Bad Idea Mods
- Thread starter Canazes9
- Start date
cbielat
Senior Member
I parked next to this and instantly thought of this thread. But hey, doesn't hurt anyone else, to each their own.
It's like the Japanese spec version. Over there they come with the hood mounted mirror as I've seen online.
Quick question about the lifting over 2 1/2" not to do that 1Engineer left. It would be nice to get his thoughts on that. Seems that most common lifts (ToyTec, OME) are 3 inch. I was considering the Toytec/Bilstein height adjustable coilovers 3 inch and 2 inch Camburg spring with Bilstein 5100 in the rear. Followed up by the Camburg 1.25 UCA.
Second option would be Toytec/Bilstein height adjustable coilovers 1 1/2" with a 1/4" spacer which should net me 2" in the front and a ToyTec 1 1/2" rear spring with Bilstein 5100 in the rear.
Any thoughts would be great.
Second option would be Toytec/Bilstein height adjustable coilovers 1 1/2" with a 1/4" spacer which should net me 2" in the front and a ToyTec 1 1/2" rear spring with Bilstein 5100 in the rear.
Any thoughts would be great.
Intruder
New member
This. Also, if you look the height-adjustable coilovers will usually say "up to 3" of lift" which is important. If you get those and set them at 2.5" and you're happy with the height but later on you add some weight to the front like a winch, bumper, or skid plates you're going to need that adjustability of "up to 3" of lift" to get your ride height back to your original 2.5". If you can't get back to the original height (or ride quality) after adding weight that's when you're going to need to look at stiffer coils and probably larger diameter shock bodies so you don't hit your bump stops all the time.
Intruder
New member
Hahaha, yeah except that having that mirror on the same side as the driver serves no purpose other than being cosmetic.
cbielat
Senior Member
Oh yeah, I guess when I posted that I didn't take into consideration the placement of the steering wheel of the Japanese spec vehicles. Even with it on the front fender, wouldn't it give it a wider range of view even it being on the same side as the driver? I never really did understand the one front fender mirror.
Oh man, I just looked at the picture again lol. It looks like all this person will be able to see in that fender mirror is the back of his normal driver side mirror.
Last edited:
Intruder
New member
Well, I think that mirror is actually for off road use so you can see what's directly next to your truck. On the driver's side you can easily roll your window down and see that rock or tree stump right next to you but you can't do that on the passenger side. That mirror lets the driver see that stuff on the passenger side. Still useless to have it on the driver's side like in that pic.
CookieRoe
Senior Member
I parked next to this and instantly thought of this thread. But hey, doesn't hurt anyone else, to each their own.
What a dumba$$, he mounted them wrong. They are fender mounted, not hood mounted.
If I had a 2002 limited, I would have the factory (DDM) spoiler and that dumb fender mounted mirror. Why? See my sig. Getting a factory/hitch mounted spare tire carrier would be a challenge, but I'd do it. Other people's opinion be damned.
Stuck CAPS
New member
I had some fun reading through this. I think I may buy a 5th gen just to be a bigger part of this category 
Few things:
- 20" wheels are standard on the LTD.
- Wheel Spacers are typically advertised as Off-Road Use ONLY. So the danger comes much less from the spacer's mfg, or the spacer itself, rather the misuse of said spacer.
- Hybrid Badge: I finally get it now, [MENTION=50591]gaterose[/MENTION] .
Most of these mods are strictly opinion based on whether or not they're bad. I've seen very few mods in here which are safety-based, or adversely affecting the vehicle.
Adverse effects of some of these.
- The HUGE wheels (24", 30", etc.) DO affect the quality of the ride, as well as the safety of it, so the addition of them, unless NEEDED (for, say, clearing HUGE brakes to go with those HUGE wheels. And let me say, you better have HUGE sidewalls on those tires. IMO, nothing looks worse than a... low-profile mud tire (if that's what it'd be called?))
- Wheel Spacers used ON-Road are dangerous, as I've seen in several posts on here. (Wheels shearing the lugs, etc.) A lot of it is incorrect installation, including, but not limited to, over- or under- torquing the lugs on the spacers.
