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So, we've had a 4runner for a long time, but I've never really gone overland. I've used one for my work truck pumping wells and driven some very nasty roads, but nothing off road.
My question is what can expect to do with a mostly stock 1st gen? Can you go to Colorado, Disney Oklahoma, Utah and other popular destinations and get around in a stock 1st gen 4runner?
On a level of 1 to 10 what are we looking at being able to do without destroying your rig? 3? 5? 7?
your input is appreciated.
Our overland trips are 80% road, 15% dirty road and 5% mild off road, number 3 in your scale I believe. We do not have overland gadgets in our stock 88 4R, they make the truck heavier, increase fuel consumption, modify the center of gravity, etc. But the main reason is they are an overkill for the kind of trips we do. We do not even have a roof rack. That is also the reason we do not "push" the truck to much when we do off road, we want to avoid to break things. So I can not answer your question, we have never had to repair or replace parts during any of our trips, we did not even had to change a flat tire.
Our overland trips are 80% road, 15% dirty road and 5% mild off road, number 3 in your scale I believe. We do not have overland gadgets in our stock 88 4R, they make the truck heavier, increase fuel consumption, modify the center of gravity, etc. But the main reason is they are an overkill for the kind of trips we do. We do not even have a roof rack. That is also the reason we do not "push" the truck to much when we do off road, we want to avoid to break things. So I can not answer your question, we have never had to repair or replace parts during any of our trips, we did not even had to change a flat tire.
cool that's good info, one of my goals would be to not tear stuff up.
as alluded to by someday, driver skill and experience will help determine the level of difficulty that can be attempted without damage. i take my "older" '87 on some fairly rough/rocky roads in new england, and i drove it on some mild wheeling in the southwest US during a long multi-state trip in 2016. it's plenty capable to handle dirt roads in stock form, but as the roads get more challenging, minor upgrades can help (like slightly larger tires with a bit more aggressive tread - something in the 30 to 32" range). fwiw, i have more than 30 years experience wheeling, most of it in a cj5, although i've had the '87 4r since 2013 and wheel it when i get the chance (including for work related activity). so far, i have avoided damage to my 4runners while using them off-road/trail/wheeling. the cj, not so much...
local road, some technical challenges, but relatively easy
same road, better view of the road surface
another local road, different terrain
over in VT a few years ago. more challenging than the roads above...
another road close to home. about equal to the VT road
same as above
arches national park
more arches national park
near coral pink sand dunes state park
this is obviously the grand canyon, out on the road to point sublime. not technically challenging, but absolutely worth the drive out..
local road that i WOULD NOT take my 4runners on.. about 6 years prior to this run, i flopped the jeep on its side at this obstacle. above, i walked right over it..
other than the tire size, the 4runner is stock. no lockers, no special transfer case gears/doubler, original 4.10:1 differentials. no lift kit. in some of the pics above, i'm running 31x10.5x15s, and in a few, with a bit more aggressive tires, i'm running 32x11.5x15s. the cj, for comparison, is running bias-ply 34x10.5x15s in the pics above, aired down to 4 psi rear/6 psi front, with very aggressive tread (super swamper LTB).
a HUGE difference in wheeling is made by reducing tire pressure off-road. this is for low-speed wheeling, not racing. in the 4runner, with radial tires, i usually air down to 10 psi rear 12 psi front. i have gone as low as 8/8 psi for a particularly gnarly rock/ledge section. lowering the pressure reduces ground clearance; i feel that the phenomenal increase in traction over street psi is well worth the loss in clearance. more control, less wheelspin means fewer opportunities to break things. i obviously carry on-board air (a viair 2) to reinflate to street pressure once i hit the pavement again.
I drove my first 1st gen up the river in Canyon de Chelly with a Navajo guide in back telling me where the river
was shallowest. We didn’t cross the river, we drove UP the river. Just crazy. Drove past several full size trucks just buried, water half way up the doors. Dude got a good tip😀👍🏼
I drove my first 1st gen up the river in Canyon de Chelly with a Navajo guide in back telling me where the river
was shallowest. We didn’t cross the river, we drove UP the river. Just crazy. Drove past several full size trucks just buried, water half way up the doors. Dude got a good tip😀👍🏼
06-26-2022, 05:56 AM
