Will it last long enough?

[basing110]

I picked up a 05 4x4 v6 Sport edition last year.. i now have 145k on it and i put about 20k a year in commuting. I am planning in taking a extended trip up to alaska in about 5 years.. once the 2 kids get a little older and are in school. I plan on going and exploring for about 1 month. At my commute rate ill have around 240k miles on her by then.. i have been debating on dumping about 8-10k into this rig and have it not last long enough for my trip and future trips as my kids get older.

One thing is the big possibility of the head gasket going out since it was manufactured before the change..

When i bought it ,it had the bilstein 5100 all around with it leveled in the front.. if i decide to build it it will end up with a 3/2 lift with 1.5" body

It has 265/65/17 on it now ... tires are getting wore out and needing a replacement soon...

if i add a 1.5" body do the body mount chop and adjust the wheel liners and keep the front leveled what is the biggest tires i can run? I am saving up to do most of everything at once so it is not a drawn out build. But if i can fit bigger tires with only spending few hundred dollars i would do it.

 

[WesPDX]

I picked up a 05 4x4 v6 Sport edition last year.. i now have 145k on it and i put about 20k a year in commuting. I am planning in taking a extended trip up to alaska in about 5 years.. once the 2 kids get a little older and are in school. I plan on going and exploring for about 1 month. At my commute rate ill have around 240k miles on her by then.. i have been debating on dumping about 8-10k into this rig and have it not last long enough for my trip and future trips as my kids get older.

One thing is the big possibility of the head gasket going out since it was manufactured before the change..

When i bought it ,it had the bilstein 5100 all around with it leveled in the front.. if i decide to build it it will end up with a 3/2 lift with 1.5" body

It has 265/65/17 on it now ... tires are getting wore out and needing a replacement soon...

if i add a 1.5" body do the body mount chop and adjust the wheel liners and keep the front leveled what is the biggest tires i can run? I am saving up to do most of everything at once so it is not a drawn out build. But if i can fit bigger tires with only spending few hundred dollars i would do it.

Do you live in an area where rust eats vehicles? If not it's just a machine, why not as long as you don't ignore it and let things slip. Here in Oregon I see 80's Honda's all the time but back in Toronto 10yr old cars are breaking bolts when you need to service them.

 

[basing110]

Im in california so im good in the not having or getting rust... just not sure how many miles is to many miles to be out in the middle of nowhere offroading

 

[RonJR]

You can do a good job of preventative maintenance on most of the mechanical systems as suggested above. Generally the likelihood of show-stopping mechanical failure is pretty low on any well maintained 4runner, regardless of mileage.

However, if you're truly going to be in the middle of nowhere, beyond walking distance to help, you need some contingency plans. No matter how new the vehicle, or how well maintained, there's always a chance of an electronic glitch shutting you down. For example, the PO on my 2006 had a bad immobilizer ECU at 50,000 miles. It's pretty hard to fix that in the Alaskan bush, and you can't get home without it.

I go off-road by myself in Colorado quite often. Here are my contingencies.
- Error on the side of caution. If a trail looks dicey, I park and walk, or turn around.
- Plenty of paper maps covering the areas I'm likely to be in, plus an old fashioned magnetic compass.
- Plenty of fuel
- extra oil and brake/clutch fluid
- Reasonably complete tool kit with multimeter
- Basic recovery gear (hi lift, shovel, axe, saw, ramp boards, tow/tree straps, chain, shackles, etc.)
- Water and shelter (clothing, sleeping bag, backpacking tent, fire starter, and LIGHT) for foreseeable weather for 2-3 days.
- Good hiking boots and a good day pack. Usually in Colorado I'm within 6-10 miles of civilization. I can walk that far if I have to.
- Delorme Inreach satellite communicator. I can send texts to any cell phone from anywhere on the planet, and send an SOS to search and rescue if things get really bad. Plus I can have it send continuous tracking points to the Delorme website at regular intervals, so that those who care about me can always see exactly where I am.

Obviously, this list will look a little different for Alaska, but the idea is the same. If you prepare adequately, vehicle problems should be at worst expensive inconveniences, never life-threatening emergencies.

I guess my point is that I would consider your vehicle fine for this upcoming trip as long as it's well maintained and you have some backup plans. And, you need those backup plans no matter how new the vehicle is.

 

[Bumbo]

Im in california so im good in the not having or getting rust... just not sure how many miles is to many miles to be out in the middle of nowhere offroading

I've thought about it too...

