News
ICON 2007-UP JEEP JK 4.5-INCH SUSPENSION SYSTEMS
ICON Vehicle Dynamics is proud to announce the 2007 to current Jeep Wrangler JK 4.5” suspension system lineup. Hours of development on the computer, on the lift, on the shock dyno, in the desert, and on the trails and slick rock of Moab have resulted in what ICON believes to be the best suspension systems on the market for the Jeep JK. While the ability to flex and the delivery of a soft ride tend to be a focus with lift kits, ICON’s 4.5” Suspension System aims to strike a perfect balance between wheel travel, articulation, ground clearance, and precise on and off-road handling characteristics. With these goals met, ICON-equipped JK’s can take on rolling desert whoops at upwards of 50 miles per hour, crawl over obstacle-riddled trails, and drive back home in comfort all in the same day. Comprehensive Suspension Solutions, Not Lift Kits One of the major benefits of the ICON 4.5” JK systems (or any ICON systems) is that they are comprehensive suspension solutions, not “lift kits.” Nobody in the high-performance off-road suspension market currently designs and manufactures the fabricated components, springs, and high-performance shocks under the same roof. That forces the end user to mismatch components from multiple manufacturers that not only aren’t designed to work together but carry different manufacturer warranties. With ICON, all the components necessary for optimal suspension performance are ICON-engineered, ICON-manufactured, and made in the USA. By doing this, ICON is able to create shock absorbers, coil springs, link arms, track bars, and all associated parts to work in conjunction with each other and extract maximum performance out of the Jeep JK. Quality, Performance, and Refinement Across All Stages In standard ICON fashion, quality and performance are never sacrificed in the development of the staged systems. From Stage 1 upward, ICON suspension systems feature some of the most refined components available for the Jeep JK at all price points. All series of ICON shock absorbers for the JK are manufactured in-house, fully rebuildable and revalveable, and tuned specifically for the application. The fabricated components utilize the latest manufacturing technology and are powder coated for long life. The dual-rate coil springs are cold wound, shot peened, heat-treated, phosphate primed, and powder coated to guarantee a corrosion- and sag-free life. Moving up through the staged systems introduces additional components, larger shocks, and more technology. ICON link arms and track bars utilize dual-rate bushings and PTFE-lined rod ends which isolate vibration, control suspension deflection, increase responsiveness, and maximize articulation. ICON 2.5 shocks feature a larger body, bump zone, and increase the damping capability of the system as a whole. Features like the ICON CDC Valve (Compression Damping Control Valve) and the two-tube bypass adjustability of ICON OMEGA Series shocks can be found in the upper end of the JK 4.5” suspension systems. Engineered for Real-World Performance With the ICON 4.5” Jeep JK suspension systems, the on- and off-road driving experience of the vehicle is transformed. ICON systems have been torture tested from the treacherous terrain of the Baja peninsula to the slick rock trails of Moab in an effort to bring to the market one complete suspension solution. Forget the standard of the “Brand X,Y,Z” lift kit, and make ICON Vehicle Dynamics your only choice for JK performance suspension systems. Key Features Increased ground clearance, wheel travel, and articulation over stock Level front-to-rear stance Out-handles other JK kits on the market both on and off-road Track bars and links utilize dual-rate bushings and/or rod ends for tuned vibration isolation, controlled deflection, and maximum articulation High-steer flip kit provides proper steering geometry without a drop pitman arm Stainless Steel high-steer taper adapter eliminates drilling factory knuckle Dual-rate front and rear coil springs guaranteed never to sag 2.0 and 2.5 ICON shock absorbers are fully rebuildable and revalveable 100% returnable to stock Made in the USA
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ICON 2007 – CURRENT JEEP JK HIGH CLEARANCE STEERING STABILIZER SYSTEM
ICON Vehicle Dynamics has recently developed a high-clearance steering stabilizer kit for the 2007-UP Jeep Wrangler JK that not only increases damping ability, but also relocates the stabilizer up and out of the way of rocks, brush, and other trail hazards. Replacing the stock stabilizer with the ICON unit reduces feedback to the steering wheel by way of an ICON 2.0 Aluminum Series shock that’s been tuned specifically for the Jeep JK. This translates into more comfortable and more consistent steering characteristics both on and off-road. This stabilizer kit has been specifically engineered to compliment ICON’s 3" and 4.5" suspension systems, but will also fit on other aftermarket suspension lifts that utilize a 1" or larger bumpstop spacer. A 100% bolt-on design makes for a straightforward installation and hassle-free operation. Like all other ICON products, this steering stabilizer kit is engineered and manufactured in the U.S.A. by a team of passionate off-road enthusiasts. Key Features Increased steering damping ability over stock High-clearance design reduces risk of damage 100% Bolt-on – no drilling, cutting, or welding necessary for installation 2.0 Aluminum Series rebuildable steering stabilizer shock Corrosion-resistant plated shock body with 5/8" shaft Protective shock boot included in kit (not pictured) Made in the U.S.A.
