Xtreme offraoding in a 3rd gen

four flusher

four flusher

New member
It turns out that not only me, but the wife likes offroading, a lot, since it's close I'd really like to tackle stuff like the Rubicon, here's the question, is it possible in a lifted 3RD gen to go xtreme wheeling. Should I add ARB air lockers, etc (advice please) or use the runner for mostly a ski rig and get a short wheel base whatever, you could throw in what you'd would buy, dream on.
 
four flusher said:
It turns out that not only me, but the wife likes offroading, a lot, since it's close I'd really like to tackle stuff like the Rubicon, here's the question, is it possible in a lifted 3RD gen to go xtreme wheeling. Should I add ARB air lockers, etc (advice please) or use the runner for mostly a ski rig and get a short wheel base whatever, you could throw in what you'd would buy, dream on.
Click to expand...

Lots of people use them for crazy wheelin.

Check out builds like driffter33, brian2sun, j-money$$$, etc... here's some examples of vids on youtube.

driffter33 going up ball buster, dishpan springs.
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do you think most of those guys crawling up those rocks and what not have lockers! they are looking good
 
There are definetly a lot of guys who wheel the 3rd gens hard. Check out the "addicted offroad 4runner". It's probably one of the craziest builds of them all but....

Anyone know where Steve Schaefer's SAS build thread is?!!? I cant seems to find it anywhere.... I wanna see what setup he is running up front for such a low lift and a solid axle.
 
Thanks for the inspirational Videos

I'll work the build threads listed, if anyone wants to add, you need.....
or add more great vids, please feel free
 
 
Yeah I'm sure a lifted 3rd gen could handle the Rubicon. It depends on the parts of the Rubicon you go on as well. An SAS would be the best route for extreme offroading, but not feasible for most people and impractical. Lockers would be a great idea, along with full armor (front & rear bumpers, full skids, sliders and a winch), extra cv's, practice driving your 4runner through tougher obstacles and knowing it may get beat up. I would definitely take brian2sun's, Scotty's, Jmoney's, Gerdo's and drifter33 to name a few out to Rubicon. Skill really plays a major role in whether you can do some of the harder obstacles as well. Obviously the 4runner can take you so far, but the drivers skill can make the world of difference.

I would recommend taking some classes to learn better techniques offroading and just going out and learning by doing. I plan on taking some classes once mine is built up, so I can be comfortable while out there and make sure I can drive it home at the end of the day.

A shorter wheel base is not a bad idea, but not absolutely necessary. Just depends on how much money you want to spend and if you want to keep your 4runner in top shape.
 
the kid said:
i think most of those guys have lockers....
Click to expand...

Im f&r locked. You have to when your wheeling harder stuff with the ifs. before the front locker i found my self winching things frequently. I just have a lockright rear and aussie locker up front. I wanted to install my self and keep costs to a minimum.

Here is a video of some ifs guys (including myself) running clawhammer.YouTube - ‪Clawhammer at The Hammers. 6-13-2011‬‏

I will be on the rubicon this september in my 4runner. Check Brian2sun and driffter's build threads. I wheel all the time with them.
 
It is a good idea to start wheeling it now and as you get to know the rig more and more add things to make it easier.
 
99runnerwa said:
It is a good idea to start wheeling it now and as you get to know the rig more and more add things to make it easier.
Click to expand...


I totally agree. Most people would be amazed at what their truck will do stock. When you wheel a rig that is close to stock you have to learn to pick your lines better and you absolutely learn what your truck can and cannot do. When you learn more and more then begin to upgrade with lift and gears first then traction control. Ive seen to many guys build a truck that will take them to places where they can get in real trouble without the seat time to handle it. Go toward extreme but start stock and build as you wheel. Your truck will thank you I promise

the only thing I would say is that we dont upgrade our trucks to make the trails easier but so that we can do harder trails. LOL.
 
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tmaxx13 said:
do you think most of those guys crawling up those rocks and what not have lockers! they are looking good
Click to expand...

Both Steve Hunt and Steve Schaefer were locked front and rear and had Marlin Crawlers. Don't know about the others.

4-Ripcord said:
I like steve's old 4runner.
Click to expand...

That thing was a beast. I have spent some time wheeling with Steve H. in Moab and Colorado and got to see it in action up close. It was taller than I liked but it worked well for him and his style.

rickashay said:
Anyone know where Steve Schaefer's SAS build thread is?!!? I cant seems to find it anywhere.... I wanna see what setup he is running up front for such a low lift and a solid axle.
Click to expand...

Steve had a spring under, Dana 44. Hit the Wayback Machine for his site and you should be able to find the parts list.

