Buying my 5th 200

[1Maverick]

So, as the title reads I am literally buying my fifth 200 because for some dang reason, I can't stay away. This will be my final 200 with the intention of keeping her for many years. I know now, I can't live without her in my garage. The 200 HE I am buying comes with newer Bilstein suspension w/medium springs and Built Right UPC and a 40gal LRA and new 285/65/18 KO3 tires all put on by SD truck in San Diego which is apparently a well regarded shop. I have no experience with Bilstein or Built Right UPC. Hopefully others here that do can chime in. I have had a 12.5gal LRA and loved it. The 40gal would not be my first choice as I don't travel a 1k miles non-stop and can't place the spare underneath unless I want to drag it along the ground

My previous 200 HE was equipped with a 12.5gal which was great but always wished I could actually add 12.5gal. The most you could do without risking(flooding) the canister is 10.5 at most. I also had and hated the Bp-51. Those were so frustrating trying to dial in and could never get the right ride quality. My stage 6 Icons on my 3rd 200 were much better in my opinion. Granted ICON is not exactly the most reliable.

My option is to either have the 40gal removed and install a 24gal with a smaller spare wheel as I think the full size spare will hang to low for any average obstacle and probably look weird from the back or install a Dissent rear bumper with a spare tire mount. The negative with the rear spare is, it's very expensive and when someone parks behind you. The third option is only take the spare with me on road trips and strap it down to the roof inside the provided yakima basket if it will even fit inside it. Not a fan of putting on the roof because I generally carry my SUP board around in the spring/summer and it would be a hassle and probalay scratch/dent or hurt myself placing a tire on the roof.

To summarize:
-How are the Ko3 E-rated tires for driving on pavement city/hwy? I don't like hearing my tires that much and feel like I'm driving around on stones
-Bilstein suspension, is it comfortable similar to stock ride or lean more towards stiff and you fill every bump. Overall ride quality?
-I like the idea of filling up once with a 40gal on road trips and stopping where I want for a break instead of where is the nearest gas station. But I am so busy that road trips for the next two years will be once or twice per those years, until I quit what I am doing and slow down.

If anyone who has a 24 or 40gal. tank or not, please share a photo of your 200 with the optional tire placement.

 

[BadReligion]

Neither the 24 nor the 40g aux tank will allow even a small spare to fit underneath. The 12.5g aux with a Dissent rear barely does, and the spare needs to be removed and placed in the rear cargo area (or on a swing out) for any serious off roading. So either run the 12.5g, or don't worry about replacing the 40g with a 24g since you don't "gain" anything other than a bit more ground clearance.

I have 3 other Landcruisers with rear tire swing outs and I am not a fan of them for daily drivers. There are some options where you can mount the spare in the rear cargo area vertically with a tire carrier bolted into one side of the third row seat mounting locations. I don't know if there are any commercially available bolt on kits, but this would be a fairly easy DIY project even with basic welding skills, or even easier for a fabrication shop to make.

For suspension, just run what is on the 200 for now, and if its too bumpy, look at either the Dobinson MRA, which seems to be a good compromise of on and off road ability, or King 2.0s. I am a little biased to the Kings since I have them, but I feel that the on road handling is great, and they do really well off road on high speed fire roads, etc. Downside is some occasional downtime for service/rebuild and of course cost. If you don't plan on offroading, then I'd just go OEM with maybe a small spacer front and rear.

 

[Specialeyes]

Famous last words on that "intent to keep" part lol. I speak from experience but also just purchased my 2nd 200 in as many years. My last one had Bilstein 5160/6112's and the ride quality and handling was really nice. Definitely the nicest experience I have had driving any truck or SUV with aftermarket suspension. That setup was installed by that trucks previous owner so I am not certain what perch position they had the front coilovers in, nor do I know what springs they used out back. I threw on my go to Falken Wildpeak AT3W's, never really been a fan of KO's. I can't speak on the long range tank but I like the idea of a 12.5 (although really just wish Toyota would have provided something larger from the factory) I like to move around alot, not really someone who handles sitting for long periods all that well so anything around 400 miles and I am ready to get out and stretch my legs.

 

[bloc]

Agreed, if max off-road clearance and a full-size spare is required even the 12.5 isn’t great.

And I’ve been to too many serious car accidents to ever accept the idea of something with the physical attributes of a tire/wheel inside the cabin of the vehicle I’m riding in, unless that system was actually crash tested. I lost a friend to a simple foam bouldering crash pad hitting her in the back of the head in a bad collision.

 

[1Maverick]

Anyone use a Wilco rear tire carrier? Seems like a good solution and I can still attach my Kuat mountain bike rack to it as well.

 

[dudemancool1904]

pumped for you! I think you’re gonna dig this truck! My 2 cents: I was really impressed with the bilstein combo. So much so that I am reconsidering my purchase of Accutune (local to San Diego) custom valved King 2.5’s and going with this combo. They did squeak a teeny tiny bit over speed bumps at 5mph but no noise at all at road speed. And they were quite comfy. Not King custom valved comfy (my last truck was a 4 linked raptor) but for the money you can’t go wrong.

As far as tire noise, didn’t notice any. The G056’s that came on my truck spit more rocks on the skid plates than these did during the test drive.

 

[Specialeyes]

My 2 cents on Kings, get them if you need the performance they offer. If this is going to be a daily driver and you’re just hitting the occasional gravel or dirt road leave it stock or go with the Bilsteins.

 

[achris44]

I made this for mine (also addicted and have two currently) prior to having 24 gallon LRA tanks installed. I have since covered the base wood with black vinyl. The slot track pieces, and the ratchet strap from Harbor Freight; tire cover from Amazon. Placed bolts into factory jump seat threads and a pair of zip ties just to keep the board from bowing in the future. There is also a bendy tie thing (sort of like a bungee) through the wheel and the wall latch that the jumpsuit normally clicks into pulling it outward so it doesn't rock side to side. I cannot stand any rattles.
Works just fine and takes up less room than the jumpsuit it replaced.

 

[MJernigan]

I used the Kaon tie down bracket and a Harbor Freight tire bonnet. After getting the initial stretch out of the strap it fits much better than pictured here. This is a 35/10.50.

 

[Gazziza]

After watching this I'd either go Bilstein 6112/5160 or Kings. Seems like everything else underperforms for the money.

 

[dnh1]

Congrats! I have purchased the following 200s, so I think I win the most 200s contest on MUD. 2008 black LC, 2009 black LX, 2011 silver LC, 2016 grey LC, 2017 grey LX, 2019 white LC, and 2019 black LC. Half of those were for my ex-wife but anyway. Still rolling in my semi-Heritage Edition 2019 black LC and still love it.

Have also purchased FJ40 which I no longer have, and I do have an FJ50 and have a 250 on the way. I think I have some sort of issues.

 

[bicycleagent003]

I used the Kaon tie down bracket and a Harbor Freight tire bonnet. After getting the initial stretch out of the strap it fits much better than pictured here. This is a 35/10.50.

View attachment 3667039

To each their own, and I'm not trying to rain on your parade, but that does not look like it would hold in a serious collision or rollover. I think that tire is going to fly around in the cab with potentially lethal consequences. Sorry, not trying to be a nanny. Just my two cents.