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ICON VEHICLE DYNAMICS 2014 SPRING ROAD TRIP
The arrival of Spring usually means chirping birds, blooming flowers, and more of that mushy stuff we all know so well. For the ICON Vehicle Dynamics team, Spring brings us two large events which we support – the 2014 Texas Raptor Run in Blackwell, TX and Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, UT. Rather than birds, flowers, and such, this means hours of driving cross-country, lots of junk food, and some good ol’ road trip karaoke. Don’t let the description fool you – this is the stuff we love! If it weren’t for opportunities to hit the road and get out in the dirt with the rest of the off-road nation then we would have some serious problems being a credible manufacturer of performance suspension systems. It is a combination of real-world testing and enthusiast feedback at these types of events that allows us to continue to design and develop top of the line suspension components. After arriving back at our Riverside, CA headquarters and reviewing everything we learned in Texas and Utah, it’s clear that ICON is making an undeniable presence in the off-road community. The first stop on ICON’s 2700 mile Spring road trip was the Texas Raptor Runs TRR 2014 event. TRR is a huge gathering of Ford Raptor enthusiast and vendors in one location to enjoy 44 miles of off-road terrain on the beautiful Texana Ranch in Blackwell, TX. Leaving Tuesday morning we hammered down and headed East in the ICON Raptor towing our ’26 enclosed. We pulled into the Ranch Wednesday night for set up and took the opportunity to catch up with event organizer Trey and some of the TRR staff. Thursday morning the gates were opened up and trucks began rolling in to camp. With an event start time of 3:00PM, a drivers meeting took place and it was on to the 10 mile parade lap where new and experienced drivers could get acquainted with the terrain before they were let loose. Thursday and Friday consisted of open driving on the 44 mile course, and the good times were definitely rolling. During this time we were able to further test our ICON Raptor products while offering rides in the truck to help educate fellow Raptor owners why ICON suspension systems are a must-have to improve your on and off-road experience. Saturday was the group dinner and raffle where ICON donated a complete 3.0 Raptor shock system with proceeds being donated to charity. Following the raffle 150+ Ford Raptors were led on the ICON Exotics tour to see animals like long horn & buffalo to name a few. The Rogue Motorsports crew put on a show by airing out the Robby Woods Pro 2 for some event-closing entertainment. Ford was out to support the event, and we want to thank them and their amazing support this year. As we look forward to the future of the Ford Raptor , we can’t wait to see what they will offer with the next-gen release around 2016. All-in-all Texas Raptor Run 2014 was a great event, allowing ICON to hang out with true enthusiasts, educate people about our Ford Raptor products, and support a community that looks to run strong for many years to come. The 2014 Easter Jeep Safari was a great time, as always. It’s amazing to watch Moab, UT go from a relatively quiet town to a Jeeper’s paradise overnight thanks to the organization and planning of the Red Rock 4-Wheelers club. If you are into Jeeps and have not been to this event, you should definitely make plans to attend as soon as possible. In 2013 we debuted our 1.75 – 4” Coilover Conversion System on our JK, thinking it’d be enough to draw some attention on its own – wrong! During this week-long event all “norms” are out the window, as 37-40” tires, 50” light bars, and $100K Jeep builds seem to dominate the landscape. With the notes we took from last year, we had to be sure to update the look of the ICON JK in time for EJS 2014. As a manufacturer of performance suspension systems, form always follows function – but this year we wanted to make sure our Jeep would turn heads based on both its ability AND its looks. To accomplish this task ICON hooked up with Riverside-based Monster Media to have an awesome new wrap installed on the ICON JK. KC HiLites helped to take our build to the next level with a ton of quality lighting components including LED Cyclone rock