At what point does doing mods make a 4runner not a practical DD?

[auxiliary]

I am really torn on wanting to modify my 4runner. Currently it's my only car and used as my daily driver. I drive 17 miles each way to work and have had nothing but good things to say about my car. The problem is...I love modifying cars. Normally, I start small....and then go over the deep end.

I've owned all cars until now and usually swapped the engines, put bigger turbos on them, lowered them, etc.

Question is, what's the point that makes the 4runner not practical as a daily commuter?

 

[JohnsD90]

I am really torn on wanting to modify my 4runner. Currently it's my only car and used as my daily driver. I drive 17 miles each way to work and have had nothing but good things to say about my car. The problem is...I love modifying cars. Normally, I start small....and then go over the deep end.

I've owned all cars until now and usually swapped the engines, put bigger turbos on them, lowered them, etc.

Question is, what's the point that makes the 4runner not practical as a daily commuter?

When gas is $5 a gallon, and you get 12 mpg cause your running 35 MT's.

 

[Ron Helmuth]

to each his own threshold

When you would normally park it in a garage at home but then lift it so much it no longer fits...

and have to constantly worry about "headroom" in commercial parking garages and the like

 

[xskydivingdudex]

lol ya im exactly at that point Ron... i wont fit with new 285s in the garage but i still wanna go 2-3" BL and 35s but the lift/tires and the roof rack height added will make it hard to find parking in commercial areas. Sux bc i really want 35s and yes this is my DD and im currently getting 16-17 mpg.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

Depends on how much money you have. If your running 3-5" of lift with 33-35's getting 12-14 MPG that will really take a hit on the wallet not to mention performance as well (braking, etc...).

Being a daily driver is the only thing holding me back from lifting mine.

 

[Elton H]

i dd mine with 285s and it prob gets 1-2 less than b4 that and im sure with the e locker i got 4:30 gears so i can cruise along at 60ish at 2200rpm's

 

[kregg]

When gas is $5 a gallon, and you get 12 mpg cause your running 35 MT's.

...... You aren't referring to me are you John?

:withstupid:

 

[Clemsonfan15]

...... You aren't referring to me are you John?

:withstupid:

There are other people on here running 35's too...

 

[kregg]

There are other people on here running 35's too...

I know.:shrug: Also people running 37's.

John and I were just having a conversation about the daily "driveabilty" of my rig around the time he posted that comment. I was talking about 12 mpg, and he mentioned $5/gal for gas. Just coincidence, I guess.

 

[auxiliary]

I am just trying to plan out my mods and make sure I don't shoot myself in the foot by destroying a perfectly good daily driver.

Right now I am planning on a lift, tires, and an arb bumper...hopefully that wont kill my gas mileage to bad to ruin it from being a DD.

 

[JAC]

When you would normally park it in a garage at home but then lift it so much it no longer fits...

and have to constantly worry about "headroom" in commercial parking garages and the like

I worry about this....I am planning on getting a Rola Basket pretty soon because I am going on a roadtrip. The basket staying up there once installed.
Does anybody knows the height of the Runner with a 2.5/1.5" lift a 265/70/17 or 275/55/17 tires and a Rola Roof Basket?.

 

[JohnsD90]

...... You aren't referring to me are you John?

:withstupid:

Why? you still feel it would be practical then? I wasnt getting at you specifically, that is just when i was thinking its not economical.

 

[kregg]

I am just trying to plan out my mods and make sure I don't shoot myself in the foot by destroying a perfectly good daily driver.

Right now I am planning on a lift, tires, and an arb bumper...hopefully that wont kill my gas mileage to bad to ruin it from being a DD.

Will you wheel it? There are a lot of things to consider before doing it...

Not only will larger tires affect your gas mileage, but your acceleration, braking, cornering, and the overall "feel" of the truck will change when you start messing with the suspension.

Can you daily drive a lifted 4Runner? Heck yea.
Is it economical? No. Big tires don't make your truck get better gas mileage.

If you lift it - expect a "stiffer" ride. There are too many personal variables to define wether this ride is better or worse than stock. In terms of ride comfort, the general consensus is this ---- Spacers (Daystar/Revtek) --> Rear Coils / Front Spacer combo (OME/Spacer kit from Toytec) --> Full Coil lifts (Toytec/Sonoran Steel/OME) ---- Adding new, longer shocks to any of these kits will greatly improve the comfort and ability of each of these kits. Again, there are a thousand varieties of shocks to choose from. I think my truck rides pretty good for what I've done to it. I'd like to have a little softer feel up front, but for a lifted SUV the ride isn't unbearable. When I had my 285's I think I lost 2-3 MPG's per tank, but I wheeled it at least once a week or so, running in 4WD doesn't help the MPG's either.

Tires are another animal also. M/T's are going to howl on the pavement - just the nature of the beast. They are heavier and it takes more power to turn a larger diameter, heavier tire. A/T's are a step down from M/T's. Not quite as heavy or aggressive, but still not as efficient as a LT/P rated tire. There are a ton of options in the A/T tire category - I run the Duratracs from Goodyear and I love them. Aggressive but not too loud on the street. They are on the heavier end of the A/T category, and therefore not as efficient as say the Nitto TerraGrappler, another popular A/T choice. and lifting a truck to fit a larger LT tire would be foolish IMO, unless you plan on hoppin curbs in the 'burbs...

