I'm in the market for a DD, it must be something that holds 2 people, 2 dogs, 4x4, and can be made into a fun pre runner for not a whole lot of $$. I'm looking to spend around 5 grand for the truck. The 3 trucks i'm looking at are '90-95 4 runners, '97-'01 XJ's, '95-'97 Exploders. All these trucks seem to be some what capable in the desert, which one would you go with and how would you build it?

Here's what I've come up with so far on building each, the goal is to run 31-33" tires and be capable of pre running, chasing, and DDing. I'm on a pretty tight budget and realize the most amout of $$ is going to be spent of shocks.

4 Runners
Front Suspension: 1.5" ball joint spacer, aftermarket torsion bars, shock hoop with 8" 2.0 foxes, moved up bump stop
Rear suspension: 1.5" lift coils, new shock crossmember with 10" 2.0 foxes

Cherokee's
Front Suspension: 3" coils, aftermarket track bar and bracket, adjustable control arms, 8" 2.0 foxes
Rear suspension: 3" lift leafs, 10" 2.0 foxes

Exploders
Front suspension: Cut and turned beams, home brew longer radius arms, 3" lift coils, not sure on the shocks but probably 2.0 foxes
Rear Suspension: no idea, i'm thinking shackle flip or deavers

I'd say an 4runner, but that's just my personal preference

I see you're in MQT, you go to NMU? I live about 40 minutes from Mqt

4runners are too expensive and they are underpowered heavy pigs. if you have to go with a 4runner i'd get the total chaos kit.

so i'd say exploder or cherokee cant really go too wrong with either.

the exploder TTB will likely outperfrom the straight axle given your build plans. the exploder rearend is much stronger too. the cherokee will probably be easier and cheaper to build to your spec though. cherokee also has better power to wieght.

personally, i'd pick up an exploder with a 5 speed and go with your build listed. For the rear, longer shackles and deavers. shackle flip aint gonna happen go check out an exploder at the mall and you'll see.

oh yeah

www.race-dezert.com
classifieds for parts

www.dezertrangers.com
for info

I'd say an 4runner, but that's just my personal preference

I see you're in MQT, you go to NMU? I live about 40 minutes from Mqt

I go to NMU, though this winter I'll be student teaching at the delta-schoolcraft ISD in Esky. I'm moving some where outwest

The 4 runners are really pricy and have lots of miles, exploders are the cheapest, and xj's are about mid range $$ wise.

I do think a 4 runner would probably be the cheapest to "build" at around $450 before shocks for t-bars, spacers, and rear coils.

I'm leaning more towards an exploder becasue of the purchase price, I didn't realize they made them with a stick, I found a '96 2 door with a stick for $4,200 which has some potential.

IMO, I would buy a cherokee... Then, once the need to carry the family around stops, you have a jeepspeed platform!

IMO, I would buy a cherokee... Then, once the need to carry the family around stops, you have a jeepspeed platform!

You're supposed to be pimping my 4runner bitch. :flipoff2:

I'm with Logan that the Cherokee or Exploder will make a better pre-runner

I do think a 4 runner would probably be the cheapest to "build" at around $450 before shocks for t-bars, spacers, and rear coils.


cause your 4runner "build" is not comparable to your xj or xploder plans.

You're supposed to be pimping my 4runner bitch. :flipoff2:

I'm with Logan that the Cherokee or Exploder will make a better pre-runner
why would I pimp your runner, when I'm trying to get you to sell it to me for $10/month :flipoff2:
Scott

First choice would be an explorer. Great aftermarket support and easier to get good travel out of.

Then I would look at a 4Runner with a total chaos kit. I would not even think about a ball joint spacer on a prerunner. They are extremely flimsy and in my opinion unsafe.

Last would be the cherokee. Unit body + SFA = more work. It can be done, but the others (particularly the explorer) are easier.

What year did exploders get A arms instead of ttb's? It looks like every exploder lift is for '90-94 exploders or 96-01. Did '95 exploders have ttb's or A-arms?

Consider a full size Bronco? Cheap nowa days.

What year did exploders get A arms instead of ttb's? It looks like every exploder lift is for '90-94 exploders or 96-01. Did '95 exploders have ttb's or A-arms?

1994 was the last year for TTB on Exploders.

Consider a full size Bronco? Cheap nowa days.

Full size broncos are pretty expensive or rusted to hell and i'm not sure I want a full size.

A '90-'94 exploder is definetly in the budget and will give me some mod money.

Any Thoughts on 2 door vs. 4 door exploders?

I'm a Jeep guy at heart, but I'd stay away from an XJ just because of the uniframe. Take a look at some of the Jeepspeed build threads, and all of the gusseting they do just to get it ready to put a suspension on.