lights and a 50” C-Series light bar. We wrapped our custom powdercoated 17” ProAm Racing beadlock wheels in 40” Nitto Trail Grappler tires that could get our rig just about anywhere. After some other minor additions and a thorough detail job we loaded up and hit the road.After a 17 hour drive ICON rolled into town under cover of the night. The following morning we were eager to grab a bite and hit the trail with our “new” Jeep. A quick morning stretch on Steel Benders trail took place, and we were happy to be back in Moab to say the least. The ICON JK was performing flawlessly and stood out like a sore thumb (in a good way). As the week progressed we continued to run the trails and cruise the town, catching up with any activities we could. One of these was an awesome night run hosted by the Axial Racing crew. The only catch – we were wheeling with vehicles 1/10th the size of your average Jeep. If you have yet to check out Axial’s SCX10 Jeep JK do yourself a solid and look into it (just try not to get hooked!). Other notable events included a Nitto-sponsored meet / BBQ at the Blu Pig and a trip up Potato Salad Hill for the ICON Raptor. As Thursday rolled around it brought with it the Easter Jeep Safari vendor show, where the biggest companies in the industry gather to display their products and interact with enthusiasts. As always, the ICON booth was on point with product on display, information to be had, and the ICON JK twisted up on our wheel stand serving as a real-life display of our Coilover Conversion System. We were extremely pleased with the amount of Jeepers that stopped by our booth showing interest in our suspension systems and our company as a whole. Following some of the conversations we had with show attendees, we are looking forward to making some JK owners very happy in the near future. When our week in Moab came to a close, we felt very good about ICON’s future with the Jeep crowd. With a 3”, 4.5” and 1.75 – 4” Coilover Conversion Suspension System ICON offers something for everyone looking to drastically increase the capabilities of their JKs. We are already looking forward to Easter Jeep Safari 2015, and hope to see you there!
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ICON 2003 – 2013 RAM 2500/3500 4WD 3-5? COILOVER CONVERSION SYSTEMS
The 2003–2013 RAM 2500 / 3500 chassis is a solid foundation that makes for a competent heavy-duty work truck or a tough weekend warrior that’s able to take some serious off-road abuse. While these heavy-duty RAM trucks perform quite well off the lot, ICON Vehicle Dynamics engineers have spent a significant amount of time at the drawing board developing suspension systems to extract higher levels of performance. ICON’s new 3–5” Coilover Conversion Systems address the issue of a lack of adjustment in OEM components that may force RAM owners to set up their trucks for one situation or another. For example, maximum wheel travel and comfort may be experienced at a particular ride height, but when a winch setup or a snow plow is outfitted to the truck the front end is susceptible to a loss in height or ride quality. With the features of the ICON Coilover Conversion System, RAM owners can now make a simple change to the coil adjuster to acquire the look and performance they desire without adding parts or sacrificing ride quality. The RAM Coilover Conversion System has been tested and tuned to offer comfort, stability, and drivability over a wide range of terrains. 2.5” remote reservoir coilover shocks provide exceptional ride characteristics while tubular steel or billet aluminum link arms add strength and decrease bushing bind. ICON offers several staged systems that include upgraded components and additional features along with all parts required for a straightforward install. ICON’s unique CDC (Compression Damping Control) Valve can be incorporated into the RAM Coilover Conversion System for the ultimate in adjustability and user-defined tuning. Key Features Made in the USA Adjustable ride height 3–5" lift height Increased ride quality over stock with no change in towing capacity Decreased body roll ICON engineered 2.5 coilover shocks with Eibach coils Corrosion-resistant CAD plated shock body 7/8 polished NitroSteel® shaft Remote reservoir for consistent damping at extreme temperatures Tubular steel upper and lower links feature dual rate bushing assemblies Correctly positioned steering and track bar components No drive shaft modifications needed
