2015 Trail Premium (Help me with my build!)

[gmatherly]

So, by the title you may have figured out that I have a 2015 Trail Premium and I'm in need of the forum's opinion and help building my new truck!

I have (as of yesterday) ordered my Gobi Stealth rack with removable crossbars, ladder, wind deflector, sunroof insert, and light bar mount ready. With this addition I'll be using some Thule accessories (cargo box, kayak holder, etc.) that i already have.

So...what I need help with is deciding if I want to go with wheels and suspension, lights and bumpers and winches, sliders etc. I'm working with about $3k for my next modification splurge so keep that in mind.

I have been looking at the lower quality led bars (Cree light bars on Amazon in the $200-$500 range), ARB bumpers, all brands of sliders (because i don't what's good and what's not), and Toytec and Icon lifts (with UCA).

So if there is anything i've found out so far, it's that everyone on here is great at spending other people's money (I'm pretty good at it too). If there is something i missed or a direction that people thinks makes more sense then please let me know!

PS. I use this as my daily driver and I will do light off roading in Virginia due to needing to keep some ride-ability for my daily driving.

Thanks in advance for everyone's help!

 

[SKINUM]

My advice would be to give it some time & see how you will utilize the 4runner. U may add bumpers, sliders etc. & find out for your use these items aren't needed.

If you are set on sliders Metaltech is offering sliders at 20% off until August 14th.

Lifting and adding larger tires will decrease your mpg for daily driving. 285's dropped my mpg by 2 mpg. The heavier weight of bumpers, winch, skids and sliders will pull your mpg down even more.To fit this size will require a lift. Icon makes a fine product but they become a nuisance for rebuild & lower bearing replacement. Most of the high end coilovers utilize the same type of lower bearing.

Keep this in mind that u may experience downtime for your daily driver. The areas I used the Icons in required me to replace these lower bearings around every 15k. Doesn't seem like a big deal but for me it became aggravating. They definitely provide a sweet ride though.

To start I'd buy a more aggressive stock size tire and see if you have the need for a lift and the other "offroad" items. Add a light system if you will be utilizing lights often. Fitting the 4runner to fit your function of use is key.

 

[gmatherly]

Thanks for the info on the suspension [MENTION=127079]SKINUM[/MENTION]. I was considering the larger tire route but don't want to have to fit for rubbing unless I was lifting first. I think 285's are as big as you can go with stock suspension right?

Thanks for the help!

 

[DAGNABIT]

my advice is read through here and see what YOU like... build it for what YOU do and according to what YOU like.....

 

[SKINUM]

Thanks for the info on the suspension [MENTION=127079]SKINUM[/MENTION]. I was considering the larger tire route but don't want to have to fit for rubbing unless I was lifting first. I think 285's are as big as you can go with stock suspension right?



Thanks for the help!

285's will rub for sure without a lift & more then likely with a lift depending on your wheel choice & tread design. So, you may end up requiring a body mount chop, fender liner push & some bumper trimming as well.

 

[Headhunter14]

So, by the title you may have figured out that I have a 2015 Trail Premium and I'm in need of the forum's opinion and help building my new truck!

I have (as of yesterday) ordered my Gobi Stealth rack with removable crossbars, ladder, wind deflector, sunroof insert, and light bar mount ready. With this addition I'll be using some Thule accessories (cargo box, kayak holder, etc.) that i already have.

So...what I need help with is deciding if I want to go with wheels and suspension, lights and bumpers and winches, sliders etc. I'm working with about $3k for my next modification splurge so keep that in mind.

I have been looking at the lower quality led bars (Cree light bars on Amazon in the $200-$500 range), ARB bumpers, all brands of sliders (because i don't what's good and what's not), and Toytec and Icon lifts (with UCA).

So if there is anything i've found out so far, it's that everyone on here is great at spending other people's money (I'm pretty good at it too). If there is something i missed or a direction that people thinks makes more sense then please let me know!

PS. I use this as my daily driver and I will do light off roading in Virginia due to needing to keep some ride-ability for my daily driving.

