So I've gotten into it with this dude on Instagram a couple times over how useless his truck is with this wheel/tire combination, but I'm curious what you guys think of this style.

I know it's a big deal in Hawaii, but it seems to be getting more common everywhere. Now obviously, no one in their right mind is going to take this thing off road, and I have to assume this would drive like dog poop on pavement as well... So my question is knowing that you are actually reducing the usability of your investment, would you actually do this to your 4r?

Seems like something someone who wants to go to car shows and show off their "unique vehicle" would do... Seems like a useless mod to me, especially since it likely ruins how the vehicle runs on the road, and off road.

that said, its makes for a kind of a cool photo of a truck that looks like a toy.

absolutely hate that $hit. especially when combined with the wannabe-trophy truck stance.

If only it was leant also

Thank you both for confirming my sanity. @spyder auto just reposted this photo yesterday, and dude's Ig is @hawaiian _cement_taco. He's got 4000+ followers, so obviously a few people like this, but man, I just can't understand spending all that money to make something less useful.

It's a cartoon, but I don't have to drive it, so to each his own I suppose.

I don't care for it, as I'm more for function over form.

But I really don't understand why anyone cares about, or would waste their time telling others what they should do with their vehicles.

Mind your own business.

I get bored at work sometimes...

I believe my comment was "rad lights, but that stance tho 🤢🤮". The internet is a public forum, if you're going to post photos or opinions or whatever, you need to be prepared for people (like me) to disagree. The rules from Barney and Friends don't apply IRL.

Conversely, if he didn't like my comment, he didn't need to get into an argument, but I welcome the back and forth. That's kind of the entire basis for forums like this one. Also, it's not like I sought out his personal page to attack him, I commented on a business's product photo (in this case Spyder auto's headlights).

This.

I wouldn’t do it to my T4R but to each his own. All car mods are a compromise. Almost all mods that will enhance off-road performance will almost surely decrease on-road performance for example.

I use my ORP as a family vehicle that I can take off-road for camping and to me, installing 35s with a massive lift kit and a drawer/ refrigerator system would make my truck less useful for hauling the family and our belongings, and certainly reduces the vehicles on road dynamic capabilities so make it less safe on road where it spends 99% of its time.

So depending on your usage case, one can almost make the “you’re paying money to make your vehicle less useful/safe/cool looking” argument for any modification.

The guy nodded his truck to make it look better in his eyes, and beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so there’s no right or wrong here.

I certainly don’t see the point to “get into it” with anyone on the internet!

We get unsolicited comments from busybodies concerning several of our vehicles on a regular basis.

Some random guy took it upon himself to tell us at a rest area that our truck was a waste of money. So at that point I really wanted to annoy him, and told him it only cost about 1/3 what the Toyhauler it was pulling cost. I thought he was going to have a stroke.

I told him as well that maybe he should mind his own business...

Several more examples of busybodies trying to tell us how to live our lives. But I have better things to do with my time.

Bottom line: Mind your own business.

I'm making a case for function over form.

You are correct that a lot of things we do to our trucks require some form of compromise - lift and tires reduce fuel economy, drawers and fridges reduce storage space. Those things are done to improve performance or usability in a given circumstance at least. If, for example, someone used their 4r as a daily driver and kid hauler, I struggle to understand what appeal that individual would see in a 4x4 enthusiasts website.

At the end of the day, this is website is frequented by those who enjoy offroad persuits, and the majority of the topics are geared towards that end. This isn't 4runnersforsoccermoms.com after all.

I struggle to see what gains in function or performance 18x12" wheels and stretched tires provide, and that was the basis that informed my arguments.

At the end of the day, this is all about entertainment. If you want to suggest that this taco owner's entertainment comes from doing that to his truck, then you must equally accept that my entertainment comes from calling out how ridiculous his truck is.

Doesn't look good and reduces function. Being unique doesn't mean it's good.

My beef is you combine aftermarket headlights AND a levelled or squat stance and it's totally blinding. I flash my brights and of course the offender gets pizzed and flashed me back or turns on their light bar(s) to show how cool and tough they are...
So yeah, the headlights are the problem. Not a sweet mod for oncoming traffic or those in driving front of these folks.

I bet it runs well in the sand with those wide tires. Ball busting is healthy. I see a lot of silly things all the time. Leant trucks, snorkels for no reason, lighted rims, LED undercarriage lights, little LED lights around headlights, stupid bumper stickers, etc. Around here, for the most part, you can bust each others balls and nobody gives a crap what you think. How it should be.

Not a fan & definitely wouldn't do that to my T4R!

That's just me.....