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TIERRA DEL SOL HOSTS 52ND ANNUAL DESERT SAFARI AT OCOTILLO WELLS SVRA
(Victor Valley)- Tierra Del Sol 4-Wheel Drive Club invites the High Desert community to the 52nd Annual Desert Safari at Ocotillo Wells in the Salton Sea area from February 28 – March 2. Bring your 4X4 or side-by-side and join the 650 pre-registered vehicles to enjoy the trails and the desert scenery as you go up and down, in between and over hills and valleys (on-site registrations are expected to reach 600-700). Camp out in your motorhome or trailer in the dry wash area and bring your own nail-free firewood to enjoy campfires during the chilly desert nights. Safety check (check website for safety requirements) and registration will be on Friday, February 28, from 1:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. Be sure to go to the safety check first then to registration. Registration will reopen on Saturday, March 1 at 6:30 a.m. The run will start at 8:00 a.m. Information for Sunday’s run will be available at the Information Booth and online at www.tdsdesertsafari.com. Be sure to stick around Saturday evening for over $100,000 in raffle prizes including a Polaris two-seat Razor, ICON Vehicle Dynamics Suspension System, Clayton Off Road Long Arm Upgrade Kit, and much more. Following the raffle will be a fireworks show, brought back by popular demand, sponsored by BFG, GenRight, Poison Spider, and Tom Wood’s Custom Drive Shafts. Tierra Del Sol (TDS) is a nonprofit club first started by Roy Pruitt and Bozzy Phillips, who became familiar with the area during their time as a Search and Rescue team. They used their knowledge and experience for adventures in recreation and exploration. TDS membership consists of over 50 families with Pruitt and Phillips’ families still on the roster. Some of the proceeds from the Desert Safari are used to help fight land closures and help support the 4X4 world. The most recent challenges being keeping the Ocotillo Wells SVRA, the very place where the Desert Safari is held, and the High Desert’s own Johnson Valley, open for Off-Highway Vehicles. You’ll find Desert Safari Base Camp at coordinates N 33 15.691 W 116 00.857, 23 miles east of Christmas Circle in Borrego Springs on S-22 or 3 miles west of State Highway 86. Register online until February 19 for $57. On-site registration is $65.
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ICON TOYOTA 07+ FJ CRUISER / 03+ 4RUNNER REAR SHOCK UPDATE
At ICON Vehicle Dynamics we are constantly looking for ways to develop new products or improve upon our existing offerings. When our engineers sought to implement our CDC Valve technology into our 07-UP Toyota FJ / 03-UP Toyota 4Runner 2.5” rear shocks it was clear that some changes were needed to make this a more realistic feature. Until now, the ICON Vehicle Dynamics 2.5” rear shocks for these applications were in a 5” piggyback reservoir configuration. While this design works extremely well, our search for efficiency and performance led our engineers to utilize a 7.5” remote reservoir which allows for the ICON CDC Valve to be a viable upgrade for these shocks. This new shock layout of our 57810 and 57810C has superceded the older design of the piggyback 57710 as of January 1st, 2014. The new shock hose length and reservoir placement has been strategically engineered to retain maximum off-road capability while placing the reservoir in a conveniently accessed location. Rather than crawling under the vehicle to make trail-side CDC adjustments, users can now comfortably reach inside of the rear wheel well to dial in their ride quality for peak off-road performance. While these shocks now feature a larger reservoir for CDC integration and better cooling capability, the new ICON FJ and 4Runner 2.5” rear shocks retain all of the features of the previous design and remain 100% rebuildable and revalveable. Key Features 2.5″ diameter shock body with 7.5” remote reservoir 7/8” NitroSteel® shaft Stem to eye construction ensures OE fitment and easy installation Increased wheel travel over stock Industry exclusive bump zone built in Large FK bearing for longevity, minimal deflection, and no binding 100% rebuildable and revalvable Made in the USA Supercedes ICON Part #57710 CDC Valve provides 10 external user adjustable compression settings Large adjuster knob with positive stops allows for easy-to-feel adjustments, even with gloves on
