I just picked up a 93 4wd 5spd 4runner. I've been reading up on here and a few other forums. This truck will be my daily driver in Northern California. I work for a wireless telecom company so I am on on gravel roads, fire trails and PG&E access roads a few times a week. The truck is all stock I believe. My plan is to put on some BFG AT 31x10.5-15. Any tips on the best mods for better gas mileage?

 

Keep it tuned up and running right and you should be good. What motor? Drive it like a grandma and you mileage will get better.

 

If you're looking for better fuel mileage then stay with the factory sized tires (or if you really want 31's regear to 4.56's) and just do a good 100% tune up and possibly change every fluid you can to a synthetic or synthetic blend, perhaps a better air filter....

Welcome to the insanity.

 

Took it in to Big O tires today. They said the tires were shot and that the pitman arm was bad. It has some 31's on it now. I'll post some pics later. I'm searching for steering issues now. Does anyone have a favorite shop in the South Bay Area?

 

wow a pitman arm huh? Did they give you an example of how and why it's bad? If not get a second opinion. The idler arm on the other hand can and will go bad on these trucks after bigger tires and wear and tear. Do it yourself and do some research if you can. Rent a puller or just buy one for less than it'll cost in labor for a shop to do it.

 

I think he said the idler arm was bad also. I didn't write it down and forgot. He was going to call me back with an estimate in the morning. The truck has 193,000 miles on it so I expected a few things to be worn out.

 

yeah do the idler arm yourself and save some money. The pitman on the the other hand may be bad but i have yet to see one go bad not saying they don't but the idler arm is the weak link and will be replaced first. For example my 90 truck with hard offroad use never needed a pitman arm but yes needed an idler arm several times until i started using a brace for the idler arm from nwor.

 

So now it seems the turn signals will not work. I guess it blew a fuse?

 

No fuses blown, how can I tell if the blinker relay is bad?

 

So I checked out the nwor site and I think I will replace my idler arm and pitman arm with these.

 

Here are some pics...

 

So I downloaded some of the manuals. My build date was 12/92. So is it actually a 1992? There was no information about the truck with it when I bought it. How do I know what gear ratio I have in the differential? I've been searching for all these things but haven't found to much.

 

Gears: http://www.brian894x4.com/Gearratiosanddiffs.html

 

you got the wrong truck for mpg haha.......drive 55 on highway.....

but the best think u could do is swap your add hubs for manual ones. good for mabe 1-3 mpg. and saves your cv.

 

should be a 93 model year.
No info? what does your title say? it would indicate the year.

 

So I just filled up and I'm getting 14mpg. That's not as bad as I was expecting. That's with some issues in the steering and bad tires. Fix those, get it tuned up, regear it, I'll be getting 15 in no time!!!!

 

Ok, I've been reading up on here and some other websites quiet a bit the last few weeks and I've put together my plan!

Here's my list:

1. Pitman and Idler Arms from NWOR

2. BF Goodrich AT or General Grabber AT tires 31x10.5 R15

3. Upgrade my suspension, including heavy duty rear since I carry about 400 lbs. of gear for work everyday

4. Replace ADD hubs to manual hubs

5. Regear to 3.88's

6. Rock sliders

7. Change all fluids to synthetic

8. Brake job

9. Dynamat extreme the whole inside of cab

10. Rack on rear to carry my jerry cans

11. Replace exhaust

I'm going to stop by Comerson's in Campbell, CA this afternoon and talk to these guys about it. If anyone has any ideas about this please give me your input. I drive this truck everyday for work. My goal is to get the best gas mileage and offroad capability as possible. Thanks for the help everyone....

 

if you are going to be re-gearing, adding manual hubs, pitman, idler arms and springs in the back id say its only worth it by getting some 1.5" bj spacers to level your 4 runner out!

3.88? you mean 4.88? if so with the lower gears you can go alittle bigger with the tires with out much sacrifice to mpg and driveability. people also love the BFG a/t tires.

 

is this a 4cyl or v6

 

Oops I meant 4.88 and it has a 3.0 v6. I went to Comersons today. We talked about doing everything. I think I'm going to have the steering, manual hubs, cv axles and exhaust done first. Then go from there.