Thanks in advance for everyone's help!

Have you seen these LED bars?
The Retrofit Source | Innovative Headlight Upgrades

 

[Engineer]

Congrats on the purchase, your sound in a similar situation to me when I bought my 4runner so let me share my 2cents (hey you asked!). I am not a hardcore off roader like those who live and breathe it but I do my share as a hobby. I try to make an attempt to always find a trail when we go on vacations and have managed to have 1 dedicated off-roading trip to Moab in the 1st year of ownership (plan to go back when time allows)

I would recommend:
*Stock size tires in an AT tread style
*Air compressor to allow airing down, off-roading on 18psi is bounds better then 35psi in the tires
*Staun deflating valves or similar, makes airing down before a trail much more enjoyable
*Recovery Gear, if you wheel alone having a highlift/come-a-long/straps/traction mat etc can make a huge difference if you get stuck. A winch is even better but you start adding costs and weight. P.S. Practice using any of your gear before you are stuck so you are at least familiar with it, I would bet money that a large portion of high lift jack owners don’t know how to change raise/lower positions , do no maintenance and have never tried to use them.
*Sliders sky is the limit on choices but they are great off road and really help to inspire confidence that if you didn’t pick the best line etc you won’t be doing damage to body panels. I have Bud Built Bump outs w/full treadplating and would go the same route again.
*Lift/Level: If you are going to run stock size tires I am not sure the lift gains you anything other than looks, I would at least level the front for aesthetics. I would stay away from Icon/RadFlo/King/Fox unless you plan on high speed runs, that is what this type of shock is designed for. While I love my Radflo’s if I was to do it again I would save the money and have just bought OME/Bilsteins. Now I get to worry about when I will have to do a shock rebuild (seems to be between 20-60kmiles, depending on a huge range of factors)
*Skids, your 4runner has stock skids and while not the worlds thickest skids they are far better than nothing. I damaged my stock ones and have since replaced with aluminum RCI skids and I love them. maybe not as wide as the Shrockworks/Budbuilt but I love the simplicity in the design and the price. I have put them to good use with no major signs of damage…..Did I mention aluminum wont rust?

*Bumpers/Winches – Need/Want here, I would hold off on going down that path as it adds lots of weights, is $$$, if you really need those items I would expect you would also need a larger then stock tire size which with all of the combined weight+tire sixe increase you are going to want to re-gear which just adds more $$$. IMHO you don’t need bumpers at this stage of the game with staying in a budget that money can be better spent elsewhere

 

[borfoo3]

I have a '15 TEP as well, relatively mildly built compared to others here. Been busier in the off-roading scene lately and up till what I would call 'moderate' trails, I've yet to hit its limits in terms of capability. Absolutely loving it so far.

Almost any "add-on" comes at a cost of something else ($$, weight, MPG, noise, drive-ability and overall performance) so I wouldn't be spending more on it until I know for sure what is NEEDED next.

In your case, with what you have already, a good set of tires, then maybe some good shocks/ springs to help with the extra weight and get you some clearance sounds plenty to get you started.

I would say leave out bumpers, winches, ...etc. until you find out that you actually NEED them. Chances are, if you're not navigating the real nasty stuff, you won't.

My 0.02

 

[1engineer]

Drive it stock for six months. During that time read the threads here. By then you will know exactly what you need, what fits, what mods you need to make and everything else.

The point is these guys can help you spend your money but it might be on things you don't need or want. A word: Every mod you do will compromise the truck somewhere else. Example: Want to add that roof rack for extra hauling ability? Great but be prepared to lose a bit of efficiency in the mpg department. Every mod you make will be a compromise. Right now your truck in stock form is as reliable, dependable and efficient as it will ever be. When you make a mod to add perceived capability you will ding one of those items.

 

[Lugboot]

Drive it stock for six months. During that time read the threads here. By then you will know exactly what you need, what fits, what mods you need to make and everything else.

