Feature Friday: Top Lifted MGM 5th Gen 4Runner Builds + Detailed Specs

We Asked 10 Owners About Their MGM (Metal Grey Metallic) Builds

Feature Friday is going to be a series of posts on Trail4Runner.com of our favorite builds from Instagram and around the internet featured with a central topic. For our first feature Friday we’re showcasing MGM (metal gray metallic) 5th Gen 4Runners and the topic is focused on their suspension, wheels, and tire setup. For each build listed below, you will find an overview of the owner’s lift kit, suspension details, along with their wheel and tire specs.

Consider this your go-to reference point if you have an MGM 4Runner and you’re looking for inspiration on lift kits and/or wheel and tire combinations. This list is in no specific order, just a general list of awesome MGM builds. Be sure to check everyone out on Instagram and give them a follow! If you have any questions for a particular build, you can reach out to them directly on the gram.

Cheers and Enjoy,

1. Danny Diep (@Dieppindots) 2016 4runner SR5

Suspension, Wheel, and Tire Setup:

Suspension: Kings 2.5” lift with front and rear shocks with reservoirs (700lbs front springs), Dobinson rear springs 749v 700-800lbs, Toytec front diff drop, Timbrens active offroad bumpstops, 4.88 revolution gears, Arb rear lockers
Wheels: Stealth custom series f5’s 17×9-38 offset
Tires: BFGoodrich KM3 Mud Terrain 295/70/1

2. Jacob Cutting (@Mag4rnr) 2019

Suspension, Wheel, and Tire Setup:

Suspension: +4.5” LT kit from @btffabrication. Along with this kit I am running some 8” coilovers from @locked_offroad. In the rear I have an 8” 2-tube 2.5 bypass accompanied by some Dobinson 701v 3” springs. Also in front, there will be 3-tube 2.5 bypass and 2” 2.0 bumps at all four corners all from @locked_offroad.
Wheels: Ryder Offroad Wheels – “The Gov” 17×9 -12
Tires: 315/70/17 Falken wildpeak at3w

3. Joe Deedy (@DeedsT4R) 2016

Suspension, Wheel, and Tire Setup:

Suspension: King adjustable remote reservoirs with SCP upper control arms. King shocks and Dobinson 749s rear. Metal tech extended brake lines and Dobinson extended sway bar end links.
Wheels: Method Race Wheels 704 in black with 1.25 inch spacers from Spidertrax
Tires: 315/70/17 BFG KM3s

I am currently running King adjustable remote reservoir coilovers and shocks in the front and rear. For rear springs I have the Dobinson 749s. The rear also has metal tech extended brake lines, and Dobinson extended sway bar end links. SCP upper control arms are the final piece upgraded in the front. I am currently running Method Race Wheels 704 in black. Their bead grip technology and the clean but not flashy look is what drew me to them. 1.25-inch spacers from Spidertrax help the tires clear the UCAs and provide a little poke. For tires I have 315/70/17 BFG KM3s. Once the King suspension was put on, the 285s really looked small and I knew it was time for an upgrade. I considered a multitude of tire size options but ultimately thought the 315/70/17 was the best combination of fit, functionality, and aesthetics. Being in the South East, dealing with mud is very common. I decided to go with an MT tire due to the amount of mud you can encounter in the south, and because we receive virtually zero snow.

Fitting the 315s required a BMC, hammering pinch welds, lots of trimming, but was ultimately worth it. I rub zero in typical on-road driving. Off-road there is very little rub only when at full lock and flexed out. The 315s rub less now than my old 285s did without a BMC. Overall I am very happy with how everything currently stands! Being such a heavy vehicle, the suspension handles the weight very well on and off-road. For anyone considering a full suspension set up on a 4runner, this King suspension setup is a great option that I would highly recommend!