- Use of CAI and/or TB Spacers. CAI's usually filter less than the stock airbox, and usually make very little, if any at all difference in power. The same goes for TB Spacers, but they can also cause a (small) loss in power (As I've seen from a few dyno charts, just to fact check.)
- Blue Halogens, HID's in stock housings, Other Bright-ass lights using reflectors. The Reflector isn't really "aimed" like a projector is, so unless you're a mathematical genius, and have somehow perfectly positioned the bulb, these bright lights will likely blind other people. The blind people will then need more seeing-eye dogs, and these seeing-eye dogs will take away from the general dog population. REMEMBER: THE BRIGHTER THE LIGHT, THE LESS DOGS TO HAVE (unless you get blinded by another with bright lights). HID's also have a higher potential to melt the stock housing. Keep that in mind. And with projectors? Much fewer blind people.
- PA Systems are illegal in some jurisdictions. Not really a concern of safety, but a concern of extra money you have to pay for just even having it.
And one of my own:
A roof rack, basket, etc. that one has no intention of actually using. Sure a lot of them look pretty cool, but without a use, it's just more money you're paying. Buy a rack, lose aerodynamics, add weight. So you just bought a rack for (probably) around $1k, and now you lose more money on fuel.
Not trying to hurt feelings or make anyone feel like I'm bagging on their opinions.
Few things:
- 20" wheels are standard on the LTD.
- Wheel Spacers are typically advertised as Off-Road Use ONLY. So the danger comes much less from the spacer's mfg, or the spacer itself, rather the misuse of said spacer.
- Hybrid Badge: I finally get it now, [MENTION=50591]gaterose[/MENTION] .
Most of these mods are strictly opinion based on whether or not they're bad. I've seen very few mods in here which are safety-based, or adversely affecting the vehicle.
Adverse effects of some of these.
- The HUGE wheels (24", 30", etc.) DO affect the quality of the ride, as well as the safety of it, so the addition of them, unless NEEDED (for, say, clearing HUGE brakes to go with those HUGE wheels. And let me say, you better have HUGE sidewalls on those tires. IMO, nothing looks worse than a... low-profile mud tire (if that's what it'd be called?))
- Wheel Spacers used ON-Road are dangerous, as I've seen in several posts on here. (Wheels shearing the lugs, etc.) A lot of it is incorrect installation, including, but not limited to, over- or under- torquing the lugs on the spacers.
- Use of CAI and/or TB Spacers. CAI's usually filter less than the stock airbox, and usually make very little, if any at all difference in power. The same goes for TB Spacers, but they can also cause a (small) loss in power (As I've seen from a few dyno charts, just to fact check.)
- Blue Halogens, HID's in stock housings, Other Bright-ass lights using reflectors. The Reflector isn't really "aimed" like a projector is, so unless you're a mathematical genius, and have somehow perfectly positioned the bulb, these bright lights will likely blind other people. The blind people will then need more seeing-eye dogs, and these seeing-eye dogs will take away from the general dog population. REMEMBER: THE BRIGHTER THE LIGHT, THE LESS DOGS TO HAVE (unless you get blinded by another with bright lights). HID's also have a higher potential to melt the stock housing. Keep that in mind. And with projectors? Much fewer blind people.
- PA Systems are illegal in some jurisdictions. Not really a concern of safety, but a concern of extra money you have to pay for just even having it.
And one of my own:
A roof rack, basket, etc. that one has no intention of actually using. Sure a lot of them look pretty cool, but without a use, it's just more money you're paying. Buy a rack, lose aerodynamics, add weight. So you just bought a rack for (probably) around $1k, and now you lose more money on fuel.
Not trying to hurt feelings or make anyone feel like I'm bagging on their opinions.
Stuck CAPS
New member
Although horrendous in what they're doing to the poor thing, it'd be nice to have.
"Oh hey, there's a rock I don't have the angles to crawl up."
*hit dem switches* (Is that the correct terminology?)
There you go, your front end is now on the rock, ready to crawl.
