37" Tires

Tacoma World Better Steering Solutions

 

They don't mention anything about the 5th Gen steering rack needing to be upgraded, and I've heard they are a little heavier duty than the 4th Gen or Tacoma racks.
https://youtu.be/AIHFgHcHhAw?si=6iprM6EmPC6d7ouJ

https://youtu.be/_WKd6F1WyiM?si=EHejzm41VwLUeckg

 

Once you blow out the stock rack you might as well look for an upgrade. 74Welds has hinted at an upgrade developed by them. I for one would welcome other upgrade options.

 

Dude have you priced those, thats $20,000 for the stock style single shear steering tie rod and $20,600 for a double shear tie rod mount.
what the fuggggggg

 

It’s amazing how the costs accelerate with each step up in tire size! Even though my portal suggestion was a bit tongue in cheek, more I think about the frame chopping necessary to put in a bracket lift, or body hammering/cutting for long travel with big tires, portals really do seem to make *actual* sense. Especially since it will take care of gearing. And especially since you have the option to rebuild the 4runner back to stock, and sell the portals when you’re done having fun. Much better than permanent hacking at a 4runner, which for sure will diminish its value.

But truly solving the limitations of the stock steering doesn’t seem to have any reasonable solutions. You’re basically re-engineering and fabricating a new front end when you get to those high end options. Well, the most reasonable solution is to drive it like it has clay feet and tip toe through obstacles. Driving it very carefully would probably help keep the front differential attached to the frame as well lol.

The leverage tires that big have over everything really is kind of insane! I mean, even though 33s are fine, I can definitely feel the effect on gearing and steering of that small step up in size.

 

I work on Atv and UTV (SxS) and have been for a long time. I remember when the 27” outlaw came out and we were all blown away. Few years later the 34” terminators came out and we were all floored and people tearing up everything trying to pull them. Now we are making people pop wheelies on 63s and skim on top of the water in bounty hole races. Portals, transmission gear reductions and frame hacking were the only way to make it happen. I’m very familiar with load and how much work is involved in pulling big tires. We have companies making 4”, 6”, 8”, 10” and 12” portals. Gearing is 15, 30, 45, 60, 70, 100% gear reduction. The portals have been in production for Atv and Sxs since like 2013 or 2014. A few years ago Mason Motorsports built a set for one of his awd trophy trucks to get more Articulation and clearance in the front and it was a huge hit. His trophy trucks are practically the benchmark in Offroad racing now.

 

This hobby is fairly new to me, but the bug bit me. My salvation is lack of money lol.

 

Here's a positive I have not heard anyone mention yet. Where I wheel in Colorado and Moab the trailhead is full of built Jeeps airing up/down. If you show up with a 4Runner on 37s you will be the oddity that draws the crowd. We were out playing on Potato Salad Hill one day when this guy showed up. He was immediately the hit of the day. Everyone wanted to see this thing shred the hill. I'm pretty sure it's not a Jeep. If you want to go big with a 4Runner you may end up with something that looks like this. That and you won't need to buy any touch up paint.

 

I second the buy a Jeep comment. This is not an easy feat, and you will end up with a very expensive unreliable 4Runner in the end. There is a reason why there are just a few people that even run 35's.

 

That beast also has the 5.7L V8 of the Tundra!

 

So I get all the people putting in their .02 here, but how many 1. actually have or had a Gen5 4runner and did any of the said mods to get 35's or 37's on their rig and had a good experience long term or had catastrophic ?

I have a 2015 and went the 35" route for clearance at my ranch/hunting area my buddies and I own - did all the cutting and mods to deal with the rubbing etc. and been running it for 35,000 miles with just base maintaining, a worn out front axel boot, etc. with moderate wheeling and knock on wood, no major blow outs. 2. Does anyone have real life up front experience with all the major negatives actually happening up front to their 4runner with mods?

No I don't do the Rubicon rock crawl or extreme stuff, but needed clearance and better tires for parts of our ruts/creek crossings and am not being negative, just see all these "you need to do this or that" which A LOT makes sense on the extreme end of use, but for most, does it really apply?

I guess there's always the cases that I heard of a guy, or seen a friend of a guy, of blowing out his steering, tie rods, transmission, drive train of a Gen5 4runner who went to 35 or 37's but doing a pretty scouring search on the web and locally at 4x4 clubs - and there's not a lot of clear examples of constant damage, carnage, and destruction out there (except for the obvious Rubicon runs that can kill off any short of par wheeler out there).

I just went to a large NORCAL Toyota 4X4 rally last week and saw many 2nd to 5Gen runners and Tacoma's in person running 35's to 40's at all levels of mods to get there - like over 50 rigs there of all walks.

