i have a whole 3.5 mile commute to work. I have kept my 4runner as a toy/camping rig, however with a purchase of new house the 4runner has lived in my parents spare garage and I drive it a couple times a month.

This last weekend I took it for a weekend camping trip with my gf and we had a blast. I forgot how much fun this truck actually is, but is is very obvious my 4runner has seen better days and needs a lot of work. Nothing is bad but it needs some love, in particular every thing that moves in the suspension and the horribly uncomfortable seat. I realized how bad the seat was when I sat down in my truck.

For fun I went and drove a 2014 Trail Premium and just a standard 2014 Trail. While both were very nice and have all the fancy electronics there was nothing I loved about it and I really loved the idea of not having a payment. The cloth seats were very nice and I really liked them, this is probably the biggest selling point to me if I go that route.

I plan to use the 4runner for exploring places like death valley, zion, and the eastern sierras. I go camping at pismo and out in california city quite a lot as well. My wheeling has turned more into expedition style with some higher speed stuff in the desert and pismo. The gf wants a camping trailer of some kind. I want a RRT on a small expo trailer, I know she wants something a little bigger. What ever I do, the 4runner has to be able to pull it.

What I have:
215k on the clock
Recently did valve cover gaskets and timing belt/everything thing that goes with it.
tundra brakes - needs new pads and rotors
solid drive train

What I need:
Seat swap - not sure what seats i need but this MUST happen.
suspension:
Long travel or just stock with sway a ways which route?.
Front -total chaos with 2.5" sway a ways and keeping 4wd.
Rear - probably will keep it simple and do what chaplain did and get ~12inches of travel out of the stock rear end.
tie rods, sway bar bushings/end links and most of the moving parts
Full length roof rack
Obviously there are lots of little details but this hits the really important stuff.

I know there is a lot in this post but what would you do?

If you have the cash go LT, make sure you really understand and can afford it before you go down that route. Otherwise just do the maintenance items and the coil overs and be happy.

Now my vote would be for expedition trailer, but my wife would back that decision. And I can tell you happy wife makes a happy life, but you said GF so...

 

[twitchee2]

thanks for the feed back. When you say "make sure you really understand the LT" what do you mean by that? Costs involved? something else? to get it where I want to be I am expecting $6-7k, probably more.

 

[GSPRunner]

I personally am doing both. Looking for a Grey 2014 trail premium but will keep my 2000 for tough trail duty. Whats the reason for keeping the Duramax? Nice truck but is there a specific reason for needing it?

 

[KidVermicious]

You live three miles from work? Get a freakin' bicycle, ditch the Duramax, fix your 3rd gen, enjoy your new simpler and less-excessive life.

A cool compromise between your RTT/offroad trailer and her camping trailer would be a Jumping Jack. Check 'em out, they're pretty sweet little trailers.

 

[Doc2012]

IMHO:

-Get the maint stuff out of the way.
-ICON Vehicle dynamics Coil Overs in the front
-LC springs in the back
-Tires, and maybe gears if you go high with the tires.
-POSSIBLE Body lift if you want more "lift"/clearance.
-Some kind of locker, at least in the rear.


You could go with a Sonoran Steel Lift as well.

If you're doing more of expo style wheeling, I personally wouldn't go with the LT setup. You've really got no need for ~12" of travel.

If you're hauling ass through the desert all the time, then go for it.

As far as seats go, Corbeau makes amazing seats, but there are other people that have swapped Scion seats and others into the 4Runner.

 

[IBallEngineer]

Forget long travel! Do your lift, get a rear locker and do the trails. Remind your wife a bigger(pop up) really won't hold up to any kind of trails. You can take it, but it will fall apart eventually.

I put Chevy truck seats in my Land Cruiser in order to have an armrest and high backs. You could have your seats rebuilt, or find another style. I'm not a big fan of aftermarket seats. They aren't long term fixes.

:couch2:

 

[T4R2014]

You can buy new foam for the seats if you are looking at an OEM looking route. Otherwise, there are plenty of aftermarket seats to choose from.

 

[montana_jeepn]

You can buy new foam for the seats if you are looking at an OEM looking route. Otherwise, there are plenty of aftermarket seats to choose from.

Do you have a source for OEM type foam? Other than the dealer that is?

 

[twitchee2]

I personally am doing both. Looking for a Grey 2014 trail premium but will keep my 2000 for tough trail duty. Whats the reason for keeping the Duramax? Nice truck but is there a specific reason for needing it?

should be a nice setup! I want to keep the duramax because it is already paid off, it is a fantastic road trip vehicle when there are 4-5 people plus all the gear, gets the same mpg as the 4runner and its just fun (500hp 850 ftlbs). It also leaves options open for future if the 4runner becomes a trailer queen or I decide to get something in the future. I know its not much of a reason to keep it up but i really like it and want to keep it.

