New family wheeler- aka "Darkside"...

Andy in Pa.

NAXJA Member #180
Location
Downingtown, Pa.
Yep, its official...

After I sold the WJ, I spent a while looking for the next perfect family wheeler, and the next serious build rig. I also decided that I wanted something with a full frame. I looked long and hard at the JKU's, but they are just too expensive for a 3rd vehicle. So I started looking at other manufacturers and settled on what you see below...

20140520_081417_zpsdd965d83.jpg

20140520_081352_zps3ccabac0.jpg


Its a 99 Toyota 4Runner Limited. It is lifted 3", already has aftermarket front/rear bumpers, and comes with the factory rear locker. Almost NO rust too. As it sits, it will clear 33's no problem, and cruises down the highway like a tank. Everything seems to work really well on it, I have driven it for about 500 miles now, and it rides very nicely. There were a few small things wrong with it, but all easily fixable. It does need tires, but they will have to wait for a few more months. The aftermarket support is great too. I can't wait to get it out on the trails with the family and see how the IFS does. I have seen others remove the rear sway bar, and the back flexes really nicely so I may do that, we'll see. Its kind of cool to have an entirely new project though...


And yes, at some point the front is getting linked with a D44, and it will become a trailer queen, but that is a few years away yet.:firedevil
 
NICE!

i tried to get myself into one, but couldnt justify what i was getting for the price they demanded around here, so i ended up in my british-leyland machine. and my $.02, these are a BITCH to SAS without 10 feet of lift, my buddy is either parting his 01 out or looking into a frame swap and going with a long travel IFS setup after about a year of trying to get his to drive down the road. good luck with it!
 
The NAC. We Don't wheel jeeps anymore.

I saw this and it looks cool. I bet Andy will work some kind of hairy magic and get it linked with only 5-6 in of lift.
 
even with the T100 (i think?) oil pan, giant coilovers, and 2" body lift it had 3" of uptravel. it just isnt made for it. the bottom of the front bumper was above my waist.
 
even with the T100 (i think?) oil pan, giant coilovers, and 2" body lift it had 3" of uptravel. it just isnt made for it. the bottom of the front bumper was above my waist.

Your right, if I stuck with commericially available stuff, it would be too high. Gotta think OTB My friend... I already have some ideas to keep it low and tight on 37's.

A 440 fits in an MJ.... who knew?:D:D
 
He is going to sell it to me ..... he just doesn't know it yet.

Haven't you been down that road before? :)

Although that one does have 2 extra seats...

It would be nice to get you back wheeling with us!
 
Your right, if I stuck with commericially available stuff, it would be too high. Gotta think OTB My friend... I already have some ideas to keep it low and tight on 37's.

A 440 fits in an MJ.... who knew?:D:D

Let the haters hate and then prove them wrong :D.

Looks sweet Andy. Care to share the plans yet? I haven't really looked underneath one of those before.
 
Your right, if I stuck with commericially available stuff, it would be too high. Gotta think OTB My friend... I already have some ideas to keep it low and tight on 37's.

A 440 fits in an MJ.... who knew?:D:D

This is the stuff I love hearing, anyone can bolt something together, but the creative fabrication is by far my favorite part of this sport. Looking forward to what you do with it!
 
To be fair you should paint it purple.

Lol... I'll never paint anything purple PURPOSELY...

Nice lookin 4Runner Andy, should fit the family well.

So, what prompted the WJ sale?

Well, I have a friend that wanted it, and I realized that I was never going to want to build the WJ into what my XJ is now. The 4Runner is a good (cheap) platform to eventually grow up into a rock crawler rig. It will serve light trail duties for a while though with the family.
 
Let the haters hate and then prove them wrong :D.

Looks sweet Andy. Care to share the plans yet? I haven't really looked underneath one of those before.

Still researching... this is probably at least 2 years out. Thinking 609's though, with some subtle frame changes to the front, and ORI's. We'll see... I'm sure I'll change directions at least a dozen times.
 
i would add more lights on the cab visor as my first mod....wink....

i feel your situation though, life after xj....for us it might be zj or ????
 
Last edited:
I like it! Should be an interesting build, for sure. X2 on the price of these things in the used market, I actually got into my first XJ as a second choice after I could find any old 'runners near me for cheap...
On the subject of changes, I almost tried to trade my 01 the other day for a stock WJ, but it got sold the day I went over to start the sales pitch...sometimes you just feel like changin up.
Rich
 
I like it! Should be an interesting build, for sure. X2 on the price of these things in the used market, I actually got into my first XJ as a second choice after I could find any old 'runners near me for cheap...
On the subject of changes, I almost tried to trade my 01 the other day for a stock WJ, but it got sold the day I went over to start the sales pitch...sometimes you just feel like changin up.
Rich

Thanks, yes the prices have come down quite a bit on these. As long as you can find one with no cancer. Yes, it should be interesting build.
 
Back
Top