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MOTOR TREND – JUSTIN REITER AND HIS ICON EQUIPPED TUNDRA
Quick Stats: Justin Reiter Occupation: Snowboarder, U.S. Snowboard Team Daily Driver: 2012 Toyota Tundra (Justin’s rating: 8.5 on a scale of 1 to 10) Favorite road trip: Stelvio Pass, Italy Car he learned to drive in: 1971 VW Beetle First car bought: 1982 Subaru Legacy wagon Justin Reiter, an Olympic snowboard hopeful in the U.S. parallel giant slalom and parallel slalom, loves his 2012 Toyota Tundra so much that he often sleeps in it. “As a professional snowboarder, I travel a lot and I travel with a lot of gear, so having a six-foot bed was mandatory, so over the course of the summer for the past five months I’ve lived in the back of it while training in Park City, Utah,” he says. Reiter says he put a top on it and it doesn’t take away from the look of the truck. “I think Snugtop does a phenomenal job of matching the line of the vehicle so that you don’t lose anything by putting one on your truck,” he says. “It still looks like a truck. It looks sick, and it’s got enough cargo (room) for me to carry all of my stuff in the summertime.” He can haul four mountain bikes, a KTM motorcycle, and his camp gear. He also built a shelf for his bed. The only negative aspect about the truck is having to fill up the gas tank. “Nobody likes filling up a 20-gallon tank for a truck,” he says. “Especially these days. That’s probably the biggest downfall.” Reiter was attracted to the Tundra by its aesthetics. “I love the look of the Tundra. I think it’s got a really powerful stance,” he says. “I love the snub nose. I think it looks pretty strong, a pretty confident look.” He got it customized a bit. “I upgraded the suspension, the wheels, and the tires to level out and give it better handling, especially off-road. So I put in Icon level 1 suspension kit on it, with 18-inch Method wheels and some BFGs on there,” he says. “I got the Rock Warrior package because it’s all blacked out. I’m not a huge fan of chrome, so I wanted it to look as tough as possible.” Reiter trains in the summers by hiking or mountain biking, and he sleeps in the Tundra when he goes to places such as Zion National Park or Fruita, Colorado. Training and Lifestyle “This summer I lived in Park City, Utah, and there we have the U.S. ski team and the U.S. snowboard team training facility, and I lived out of my truck for five months there. I would train about eight hours a day, 6 hours in the gym each morning, and in the afternoon I would go ride my bike, go for a run, or go backpacking or dirt biking as my cross-training to get cardiovascular, my aerobics.” Reiter technically has weekends off, which just means he doesn’t have to ride with heart monitors. “We don’t have to ride at set levels — we don’t have to make sure that we’re not exceeding our lactate threshold. We’re able to just go out and ride,” he says. “We’ll join up with a bunch of people and we’ll head out into the mountains and pick a different place and ride for the love of riding, hike for the love of hiking, backpacking and everything.” This is Reiter’s first new car and first pickup truck. “For me to have my own truck that I can call my own, it’s pretty fun. It’s badass,” he says. “I got a phenomenal deal from a dealership in Salt Lake called Mark Miller Toyota and they really helped me out, recognized that I was an athlete and gave me a great trade-in value on my 2006 GMC Yukon. I was able to afford this truck and it’s been awesome. I love having a truck. I love being able to put my dirt bike in the back, as well as have my dog ride in the back when I don’t have the topper on it. Early Cars and Driving Reiter grew up in Summit County, Colorado, and learned to drive in his mom’s manual 1971 Volkswagen Beetle. “It was my mom’s first car and we kept it for that long. The car’s name was Bertha because that was the name my mom gave it, and so you don’t change a car’s name,” he says. “I had studded snows on it, so I could pretty much go anywhere. But with all that weight in the back, I