Mastering 4th Gen 4Runner Long Travel: A Deep Dive

Adding long travel suspension to a vehicle is a significant upgrade that sparks a range of reactions and opinions. For many enthusiasts, it represents a major leap in off-road capability and vehicle stance. The initial excitement, often expressed as “BROOOO!” or “THAT’S SOO SICK!”, is quickly followed by practical questions about cost and complexity. Exploring the world of long travel, especially for a platform like the 4th generation Toyota 4Runner, is akin to unlocking a new level of understanding both your vehicle and your own limits as a driver. While rear long travel kits exist, the primary focus and visible transformation often happen at the front. If you’re considering elevating your 4th gen 4Runner’s performance, understanding the nuances of a long travel setup is essential. This guide draws from real-world experience to illuminate what’s involved with a 4th gen 4runner long travel kit.

What Defines Long Travel Suspension?

Long travel suspension fundamentally alters your vehicle’s geometry to achieve a wider track width and significantly increase wheel travel. Unlike standard suspension setups, a long travel system necessitates specific components designed for extended range of motion. Key elements include long travel-specific coilovers and shocks, along with extended upper and lower control arms. These longer control arms push the wheels further out, creating the distinctive wide “stance” associated with long travel builds. This increased width also allows the coilovers to be mounted at a more effective angle compared to the near-vertical stock setup, accommodating their longer length and enabling greater articulation.

Typically, a long travel kit adds around +3.5 inches of width per side, though some kits can push track width out by +4.5 or even +5 inches. More recently, +2 inch options have also become available, offering a less extreme change. With the longer travel capability, specialized coilovers are required. These aren’t merely longer struts; they are designed for enhanced handling and dampening performance, often featuring greater adjustability crucial for fine-tuning the setup. You’ll frequently see external reservoirs connected to these coilovers and shocks via thick hoses. These reservoirs hold additional fluid, providing better heat dissipation and consistent dampening performance, particularly beneficial during sustained, high-speed off-road driving.

Furthermore, a long travel setup on a 4WD vehicle will require longer axles. While some components like bigger tires and fiberglass fenders are often associated with long travel (though fenders can sometimes be skipped), the core components are the control arms, coilovers/shocks, and axles. All these specialized components come at a considerable cost, making long travel one of the more significant investments in off-road modification.

Long Travel 4Runner High Speed Desert Run

My Journey with a 4th Gen 4Runner Long Travel Build

My dive into the world of off-roading and eventually long travel began after moving back to Las Vegas from college in Colorado. The desert landscape offered vast, flat areas perfect for exploring faster driving compared to the technical mountain trails. Growing up immersed in import car culture focused on drifting and time attack, the transition to wanting to go fast off-road felt natural. My first vehicle, a 2007 4Runner SR5 2WD V6 in Galactic Grey Mica, became my entry point. Like many eager 18-year-olds, I quickly learned the limits of a stock suspension on even moderately aggressive trails, experiencing being tossed around, bottoming out, and the rear end feeling unsettled.

This early experience on trails sparked a fascination with “fast offroading.” Being new to the community in 2014, I lacked friends or deep knowledge but was fueled by the drive for speed and capability. Influenced by experienced friends, a “dream build list” for the 4th gen quickly formed. As the years progressed, I gained confidence and speed, drawing inspiration from desert racing events like SCORE, BITD, and the Mint 400.

That 4th Gen 4Runner remained my primary vehicle from late 2014 to 2020. During this time, it evolved, eventually featuring components crucial for performance, including Dirt King lower control arms and King Shocks. A significant portion of my current understanding of off-road suspensions and long travel comes directly from the six years spent learning, modifying, and driving that vehicle. My personal experience with the 4th gen platform solidified my appreciation for how substantial suspension upgrades like long travel transform capability.

2WD 4th Gen 4Runner With Tacoma Front End & Dirt King Long Travel

Key Considerations Before Committing to 4th Gen LT

Deciding to install long travel suspension on your 4th gen 4Runner requires careful thought beyond just the desire for increased capability and a striking stance. What you need to know depends heavily on your current research, your driving style and experience on trails, and your commitment level. It’s a significant undertaking, both financially and in terms of ongoing effort. Think of it like investing in professional camera equipment – its effectiveness depends on your skill and knowledge to use it properly.