I have one in CA that has 200k and do just that with it... go out in they middle of nowhere offroading... I still feel really comfortable with it and its been reliable.

If getting help is a concern then up your communications game... off-grid I still get the warm and fuzzy with the get-home saftey being a licenced ham.

Be smart about it tho... I often times go with friends, have my own recovery gear too.

 

[Folsom4Rnr]

You can do a good job of preventative maintenance on most of the mechanical systems as suggested above. Generally the likelihood of show-stopping mechanical failure is pretty low on any well maintained 4runner, regardless of mileage.

However, if you're truly going to be in the middle of nowhere, beyond walking distance to help, you need some contingency plans. No matter how new the vehicle, or how well maintained, there's always a chance of an electronic glitch shutting you down. For example, the PO on my 2006 had a bad immobilizer ECU at 50,000 miles. It's pretty hard to fix that in the Alaskan bush, and you can't get home without it.

I go off-road by myself in Colorado quite often. Here are my contingencies.
- Error on the side of caution. If a trail looks dicey, I park and walk, or turn around.
- Plenty of paper maps covering the areas I'm likely to be in, plus an old fashioned magnetic compass.
- Plenty of fuel
- extra oil and brake/clutch fluid
- Reasonably complete tool kit with multimeter
- Basic recovery gear (hi lift, shovel, axe, saw, ramp boards, tow/tree straps, chain, shackles, etc.)
- Water and shelter (clothing, sleeping bag, backpacking tent, fire starter, and LIGHT) for foreseeable weather for 2-3 days.
- Good hiking boots and a good day pack. Usually in Colorado I'm within 6-10 miles of civilization. I can walk that far if I have to.
- Delorme Inreach satellite communicator. I can send texts to any cell phone from anywhere on the planet, and send an SOS to search and rescue if things get really bad. Plus I can have it send continuous tracking points to the Delorme website at regular intervals, so that those who care about me can always see exactly where I am.

Obviously, this list will look a little different for Alaska, but the idea is the same. If you prepare adequately, vehicle problems should be at worst expensive inconveniences, never life-threatening emergencies.

I guess my point is that I would consider your vehicle fine for this upcoming trip as long as it's well maintained and you have some backup plans. And, you need those backup plans no matter how new the vehicle is.

+ a million on this! Some good advice RonJR

 

[luke87gt]

Rather than sinking money into the thing and worrying, have you considered renting a new 4x4 (unlimited mileage) if you are only going to be gone a month. I know some of the big name rental car agencies do have them.

Peace of mind and you would probably get a good rate on that long a duration.

 

[basing110]

Thanks for the info guys..really helps. . Think im just going to save up my money and plan on buying most of the stuff 1 year before going on my trip. Will buy stuff as needed though.

With my current bilstein 5100 shocks anf having the front level.. you think i can fit 285's with just adding a 1.5" body lift?

Will need new tires within a year and might as well go up in size so i can drive it for a bit and see if i want to regear as well before the trip

 

[Inv4drZm]

Thanks for the info guys..really helps. . Think im just going to save up my money and plan on buying most of the stuff 1 year before going on my trip. Will buy stuff as needed though.

With my current bilstein 5100 shocks anf having the front level.. you think i can fit 285's with just adding a 1.5" body lift?

Will need new tires within a year and might as well go up in size so i can drive it for a bit and see if i want to regear as well before the trip

You won't need to regear with 33's, even with the V6. With the cost of regearing considered, unless you can do it for pretty cheap (<$500) and are already throwing in a front and rear locker, I wouldn't worry about the hassle until you go 35's. I've been in my brother's cinder block lifted FJ Cruiser that's at least 700lbs heavier than stock, 34" mud terrains, huge roof rack. With stock gears it does just fine. Plenty of power around town, still hardly downshifts on the interstate, only against the wind (Kansas wind) and uphill. (We have a few in KS...) With the wind it doesn't downshift.

I think you will be able to fit the 285's with just a leveling kit + 1.5" BL. Depending on offset you might need to do a body mount chop. But if you're not scared to trim a little or move fender liners it should work fine IMO. I made it work with just a leveling kit and trimming for a couple months until I upgraded.

 

[basing110]

My plan is to keep the stock sport rims as i have one extra right now i got for free, trying to find another one or two so i can build a tacoma bed trailer and have them all match... i dont mind doing a body mount chop and moving fender liners around a bit