You live three miles from work? Get a freakin' bicycle, ditch the Duramax, fix your 3rd gen, enjoy your new simpler and less-excessive life.

A cool compromise between your RTT/offroad trailer and her camping trailer would be a Jumping Jack. Check 'em out, they're pretty sweet little trailers.

already have a bike and occasionally do, i need to start ride more often though. I will have to check out those trailer. thanks for the info.

Forget long travel! Do your lift, get a rear locker and do the trails. Remind your wife a bigger(pop up) really won't hold up to any kind of trails. You can take it, but it will fall apart eventually.

I put Chevy truck seats in my Land Cruiser in order to have an armrest and high backs. You could have your seats rebuilt, or find another style. I'm not a big fan of aftermarket seats. They aren't long term fixes.

:couch2:

What chevy seats did you put in your cruiser? I Love the seats in my chevy but i think they are just to big for a 4runner. I agree with the aftermarket comment.

 

[MTD]

You can buy new foam for the seats if you are looking at an OEM looking route. Otherwise, there are plenty of aftermarket seats to choose from.

I'm interested in seat foam as well.

 

[amalik]

You can buy new foam for the seats if you are looking at an OEM looking route. Otherwise, there are plenty of aftermarket seats to choose from.

In most 3rd gens, foam is not the issue, it's the torn leather thats a problem.

 

[IBallEngineer]

What chevy seats did you put in your cruiser? I Love the seats in my chevy but i think they are just to big for a 4runner. I agree with the aftermarket comment.

Mine came out of a mid 90's pick up, inner arm rest only keeps it narrow up top. The bottom would be tight, you'd have to measure carefully, or get a bigger hammer. LOL

:snacker:

 

[paddlenbike]

I am in a similar situation, I have an all-electric Nissan Leaf as my daily driver and my 4Runner is now my toy. I can't see buying a new rig and beating it up in the desert, plus, the 5th gens just don't feel like a 4Runner anymore. I supercharged my 3rd gen a couple of years ago in preparation for towing a camp trailer, and now it has more power and torque than even the new ones. It also does very well offroad.

I've been very happy with my Sonoran Steel lift; it's good all-around. Take a look through my build thread (in my sig) and you can see what I have done with mine. Have fun with it! Clean, well maintained 3rd gens are getting harder and harder to find, so don't let it go!

 

[T4R2014]

Do you have a source for OEM type foam? Other than the dealer that is?

That is dealer-only type stuff I believe.

 

[T4R2014]

In most 3rd gens, foam is not the issue, it's the torn leather thats a problem.

Foam wears out over time just like the leather. You don't expect new foam to offer the same support as the 12+ year old stuff you find in average used 3rd Gens.

 

[ARC]

thanks for the feed back. When you say "make sure you really understand the LT" what do you mean by that? Costs involved? something else? to get it where I want to be I am expecting $6-7k, probably more.

I mean understand that you won't be able to pull a trailer if you LT it, how it's going to drive on road, how often you are going to be buying new fiberglass fenders, how loud it is etc.

I would say $6-7k will get the front suspension done but then you still have the whole rear to design and buy. If you can do the design and fab yourself then it won't be too bad. If you plan on having a shop do it all I would plan on $10k+ to have a semi-finished product and plan about $3k annually for upkeep.

 

[twitchee2]

I mean understand that you won't be able to pull a trailer if you LT it, how it's going to drive on road, how often you are going to be buying new fiberglass fenders, how loud it is etc.

I would say $6-7k will get the front suspension done but then you still have the whole rear to design and buy. If you can do the design and fab yourself then it won't be too bad. If you plan on having a shop do it all I would plan on $10k+ to have a semi-finished product and plan about $3k annually for upkeep.

Good point on the towing, I do not plan and towing more than 1500-2k TOPS. likely much less and will just make sure my tongue weight is in check.

For arguments sake:
total chaos front kit, 3grand.
shocks are about ~1500 for the front
4wd parts are up to 800, although could be done for cheaper
500 for odds and ends.
500 for fenders


Rear is ~1000 for shocks. I have tools to fab hoops and what ever else I need.
few hundred for odds and ends.

estimating ~$7k
What would needs $3k for up keep??

 

[Doc2012]

Ok.

Lets ask this:

WHY do you feel you need long travel?

 

[twitchee2]

Ok.

Lets ask this:

WHY do you feel you need long travel?

75% of the my wheeling in blasting through the desert in california city or on the beach at pismo.