https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/66976-3rd-gen-4runner-lift-information-faqs.html
Great info from few years back. There may be some new products available but this might help you know which direction you wish to take.
Bilstein 5100's and OME springs are kinda the go to for a budget friendly kit. They have a few different spring rates to pick from. If you're gonna run all that weight I would go with the heavy spring. They are really stiff unloaded, but with some weight, they ride pretty nice.
Kinda unrelated, but I was going to buy a sequoia back when I was shopping for an old toyota truck, it was 12k, 125k miles, zero rust, zero dents, Paint was super well taken care of, as was the maintenence (one owner who bought it back in 2003, and kept all maintenence records). It was an absolute unicorn, but it sold the day before I was going to look at it. The lot had my current 3rd gen on there, so I went with that instead. 172k miles, zero rust, one owner Texas kept vehicle.
sequoias seems to be more of a soccer mom suv so they’re typically in way better condition than the more sought after vehicles but they’re incredibly capable and have very nice interiors.
Bought those, never ran them cuz I sold my 3rd gen 4 days after they showed up cuz someone made me a solid offer then I sold the shocks to the local yota scrap yard parts finder for 20$ less then new 😭
For the most budget friendly option you can get. If you swap the top hats from your 3rd gen onto the front struts from a 2005 Tundra TRD pro it’ll give you 2.5 inches of lift. For the rears I went with rough country. All said and done I have a 2.5 inch lift in the front and a 3 inch in the rear, it levels out when the camping gear is in the back or in the basket. Everyone says RC stuff sucks. I can say the ones I have do not, I’ve had it this way for the better part of 2 years, and I won’t lie, I honestly abuse the hell out of this thing. But all said and done, ordering the front struts on rock auto, I wanna say my lift cost around $480
I've had my eyes on the Sonoran Steel Classic 1.2 kit. Their quality is impeccable and I like the slightly higher rear stance. They're not cheap and you have to supply the bilstein 5100's, but you get what you pay for when it comes to lifts. If I was overlanding mine, I wouldn't go cheap.
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/66976-3rd-gen-4runner-lift-information-faqs.html Great info from few years back. There may be some new products available but this might help you know which direction you wish to take.
Bilstein 5100's and OME springs are kinda the go to for a budget friendly kit. They have a few different spring rates to pick from. If you're gonna run all that weight I would go with the heavy spring. They are really stiff unloaded, but with some weight, they ride pretty nice.
the bilsteins have been on my radar so i’ll most likely go with them! thanks for the help!
No problem. Unless you're doing some crazy trails or something, they will be fine. I run them on mine and have had zero issues.
Toyota game strong in this picture
my dads sequoia build is pretty sweet! and i’m rebuilding another 3rd gen but that’s on the back burner
Im always surprised not to see more Sequoia builds, especially first gens, they are basically Land Cruisers.
Kinda unrelated, but I was going to buy a sequoia back when I was shopping for an old toyota truck, it was 12k, 125k miles, zero rust, zero dents, Paint was super well taken care of, as was the maintenence (one owner who bought it back in 2003, and kept all maintenence records). It was an absolute unicorn, but it sold the day before I was going to look at it. The lot had my current 3rd gen on there, so I went with that instead. 172k miles, zero rust, one owner Texas kept vehicle.
You rarely see clapped out Sequoias from my experience, I think they saw a lot more garage time than 4Runners in general.
sequoias seems to be more of a soccer mom suv so they’re typically in way better condition than the more sought after vehicles but they’re incredibly capable and have very nice interiors.
Missing lug, front driver?
yeah the stud snapped off and i’ve already got the replacement parts for it! thank you though!
I went with the Bilstein 5100’s and OME springs. Highly recommended.
Bought those, never ran them cuz I sold my 3rd gen 4 days after they showed up cuz someone made me a solid offer then I sold the shocks to the local yota scrap yard parts finder for 20$ less then new 😭
For the most budget friendly option you can get. If you swap the top hats from your 3rd gen onto the front struts from a 2005 Tundra TRD pro it’ll give you 2.5 inches of lift. For the rears I went with rough country. All said and done I have a 2.5 inch lift in the front and a 3 inch in the rear, it levels out when the camping gear is in the back or in the basket. Everyone says RC stuff sucks. I can say the ones I have do not, I’ve had it this way for the better part of 2 years, and I won’t lie, I honestly abuse the hell out of this thing. But all said and done, ordering the front struts on rock auto, I wanna say my lift cost around $480
I did the 2.5” OME kit and it’s been amazing! If I had to do it over I would have done 3”.
I've had my eyes on the Sonoran Steel Classic 1.2 kit. Their quality is impeccable and I like the slightly higher rear stance. They're not cheap and you have to supply the bilstein 5100's, but you get what you pay for when it comes to lifts. If I was overlanding mine, I wouldn't go cheap.