Steve S. did the Rubicon in his 4Runner but I don't remember if that was before or after his SAS.
 
Rockdawg84 said:
I totally agree. Most people would be amazed at what their truck will do stock. When you wheel a rig that is close to stock you have to learn to pick your lines better and you absolutely learn what your truck can and cannot do. When you learn more and more then begin to upgrade with lift and gears first then traction control. Ive seen to many guys build a truck that will take them to places where they can get in real trouble without the seat time to handle it. Go toward extreme but start stock and build as you wheel. Your truck will thank you I promise

the only thing I would say is that we dont upgrade our trucks to make the trails easier but so that we can do harder trails. LOL.
Click to expand...

Yep thats why i added stuff to my truck. Im getting happy where its at now. If I want to do things too much harder im going to have to cut the ifs off, not because it wheels bad, just because of cv issues with lockers.
 
My truck has only the taller OEM coils and 32" tires and the locker makes it possible and easier to do stuff like this vs unlocked. I've used the go-around on this trail for years but decided to give it a go with an audience of mostly Jeep owners of which a few were vocally doubting my truck would make it. As you can hear I scuffed the lower valance.

4Runner pics :: Minor damage video by v8spankr - Photobucket
 
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I'm not sure of Your experience. Honing your skills in an unlocked rig is very important. I'll make it thru most obstacles unlocked. Only after the need to lock, I do. I'm only locked in back, ARB. I do want a crawl box mated to my manual trans. Personally I like the length of my 3rd gen. I feel pretty confident that I'm not going to lift the front wheels and go over backward. I do wise that there was tail overhang. Just have to lift it higher and minimize the rear bumper and make it from strong steel, you are going to drag it.

Things needed for extreme crawling:
Skill
Armor
Lift
 
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J-money$$$ said:
I will be on the rubicon this september in my 4runner. Check Brian2sun and driffter's build threads. I wheel all the time with them.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I can't wait to kill the Rubicon this Sept!

SCRunner12 said:
A shorter wheel base is not a bad idea, but not absolutely necessary. Just depends on how much money you want to spend and if you want to keep your 4runner in top shape.
Click to expand...

I've found there are times when the longer wheelbase of a 4runner is helpful. Sometimes when you're going up a rock face, you can "hook" your front tires over the lip and not only get more traction, but it also stops the truck from wanting to do a backwards 90* flip.

On the other hand, shorter wheelbases can be better in flat rock gardens for instance. I'll see Jeeps hop their way through with ease and here I am getting hung up on the next boulder before I'm even off the last one. It's definitely easier to avoid getting high-centered in a shorter wheelbase vehicle.

IMO, a longer wheelbase like ours, but with good approach and departure angles is a good combo. I'd still rather get high-centered here and there than feel like I'm gonna go over backwards on steep stuff.

Rockdawg84 said:
I totally agree. Most people would be amazed at what their truck will do stock. When you wheel a rig that is close to stock you have to learn to pick your lines better and you absolutely learn what your truck can and cannot do. When you learn more and more then begin to upgrade with lift and gears first then traction control. Ive seen to many guys build a truck that will take them to places where they can get in real trouble without the seat time to handle it. Go toward extreme but start stock and build as you wheel. Your truck will thank you I promise

the only thing I would say is that we dont upgrade our trucks to make the trails easier but so that we can do harder trails. LOL.
Click to expand...

I agree. I had a stock 2nd gen before this and an almost stock '86 Xtra cab before that which I wheeled both pretty hard. Then I got the 3rd gen and wheeled it for the first 6 years without any mods. I think that's where you learn 90% of how to wheel and how to find the right lines.

After a while I got sick of the trails that I was limited to and I wanted more. So then came a lift and a few more trails "opened up". Then I got a rear locker and I was able to do a few more trails. Armor opened up a few more trails that would have otherwise done some good damage. Then I got a front locker and now I can do most trails around here. Someday I'll SAS and put this thing on 37s (like Scotty's) and that'll make just about any trail doable.

Gerdo said:
I'm not sure of Your experience. Honing your skills in an unlocked rig is very important. I'll make it thru most obstacles unlocked. Only after the need to lock, I do. I'm only locked in back, ARB. I do want a crawl box mated to my manual trans. Personally I like the length of my 3rd gen. I feel pretty confident that I'm not going to lift the front wheels and go over backward. I do wise that there was tail overhang. Just have to lift it higher and minimize the rear bumper and make it from strong steel, you are going to drag it.

Things needed for extreme crawling:
Skill
Armor
Lift
Click to expand...

Yup!^^
 
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