For anyone considering this upgrade for their 4th gen, starting with the basics and gradually building your driving confidence off-road is crucial. Understanding how your vehicle behaves and what you want to improve makes the decision and tuning process much more informed. This path can be tedious, demanding a specific kind of determination. It’s easy to get “lost in the sauce” of endless parts and possibilities.

Key Takeaways for 4th Gen Long Travel:

• Driver Skill: Build your confidence and understanding of off-road dynamics before relying solely on advanced suspension.
• Thorough Research: Understand exactly what a long travel kit for the 4th gen entails, its benefits, and its drawbacks.
• Commitment to Learning: Be prepared to continuously learn about tuning, maintenance, and driving techniques specific to long travel.
• It’s Never Truly “Done”: These are performance setups that may require ongoing adjustments and upgrades.
• Significant Cost: Long travel is an expensive modification, encompassing parts, installation, and ongoing maintenance.
• Stay Focused: Don’t get overwhelmed by the vast options and information available.

Ultimately, while the aesthetic of a wide, long travel 4th gen 4Runner is undeniably appealing, achieving and maintaining that setup is a time-consuming and demanding process requiring a particular level of commitment.

Dirt King +3.5

Maintenance and Driving Characteristics

Opting for a long travel kit on your 4th gen 4Runner, even those marketed as “direct bolt-on,” introduces a new layer of required maintenance. Performance suspension components designed for greater travel and abuse typically demand more frequent attention than stock parts. You’ll need to regularly inspect and service components like limit strap clevises, spindle gussets (if added), frame plates, cam tab lockout kits, and bypass hoops. Bushings (such as UCA and LCA bushings), heims, and uniballs require periodic greasing and more frequent replacement compared to OEM rubber bushings.

Servicing coilovers and shocks is also a critical part of owning a long travel setup. These are essentially race-derived parts and need to be rebuilt periodically to maintain peak performance. For 4WD models, special length axles are required, and their CV axle boots are prone to failure over time, especially with increased suspension articulation and lift. Beyond the suspension itself, you’ll need to monitor for premature wear on wheel bearings and hubs (particularly with aggressive wheel offset), and uneven tire wear. Brake rotors and pads may also wear faster, especially if running larger tires without upgrading braking components.

The Importance of Proper Alignment

Finding a shop or technician with specific knowledge and experience aligning long travel suspensions is paramount. The geometry changes significantly, and not all standard alignment racks or technicians can properly dial in the complex adjustments possible with aftermarket control arms and coilovers. Incorrect alignment can lead to poor handling, accelerated tire wear, and stress on components. Even if you daily drive your long travel 4th gen, understanding that it requires specialized attention for alignment is part of the commitment.

On-Road Manners

Driving a long travel 4th gen 4Runner around town feels different. The suspension is designed to absorb bumps and handle hard cornering effectively, making the vehicle feel very stable on the road despite its lifted stance. With a +3.5 inch width increase, the 4Runner’s wider track contributes significantly to stability. However, if you choose to remove the front sway bar (common for maximum articulation off-road), you will notice increased body roll during turns. Another characteristic is heavier steering input required to change direction, and the steering wheel may not return to center as quickly or easily as with the stock setup.

Off-Road Manners

This is where the investment in 5th gen 4runner long travel kit principles applied to a 4th gen truly pays off. With properly tuned and valved coilovers and shocks, the 4th gen 4Runner can hug the terrain and absorb substantial impacts at speed. The increased wheel travel allows the tires to maintain contact with uneven surfaces better, improving traction over obstacles. While primarily built for higher speed desert or trail driving, long travel setups can still aid in rock crawling by providing better articulation, though the increased width means you must be mindful of tight clearances. The main intention is speed and stability over rough terrain.

Final Considerations for Your 4th Gen LT Build

Daily driving a 4th gen 4Runner equipped with long travel suspension is not a decision to be taken lightly. It demands a particular mindset – one that is prepared for increased maintenance, potential breakages, and a vehicle that prioritizes off-road performance over some daily driving conveniences. Having been involved in the off-roading community for many years, I’ve become comfortable with the reality that performance modifications require ongoing attention and expense.

Despite the practical considerations, there’s an undeniable satisfaction in a well-built 4th gen with long travel. The aggressive stance and visible capability are rewarding. If you’re someone who enjoys the process of building, learning, and pushing limits – if you “like to mess around and find out” – then exploring a 4th gen 4runner long travel kit might be the right path for you.