1989 Toyota 4Runner - Tundra Power - Bumpstops

The Value of Bumpstops
We write all the time about hydraulic bumpstops around here, and I've ridden in several bumpstop-equipped trucks, but this was the first time I experienced a back-to-back apples-to-apples comparison of what a difference hydraulic bumpstops can make.

My personal '04 4Runner is equipped with a Total Chaos long-travel front kit that uses Sway-A-Way coilovers and boasts 13 inches of travel. As mentioned earlier, Will Browne's 4Runner uses a Total Chaos long-travel front kit that also has 13 inches of front travel. Will has Fox coilovers up front, but he also has a pair of Fox hydraulic bumpstops along for the ride.

It's a similar story for the rear suspension. Browne's 4Runner has hydraulic bumpstops and mine doesn't.

We drove on the same terrain on the same day. This was in the Hungry Valley OHV area near Gorman, California. Side note: we went during the week when it was safe to be going fast on these trails. On the weekend it's a bad idea to be going fast in a truck in Hungry Valley because there are lots of dirt bikes and quads running around. Back to the main point. Browne made quick time on me through the rough. When the 'bumps were mellow our speeds were about equal, but when the big stuff came I had to slow down to avoid harsh bottoming and potential truck damage.

Sitting shotgun in Browne's 'Runner, the value of hydraulic bumpstops was glaringly obvious. There was much, much more control during hard landings and big hits. With the hydraulic bumpstops, it was possible to hit the gas in places it wasn't safe to without them. They made that big a difference.

Hydraulic bumpstops are offered by Sway-A-Way, Fox, King, Bilstein, Light Racing, F-O-A, and Fabtech.

Guess what's next on my list?

Browne-built trickery rides up in the form of the bumper and skid plate. The skid plate is generously vented, and there's a screen behind the holes to ward off any small-diameter, high-velocity projectiles aimed at the radiator. The lower edge of the skid plate protects the differential and A-arm crossmembers from desert damage. A trio of Pro Comp lights pierce the night.

Browne-built trickery rides up in the form of the bumper and skid plate. The skid plate i

Specs
Vehicle:
'89 Toyota 4Runner
Owner/Hometown:
Will Browne/Redondo Beach, California
Engine:
4.7L Toyota Tundra i-Force V-8
Induction:
Stock EFI, K&N intake tube and filter, custom air filter box
Transmission:
Stock R-150F manual five-speed rebuilt by Marlin Crawler with synchros and shift kit
Transfer case:
Stock chain-driven Toyota V-6 type
Front end:
Total Chaos Gen II Caddy Kit, T.C. idler arm, and T.C. King Kong steering. Fox coilovers and bump stops. T-100 axle shafts. Custom-machined inner CV bells. Travel: 13 inches
Rear end:
Toyota Tacoma V-6 Prerunner with wheels spacers. Deaver spring-under leaf packs, and Browne-built four-link. Doetsch Tech shocks, Fox bump stops, and stock bump stops. Travel: 13 inches
Ring and Pinion:
4.10 to 1
Front Differential:
Stock open differential
Rear Differential:
Stock open differential. Note: open differentials are great for preserving the drivetrain. You won't get as much traction, but you'll also avoid some types of breakage
Tires:
33x125.0R15 BFG Mud Terrain T/A
Wheels:
American Racing 15x8
Future Plans:
Full rollcage, suspension seats, and more trips to Baja. "I'm not going to Baja right now with all the craziness down there. I'll go back when things settle down."

Will also designed and built the rear bumper. The triple hitch receivers accommodate a street bike carrier. Will is a fan of twisting ribbons of pavement when he and his 4Runner aren't in the dirt.
Will also designed and built the rear bumper. The triple hitch receivers accommodate a str
Owner-built rock sliders keep the rocker panels pristine. They're coated with Rhino lining to make a non-slip stepping surface. Check out the color-matched Rhino lining on the rocker panels themselves. Slick and subtle.
Owner-built rock sliders keep the rocker panels pristine. They're coated with Rhino lining

The interior is largely stock, but there's a set of swapped in factory leather seats and an owner-built aluminum center console. A full rollcage in on the list for the future.
The interior is largely stock, but there's a set of swapped in factory leather seats and a
No fiberglass fenders or bedsides here. These flares were created in metal. "It was a pain finding someone willing to do the work. I talked to several body shops and no one wanted to touch it," Browne told us. "Finally, I talked to a custom motorcycle guy who went for it." The stock flares were cut and spaced outward about two inches. The work is so clean it looks factory, both in the photos and up close in person.
No fiberglass fenders or bedsides here. These flares were created in metal. "It was a pain