265/75/16s will work w/ the 7.1 no issues at all. You can do 285s but might have to do some plastic trimming (no biggie) and may notice a slight loss of power/mpg

 

x2 w/ what others have said. 265/75s fit w/o issues. 285/75s are a hit and miss depending on the brand of tire you choose. Some guys have no issues at all, others do. Although, if you do have issues fitting a 285, the problem usually can be over come w/ slight modifications.

IMO, it would be a good idea to regear if you jump up to a 285/75 from a 265/70...but not every one can afford a regear, so not every one does it.

 

I really like the 285 Maxxis Bighorns, anyone had any experience with these and rubbing?

 

what is your goal with your truck? looks? wheeling ability? everyone does have great advice, but i want to make sure its advice that applies to what you wanna do. if its looks youre going for, everyone is right on. if its wheelability, spend your $$ elsewhere.

 

Just curious what you mean here - spend your $$ elsewhere? What did you have in mind?

The way I see it, the first step to making a vehicle more capable off road is by installing a quality lift kit. Once that's done, you can add the bells and whistles as you please that make it more capable off road.

 

I'm not sure where you got your info from, but the panhard drop bar, or bracket are definitely recommended for any lift. You would also not want to run stock length shocks as it would stiffen the spring rate and make your ride quality worse. Also, it is suggested that you run longer shocks in the rear so that if you compress one of them when off-road, that you do not squeeze out the internals of the shocks. You do not want long front shocks however, like the OME front shocks, because they give too much travel up front, causing you to break front axles. I don't know where you (YM13) got your info from, but it is definitely not correct.

 

i don't understand that statement. it sounds like you're using your shocks as a way to limit travel. you could use as long a travel shock as would fit, the bump stops will limit travel way sooner than you could use all the travel a shock provides.

 

A comprehensive and well engineered lift kit will compensate for the added height. Most lifts, other than body spacers, will include new shocks and springs that address the vertical increased center of gravity. Buy anything other than a complete kit and you become the mechanical engineer. See what I mean?

 

I disagree, if he doesn't have a factory e-locker, imho a locker would be money well spent before a lift, as far as capability a locker will get you further than lift.

 

Im putting on the OME suspension system on my 95 4runner which includes new shocks for the longer range of travel (don't use stock shocks), Coil springs in the rear and coil spring spacers to lift the rear and BJ spacers to lift the front. The only mods suggested is a drop panhard bar or bracket, very easy to install, and some shims(big washers) for the bump stomps 4crawler.com was a good write up on how too install the BJ spacers. With just the springs in the rear I don't need the panhard drop to keep the body centered but some people have said they did need it. I'm assuming that when when I put on the coil spacers I'm gonna need to drop the panhard bar. So if you do this I'd order everything besides the drop panhard bracket you may not need so dont pay for it till you know you need it. I got my parts from trdparts4u.com took awhile, about 3.5 weeks, to get to me cause ARB in Seattle had a few things on back order but it's the best prices I could find online. If you need the panhard drop check out downey or 4crawler, I'm not sure which one is cheaper. With this system I'll be able to run my 33x10.5 Bfg MT's with a probable little bit of t-bar cranking and a small bit of tirmming and hammering but nothing visible on the outside.

 

I second this opinion I kinda wish I put in a locker before spending money on a lift and bigger tires. Except the rear, I absolutely had to put in springs in the rear to get rid of the sag it was worse than any 4runner I've ever seen. Last owner used it for vacationing in tahoe so it's seen it's far share of towing and lots baggage hauling. But thats less than $200 dollars off trdparts4u.com for new HD OME springs and rear shocks which also improved my ride and stability by leaps and bounds around turns and especially on uneven or rough terrain money very well spent, Im very happy with it.