My XJ is an '87 stocker with 185k on the clock, great beater back and forth to work, but shocks and springs wouldn't make it a pre runner, at least not for more than one run.

I think the best value in a dd prerunner would be a 96 and up 4 runner. The third gen ifs is a really awesome setup. The rack and pinion steering handles really well at speed. It is already coilovers, just get a set of aftermarkets and upper control arms and the front is done. For the rear just get the stiffest old man emu springs and the shocks of your choice. These also started the 3.4 V6 which is way better then the previous 3.0. It is way more powerful and gets better mileage.

I've been DDing my '97 for over 2 years now. It is setup as above. I run 285/75R17's on it and I get between 18 and 20 MPG on the highway. oh yeah it just turned 200,000 and dosent burn a drop of oil. The 4 runner is def the most expensive out of the three, but the way i see it is if you go with the cherokee or the explorer they will probally nickel and dime you to the price of the 4 runner. My experience is that the 3rd gen toyotas don't generally have stupid shit go wrong with them... just food for thought.

I love my 4Runner and it does everything you want something to do very well. From hauling people, surfboards, camping, prerunning, chassing, trail runs.... it does everything well AND its a TOYOTA. Its true what they say about Toyotas and it sure feels good when your south of the boarder and your in one. Its also true what they say when it comes to cost. Total Chaos doesn't give there stuff away, but worth every pennie. Exploders are a dime a dozen and a lot of good used aftermarket stuff out there at very reasonable prices. If your on a tight budget go that rout and keep an eye on www.race_dezert.com for goodies.

Here is my FUNrunner
http://a13.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/84/l_17a4b00336f98e29df1d4b547f9384bc.jpg

I run an Explorer, so I'm biased. Explorerforum.com is a great resource.

I prefer 91-94 4 door explorers, especially if you plan to cage it all all in the future. Pros- motors are reliable, transfer case reliable(except electric shift), no tailshaft conversion needed like an XJ, 8.8 is strong, unlocking hubs if you do jack up the front axle, and a frame.

Cons, TTB is a lot of work to get into the diff, A4ld trans is weak.

I've never owned a 95+, but many guys who run them hard eventually break plenty or swap a solid front axle.

If you want a good modern looking rig, with functionality I would go for a 93-94, swap updated fiberglass on it, 31x10.5s will fit stock, 33s will probably fit with fiberglass and some minor lift.

Go with a So cal built travel kit. Don't by any type of a "drop bracket" lift kit, Rancho, Skyjacker and Superlift need not apply, you will just break them and not get the function you want.

I have an autofab 16" travel 4x4 kit and beat the piss out of my Explorer. Much to my suprise I have not had problems, and I've made all the mistakes of running drop kits and going for the Tallest ride in the past.

IMO, explorer.

Nice beam setup up front with good shock and spring or coilover, and deavers out back with a shackle and good shocks.

WOW, a good example of how far your money goes with an exploder. http://www.race-dezert.com/cgi-bin/trader/atl.cgi?ct=2&md=second&id=3438
http://www.race-dezert.com/cgi-bin/trader/atl.cgi?ct=2&md=second&id=3420


Race dezert and desert rangers always has good deals on prerunner exploders. Here's another option
http://www.race-dezert.com/cgi-bin/trader/atl.cgi?ct=2&md=second&id=3396

Explorers are everywhere.

http://www.dezertrangers.com/vb/showthread.php?t=57559

exploder, fab in a set of fullwidths d44 ttb/8.8 (for the tone ring you'll need) from a 1/2 ton, get the beams bent, then try to find one with a 5.0L and brace it up and you're good.

The 5spds that came in the exploders are not meant for hard use, they are not a very heavy tranny (same mazda 5sp used in the f-150s of that era, well the ones i've seen have b een), but for what you want to use it for it should hold up, but be weary when hunting for a vehicle.

my vote would be to not buy/build anything from the UP due to the rust. Buy/build something after you leave. The first time you wrenched on a cali based car you will never go back.

Its a tough call......I've had toyota's, 4wd rangers (same susp as explorers) and cherokees all setup for the dezert and i would say the best bang for you buck is a cherokee or maybe a grand cherokee with the little longer wheelbase. Trucks are cheep, fast, and with a simple cage and some bolt on parts do well in the dezert. You could make a ford faster in the whoops for about the same price, but the cherokee would be the better all around offroad vehicle. Toyota's are very reliable, but underpowered, and parts and kits are expensive for them. Fords have good cheep susp to upgrade but they seem to have more reliability issues. Cherokees you can abuse and they keep going. My next put around prerunner will be a grand.

go for the explorer, I got a good one cheap and parts are easy to find or fab.