Enhance Your 4Runner's Off-Road Capabilities with a Helper Spring Upgrade
The Toyota 4Runner is popular for two reasons:
- The Toyota 4Runner blends the comfort and agility of an SUV.
- It also delivers the utility and towing capacity of a full-size truck. Not only that, its off-road features make it popular with overlanding enthusiasts.
But off-roading and overland camping present some challenges. Today we’re going to talk about how to solve problems with rough terrain using off-road bumpstops and/or a Toyota 4Runner helper spring.
Do you need Toyota 4Runner helper springs?
If you’re planning to use your Toyota 4Runner SUV as a tow vehicle, you’re probably going to need some sort of suspension upgrade. Why is that? Let me explain:
Even though its four-link coil spring rear suspension has a towing capacity of 5,000 lbs, the Toyota 4Runner has its limitations.
Believe it or not, towing a heavy trailer will make it sag in the rear. When this happens, the weight of the vehicle shifts backward reducing the amount of traction on the front tires which will impact steering and braking.
Additionally, too much weight on the rear suspension can cause instability. As you’ve probably guessed, instability – roll and sway – is dangerous and will require the driver to slow down to a crawl.
Without a doubt, you’re going to need a set of Toyota 4Runner helper springs!
Which helper springs are suitable for off road use?
If you are ready for some extreme off-roading, you’re going to need a set of off-road bump stops. Off-road bumpstops soften the blow every time your 4Runner bottoms out. Needless to say, this will reduce the stress on your suspension and on the driver.
On the other hand, if you’re heading out on the trails with your 4Runner for a weekend of overland camping, you’re going to need a set of helper springs. You may be wondering, “What is the difference between off-road bumpstops and helper springs?”
Here’s the thing:
- Off-road bumpstops soften the harsh jounce when your 4Runner bottoms out. (They do not help with towing.)
- A set of helper springs will assist with the additional load of a trailer by preventing sag, squat, and instability.
Do you know the difference between Timbren SES and Active Offroad Bumpstops?
Timbren Industries provides both Active Off-Road Bumpstops and Timbren SES helper springs. These two Timbren products look the same, but each one has a different purpose. They both look the same because they both come with Aeon® rubber springs that replace the existing bumpstop. But that’s where the similarities end...
The main difference is how they are used...
Timbren’s customer service department discovered that some of their customers were off-road enthusiasts looking for a solution. They wanted an alternative to the harsh response of the original bump stops installed at the factory.
In an effort to help, the Timbren staff partnered together with their off-road customers to design a bump stop kit that allows for proper articulation of the suspension while, at the same time, providing a dampening response (a softer landing) when the suspension bottoms out.
- Timbren SES is a load-bearing helper spring that provides more capacity* and better Ride Quality.
- Active Off-Road Bumpstops, on the other hand, supplies a softer landing when the vehicle bottoms out, and ultimately more ride control.
* Increased capacity means increased spring rate - GVW remains the same
Which Timbren product is best for your Toyota 4Runner?
Both products – Timbren SES helper springs and Active Off-Road Bumpstops – are made of natural rubber. These hollow rubber springs come with 2 unique characteristics:
Unlike metal springs that need shocks to absorb the energy created when they compress, Aeon® rubber springs are self-damping, able to absorb the kinetic energy by themselves. This is why Active Off-Road Bumpstops are perfect for extreme off-roading.
Unlike metal springs that have a linear spring rate, Aeon® rubber springs have a progressive spring rate, a rate that increases as more weight is added to the truck. A linear spring rate means that the spring rate remains the same as the spring compresses all the way down until it can’t compress any more. In other words, a 300 lbs per inch linear rated spring will compress 1 inch when 300 lbs is applied An additional 300 lbs applied to the spring will make it compress another inch - and so on.
A progressive spring rate (or variable spring rate) constantly increases its spring rate. In other words, if it takes 300 lbs to compress the spring 1” it could take 3 times the load to make it compress an additional 1 inch - and so on.
Here are some of the benefits that you will enjoy using Timbren SES upgrades for towing:
Remember, every set of Timbren SES DIY helper springs comes with a Lifetime Warranty and a 100-Day Money Back Guarantee.
For more information on Timbren helper springs, visit Timbren.com