could do donuts like nobody’s business.” Of course he never told his mom how hard he drove the Volkswagen. “I’d go into empty parking lots that were covered in snow and go as fast as we could, pull the e-brake, turn it hard left and spin around as fast as we could. It was a blast. Despite the fact that it could have zero off-road capabilities, we would take it on every Jeep road that we could possibly find,” he says. “It had a hole in the floor and if you went through a puddle fast enough that was deep enough, it would literally gather water from outside the car and it would shoot it up straight next to the gear shifter and spray it off of the roof of the car and get everybody in the car wet. It was awesome. It was the most fun car I’ve ever had.” Reiter said his mom bought it when she turned 16 in Baltimore, and she kept it as her daily driver until he turned 16, when she gave it to him. “The odometer stopped working at a certain point so we have no idea how many miles were on it and by the time I got a new car that was a little bit safer, more reliable, and able for me to drive longer distances than 40 miles without risk of possibly something going wrong, Bertha never broke down. She was fantastic,” he says. Learning to drive was easy because the area he grew up in was sparsely populated. “Where we live there’s not a lot of people, so you get to have as much fun as you want — you don’t have to worry about hitting people. We don’t have traffic, we don’t really have to worry about that stuff, and we don’t have to worry about parallel parking,” he says. He got the car his sophomore year in high school and at junior prom, won a used 1992 Pontiac Grand Prix. “It was donated as an after-prom gift. They had a raffle for a car that would motivate kids to stick around at the afterparty where there was no drinking,” he says. “It was faster than a bat out of hell and then some lady hit me and totaled it because it bent the frame.” Subaru Legacy and Early Jobs Reiter graduated to a 1982 Subaru Legacy wagon, which he bought with money saved up from his jobs as a mountain bike mechanic, pizza cook, busboy, and golf pro. “We live at 9000 feet, so driving to Denver, which is only 60 miles away, in such an old car where the fenders are being held on by coat hangers, it wasn’t realistic. So after two years I got a Subaru. So that was nice,” he says. “It would actually go over 60 miles an hour, which was a huge thrill. But I’ll always have a special place in my heart for Bertha.” After the woman totaled the Pontiac Grand Prix he won at junior prom, he took the insurance money from that and his Subaru to buy a 1996 Subaru Legacy wagon. Favorite Roads Being a professional snowboarder, Reiter goes to many beautiful destinations around the world. “There’s this pass in Italy called Passo Stelvio, and it’s probably one of the most magnificent roads I’ve ever driven,” he says. “There’s a road bike race called the Giro d’Italia and it’s a section of that that’s infamous. I don’t know how they built this road. It’s absolutely gorgeous. It switches back on top of itself, and you go up to the Stelvio glacier. It’s a magnificent road.” He’s also trained there. “A lot of different teams train there because in the fall you go find the best snow that you can to train, with the best weather. Sometimes it’s best to go over to Europe because they have the high glaciers and you can be on snow earlier there than you can in the United States.” Snowboarding Career Reiter is part of the U.S. snowboarding team, and he’s hoping to go to his first Olympic games in February at Sochi in parallel giant slalom and parallel slalom. The team for his disciplines will be announced January 18. Four years ago Reiter was injured, but was still a first alternate to the games, and in 2006 he had an injury and was second alternate. From 2012-2013 season results, Reiter is ranked sixth overall in slalom and 11th overall in the world. “I’ve been snowboarding since I was 9 years old and it’s been the driving force behind my life,” he says. Reiter is active on social media for his fans and fans of the sport, including Twitter @Justin_Reiter. “I try and take as many photos as I can and the majority of them do involve my truck because that’s what I live out of, so sometimes it gets to be the star of the show,” he says.
