I recently picked up a 1985 4runner to build up for a hunting rig. Seems like alot of the builds and disscussion is about building crawlers. Looking for advise , tips and suggestions from guys that have built the not so extreme rig. Im looking to build a rig that will get me to most reasonable locations , be reliable , high enough to clear the average obsticals and maintain the streetability. Basically a good driver but also do a job when hunting season opens. Want to hear what you hunters / casual off roaders have done to your rigs as well as mistakes you might have made if you could do it all over again. Photo's would be great.

 

A mild lift,good set of tires,and winch should get you wherever you need to go

 

Research here
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f115/
And
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f198/l
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f115...85-rig-148371/

I would do 3" lift, 33*9.50's, 4.88's, winch, Detroit locker in the back and an ARB up front

 

If you want to stay kinda stock I'd consider a body lift, 33" tires, custom bumpers, and maybe a locker or spool in the rear. That should keep your ride pretty comfy and get ya were ever you'd need to go.

I'm a big hunter my self. I use my truck for all my hunting, whether it's chasing my dogs when there hot on a bear or coon or if I wanna go back on the hill to one of my deer stands.

My truck is a 87 so I don't have the straight axle like you do. However I'm still setting on 33" tires and 4.88 gears. I built my own bumper and rock sliders just for the protection of sliding into a tree. My rearend and front end are both open and I seem to go werever I want. I will someday be locked front and rear. Instead of a body lift I'm running the balljoint spacers although you don't have that option but lifts for your rig sent that expensive.

 

Not to threadjack, but where did that aluminum flatbed come from?

 

A few buddies of mine build aluminum stock trailers and the flat bed trailors that rig drivers use and they used scrap aluminum to build it for me.

 

Something like this.

I'd have a winch.

And get one of those hitch racks to carry your kill so you don't have it inside with you.

 

They need to build me one....

 

First and formost is make sure 4wd works well. Check and change diffs, trans, Xfer case fluids.

Tires! 33x10.50 is ideal. 31 will work. Get a mud tire.

Bumper at least on the front, then add a winch. This will get you home. Rear bumper and sliders would be great.

Make sure your spare tire is there and good.

Tow strap and tools.

Full engine tune-up!

 

Excellently said....,,,,

 

Just make sure everything works right. I hunt on a stock 1985 Toyota pickup and have yet to get it stuck. I plan to do some upgradesto mine, but not because of hunting. I would advise some sort of carry rack outside the truck so you don't have to put the deer in the passenger compartment.

 

I deer hunt the Tahoe National Forest and have no problem with this set up and I have been through some tough terrain on it. (See signature)

 

Thanks for the tips guys. Sounds like Im heading in the right direction. Im thinking a 3" suspension lift, High steer , 33" rubber, Lockers at least in the rear and a quality front bumber and winch. Oh , and lots of cosmetics.This runner has been sitting for almost 10 years so a complete fluids change , belts and complete vacume line change will be done in the real new future as well. Suprisingly all I did was clean fuel system, replace the fuel pump,new battery and she fired up after about four cranks. 22RE breaths again ! Should be a fun project.

 

I see many of you talking about adding a winch are you a fan of one winch bumper over another?

 

I think most people here build there own for the earlier generations. You will see a arb or something here an there

 

Chains are always good to have around too, at least here in UT. This last year hunting deer they got me to places that not many others could reach. We even helped a F350 that slid of an iced over mountain road, without chains it would have been impossible.

 

10 yr nap. that could be a problem down the road. when motors set for long periods of time they tend to dry up and can build up a slight layer of rust on the cylinder walls. at start up you can put some pretty good scratches in the cylinder walls, as well as the rings. over time the rust will wear off but by this piont your rings will be rounded off and youll be burning a fair amount of oil. did you put any oil down the plug holes before cranking it over? some times this will help but only slightly.

as far as your biuld i think everyones got it covered, 33s 3" lift locked front and or rear.(lockers will be your best investment) after that its survival gear, winch or come along, spare tires, high lift jack, a/f and oil, etc.

p.s. slime your tires!

 

p.s.s forgot to mention good lighting. front and rear. think about one on each side too!

 

No I didnt oil the cylenders. At the time I really didnt care thinking Im going to do a power transplant anyhow . Nothing like the piece of mind knowing exactly whats been done and how its been put together when going on a long trip. For now I figure its a bonus that it runs, not haveing to push it in and around my place while doing the build. Curious now how long it will run before it starts smoking. Doing a compression check this weekend.

 

Im planning on running 15x8 wheels and 33x10.5 inch tire . What Backspaceing on the wheels would work the best for this combo on the 85 runner.