Is it possible...?
 

that a IFS equipped 4runner could achieve a 1000 on a RTI ramp? I mean, could it be possible to modify the rear suspension enough to score a 1000 on a RTI ramp? It seems to me that the rear of our vehicles could compensate a lot for the lack of travel up front. What do you guys think?

Chris

Yup. All it takes is money. Lots of money.

So what do you think would be the most cost effective/inch of increased travel? I've heard of 1/4 elliptical, 4-link, 3-link, and 5-link, but finding good pics and descriptions of how they work and what they look like is a different story. Is there any software that could animate different suspension designs based on factors that we input? That would be awesome!

Chris

SAS? :dunno:

:P

Most cost effective would of course be SAS. But, to do the IFS, first you'd need a set of longer A-arms, low-profile bumpstops and other goodies to get as much from the IFS as possible, figure $2000-$4000 for this. Then fab up some long arms for the rear and install longer coils. Dunno what this would cost as it would most likely be all custom. FWIW, Scott Ellinger of Rockstompers old IFS truck used to ramp a little more than 1000 on a 20° ramp and 950 or so on a 37° ramp. He had leaf springs in the rear which provided much of the flex, but his front IFS would travel 16+".

I will preemt the following by saying I have no idea how an RTI score is calculated.

That being said, Marmot has scored a 755 on his 2000. That's without any modifications to the SAW, OME suspension combo. Fear has probably the most flex of any 3rd Gen, or at least that I've seen, and he has ~7" more travel up front and I'm guessing ~2-3" more in the back. If there's any way to come up with a rough guess as to what that might score, I'm sure many would find it interesting, if nothing else, for comparison purposes. Maybe Dave has already done a ramp test.

I got some land and an old broken down 81 Izuzu Trooper. It had 30" tire and I could pull one side of my runner up on it where my tire was about 2 inches from the windsheild and my rear tire was a foot from the bumper before it picked up in the air. My runner at that time had no swaybars and with OME shocks/coil. I have had truck flexed out so much that the rear bumper and all tires were on the ground. I love the ride of IFS and feel you could hit 1000 if the rear could flex more

im tired so i really dont want to get into this, but i will say one thing. IFS rockcrawlers have been tried. where are they now? i know walker evans ditched his and he now has 60's under his buggy. not sure about randy ellis, he seemed pretty determined to make his work, one way or another.

You, too, are missing the point. Why does everything have to be a competition for rock crawling? You're forgetting that most people like to do this as a hobby, in which case, doesn't matter as to what's been tried at higher levels. If that were the case, then 100% of the folks on this board aren't really wheelin'. Purely irrelevant.

Thanks for the info guys! I'm not concerned with what other people talk about doing Darren. I wheel the hell out of mine, and I'm looking to convert my 1997 4runner from where it is now to eventually having a link rear suspension or some sort, and then eventually a SAS up front to have one bad ass 4runner for trail use only. I know there's a lot of people that set there vehicles up to look good, and I could care less what mine looks like. I set mine up to wheel and wheel hardcore. I don't know where you got off assuming what you did, and I don't really care, but let's jump to conclucions too quickly please. Here's a link to some pics and a few videos of me wheeling this past weekend at Tellico in my 4runner: http://www.toyota-4runners.com/tellico12-13-03.html and on the left of the screen you'll see some more trips with pictures and videos. As the dates get older, the terrain has become a lot harder as you can see.

So, from that, I'm looking to design a rear suspension that is totally custom, with the gas tank relocated to the spare tire location, and I want as much flex as possible. I'm not concerned as much with the type of spring, but rather which type of link system, and then spring combination will yield the most travel in the rear with the least amount of anti-squat and rear steer. I want sick travel, so when I go the SAS up front, it will be a well balanced rig.

Chris

I would love to see it! Do you know where there's any pics and details of what he did?

Chris

Whoa there, Chris. Please read again what I first wrote. I, by no means, was referring to you with my opinions. I was merely paraphrasing what another member has said and would say again. I, for one, believe otherwise and know that it is a perhaps a posibility. Heck, even Dave283 put numbers above to prove it has already been done, even though it was with a non-4Runner. Don't make me the bad guy here! Go for it. :)

Search PBB.

Ramps mean nothing, balanced flex front to rear and only enough of it will make the rig better to wheel.

Please, for the love of God, do not go over there and tell them you want to ramp 1000 with an IFS truck, you may not make it back alive.

Wheel your truck like it is now. Spend money on thing that people can't see. When the time comes for the solid axle, link the rear to gain height.

Tin Bender is running 37's with the lift from that kit. I think that your set-up now is balanced and appears to serve you well. Keep on going and see what happens.

IIRC, Scott's white truck is in retirement and is nearing destruction. On PBB, he suggested the 302 from it will go into a buggy after the Mantis is redone.

That's cool, but it didn't seem that way when I read it. No biggie!

Chris

I just used that 1000 as a guide for what I'm looking for and it's flex. I want balance flex, and I know it won't really be possible until I have a solid axle up front. But, once I do, I want to have one flexy rig. I appreciate all the comments and I've been doing some reading over there on PBB, and it's tiresome sifting through all the BS, but it can be good information to say the least. Thanks,

Chris

WHY?

Exactly. The rear of a 3rd gen 4Runner flexes very well. Your time, money, and energy could most certainly be better placed. I assume you are locked front and rear, if not, that should be the first thing on your plate. A crawler would help you more than ripping your rear out and redoing it.

I don't actually think an IFS 4Runner could score 1000 on a real RTI ramp, at least not without going up ass first. Unless the IFS is COMPLETELY reworked, its lack of flex would tip you over before you reached 1000 even if you were able to keep a new super flexy ass end on the ground...

For on this, you will run out of fenderwell, unless you want to totaly hack it up...

Good comments guys! We'll see what happens when the time comes. I appreciate the comments, and someday I'd love to hack it all up and make it really flexy, but we'll see. Do you guys think a 3-link, 4-link, 5-link, 1/4 elliptical, 3/4 elliptical or coil system would provide the best flex?

Chris

Some of those options aren't mutually exclusive of course. Correctly setup, any of those will flex well. 3/4 elliptical is crap, i would not recommend that, any flex it has past normal leaf springs is pretty much useless...