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MOTOIQ PROJECT 5TH GEN TOYOTA 4RUNNER: PART 1 – SUSPENSION, TIRES AND WHEELS
This 4Runner is a long time dream made true. It all started in 2007 when we sold my beloved ’99 SR5 4Runner to get two new cars – with the best of intentions. While Brandon has always had a love for all things automotive, he began with building off road trucks, then on to drifting. However, my passions were different, but crossed in some paths. I enjoy being in beautiful places, travelling and appreciate a powerful looking SUV. We discovered a place where our interests intersect – building an off road vehicle together and going on adventures to those said beautiful places. Early Off-Road Experiences Our first off roading experiences together were in a 2000 Ford Excursion Diesel with an ICON 3’ Shackle Kit. These took us to places nearby like the George Washington National Forest and the Outer Banks. While the Excursion was capable off road, it was meant to just be our towing vehicle. Well…we solved that in March, when we traded in the Excursion and came home with a 2013 SR5 White 4Runner 4WD. While this truck looks sharp and is quite capable stock, there was already a vision for it: to build a technically proficient off road truck while maintaining on road performance. We opted for the SR5 for the 3rd row seat as well as the lower cost. Follow us now as we embark on Part 1 of this journey. We started with the suspension, tires and wheels. We reached out to ICON Vehicle Dynamics, Toyota Racing Development (TRD) and Nitto Tires. ICON Suspension Straight from the mouth of ICON – The ICON Vehicle Dynamics Stage 4 suspension system for the 2010+ Toyota 4Runner is the best overall handling bolt-on suspension system you can install. This system can handle any terrain you throw at it and gives you unsurpassed ride quality on the street and the performance offroad is incredible. The rear springs in this system give the 4Runner 2" of lift, and the rear billet lower links help manage the rear axle so that it can cycle smoothly without bind. ICON’s V.S. Series 2.5" Diameter Rear Piggyback Shocks make vast improvements compared to other systems for the people that use their vehicles in various on and offroad situations. These shocks are tuned specifically to give your Toyota 4Runner a balanced and smooth ride quality, along with extended length shock cooling from the increased oil volume and piggyback reservoir. 57710 4Runner 2.5" rear shocks have a built in bump zone to increase your compression valving in the final two inches of compression travel, which prevents a harsh bottoming out sensation, and gives the vehicle a much more controlled ride quality. Installation Experience The installation was simple and straightforward iff (if and only if for the non-nerds out there) you followed the instructions. I, being a bit over confident, created quite a bit of extra work for myself by assuming that I, of course, knew all. All of us here know how to remove a bolt, take out the old and replace with the new. ICON, in their wisdom, took the typical “old parts out, new parts in” and used a bit of engineering to construct a process that works rather smoothly – when followed. We commend them for this effort because it is time consuming and does not directly generate revenue. It is, however, indicative of ICON’s commitment to excellence and thus creates extremely loyal and grateful consumers. Furthermore, I’m not exaggerating when I claim that every bit of this kit is built as a complement to the whole. It is clean, simple and wildly impressive. We cannot wait to introduce some abuse. Wheels Look at these beauties. TRD manufactures these 17×8 forged wheels that will bear the impact of Project T4R’s chosen path. Forged wheels are lighter and stronger than cast components as they are subjected to intense heat and pressure that transforms a solid chunk of aluminum material into what you see here. The disadvantage is they are typically more expensive. In the world of performance wheels, we believe that TRD has effectively blended monetary expense with ultimate strength to weight ratio. Reduced unsprung weight improves performance in both handling and steering response. For the potential or current owners of 5th Generation 4Runners, know that these wheels are made to work with the stock wheel studs as well as OE hub bosses without the need for a centering ring. Tires The Nitto Trail Grappler 295/70 R17 is Nitto’s newest blend of Terra Grappler on-road comfort with the off-road performance characteristics of the Mud-Grappler. The 3-ply sidewall Trail Grappler has two different sidewall designs that can be selected when mounting the wheels. The 295 size tire is quite beastly situated under the 5th generation 4Runner. We initially opted for the 285/75 R17 but were met with an unavailability issue and thus chose the larger 295. This tire does scrub both on the fender plastic (front) and the rear body mount. We will be following Part 1 with an article illustrating the well-known body mount chop. That aside, we have found the initial on-road performance to be quite