is a 4runner a good rig to start rockcrawling?

[inh]

is a 87 4runner a good rig to start for rock crawling? i have a 87 4runner with a 22re and 5 speed manual transmission.

[Goldrush]

depends how hard core you want to go and how much coin you have. In general, sure, many forum members have 1st gen 4runners.

[inh]

well im not planning to go too hardcore, im planing to make it into something like for partying, and for fun.. but would like it to climb big boulders tho.. im planing to buy a 85 with a staight axel and take everything i can use from it to make my 87 4runner into a straight axel..

[Sparkplug]

In my opinion, NO. I have one, and its alot heavier, has alot of windows, the body is one whole piece, the gas tank hangs down, and the back windows constantly have issues. They are nice to leave stock and mild wheel and camp in. If you want a built on, ill gladly trade you mine for your stock one.

[inh]

wel right now mine is completely stock, it white and is sitting on 31/10.50/r15 traxus mt, and the wheels are steel rockcralwer wheels and are 10inchs wide i think im not very sure.. its very nice so far, i just got a turbo kit for it but dnt have time to put it in cause of college and work.. lol... thanks sparkplug for the offer but ima give this 4runner to my lil bro when im done with it, its guna be our big and lil bro project..

[Rocksurfer]

Well people do have their opinions but I have wheeled 4Runners just as hard as trucks and they pretty much are the same. Top on or off, they wheel great, even most of the trucks I have run I put camper shells on them and have not had even one issue due to having the extra weight. I've never even have done an SAS to IFS rigs I've owned and taken them places some said couldn't be done. Build it right and wheel it when ever and where ever you want that's what I say about it.

[Sparkplug]

Top off is betterm, but then the sun burns the back of your neck. I wheeled mine all over cali for a while ifs. My susp on mine is soft so it might contribute to the heavy feeling offroad. I just feel miuch safer and stable in a pickup.

[bleakhorizon]

Im 4runner all the way. Modified or stock. Better weight transfer than a pickup. Less frame flex. (Not that toys have any) and the extra seats are awesome.....I would say the biggest downside is yea can't just throw stuff in the bed when your not wheeling....  then again I may be partial lol...  opinions will vary, but in the long run, wheel what yea got, have fun, modify whatever, whenever, and however you want. Just have fun doing it and try to do it safely and not give our sport a bad image.......

Wow sorta got off track there lol

[TacoRunner]

4Runners have a better weight distribution then pick-ups, thats not alwasy good for climbing hills while rock crawling but they still wheel very well. But because of that distribuiton I'd say they do better at high speed then pick ups.

[inh]

okay cool.. thanks for the help guys.. i will definetly start a project with my 4runner!  thanks again.

[inh]

i'll put up a pic of my rig once i can find a good pic of it..lol

[inh]

here she is.

[874runnertoys]

here she is.

looks just like my POP'S

[Goldrush]

heck! id almost wheel it like that! lol

[inh]

nice his is clean! is he also guna sas it?

looks just like my POP'S

[inh]

heck! id almost wheel it like that! lol

lol. it does great just the way it is right now, hill climbing, snow, ice, mud, and in sand too!.. but wana try to get more out of it, and make it more nice..lol

[Rocksurfer]

Looks just like mine, except for the straight axle that is.

[Goldrush]

get some sliders and gears and go wheelin! lol

[rockin86runner]

im for runners all the way wheeled mine with ifs for many years  then did a sas and she never let me down well till it was stolen 

stock


all done up

[Volcom]

Yes, they are great rigs to start rockcrawling!

[ToyotaObsession]

Yep! 

It's all about planning and money. Any Toyota can be a great wheeler if you're willing to put time and money in it.

[konarider1993]

i want it to be summer so i can take the top off...............

[TimberlineBryce]

I <3 my 2nd gen...

[ajordan1975]

On my second 4runner. My fist one was a stock 87 w/ 31's and a detroit locker.



My curent 4runner



Love both of them!

[Soviet]

There are a whole lot of people that get started with them, and things only snowball from there.  A yes from me.

[86yoter]

i Just did a SAS on mine. its been in the family since it was bought. wouldn't take it back for the world