Edit: 600th post, cool.
toyotatech84
New member
CHROME wipers or accents all over vehicle.....i work in a sketchy part of town...and see it too often. not necessarily on 4runners but on Prius, Camrys and minivans....it hurts to see them come in
MattToyoFreak28
New member
Hahaha ah yeah boii!!! I would be embarrassed to have that.
Hellamatic
New member
LED light bars, HIDs, etc are a great mod for illuminating the trails and back roads. However, if you're using them on the highway and blinding oncoming traffic, you should be shot.
Stuck CAPS
New member
Get a big ass clock necklace with dem hydraulics boiii
WarnerD9
New member
I thought that was aGX460 for a minute...
WarnerD9
New member
The worst mods I've done:
- Pretending I ever understood 12V electrical enough to do my own, I leave it to the pros. Find a master, they are more than worth it.
- Stereo mods/upgrades, they never seem to last or tie in with the vehicle. Better to master the art of conversation or listen and learn via recorded books.
- Thinking I didn't need a spare tire for a big off road trip. Enough said.
- Aftermarket antennas, Toyota ones seem to rattle out, aftermarket ones just break off and never work well.
The worst mods that I've seen others do:
- Cheap wheels, if you're not upgrading from factory wheels you're downgrading simple enough? If you don't understand the difference stick with your factory wheels.
- Mismatch tire and spare sizes, a great way to ruin your drivetrain and show the world you don't know what you're doing.
- Overloaded roof racks, empty cargo areas. I love my roof rack but it only there for things that don't fit in my vehicle.
- Aluminum skid plates, I guess they serve as noise alerts to notify you that you just wasted your money. Maybe ok for sand but otherwise a poser mod unless they are very beefy, but then you could have done the same thing with steel and avoided electrolysis and corrosion.
- Lights that don't point anywhere, ex. Lights on top of a roof rack pointed rearward. The huge spoiler prevents them from illuminating the first 30' behind the vehicle, are you that concerned about being rear ended?
- Cheap tools and recovery equipment. You should be able to rely on your tools and recovery equip no matter what. WalMart doesn't offer the kind of products you should be looking for.
- Anything that voids a factory power train warranty. I cannot imagine a scenario where it would be worth it.
- Take their trucks to the nail salon (painting random parts random colors). Not my thing but each their own.
- Mix and match manufacturer parts (Chevy this in a Toyota that). How is the next owner supposed to find replacement parts?
So much for my ranting...
- Pretending I ever understood 12V electrical enough to do my own, I leave it to the pros. Find a master, they are more than worth it.
- Stereo mods/upgrades, they never seem to last or tie in with the vehicle. Better to master the art of conversation or listen and learn via recorded books.
- Thinking I didn't need a spare tire for a big off road trip. Enough said.
- Aftermarket antennas, Toyota ones seem to rattle out, aftermarket ones just break off and never work well.
The worst mods that I've seen others do:
- Cheap wheels, if you're not upgrading from factory wheels you're downgrading simple enough? If you don't understand the difference stick with your factory wheels.
- Mismatch tire and spare sizes, a great way to ruin your drivetrain and show the world you don't know what you're doing.
- Overloaded roof racks, empty cargo areas. I love my roof rack but it only there for things that don't fit in my vehicle.
- Aluminum skid plates, I guess they serve as noise alerts to notify you that you just wasted your money. Maybe ok for sand but otherwise a poser mod unless they are very beefy, but then you could have done the same thing with steel and avoided electrolysis and corrosion.
- Lights that don't point anywhere, ex. Lights on top of a roof rack pointed rearward. The huge spoiler prevents them from illuminating the first 30' behind the vehicle, are you that concerned about being rear ended?
- Cheap tools and recovery equipment. You should be able to rely on your tools and recovery equip no matter what. WalMart doesn't offer the kind of products you should be looking for.
- Anything that voids a factory power train warranty. I cannot imagine a scenario where it would be worth it.
- Take their trucks to the nail salon (painting random parts random colors). Not my thing but each their own.
- Mix and match manufacturer parts (Chevy this in a Toyota that). How is the next owner supposed to find replacement parts?
So much for my ranting...
MattToyoFreak28
New member
Haha even better!