4. Dustin Smith (@calrunr) 2018 TRD ORP

Suspension, Wheel, and Tire Setup:

Suspension: Fox DSC 2.5 Series front coilovers with 650 lb springs. Icon tubular UCA’s. Fox DSC 2.5 Series rear converted Tundra shocks with Remote Reservoirs. Icon 3 inch rear progressive overland springs. Treaty Oak KDSS spacers.
Wheels: VTX Terra wheels in Satin Black with 1.25 inch spacers from Spidertrax.
Tires: 295/70/17 BFG KM3’s

I’ve been through a variety of iterations with my suspension and tire setup, and have landed in a pretty great place for what I do with this rig. I won’t spend time on where I’ve been, or where I’m going, but will focus on where I am currently. At the center of it all are the Fox DSC 2.5 front coilovers and rear shocks, both with Dual Speed Compression adjusters on the reservoirs. DSC allows you to adjust high-speed compression for tuning on whoops and high speed hits, and low-speed compression to find the optimal trade-off between ride, handling, and bottoming control.

I haven’t spent much time toying with the adjusters, as they came pretty dialed out of the box from Accutune Offroad. But, it’s good to know they’re there and I have that capability down the road. Which is the main reason I invested in this Fox setup. I’ve had Fox shocks on my mountain bikes for literally two decades. They are second to none, relatively easy to work on, and if I can’t do the work, their customer service has always treated me right. I could go on about these, but you can find tons of info on accutuneoffroad.com if you’re interested. In the front, the 650lb coilover springs are on the heavier side to accommodate the Southern Style Offroad bumper, Smittybilt winch, and all the other goodies I’ve added. The Icon tubular upper control arms (UCA’s) with delta joints, are the last holdouts from my Icon Stage 2 lift kit. I have a Treaty Oak front KDSS spacer that still needs to go on the front passenger side to help with the KDSS lean. I also plan on adding 1/4 inch strut top mount spacer on that same side, as the preload is currently cranked quite a bit further than the driver’s side. The spacer will help bring that adjustment to a more equal point on the two sides. In short, hopefully, I’ll have about the same amount of threads showing on the coilovers, and the rig will sit level.

The one thing that was a struggle during installing the front, was coilover adjustment. To adjust the preload, and therefore lift height, and to get both sides even, you have to take the coilovers off the vehicle, compress the springs and adjust them. I had to install and remove the coilovers three times to get the rig relatively level. With the KDSS system, this is a time-consuming process. At least it was for me. Might be better once I have that Treaty Oak spacer on the front.

The Fox rear shocks are converted Tundra shocks, which are the longest OEM shocks you can get. I’ve been through a few sets of rear springs, each time going heavier, and bigger. I’m currently running 3 inch Icon progressive overland springs. With the drawers and all the constant weight I have in the rear, I’m planning on going up to Dobinsons 749’s relatively soon. I also have an Eimkeith PCK that needs to be added at the same time. I don’t claim to know exactly what this does, but the gist is that it helps correct panhard length and angle on lifted 4Runners. “As a truck’s lift height increases, the panhard angles away from horizontal; this creates sway as the suspension cycles in normal use (axle moving side to side over bumps and compressions) and pulls the axle to toward the passenger side of the truck at rest.” – Eimkeith

Holding everything up, and gluing the rig to the ground, are a set of 295/70/17 BF Goodrich KM3’s, wrapped around VTX Terra wheels in Satin Black. The KM3’s are just the right level of aggressive look that I wanted, with great mud handling, grip on the rocks, and even decent performance in the snow. Top that off with very little road noise and I think you’ve got a pretty rad, well-rounded tire. I like the 295’s as they give me just enough size for most of the off-roading I do. They also fit the proportions of the rig, and have a relatively subtle look on the road. I’ll likely go to 35’s at some point, but that’s a bit more of a commitment (re-gearing and such), and when it will shift to adventure-only rig vs. my primary vehicle.

The VTX wheels are a simple, subtle design, akin to more classic five-star wheels, which I love. I added some custom-made (by me) TRD spoke stickers for some flare, and they’ve become one of the defining visual characteristics of the rig. I believe the offset of the wheels is -12, so I added Spidertrax wheel spacers to give them a bit more poke. And with the Fox rear shocks, you also need that space for the wheels to clear the reservoirs. I haven’t had any issues with the spacers, other than the lugs don’t seem to have a ton of threads to hold onto. Currently looking for solutions there

Overall, I’m really happy with this current setup. As mentioned, there are some parts that need to be installed and some future plans, but they are mostly to improve a good thing vs. to fix a problem. This is always a work in progress, and always a learning process. That’s what makes it so fun.