At the middle of the road, lift + quality suspension, cutting, body mount move, bashing, etc. to get to 37's in which full lock and full travel are 90% not needed (when is it for most on these threads for the majority of peeps), not one guy at the rally out of 10 running 37" wielding runners had the apocalypse now scenario for their rigs daily and moderate wheeling. A few extreme guys who do full tilt had some good pictures of blown things but that was because they were at the far end of the spectrum?

The whole buy a jeep thing misses the point of liking a 4runner and modding it out - just like any other car or vehicle who's brand has a following and has followers for that look or make. Talk to the Ford, Chevy, Mopar muscle car guys or Honda, Toyota communities who do things way beyond what the original was made to do - that's why this is a 4runner thread, there's one called JEEP but this OP likes 4runner and nothing is fully practical in our minds when it comes to our rigs? LOL soon to put 37's and pay the $. Will post pics. Perhaps once i go to 37's I'll do a post of everything that I did to get there and seek others similar to do a 37's spot for reporting in actual live experience of the good, bad, and ugly... apologies for the long post.

 

I would imagine if you are ok with limiting the range of suspension travel, or steering angles, then a lot is possible. Even more is possible if you don’t use the 4runner for extreme stuff.

But the more you limit everything, the more it turns into a “show” truck. It’s totally fine to build a bad-ass looking vehicle for it’s own sake. But it’s a different type of enthusiast that wants huge tires for the purpose using it hard off road. And if somebody wants to build something that can travel to off road spots and back on its own, then you have to spend the money on making sure the vehicle doesn’t eat itself in the process.

If I personally spent a ton of money on tires and suspension, I’d hate the feeling if I knew I cant do U turns, or that my IFS only has down travel. It would feel half built to me.

 

That’s a nasty jeep!

 

Mhm
I’ve said it before I’ll say it again
When you grasp the list of spending and chopping and gearing it takes to “fit” 37-40”;
All roads lead back to portals!

 

Portals when they hear you’re buying portals:

 

Just install the rear parts:

• Coil Springs
• Sway Bar Links
• Control Arms
• Track Bar

I also installed an OME spacer (1/2 inch) to level the rear and front

 

Well, I decided to replace the tires for 37s Yokohama MTs, (current 315s are heavier), waiting to be delivered the rest in a couple of days, I will keep you posted. I do not expect any rubbing but if it is the case, gonna be minimal

 

Did you have to do any chopping? I just lifted mine with the 6” kit and have 275s

don’t have to re gear or anything so far?

 

Chichox hasn't been on the site for about 7 months. But maybe he'll hop back on and chime in?

Regearing is advised for 35s and certainly for 37s.

I'm on 34's and needed a tune for the added rotational mass. When I step up to 35's I may have to regear.
It's worth noting I'm in north Texas so not a lot of mountainous terrain and being close to sea level means the engine makes decent power compared to higher altitude states.
This is likely why I don't feel the need for a regear... yet. Although it would help.

Other things to consider when you move to larger tires are
-Clearance body mount/ bumper/ fender liners (33s and above)
-Clearancing the firewall (35s and above)
-Weak steering components (35s and above)
-Weak front diff. (35s and above)
-Weak CV's (35s and above)
-Gusseted spindles (For off road use)
-Gusseted cam tabs (For off road use)

Not a lot of rigs with 37s on this site. Most who go that route (and post about it here) are doing it for off road use and go with an RCLT *or some sort of long travel* kit along with a tundra or LC rack swap and longer/ stronger CV's. All this along with regearing to 4.88s.

With a 6 inch lift and street use I'd just slap on some 35s, cut what needs to be cut to clearance everything. Drive it and see if you need to regear. Which I'd say is likely.

I know you started with a 3" lift and wanted bigger, so I'll leave the rough country bashing out of this comment.

 

Appreciated, I looked around for 37” or any info on it for sure going with 35 unless I do 33 but the lift is still gonna make it look weird if I just stick with 33.

Thanks for not bashing, I was running on a budget which is why I didn’t go with any other lift. Aware I likely have some limitations with it but it’s a start.

 

All good brother. Get some lightweight 35's and take it to a reputable shop for a body mount relocation if needed.

I know a lot of people in Canada run 35's without regearing so depending on your use (and your patience) you may not absolutely need it.
Keeping that rotational weight down should help quite a bit as well.

Good luck man and remember to enjoy the journey!

 

thank you, I’ll be posting updates as I upgrade more.

 

I run 35” Toyo MTs and they are heavy. I regeared to 4.88 and it helps great deal with acceleration and overall drive ability.

I also have the Total Chaos +2 LT. As soon as the steering rack fails I’ll be looking at the LC, Tundra rack solutions.

As it’s been stated already, I think you need to go pretty deep down the rabbit hole to run 35+ and be ready to make compromises in terms of maintenance or serviceability.

If you’re doing it for looks you can go cheap and get away with it, but if you plan on using it, be prepared for the cost and effort. I think it is worth it for me anyway. Your mileage may vary!