Upgrading 2000 4Runner

We want to Replace bumpers front and rear.
Add a roof rack to carry extra fuel, jack, shovel. Please help with what to look for. Big price differences. We don't want to wish we had done something different. Anyone that has been through this, their advise would be appreciated. Thank you!

 

Welcome

For starters, aftermarket bumpers will add quite a bit of weight over stock so you'll need to have a budget to taking care of suspension needs.

Aftermarket bumpers do exist for these vehicles, but they're limited in selection seeing as how these vehicles are many years old already. Support is always going to be stronger for newer vehicles.

What is your need for a front bumper anyway? If you want it for aesthetics, cool. But I ask because you can really get away with a rear that provides utility.

ARB has a bolt on front setup, as well as Trail Gear, True North Fab, Coastal Offroad, Nguyenworks, and a few more.

Do you have the ability to weld? You could save a lot by making your own. Or even save a bit by buying one that you weld yourself IE Coastal Offroad or True North Fabrications to name a few.

Expect about $1k for the front, and $2k or more for the rear if you want a swingout option.

As for roof racks, you've got Sherpa Equipment Co for a simple factory replacement. After that, you can just buy those brackets from Prinsu or Thule (to name a few) and go about making a custom setup.

Expect about $800 for just a bolt on setup from Sherpa.

 

Here's my 4R I just got rid of last month; I had a Nguyenworks rear bumper and Sherpa Equipment Co rack to carry my goodies.

Rear bumper was nice for carrying a 33" spare tire, and ability to carry a fuel can. An added bonus was a fold-down table I'd use for lunch when I was out and about.





Depending on the adventure, my roof rack would serve to carry a multitude of things.

Here you'll see me carrying my Maxtrax boards and Smitybilt awning. The boards I mainly ended up using for others, as I always found other people to be less prepared. The awning was great for beating off the sun during the summer while out in certain areas.





However, if a week long camping trip was in order, priorities would shift to additional storage; enter the Roam 83L case.



With those long hauls, pressurized water became a godsend as well. Gotta thank my in-laws for this one as they got me my Waterport for my birthday.



Anyway...as cool as it is to carry all this stuff, make sure to sit down and ask yourself, "do I really need all of this?"

I had gotten rid of those Maxtrax boards after owning them for 3 years. Only used them once for myself in all that time, and I go off road often. Really sit down and consider how much harder you're going to be pushing your 4R to lug around all this stuff.

And speaking of pushing your 4R, it's not enough to simply keep up on maintenance, but to do those extras that'll help support your added mods.

I added a transmission cooler, and did my services more often such as my diff fluids, transmission fluid, thermostat. I upgraded all my suspension components for the added weight as well.

A stock 4Runner has the ability to go off the beaten path, and do it well. A lot of people think they have to lift it and all that stuff just to go off road. You don't.

But if you do, make sure everything is up to snuff, that way you don't get the unexpected surprise of an overheating vehicle, slipping transmission, saggy ride, torn cv axle boots, and more.

 

Thank you very much. I appreciate your comments.

 

lots of upgrades..you're limited only by whatever budget..you set up...etc

 

Definitely need to carry extra fuel. Where do you think is best and what have you used that you’re happy with?

 

Well, fuel should always be carried outside a vehicle.

The rest is up to your imagination, but you'll see the general consensus is to carry it on the rear.