Hope this sorta helps, and if not oh well.

 

[Ron Helmuth]

I lean toward resale value as well

Good sum up kregg.

I think a bit towards will I ever sell the truck. I'd like to say no but the reality is I gave up my modded 2nd gen once I spotted my present beauty. Once my kids are out of the house- me and the dog are kind of coveting a 5 year old Tacoma double cab...I love this truck though- but I have had it now 4 years and my history with Yotas is generally pick them up at 5 years old and then sell after another 5 or 6....

Out here ( I know the Denver metro market fairly well,to be specific)- if you go a bit too extreme to the "rock climbing" end then you have alienated some of the future potential buyers. Soccer moms and so on looking for a safe ride with just a bit of altitude (lift) may be put off by too tall a climb up and too harsh a ride...

Yes you can always go back to stock but then you really have just 'rented' many of your mods and inherently you never recover anywhere near the price paid. Especially if you pay folks to install and remove said modifications.

JAC no I don't know an exact height measurement but my best advice is tuck your roof rack flush to the body-do not mount atop the cross bars to cut a good 2 inches or so down off the total height. Keeps the (most of the time empty) rack more aerodynamic to begin with as well.

But let's face it- with 2 kinds of lift and 17s under foot- no I highly doubt you would fit in my garage-not sure what height you have to work with in yours.

Yet as I get older the more I repeat this mantra-"I do what I do to make me happy". I'm not trying to impress anyone else but if that happens that is a nice feeling too.

The other month at the recycling center the Rolling Rock beer delivery truck driver came over and was ogling my ride and gave me a "Nice looking truck" comment. 1/ I did not even know there were Rolling Rock trucks out here in Coors-err Miller land and 2/ That was a heck of a nice way to make my day.

So do what makes you happy-you could roll the sucker tomorrow and exit stage left....:happens:

 

[ric]

If your worried about gas mileage, then maybe its time to sell the SUV and buy a Honda :guitar2:
My 99 was lifted, custom bumpers, winch, roof rack 33s and about 100# of tools and gear in the back 100% of the time, and it was my daily driver, gas mileage was not bad, but then again I never worried about it, being it was a lifted SUV...
if your not going to be wheeling it, or wheeling a couple times a summer, just get a spacer lift and some 33s, thats not going to affect gas mileage to much, you probley wont even notice.

 

[MillerPKA]

Its the neverending attempts and equalizing your custom endeavors and stock capabilities. I'm in mine for the long haul so while some things don't do squat for economy I know within a reasonable time I'll upgrade what needs to be.

Word about parking garages though, don't think because your shit squeezes 3 inches below the initial height barrier that you'll be just fine. Last year my fraternity brothers went to Savannah for the night and we pulled into the garage with 3-4 inches to spare from the top of the rack I had at the time. Alls fine until I'm coming up to level 2, at that point a loud screech and a sudden stop. Got out and looked...I'll be damned my truck was stuck. Caused a massive jam behind me, had to get everyone to reverse out while my brothers sat in the tailgate to weigh the bottom down so I can back down. Nowadays I can't find any to fit in, but if I happen by one its the first floor or bust

 

[nor cal boy]

If your worried about gas mileage, then maybe its time to sell the SUV and buy a Honda much, you probley wont even notice.

get a motorcycle for the summer dd and the runner for the winter. a bike will save so much gas and its wiked fun

 

[jsmarine]

Dang that sucks! The initial height barrier is supposed to be a measurement the LOWEST point in the parking garage. Ideally if you clear the initial height barrier, then you should have no problem anywhere in the parking garage. Obviously this was not the case for you.

 

[drinknmolson]

I am really torn on wanting to modify my 4runner. Currently it's my only car and used as my daily driver. I drive 17 miles each way to work and have had nothing but good things to say about my car. The problem is...I love modifying cars. Normally, I start small....and then go over the deep end.

I've owned all cars until now and usually swapped the engines, put bigger turbos on them, lowered them, etc.

Question is, what's the point that makes the 4runner not practical as a daily commuter?

When you have installed lockers and lower gears resulting in loss of highway speeds. Obviously it's your paycheck covering the gas so that is a concern, but when you have gone to lockers and lower gearing and cannot drive at highway speeds that's when you need to get a new DD. Just my .02.

I run 285's with OME lift probably getting 12-14mpg and drive 25 miles one way to work every day.

Park on the street so everyone driving by can see your pride and joy, who needs a garage when your driving in the dirt?!

 

[auxiliary]

When you have installed lockers and lower gears resulting in loss of highway speeds. Obviously it's your paycheck covering the gas so that is a concern, but when you have gone to lockers and lower gearing and cannot drive at highway speeds that's when you need to get a new DD. Just my .02.

I run 285's with OME lift probably getting 12-14mpg and drive 25 miles one way to work every day.

Park on the street so everyone driving by can see your pride and joy, who needs a garage when your driving in the dirt?!

285's and a lift...12-14? Is that city driving or highway driving?

Also, is that on the good side or the bad side?