Nitrocharger Plus: Why It’s The Ideal Lift Kit For The Everyday 4Runner Adventurer

Some of you know me from previous articles. And while I may have taken the long way around in building out my 2018 TRD Off-Road (non-premium), suspension was always on the list. It wasn’t “save the best for last” — more like “wait until I could do it right.” Realistic. Reliable. Those were the boxes I had to check.

Professionally, I’m a creative director. Personally, I’m a gear mule. My 4Runner — lovingly named the Burrito — lugs around camera kits, lighting rigs, tools, and all the “just in case everything goes to hell in front of a client” stuff. Add in a winch, rock sliders, a Gobi rack, a fifth wheel, and a sleeping platform stuffed with every tool I could need… yeah, this thing’s heavy.

Week to week, it’s equal parts grocery getter, workhorse, and weekend camping rig.

Florida doesn’t hand out slickrock or epic climbs, but we do have:

• Mud that eats shoes, trucks, and small children.
• Sugar sand so deep it makes you question your tire choices.
• Trails that look like leftover trench warfare.
• Wildlife that, frankly, could kill you if you break down in the wrong spot.

So yeah, picking a suspension setup wasn’t just about stance — it was about reliability. That’s why I went ARB.

Here’s the kit I bolted on (got mine from Mudify):

• ARB Old Man Emu Rear Coil Springs (heavy)
• ARB Old Man Emu MT64 Front Coil Spring (heavy)
• ARB Old Man Emu Front Nitrocharger Plus Struts
• ARB Old Man Emu Rear Nitrocharger Plus Shocks
• Front Strut Top Hat Kit
• Front Differential Spacer Kit
• DuroBumps Front Off-Road Bump Stops
• DuroBumps 2″ Extended Bump Stops
• Dr. KDSS Add-ons: KDSS Drop Spacers (rear), BOTCK Bolt-On TrackBar Correction Kit

Find It Online

• 5th Gen 4Runner OME Lifts: Check Price

What Is the Nitrocharger Plus Lift Kit?

This isn’t just “a lift kit.” It’s Old Man Emu’s bread-and-butter: springs matched with Nitrocharger Plus shocks, designed for vehicles that get used.
The Nitrocharger Plus shocks are overbuilt in all the right ways — heavy-gauge steel, twin-tube design, high-flow pistons, triple-lip seals, PTFE bushings.

You don’t just see the durability when you unbox them, you feel it. Ride-height adjustability lets you dial clearance like a pro, but the real win is the balance: smooth on-road, composed off-road, and confidence-inspiring in both.

I’ve had mine on for about a month now and already punished them in ways I probably shouldn’t admit. They never feel top-heavy, never squirrelly, just planted.

And then there’s the ARB pedigree. Coming from Australia — a place with more venom, claws, and critters that can kill you than Florida (which is saying something) — ARB has earned its reputation in overlanding circles.

How It Stacks Up Against MT64 & BP-51

Now, if you’re like me, you don’t just buy a lift kit. You file a requisition request with the commander-in-chief for acquisition approval. And once you’ve cleared that budget committee, you realize ARB gives you options.

Think of the OME lineup like a family:

• is your middle child — smooth enough for the 9-to-5 grind, tough enough for more aggressive wheelin’.
• is the overachiever your mom brags about — fully adjustable, premium in every way, and capable of turning the nastiest terrain (or just that drainage ditch you cross to get to Wawa) into a personal playground.

The Nitrocharger Plus? It’s the practical last child — dependable, balanced, and not trying to win every trophy in the case.

Why Many Owners Don’t Need a Race-Inspired Kit

Let’s be honest: we’ve all drooled over the Instagram builds. The ones that look like they could crush a ghost town, fire-breathing lightning, and still get prime valet parking at the Ritz. I love them too. But do I need that? Nope.

Most of us don’t need a “Level 34 Blood-Scream Edition” suspension. What we need is a Swiss Army Knife. Or, if you prefer, a Leatherman multi-tool: one setup that can flex for different conditions without breaking the bank, your spine, or your patience.

