Crikeymike
Adventurer
Hey guys,
I'm a bit slow to get all of this up, since the truck has had a few things added and taken away already, but I wanted to share it anyway, get some feedback, and some ideas for what to do next.
We started with a 2016 4Runner Trail, black - chosen so that it will scratch better than any other color offered!! And scratched, it is!!!
Anyway, the dealer had installed some N-Fab side steps, so we kept them on for now.
Then added some Bushwacker flares and Katzkin leather seat covers inside.
Next was to check all the suspension from the Prado 150 non-KDSS models would suit our requirements. Unfortunately we didn't get any photos of this, but we had a great riding 2" lift front and back using Dobinsons twin tube shocks and struts, comfort load front coils (C59-448 and GS59-221), then C59-325 coils and GS59-701 shocks in the back. We ran that on stock wheels and tires for a few weeks. That all went on no worries, then came the exciting step. How to get more lift and more flex?
We enlisted the help of our Aussie counterparts to hand build a set of Dobinsons MRR (Monotube Remote Reservoir) struts and shocks for this black beast, adding some extra length front and rear to get some more travel. We accomplished that..... Had to quickly add some Icon upper control arms on the front. We checked the rear and grabbed bump stop spacers and an adjustable panhard rod, but upon installation and measuring everything, the panhard rod really wasn't needed. The axle was within an inch of where it should have been. We put it in anyway since we'd spent the money on getting it sent by air.
Variable rate coils? Yes please. We made a 3" variable (progressive) rate coil for the back first, then the Dobinson boys wound up a few samples of front variables for the struts. This proved to be very difficult, as getting the winds just right is extremely tricky. After 2-3 tries, we halted the front just for now to focus on a few other projects, and added the C59-302 onto the MRR's, and having an adjustable coil seat, we were able to set the height exactly where we wanted it to be.
Tires were added, 285/65R18 Cooper Discoverer STT Pro muddies, on some 18x9 Fuel Wheels. Tire clearance is pretty good all around. Bit of rubbing on the front body mount, but everyone loves that noise anyway, right?
Flexing it out a bit, just after adding some 2" bump stop extensions on the back to keep our meaty tires nice and new looking, and extended stainless steel brake lines. We definitely got a lot of flex in the rear (sway bar removed), and are super happy about that. We have been working on twin-tube shocks the same length as these prototype MRR's. Those should be here by the end of the year. We still haven't put the sway bar back onto the rear, but we're not really missing it. The shocks and coils are really stabilizing this truck really well.
So as it sits now, we have 3" lift front and rear, running the prototype struts and shocks, off the shelf front coils, and prototype rear variable rate coils, but production units of those coils are on the water.
Front first prototype bumper is on, but we have some changes to make before we show the full pics of that.
Here's a teaser:
Next we will be adding our Sensu Awning to the factory roof rack, adding the Dobinsons dual roller drawer kit to the back end, and start figuring out a rear bumper option.
I'm a bit slow to get all of this up, since the truck has had a few things added and taken away already, but I wanted to share it anyway, get some feedback, and some ideas for what to do next.
We started with a 2016 4Runner Trail, black - chosen so that it will scratch better than any other color offered!! And scratched, it is!!!
Anyway, the dealer had installed some N-Fab side steps, so we kept them on for now.
Then added some Bushwacker flares and Katzkin leather seat covers inside.
Next was to check all the suspension from the Prado 150 non-KDSS models would suit our requirements. Unfortunately we didn't get any photos of this, but we had a great riding 2" lift front and back using Dobinsons twin tube shocks and struts, comfort load front coils (C59-448 and GS59-221), then C59-325 coils and GS59-701 shocks in the back. We ran that on stock wheels and tires for a few weeks. That all went on no worries, then came the exciting step. How to get more lift and more flex?
We enlisted the help of our Aussie counterparts to hand build a set of Dobinsons MRR (Monotube Remote Reservoir) struts and shocks for this black beast, adding some extra length front and rear to get some more travel. We accomplished that..... Had to quickly add some Icon upper control arms on the front. We checked the rear and grabbed bump stop spacers and an adjustable panhard rod, but upon installation and measuring everything, the panhard rod really wasn't needed. The axle was within an inch of where it should have been. We put it in anyway since we'd spent the money on getting it sent by air.
Variable rate coils? Yes please. We made a 3" variable (progressive) rate coil for the back first, then the Dobinson boys wound up a few samples of front variables for the struts. This proved to be very difficult, as getting the winds just right is extremely tricky. After 2-3 tries, we halted the front just for now to focus on a few other projects, and added the C59-302 onto the MRR's, and having an adjustable coil seat, we were able to set the height exactly where we wanted it to be.
Tires were added, 285/65R18 Cooper Discoverer STT Pro muddies, on some 18x9 Fuel Wheels. Tire clearance is pretty good all around. Bit of rubbing on the front body mount, but everyone loves that noise anyway, right?
Flexing it out a bit, just after adding some 2" bump stop extensions on the back to keep our meaty tires nice and new looking, and extended stainless steel brake lines. We definitely got a lot of flex in the rear (sway bar removed), and are super happy about that. We have been working on twin-tube shocks the same length as these prototype MRR's. Those should be here by the end of the year. We still haven't put the sway bar back onto the rear, but we're not really missing it. The shocks and coils are really stabilizing this truck really well.
So as it sits now, we have 3" lift front and rear, running the prototype struts and shocks, off the shelf front coils, and prototype rear variable rate coils, but production units of those coils are on the water.
Front first prototype bumper is on, but we have some changes to make before we show the full pics of that.
Here's a teaser:
Next we will be adding our Sensu Awning to the factory roof rack, adding the Dobinsons dual roller drawer kit to the back end, and start figuring out a rear bumper option.