good and the sound levels are dramatically lower than many of the other tires of similar tread style. In fact, the combination of the ICON suspension and Nitto Tire is thrilling; it has me pushing the truck as if it were one of our performance cars. Front Coilovers The first thing that catches your eye on ICON’s front coilover shock is the relative thickness of the lower portion of the housing as well as the billet aluminum upper mount. Additional strength is accompanied by increased suspension travel, adjustable ride height (0-3"), a chrome silicon spring, and a no-rust nitro-steel shaft. Shall we run the list further? This coilover features flutter stack compression valving, ?” PTFE-lined spherical bearing, 250 psi nitrogen-charged internal reservoir, and once you get a few more miles down the road it is fully rebuildable. CDC Valve In the background and embroidered with the name it represents is the 2.5" CDC Valve. An externally adjustable valve through 1 click increments, it restricts oil flow into the reservoir creating 10 levels of compression damping. This feature provides for adaptation ranging from soft to firm to properly match the terrain of choice. We are here to prove that offroading “ain’t just ‘bout big ‘ol tires.” Ironically, we currently have a “big tire” scrubbing problem. Upper Control Arms & Pinch Housings What would this factory upper control arm look like after going on an ICON Vehicle Dynamics diet of billet aluminum and 17-4 heat treated stainless (uniball and taper components)? Let’s move on and find out. Beefed up, right? Here are the ICON pinch housings that are also found on the aforementioned ICON billet aluminum trailing arms. They allow for correction and modification of both caster and camber. The 1" PTFE lined uniball builds in further strength, durability and, best-of-all, articulation. The ICON upper control arms are an easy fit into the factory pivot mounts with or without a suspension lift. We adjusted the arms in to get the camber within the factory specs and caster maximized within factory specs (more clearance). We set the rear lower control arm eccentric all the way out and the front eccentric half-way to optimize the wheel position. Rear Suspension For the rear, we elected to use the ICON 2.5" diameter shocks with 5" piggyback reservoir for added heat dissipation. They are very similar in construction to the front coilover. The lower mounting point of the shock contains a COM12 spherical bearing to minimize deflection. Again, even the smallest component is built to enhance the entire system. Also seen here is the mount point of the billet lateral arm as well as ICON’s 2" lift coil-springs. This is the factory lower link / lateral arm. Honestly, this OEM piece seems tough and rugged; that is, until contrasted with that of the ICON prescription. This is not the relatively flimsy factory lower link. This is ICON’s Billet Aluminum Rear Trailing Arm. It is surprisingly light. It is tough, with a load rating of over 40,000lbs of pressure and recoverable JM16T rod ends and Johnny Joint pivots. It is also easily adjustable with ICON’s pinch housing (just above the logo and to the left) that are also found on their Upper Control Arms. It is armored. Wait, armored? Yes, ICON ingeniously placed a nylon rock slider along the leading edge of the arm. If you look closely, you can see along the bottom of the arm. It is important. Pinion angle and minimal deflection are imperative when it comes to maintaining proper suspension geometry while traversing your chosen path. Conclusion Here she is now. Part one of this adventure is in the books! What do you want to see out of this build? We are quite new to our 5th Generation 4Runner and want your feedback! Of course, we aren’t stopping here with the modifications. The next steps will be some shaping up of the current issues (tires scrubbing) and then deciding on the armor – new bumper, sliders and skid plates.
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TOYOTA DREAM BUILD CHALLENGE – OAKLEY ULTIMATE SKI RUNNER
The 2013 Toyota Dream Build Challenge features four teams, comprised of Team Toyota athletes and world-class brand partners, face off to create their most extreme dream Toyota. Can the teams build their dream vehicles within the seven week deadline? Or will the tests of time, logistics, and engineering become their worst nightmare? Your votes will determine the winner of the Toyota Dream Build Challenge Cup. The victor will be revealed at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show in Las Vegas on November 5th, and you’ll be able to watch it all live!ICON Vehicle Dynamics was afforded the opportunity to team up with Oakley, Herbst Smith Fabrication, and KC HiLiTES to build the ultimate Toyota 4Runner for Pro Skier Simon Dumont.This vehicle along with the other 3 competing will be located in the Toyota Motor Corporation booth at the 2013 SEMA show. This Toyota 4Runner is equipped with items like: iPad media stations in the front and rear seats controls, roof ski rack, doors, windows and mechanized steps
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