Because here’s the thing: going race-ready brings side effects — wallet hemorrhaging, harsh rides, high-maintenance parts, and yes, metaphorical vomiting and diarrhea.

Most 4Runner owners need (or not, I mean, I’m not your Mom):

• A little more clearance
• Room for bigger tires
• A smoother ride on dirt roads, trailheads, and the occasional sketchy campsite road

PRO TIP: Measure your garage before you lift. Add bigger tires, and suddenly you’re explaining to your spouse why the 4Runner is permanently in the driveway.

Where The Nitrocharger Plus Excels

• Daily Driving: Right out of the garage, the ride was smoother and more controlled than stock — even with my cupped MTs that had turned every pothole into a drum solo.
• Trailhead Access: Florida’s summer rains turn trails into a choose-your-own-adventure. Last week’s path might be underwater or buried in foliage. The kit has soaked it up without complaint.
• Load Handling: With a heavy setup, I had to choose carefully. OME builds its parts with weight in mind, and it shows.
• No Adjustments Needed: Straight out of the box, fit and finish were spot on. No second-guessing, no weird tolerances.
• Durability: I don’t flip parts for fun. I buy once, buy right. Just like the 4Runner itself, this kit is built to last.

The “Just Enough” Build Philosophy

Let me put it this way: my 4Runner isn’t a trailer queen, and it’s not auditioning for the Zombie Apocalypse Olympics either. It’s heavy, it’s used, and it needs to work.

With a drawer system, rock sliders, Gobi rack, Smittybilt winch, All-Pro bumper, RiG’d UltraSwing, fifth wheel, and more… heavy-load springs weren’t optional. They were mandatory.

This is what ARB does well: gear built for actual middle-of-nowhere use, not just flex photos. Before you light up the comments with “my setup is better,” remember: I built mine for my life. Your mileage (and build sheet) may vary.

Install & Ride Impressions

• Install Notes: I usually do the wrenching myself, but this time I called in my buddy Javier from Primary Auto. He shows up in a Honda Acty mini-truck that doubles as a mobile shop. With him doing the real work and me handing him the wrong sockets, we managed to get it done on a sweltering Florida day.
• Alignment: Yes, you need one. No, don’t DIY it. Even before alignment, though, the ride was impressive.
• Ride Quality: I worried “Heavy” springs would feel like punishment. They didn’t. Comfort’s still there, stability’s improved, and the kit adapts across conditions better than expected.
• Stance/Look: A 3″ lift makes a statement. Even on stock 265/70R17s, the stance is aggressive without screaming monster truck cosplay. Parking-lot dominance achieved.

Who This Lift Kit Is & Isn’t For

Let’s cut to it. This kit isn’t trying to be all things to all people — and that’s precisely why it works.

Great for:

• 4Runner owners who daily drive but want something more challenging underfoot
• Weekend campers, hikers, bikers, and anyone who uses their truck as both gear hauler and adventure escape pod
• Folks leaping out of stock suspension, but who aren’t looking to dive into the deep end of twenty-thousand-dollar portal axles

Probably not for:

• Hardcore rock crawlers who think “daily driver” is just what you call the tow rig
• High-speed desert runners auditioning for a Baja highlight reel
• Ultra-tinkerers who want every possible knob, dial, and adjustment (this kit’s already tuned right, so you can spend your weekends outside, not in the driveway pretending you’re Fox Racing R&D)

Final Thoughts – Reliablility That Matches Most Lifestyles

The Nitrocharger Plus is the kind of kit that makes sense. It checks the boxes without adding fluff: more clearance, better stance, confidence off-road, and comfort on the daily grind. No drama. No gimmicks. Just a capability that matches, if you’re being realistic, most overlanding lifestyles.

Your build should fit your actual usage — not just your wishful-thinking Instagram feed. So ask yourself: do you need the race-spec setup with enough clearance to change your oil without a lift? Or do you want something that’ll keep hauling camping loads, work gear, and the loose change (and a cashew; don’t ask) that managed to get under your floor mat? For me, this kit nailed it.