Switching from Jeep - what lift / parts to get?

[Uncle T]

Hello all, I am new here and seeking advice from you all that forgot more than I will know. Coming from a built out Wrangler Rubicon. I am wanting to switch over to a 4runner mainly for the dependability and better on road driving. This vehicle will 95% be used a day hunting rig for Nevada and SE Oregon. Typical day will be 1 hour on pavement then 1 hour on dirt 30 of that being fairly crappy terrain. I have a GMC AT4X and haul a built out Polaris ranger for the really bad stuff.

I am looking for real world advice on what lift/parts to get. I want to run in the 34" range tire and want the best combo of on road and off road characteristics. I am not remotely interested in looks as this is purely something that will be used hard and put away wet from day one. I am thinking of going ORP and basically building from the ground up or is it better to go TRD PRO and add from there?

I am not super concerned about budget but don't really need to spend into the diminishing return abyss either. Also if anyone has suggestions on a very good shop within a couple of hour drive from Reno. Thank you in advance for the help.

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[MikeD]

I have ORP to which I've added all the steel Trailhunter skids and rock rails - and kind of wish I had a Trailhunter so I'd have the Sway Bar Disconnect (instead of having to manually disconnect the links for the really tough rock crawling).
But you do not need a lift to run 34s. There are many examples on this forum (see Bigger Wheels, lift kits, etc. to start) of 34s (e.g., 285/70R18 - 33.7" typical) fitting without lift.
I'm running 285/75R18s (34.8") with just a 1.25" level kit and the crash bar removed and it clears with the front fender liner pushed in and air dam tab bent out of the way. (Offset MATTERS here.)
Point is: you don't NEED to lift to fit 34s.
If you are going to add all the armor anyway, and appreciate the roof rack and snorkel - and SDM! - Trailhunter might be the way to go. But if you are set on a lift kit OR/ORP or even SR5 might be the right answer. (Note: the TRD OR/P Hybrids, PRO and THunter all (I believe) have a bigger diff and rear axle than the non-hybrid models. This might be a reason to go OR Hybrid or PRO/THunter.)

Side note: even though I have fit the bigger tires, I'm still busy researching suspension changes. I'm currently zeroed in on the OME MT64 2135 kit or a similar kit EMS kit from Dobinson's. But I may just keep my OR Bilstein's and upgrade the springs to get just a bit more height and ability to handle heavier loads (a bumper and winch is in my future, for example). The OR lives up to its name and is super capable and comfortable off road - all 4 wheels moving up and down over rocks and always in control with nary a rattle. (Note: Many complain that the suspension is stiff ("jittery") on road or on gravel which certainly can be addressed with aftermarket shocks like the ones I'm considering)

Hope this is the sort of insight you were looking for. Good luck with the choice.

 

[Uncle T]

I have ORP to which I've added all the steel Trailhunter skids and rock rails - and kind of wish I had a Trailhunter so I'd have the Sway Bar Disconnect (instead of having to manually disconnect the links for the really tough rock crawling).
But you do not need a lift to run 34s. There are many examples on this forum (see Bigger Wheels, lift kits, etc. to start) of 34s (e.g., 285/70R18 - 33.7" typical) fitting without lift.
I'm running 285/75R18s (34.8") with just a 1.25" level kit and the crash bar removed and it clears with the front fender liner pushed in and air dam tab bent out of the way. (Offset MATTERS here.)
Point is: you don't NEED to lift to fit 34s.
If you are going to add all the armor anyway, and appreciate the roof rack and snorkel - and SDM! - Trailhunter might be the way to go. But if you are set on a lift kit OR/ORP or even SR5 might be the right answer. (Note: the TRD OR/P Hybrids, PRO and THunter all (I believe) have a bigger diff and rear axle than the non-hybrid models. This might be a reason to go OR Hybrid or PRO/THunter.)

Side note: even though I have fit the bigger tires, I'm still busy researching suspension changes. I'm currently zeroed in on the OME MT64 2135 kit or a similar kit EMS kit from Dobinson's. But I may just keep my OR Bilstein's and upgrade the springs to get just a bit more height and ability to handle heavier loads (a bumper and winch is in my future, for example). The OR lives up to its name and is super capable and comfortable off road - all 4 wheels moving up and down over rocks and always in control with nary a rattle. (Note: Many complain that the suspension is stiff ("jittery") on road or on gravel which certainly can be addressed with aftermarket shocks like the ones I'm considering)

Hope this is the sort of insight you were looking for. Good luck with the choice.