5. Brenan Greene (@Trail4R) 2016 TEP

Suspension, Wheel, and Tire Setup:

Suspension: ARB OME BP-51 W/ Remote Reservoirs + Compression and Rebound Adjusters, Total Chaos UCAs, Stellar Built Body Mount Relocation, Coachbuilder Strut / Coilover Shims on Coils, OME 898 Rear HD Spring, EIM Keith PCK, YotaMafia Extended Brake Lines
Wheels: Relations Race Wheels RR8-H (Hybrid) Forged Beadlocks 17×8.5 (Offset: -12)
Tires: Mickey Thompson Baja Boss M/T 35X12.5R17

We’re running the ARB OME BP-51 right now and have really enjoyed it. We just did 1500+ miles through Southwest Colorado and into Moab. I adjusted the compression and rebound down quite a bit for our trip and it made wheeling the red rock in Moab really enjoyable. The flex and comfort we get from our suspension (even with KDSS) are incredible for the price of the kit. I’d put this suspension up against all the major players for moderate to mild wheeling. If you’re looking at racing through a rock garden, you can probably beat on some Kings and/or FOX DSCs a little harder than these BP-51s but they really do show up when you need them to. No leaks, no complaints, no problems so far at 5000-miles later.

6. Nick Rizzo (@cool4runnerbro) 2015 SR5

Suspension, Wheel, and Tire Setup:

Suspension: Complete Dobinsons 1″ to 3.5″ Suspension Lift Kit + Freedom Offroad UCAs.
Wheels: Stealth Custom Series Ray 10 wheels – 17×9 – -38 offset
Tires: BFGoodrich 295/70/17 KM3 Tires

The cool4runnerbro build has been carefully constructed with both utility and image in mind. This 2015 SR5 4×4 features a complete Dobinsons 1″ to 3.5″ Suspension Lift Kit (Non-KDSS) that has been fine-tuned to match the vehicle for 4×4 off-road use. Both the front and rear coils are specifically suited to handle the stock load of the vehicle. The nitrogen gas-charged shocks feature a superior design with thicker walls allowing for longer suspension travel. The high-quality Australian-made coil springs are heat treated, fully scragged, and powder coated with the entire kit including 2 front struts, 2 rear shocks, and 4 coil springs. The stock upper control arms were replaced with Freedom Offroad’s heavy-duty upper control arms. Upgrading the suspension has had a tremendous positive impact on the capability, drivability, and overall appearance of the vehicle.

When it came to wheels, I knew this would play a crucial role in the overall appearance and stance of the vehicle. I wanted to make sure I could find a wheel that would not only compliment the MGM color of the vehicle but also had a large enough offset to achieve the aggressive stance I was longing for. The Stealth Custom Series Ray 10 in Brushed Bronze was a no-brainer. The “bullet hole” design has always been a great look in my humble opinion. To add to that, the thick black simulated beadlock style rim greatly contrasts the vibrant bronze finish of the wheel. The deep-dish look truly accentuates the aggressive stance while also allowing for a more recessed valve stem hole creating better protection from terrain while out on the trails. The wheels are 17×9 with 3.50″ of backspace and a -38mm offset.

Now for the moment, you’ve all been waiting for; the meats. There isn’t much better than hearing that sweet sweet humming sound as you’re rolling down the road with an aggressive mud terrain tire. The BFGoodrich KM3 was designed to conquer any off-road challenge with superior sidewall protection, pinch shock resistance, and chip-and-tear resistance on gravel. The tire also offers great on-road performance and comfort when on the streets. The 295/70 r17 tire size in combination with the -38 offset Stealth Custom Series wheel required that a body mount chop be performed in order to clear the setup.

Overall, the combination of suspension, wheel, tire, and a few other upgrades have significantly improved the experience of driving a Toyota 4Runner. I recommend that any owners interested in building their own vehicles in a similar fashion to do your own research and find what will be most effective for their needs. Facebook groups, online forums, and other social media outlets provide amazing communities fill with other owners who share their experiences with various products and manufacturers within the industry. You can gather all the information necessary via these outlets to get started on building your own! Best of luck and keep up with my build via Instagram @cool4runnerbro.

