2024 SR5 Incoming... First Time Buyer...Long Time Listener

Greetings to soon to be new family!

Former compact car Honda fan boy transitioning to the Toyota 4Runner Family.

Apologies as I am sure this is asked all the time, and I have no issues reading if anyone can suggest a repoint.

Short version, I have a new 2024 bone stock SR5 inbound and I can turn a wrench pretty good with a decent collection of tools ( not a mechanic by any stretch ).

My OR trips will be almost exclusively soft beach sand for fishing ( like a beach buggy ), that being said I would like to upgrade suspension and tires to something suitable for weekend beach cruising.

I'm targeting new Bilstein 5100s all around for a 2 inch lift in front ( pre-installed Old Man Emu springs ) with a 1.5 inch lift in back also with new OME rear springs - this is a good beginner budget lift for the limited OR I would be doing.

I also would like to upgrade rims and tires, probably looking at TRD Pro rims with 5mm offset.

At the moment on a brand new truck and just getting into the hobby I do not want to do ANY BMC (the most I would do is heatgun shape some flaps or inner plastic molds without cutting )

Pretty straightforward questions:

1. Any suggestions on a slightly bigger \ beefier tire for the TRD Pro rims that would work with the 5100s, 2 inch lift and no BMC ?

2. Thoughts on need a UCA replacement ? (or maybe wait to see the alignment outcome and go from there ?)

3. Panhard bar lift... should I worry now, or just lift and observe and make a judgement call ?

Sorry if these are rinse and repeat and everyone is tired of answering..

Name is Mike (in NY) and I'll be hanging around often.

Thanks!!!!!

 

Welcome and congratulations on your new 4runner

Im new and haven't changed any items you asked about, so no suggestions...but you came to the right place

 

Awesome buddy...I'll take a hello any day.

Counting the days for this bad boy to hit land on its way from Japan.

 

Hi Mike. Welcome to the forum!!!

What you are looking for is pretty close to what I have done. Bilstein 5100s on all 4 corners. Front set at 1 85". Biggest benefit of the Bilsteins is the reduced nose dive when applying the brakes, IMO.

My primary exception to what you are thinking of doing is that I used the stock spring in front and Bilstein 1" coil in the rear.

After some experimenting, I ended up adding a 10mm spacer on the rear drivers side and .25" cornfed spacer on the front drivers side to eliminate the lean, which is normal but exaggerated when lifted. My overall net lift is 2" on all 4 corners

I did require UCAs to get caster in spec and went with Ironman. I like them as they are quiet and maint free. Only downside is that they had a recall and I am trying to find time to do the work to swap them out with the new set they sent me

I do toss around a panhard / panhard correction but it's low on my list. Axle us pretty well centered and I only feel the rear end shimmy on turns when my tires are under 30lbs.

Also replaced the TRD OR wheels with TRD Pro wheels and Falken Wildpeaks in stock size. Pretty happy with that but will consider slightly larger tires when I'm ready to replace them.

Hope this helps

 

Bone stock, haven’t got stuck yet.

 

Welcome

Post a pic when your new wagon comes in.

And congrats!

 

Welcome

 

I don't think you need a lift or suspension mod for your stated use. For sand driving it is all about tires.

 

Thanks and agreed...it's more of a 'want' than a 'need'. Little more aggressive stance is what I am after and of course function for sand

 

Welcome from Wyoming! Have fun with the build! Not a big off roader here so i went with a leveling kit, have Wildpeak AT3's that are stock size. Not the biggest fan of the Wildpeak so will be making a change when its time, likely to BF Goodrich KO3's. Ill also move up just a little bit to 275 vs 265 unless 285's will fit. I do not want to chop just yet.

 

Don’t know where you drive on the beach but I have driven bone stock T4R SR5s in the deep soft sand on the beaches of the NC Outer Banks for decades and never been stuck. A 3rd Gen, 4th Gen, 2 5th gens. If the mods you a thinking about are for sand, I say save your $s.

 

Welcome from AZ!
Drive the car for a bit and see how it handles then make the appropriate upgrades.

 

Welcome

 

Holy Fishing Grail Batman!!!! now that is a sweet setup

 

Wow..you knocked me over with a feather.... fantastic advice... thank you buddy

 

Which leveling kit did you go with and from where? (just curious where people are buying from)..thanks!

 

I went with the Rough Country 2" kit and ordered directly. A buddy of mine did the install with a little help from me then to a local dealer for alignment. Here is what is looks like currently.



https://www.roughcountry.com/produc...Y2W349pkFcj7DzKYIOA6udUvoM5vjl6QaArJAEALw_wcB

 

BMerrill... that is 1000% the look I am after exactly...could be a budget approach since I don't need to drop major coin on new suspension for just beach driving and this would level it out nice (its crazy since your rear looks lifted...yet its stock?)

Which rims are those ? TRD Pros? I would love to run rims like that with maybe a 275 /70 /17

 

The leveling kit comes with the front lift and rear pucks so it kept the rake the same so it is lifted a bit. Like this "leveling" kit because it came with both. Wheels are OEM style wheels. Bought them from OE Style Wheels. They are not selling any Toyota wheels at the moment. Here is an ebay link to get a better look at them.


https://www.ebay.com/itm/405045913550?itmmeta=01J4HST7P53J7WKQSCVHG078M1

 

Agreed. After all...

"Airing-down don't cost a thing"!

I've never had a 4Runner in OBX, but did have my '01 Expedition and an '11 Explorer (when it became a crossover) and both were phenomenal in the deep sand while running 18-20 lbs in the tires.

TimG

 

LOL... Amen!

I'm talking all this jazz about upgrades until they cash the $50k check for the 4Runz upon delivery.

 

Don’t be a clown, air down

 

Welcome

 

My buddy has a 2016, we both desired 4Runners for fishing..driving sand beaches..

He swears not to bother with airing down...says I'll float and I can just get in and get out.

Problem is, our NY beach off road trails..when you exit, there is a line 20 deep for the communal commercial grade air pump at 2am no less.

 

Welcome! If I was spending your money, I'd go stock size Falken Wildpeaks - they run wide for a 265(and way cheaper than a 275) if I remember correctly and would still look good if you decide to lift later. Then I'd take the money I was saving on suspension and get my own onboard air.

 

"HuskerRunner, post: 627593, member: 30744" I'd go stock size Falken Wildpeaks - they run wide for a 265(and way cheaper than a 275)

Can you even run 275s without a lift with no rubbing?

 

Honest answer is it depends on your 4runner. There's a chart in here somewhere, probably the Tires forum, that shows sizes that don't rub, do rub, and might rub. Alignment and offset are bigger factors. I've looked at 275s a ton because I want a bigger tire without jumping to 285s but the juice isnt worth the squeeze for me. I only mentioned it because I thought you had and a "big" 265 isnt that different.

 

Found it

 

Thanks..I'd probably grab the stock TRD Pro rims and pair with a 275...never thought of a "big 265"....good point...the aesthetics may be negligible and performance on sand as well.

 

1. TRD Pro wheels with their +4mm offset make tire fitment more difficult. There's actually a Toyota TSB on Pro models to trim bumper plastic to address occasional rubbing with stock 32" tires. Stick with your factory +15mm offset wheels and you can go up to a skinny 33" tire (255/80-17) with little to no plastic trimming.

2. With a 2" lift you can make do without new UCAs. Caster won't be in spec but livable. High caster UCA shifts the upper ball joint (and therefore the tire) rearward closer to the cab mount, which exasperates problem #1 above.

3. 1.5" lift isn't going to cause any noticeable changes to warrant touching the panhard bar.