5th gen oem+ advice for 2022 limited

Looking for some feedback on getting the truck tightened up. Currently have 500lb in equipment and sound deadening, looking to add steel bumpers and full armor underneath.

meant to keep a stock like height with a willingness to level it out and go up maybe an inch. Interested in an overall firmer and more controlled ride. Thought about changing the shocks to a quality bilstein gas tube (had good results in the past) but was curious if there were some stock like springs that were stiffer than factory (hopefully progressive).

Do a lot more snow driving on roads and general curb jumping that off road, so don’t need a crawler or anything crazy. It’s all about improving its ability to be tough in nasty road conditions.

 

do you have kdss?

 

Limited should have XREAS. Never ridden in one but have heard it's a very cushiony feel that isn't easily replicated with aftermarket suspensions.

Someone who's actually made a switch will need to chime in

 

XREAS is a strange system. Its soft enough to absorb all the bumps yet don't have body roll.

I tried Bilstien5100 and Ironman FCP. No where near the comfort of XREAS on pavement. Those suspension seems to design for off pavement not for the pavement.

 

Yeah, I think you're going to run into that with almost any aftermarket offroad suspension. I think you had, and I really wanted, Elka's because I've heard good things about the smoothness. I couldnt justify the cost and wanted to get everything all-in-one so went with Dobinsons IMS. I'm happy with them over stock (I also have KDSS).

Again, I don't have and have never driven/ridden in XREAS so I have nothing to compare to. From what I remember of other threads, the only thing close are the really expensive, top end, fully adjustable resivoir suspensions tuned to be as close to XREAS feel as possible. I personally don't like the "butter smooth, floating on a cloud" Cadillac feel though. My JGC has the air suspension that feels like you're driving a cloud or magic carpet and much rather prefer the feeling of the IMS on the overweight, bloated pig 4runner

 

Xreas is a neat design.

min guessing bilstein doesn’t make a solution that drops right in?

 

Yes you can remove the entire XREAS suspension system including the lines running across the frame and replace it something like Bilstien with matching springs to your weight. Better to ask a shop if the shocks you are running is safe to run at zero lift and if there's any additional weight springs available that gives zero lift. I think all the additional weight springs I've seen gives a lift.

Also depending on the weight in front you can maybe use a small drop in tophat spacer inserted carefully to recover the lost lift due to weight and in the back you can swap the coils to recover the lost lift due to weight if you like to keep the stock XREAS.

 

I like it.

I may disable for a week to get a comparison before commiting

 

Get aluminum skids. I have steel. Trust me go with aluminum.

Really decide what you want and add the weight up or you'll need to make adjustments and buy new stuff later.

If you really want a specific rake you might need to go with coilovers to adjust the front after you do the rear.

I havent really looked at no lift or stock height springs but to get heavier duty ones you may be limited to 1" lift options. That's a lot of weight. Probably need heavy duty springs.

I would call Accutune and talk to them about options. They seem like they really know their stuff. I didn't know what XREAS was until now. Again I'd call accutune about option with it. Could just be heavy duty springs solves everything. But if the shocks are linked up with hoses can you change the springs without servicing the system?

Is the XREAS the reason you want to keep stock height? If you're going to do bumpers and skids, you're not going to get bigger tires? If bigger tires...everything looks better with at least a little lift.

 

I’m open to options.

living in a rural area, the idea is I want my 4Runner for the purpose of reliability and always getting there no matter what. The skids are simply assurance, no intention of crawling rocks.

really open to any suggestions, I come from the car world where the expectation is every different. I think in a perfect world I build a truck that feels responsive, not quite along the lines of a q5 or ex35.

 

'22 limited. Removed xreas.
Replaced with Bilstein 5112 rear, and ome 600lb springs. Front was Bilstein 6112 and eibach UCA.
IL/WI boarder.