The point is these guys can help you spend your money but it might be on things you don't need or want. A word: Every mod you do will compromise the truck somewhere else. Example: Want to add that roof rack for extra hauling ability? Great but be prepared to lose a bit of efficiency in the mpg department. Every mod you make will be a compromise. Right now your truck in stock form is as reliable, dependable and efficient as it will ever be. When you make a mod to add perceived capability you will ding one of those items.

Truth. I went through a build on my old cruiser and that taught me a few things about what I *think* I need and what I *really* need. Drive and think, think and drive for awhile.

 

[gmatherly]

Have you seen these LED bars?
The Retrofit Source | Innovative Headlight Upgrades

Looks legit! Thanks!

 

[gmatherly]

Congrats on the purchase, your sound in a similar situation to me when I bought my 4runner so let me share my 2cents (hey you asked!). I am not a hardcore off roader like those who live and breathe it but I do my share as a hobby. I try to make an attempt to always find a trail when we go on vacations and have managed to have 1 dedicated off-roading trip to Moab in the 1st year of ownership (plan to go back when time allows)

I would recommend:
*Stock size tires in an AT tread style
*Air compressor to allow airing down, off-roading on 18psi is bounds better then 35psi in the tires
*Staun deflating valves or similar, makes airing down before a trail much more enjoyable
*Recovery Gear, if you wheel alone having a highlift/come-a-long/straps/traction mat etc can make a huge difference if you get stuck. A winch is even better but you start adding costs and weight. P.S. Practice using any of your gear before you are stuck so you are at least familiar with it, I would bet money that a large portion of high lift jack owners don’t know how to change raise/lower positions , do no maintenance and have never tried to use them.
*Sliders sky is the limit on choices but they are great off road and really help to inspire confidence that if you didn’t pick the best line etc you won’t be doing damage to body panels. I have Bud Built Bump outs w/full treadplating and would go the same route again.
*Lift/Level: If you are going to run stock size tires I am not sure the lift gains you anything other than looks, I would at least level the front for aesthetics. I would stay away from Icon/RadFlo/King/Fox unless you plan on high speed runs, that is what this type of shock is designed for. While I love my Radflo’s if I was to do it again I would save the money and have just bought OME/Bilsteins. Now I get to worry about when I will have to do a shock rebuild (seems to be between 20-60kmiles, depending on a huge range of factors)
*Skids, your 4runner has stock skids and while not the worlds thickest skids they are far better than nothing. I damaged my stock ones and have since replaced with aluminum RCI skids and I love them. maybe not as wide as the Shrockworks/Budbuilt but I love the simplicity in the design and the price. I have put them to good use with no major signs of damage…..Did I mention aluminum wont rust?

*Bumpers/Winches – Need/Want here, I would hold off on going down that path as it adds lots of weights, is $$$, if you really need those items I would expect you would also need a larger then stock tire size which with all of the combined weight+tire sixe increase you are going to want to re-gear which just adds more $$$. IMHO you don’t need bumpers at this stage of the game with staying in a budget that money can be better spent elsewhere

Thanks for the help again [MENTION=96008]Engineer[/MENTION].

 

[wild_turkey]

Plan Carefully

Drive it stock for six months. During that time read the threads here. By then you will know exactly what you need, what fits, what mods you need to make and everything else.

The point is these guys can help you spend your money but it might be on things you don't need or want. A word: Every mod you do will compromise the truck somewhere else. Example: Want to add that roof rack for extra hauling ability? Great but be prepared to lose a bit of efficiency in the mpg department. Every mod you make will be a compromise. Right now your truck in stock form is as reliable, dependable and efficient as it will ever be. When you make a mod to add perceived capability you will ding one of those items.

Couldn't agree more with this. I have had my rig for 8 months now and drove it stock for 6 months before touching it. I did wheels and tires first to give me more off-road capability. It has progressed quickly since then, but everything is pretty much bolt on and reversible.

Mine is also my daily driver, so I am trying to balance off-road performance for dispersed camping and mpg. I just started a build thread and there is a ton of information from other guys on this site.

Have fun!