Thanks Mike. Without question going the lift and best shock possible, not looking to pinch pennies. Ride over rough terrain is very important to me. How big a deal is the front swaybar disconnect on the 4runner suspension? Its a rather large issue coming from a straight axel.

 

[MikeD]

How big a deal is the front swaybar disconnect on the 4runner suspension? Its a rather large issue coming from a straight axel.

Good question. Getting the large (22mm I think) bolt broken free took some work with 10" of pipe beyond the end of my 1/2" Craftsman ratchet (which is about a foot long itself). Just barely enough room under the vehicle to get the leverage needed. Spec is 159 #-ft. And I think it was past that. See photo below.

But after breaking it free and replacing it at 150 #-ft (the limit of my 2 foot long torque wrench), I was able to remove both connections in the field in <10 minutes. This shot is at the trailhead at an onX Black (7) trail where I wanted the additional articulation:

I was a little nervous leaving the link attached but it seemed that there was nothing for it to contact and I had no issue. But it was a pain and having a push button solution like I would have gotten with Trailhunter would be nice.

BUT.... since you are getting a 2026, you can get the Stabilizer Disconnect Mechanism (SDM) option on the TRD ORP Hybrid! So... maybe I've helped you pick your trim and options,
Speaking of options: I highly recommend the Tow Package (with digital rear view mirror) - this option has value WAY beyond the $400 on my sticker. Also the Auxiliary switches - also at $400 comes along with an alternator that doesn't appear without that option. This one is less critical but probably will come with an ORP that has SDM and Tow Tech.

 

[Uncle T]

Good question. Getting the large (22mm I think) bolt broken free took some work with 10" of pipe beyond the end of my 1/2" Craftsman ratchet (which is about a foot long itself). Just barely enough room under the vehicle to get the leverage needed. Spec is 159 #-ft. And I think it was past that. See photo below.

But after breaking it free and replacing it at 150 #-ft (the limit of my 2 foot long torque wrench), I was able to remove both connections in the field in <10 minutes. This shot is at the trailhead at an onX Black (7) trail where I wanted the additional articulation:

I was a little nervous leaving the link attached but it seemed that there was nothing for it to contact and I had no issue. But it was a pain and having a push button solution like I would have gotten with Trailhunter would be nice.

BUT.... since you are getting a 2026, you can get the Stabilizer Disconnect Mechanism (SDM) option on the TRD ORP Hybrid! So... maybe I've helped you pick your trim and options,
Speaking of options: I highly recommend the Tow Package (with digital rear view mirror) - this option has value WAY beyond the $400 on my sticker. Also the Auxiliary switches - also at $400 comes along with an alternator that doesn't appear without that option. This one is less critical but probably will come with an ORP that has SDM and Tow Tech.

Dang that seems like some work to do on the trail. I think I am going to shy away from the Trailhunter. I just really don't want the hybrid and the weight. If I could get it in gas it would be a done deal, even with the stupid snorkel noise. Thanks on the tow package will get that for sure. Just going to work around the switches with an spod or similar. It's the lift that is throwing me. I had a king setup on my jeep and it was ok. Not sure if Icon, OME, or Fox is the way to go on the Gen 6.

 

[MikeD]

Dang that seems like some work to do on the trail. I think I am going to shy away from the Trailhunter. I just really don't want the hybrid and the weight. If I could get it in gas it would be a done deal, even with the stupid snorkel noise. Thanks on the tow package will get that for sure. Just going to work around the switches with an spod or similar. It's the lift that is throwing me. I had a king setup on my jeep and it was ok. Not sure if Icon, OME, or Fox is the way to go on the Gen 6.

And I thought for sure I had you convinced for a Hybrid with its bigger rear diff:>) I like my hybrid a lot and their are some options that only come on Hybrid - SDM for example. Tow Tech and Aux switches you can get on gas models I believe. The weight is not a downside to me... the HP/Torque it adds way more than compensates and the vehicle can absolutely handle the weight. The main hybrid downside in my opinion is the loss of cargo space.
As for lifts - all of Icon, OME and Fox have good solutions. And there is also the Toyota TRD Lift option for $2999. Its not a bad choice - especially if comparing to the lower end aftermarket kits. Search the forum for lots of recent details on it. I'm leaning toward the OME MT64 kit but have a good shop nearby that wants me to consider Dobinson's. I'm still in research mode.
I'll look forward to hear what you do.

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