91 4runner upgrades?

[sikt]

Hey guys I have a 91 4runner that is stock that I want to build up for overlanding. She has brand new 31's so I'm going to be keeping them till I wear them out.
I can't decide what I should upgrade first, I added a little sliding drawer system in the rear. Was thinking of doing suspension next but don't know what way to go I would prefer ride quality over lift height. Everything I read so far is talking about lifts/body lifts for bigger tires. Any guidance would be nice.

 

[JWP58]

Those 2nd Gen 4runners have great ground clearence stock. If I were you I'd focus on routine maintenance, protection (skids, sliders, bumpers), and recovery (winch). Then when you need new tires, get a mild lift and larger tires. Unless you're going to be rock crawling

 

[redthies]

Are the rear springs sagging? The weight will start to add up fairly quickly once you start filling the drawers etc up. You can do suspension without doing a big lift. ARB makes some 0" lift systems in their Old Man a Emu line. If you call them in Seattle at their head office, the tech or sales guys can talk you through the best way to go for your needs. They make great products too.

Where are you in "Canada"? It's a biiiiig place!

 

[_ExpeditionMan]

Hi Sikt!

Glad to see another person with a 2nd gen 4Runner around these parts. You can run 33x10.50 tires without a lift of any sort as long as you aren't sagging badly, so unless you plan to go bigger there really is no need to lift the truck. Check out my build thread for some ideas about possible modifications. Also do you have any pics of the sliding drawer system? I want to install one eventually.

Maintenance should be your biggest priority especially on a truck that is 24 years old. Finding out which parts are worn and need replacing before they break is a big part of this as well.

If you have the 3.0 make sure the head gaskets and timing belt have been done. If they have not start saving for it now.

If you have the 22RE make sure you check the timing chain guides for damage.

These trucks are stupid simple and perform really well off road, even stock. One thing I would recommend is making sure that the rear (tailgate) window is working as flawlessly as possible and to purchase a multimeter and familiar with its operation in general. If you are storing vital supplies in your sliding drawer system and that window fails in the up position you will not be able to fold the tailgate down and access those drawers.

 

[JasonRedwood]

Hold off on suspension until you start adding weight. Personally I would do maintenance, storage and go use it.

 

[Clay]

When you get there, do ball joint spacers up front and old man emu coils in the rear. Use a drop bracket for the rear panhard and get it aligned. That's the ticket.

I like ARB bumpers but they weigh twice what a tube unit from Trail Gear does and with an under powered vehicle pounds equals pain.

Keep it simple and it'll serve you well.

 

[RobD]

Two best things I did on my '91 were swapping the 3.Slow for 3.4 out of a '97 Tacoma (probably a bit more ambitious than you're looking for) and changing all shocks/springs/torsion bars for OME.