Decisions, Decisions - Full Size V8 Pickup vs First Gen 4Runner

cacahootie

New member
I'd just mod the F150 enough to fit 285/75 r17 tires are somewhere in that 33" range, 315's might be overkill. Don't fear the gear. 4.30 rules with modular engines and 33" tires. 4.56 for 35", 4.88 for less highway or even bigger tires. The 4.88 and 315's will be a nice combo with the 5.4L. Forget about the rear Truetrac, not a bad idea in the front. F150's are too big, Truetrac performance drops off a bit with bigger trucks. Put a Detroit Softlocker and Superior axle shafts in the rear.

In my neck of the woods a decent prepped F150 will slaughter a 4runner offroad (at least the ones I've wheeled with). But I do things a bit differently. I can't use a F150, I need a long bed for bikes and gear.

Thanks for the advice Buliwyf. Reading over this again, the detail on the gears is appreciated because I've been really stuck on what to do here - which is part of why I'm putting it off. I hadn't heard that about the Truetrac in bigger trucks. I am definitely doing it in the front - I don't want to mess w/ actuation systems (more complicated more problems). My only concern is that I do often drive in snow and rain on the highway, and I had heard that autolockers weren't the best in those conditions. Safety is a priority as well - because skidding off the road and ending up in a ditch is a good way not to make it home.
 

Buliwyf

Viking with a Hammer
With long Fullsize trucks you just have to slow down and use good tires. No half bald MT's. It's not bad at all with the Yukon or Detroit Lockers in the rear, but you have to drive responsibly in the wet/snow. Truetrac F, Detroit R is a perfect combo for fullisze trucks. Just avoid the Truetrac rear, it's disappointing.

If your F150 has a modular engine you can get by running higher RPM's and lower gears. Anything less than 4.10 is lame, even in Mustangs. I think 4.30 and 33" tires would be a good all around compromise. Not to much, not too little. If I regear I'm going to 4.56 for 33-35" tires on my truck. I allready have 4.10's, so I wouldn't even feel the difference with4.30.
 

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