Trail Armor Options:
Armor is the single most important modification you must do if you plan to venture into the unknown. I feel that this is much more important than getting a
lift or even better tires. With armor at your sides you will be better prepared for what the trails will offer with the ease of mind knowing that your
vehicle's body will be protected. Lifting and getting upgraded tires will help you get to places you traditionally can't get to but this also means that
the trails get incrementally more difficult. Difficult trails are a tall tail sign of body damages if you don't have armor so I highly recommend that
you invest in some armor prior to anything else.
With this in mind, there are many vendors that offer welded and bolted applications for the sliders. Sliders aka Rock Sliders are armor that protects the side
of the body panels from rocks and other large objects. This is the single most important armor that you can do to project the sides of your vehicle. These sliders
will replace the running boards so please do keep this in mind. There are many different types of sliders ranging from round tubing to square tubing. All of the
variable applications do what they are built for so there is no need to be concerned that one design is much more inferior to another design. This also
applies for welded and bolted applications. Both are trail tested and both deserves the same recognition. I highly recommend any of the vendors listed below
as all vendors comes highly recommended by many of the owners in the community.
Bumpers: ARB and Shrockworks are the only full production manufacturer that produces front bumpers for the 2003+ 4runner. Additional custom bumpers (one off designs) are available
from other vendors. Aftermarket bumpers help to increase approach and departure angles which greatly give the drive the ability to take a more aggressive trail with their vehicles. The
bumpers also offer the ability to add a winch for situations such as recovery or even for trail repair. These aftermarket bumpers also offer a more rigid protection
vs the factory plastic bumpers. There is one vendor currently in the process of building an off-the-shelf bumper so stay tune for more info.
Skidplates: Downey Offroad is the only vendor that offers production aftermarket skid plates. These skid plates are direct stock replacement made out of 3/16" steel.
These skid plates do not protect the transmission or the transfer case. Other skid plates are in r&d at the current moment by other vendors.
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ARB Front Bumper
Shrockworks Front Bumper and Hanna Quality Sliders
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Demello Offroad Front Bumper and Sliders
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4Crawler Sliders
Demello Offroad Bumpers and Sliders
Downey Offroad Skidplates
Hanna Quality Sliders
Sonoran Steel Sliders
Stubbs Welding Sliders
ARB Front Bumper
Shrockworks Front Bumper and Sliders
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4th Gen 4runner Hanna Quality Sliders
4th Gen 4runner 4Crawler Sliders
4th Gen 4runner Demello Offroad Front Bumper
4th Gen 4runner Shrockworks Bumper
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