7. Lindsay Lopez (@baby_yota_) 2018 ORP

Suspension, Wheel, and Tire Setup:

Suspension: Toytec Boss 2.5 Performance Suspension System (adjustable from 2-3″ of lift)
Wheels: Falcon Offroad Wheels T8 Seeker wheels in gunmetal Grey -38 offset
Tires: Nitto Tires – Nitto Ridge Grapplers 285/70r17 load C tire

First starting out on the Overlanding journey I felt I needed to take care of the most important modifications which included the suspension system and tires to get me where I needed to go. Having a family and just starting out, I was looking for not only functionality but affordability as well. I would say that the Toytec Suspension kit fits into that category.

Functionality

Have been on many Off-road trails and have had zero issues so far with the kit after a year and a half.
It’s an affordable option as far as most suspension kits go.
Visually appealing with the bright red color scheme.
Self Installation was fairly smooth just time-consuming.

Falcon Offroad Wheels

Sleek yet innovated designs that hold up to the off-roading lifestyle.
Love the Gunmetal grey color option. Fits well with the overall look of the vehicle.
The T8’s I’m running has a -38 offset so a little rubbing when backing up with the wheel cranked completely, but nothing that is of definite concern.

Nitto Tire

Started out with Terra Grapplers then upgraded to the AT Ridge Grapplers.
A little heavy but great grip for Off-roading on rocks and gravel.
Love how beefier they make the rig look visually.

8. Jon Lauzon (@magneto.trdpro) 2016 TRD Pro

Suspension, Wheel, and Tire Setup:

Suspension: Icon Vehicle Dynamics (hybrid stage) 2.5 coilover w/ reservoirs, tubular UCA’s (front), 2.0 series rear shocks, Dobinson 701v UHD springs (rear), front & rear Durobumps bump stops.
Wheels: Stealth Custom Series BR6 17×9 -38 in “limited-limited” Blaze Bronze
Tires: BFGoodrich KM3 Mud Terrain 295/70/17

I feel the vehicle suspension and wheels & tire size are ideal for the adventure travel that my family and I do. We’re approaching 75k miles on the Icon suspension and have had zero issues. Regular maintenance of the UCAs and Delta Joint will help extend the life of your suspension system. As for wheel and tires, I have been extremely happy with the brands and sizes we are running. They have performed well against just about every terrain we’ve traveled to across the country. The only downside is as they’ve aged the noise level has increased on the road – I plan to switch back to all terrains.

9. Paul Mosley (@mosleyy_843) 2017 SR5 Premium

Suspension, Wheel, and Tire Setup:

Suspension: 4” Maxtrac Spindles w/ Ext. Brake Lines, 2.5” Supreme Suspension Leveling Kit, 3” ICON Rear Coils, Rough Country Rear Shocks, Freedom Off-road Upper Control Arms
Wheels: 20×12 Black Milled Wheel Havok 109 6×5.5 -44mm
Tires: 35/12.50/20 Venom Hunter MTs

THE STANCE IS PERFECT. On previous builds, I’ve run 14 wides, and I love the stance as well just not practical for everyday driving. 12 wides ARE perfect for everyday driving. I recommend 12 wides for everything, you won’t be disappointed.

10. Karo Heng (@K_t4r) 2017 Off-road

Suspension, Wheel, and Tire Setup:

Suspension: King off-road 2.5 extended shocks with remote reservoir, Icon 2″ rear springs, Icon tubular delta joint upper control arm, Durobump bump stops
Wheels: SCS Ray 10 17×9 -38 offset
Tires: BFG KM3 295/70/17

What I really like about this setup is that the faster you go, the smoother it gets when traveling on dirt. There’s plenty of times I’m pushing 60 mph plus and it’s just so buttery smooth. It almost feels like you’re driving on clouds. The king shocks handles amazing on-road as well but they do feel a bit firm with the kdss.

Going into the tires and wheels, I feel extremely confident running the BFG mud terrains. I’ve hit some pretty rough trails (rocky, sandy, muddy) and the last thing on my mind is thinking if the tires will pop. They’ve been through some stuff and im glad to say that I haven’t run into any issues. The only con with running MT as a daily is the gas mileage and noise. Tires are mounted to Stealth Custom Series Ray-10 with a -38 offset which gives it that mean stance. I chose to go with Icon delta Joints for my upper control arms because of the protection you get from the elements vs uniball joints. Maintenance is a breeze. Whenever they get squeaky, I just add some grease to the ball joint and it’s gone. Overall, I’m pretty happy with this build.