Best $400 to improve off-road capability?

[4OYOTER]

My current mods are 5100s all around with 285/70r17s. Stock coils with front at 2.5” and a daystar 1.5” rear spacer. The ride is decent enough for me. My alignment is ok at 2.5 degrees caster and drives fine. I go camping and off-roading a few times a year, hopefully soon I’ll bump it up to once a month or so. I don’t have any constant aftermarket weight on board, but maybe 150-200 lbs when fully loaded for camping.

With the Black Friday deals going on, I would like to spend around $400 or less to improve my off-road capability. I would like recommendations on the best upgrade. I’m guessing it will come down to these 3 options:

1. Ditching the daystar rear spacers for new coils and possibly new rear shocks. I looked into the toytec Superflex springs. Toytec said I would need longer rear shocks to get the additional flex benefits of the superflexes. So maybe the extended length boss shocks to replace my rear 5100s? I’m open to other coil options as well.

2. SPC UCAs. I read somewhere that front droop might be limited by stock UCAs? How much would aftermarket UCAs help off-road capability?

3. Skid plate or sliders. I could probably get some weld on sliders or a single skid at my price budget. I was thinking a transmission skid might be the best investment at this point to protect the exposed transmission pan.

Any input would be appreciated!

 

[CruzadoBlanco]

rock sliders, theyll allow you to drag yourself over a ton of stuff. and also give you the entire length of the truck to fall onto so you can have more options on lines to take. the factory skid setup works decently well, i only replaced mine because i got a great price. and the transmission is tucked high enough to not really be an issue. i would follow sliders with UCAs, going to an after market uca will actually let you use the extra travel the bilsteins have in the front coilover.

 

[85straight]

IMO I’d say sliders #1 and a rear locker #2
Your already running a little bit of a lift so clearance isn’t a huge deal. But traction is where it’s at

 

[Inv4drZm]

Buy a wore set of 37's for a couple hundred and a dremel with the rest of the money.

I guess that would only be for rock crawling....

Metaltech long travel 2.0 shocks/ springs close to $700

Still only good for crawling on rocks...

 

[Macallan]

Icon 52700 (2" lift) or 52800 (3" lift) springs over the superflexes...

 

[Billynath1988]

armor of all kinds.. you can never have enough armor.. sliders first..

 

[Drunner97]

Get a new suspension when you out pace the one you have and can afford to do front and rear at the same time.

Locker costs more than 400 if you wanna do it right.

Skid plates probably won't matter until you really start wheeling hard and end up in stuff where you're picking your way through rocky ledges and boulders.

Sliders are great for shopping carts and idiots that park too close to you, but it doesn't sound like you're wheeling anything that would actually require them yet. They are great for a step though.

Can you even get UCAs for 400? This would be the best bang for your buck if you can. You can get a better alignment, the ride will feel better, and you'll be set up for when you finally do upgrade the front to coil overs.

 

[Bumbo]

With a $400 budget I think I have to agree on the sliders recommendation... but it does not actually improve off-road capability, it just reduces the possibility for damage.

Its been a very useful accessory for me considering I've been right up against things like rocks and has proven to be a worth while accessory.

Aside from the obvious upgrades... like tires, which you didn't really mention, I think you would get a the most impact / capability from a rear locker.

If there is one thing I actually NEED right now, that would be it. The performance and capability difference dollar for dollar, the locker takes the cake. Unfortunately, I dont think a $400 budget is going to cover.

Edit:
I would actually start looking at support gear before other upgrades if you dont already have a kit... Tow straps, air pump, tools / trail repair stuff, radio communications gear, minor lighting upgrades, jack, D-rings, and other things of that nature. A proper / matching spare tire. You can easily use up $400 in that area.

 

[85straight]

In hindsight to my post... how about some recovery equipment , that is the most overlooked by a lot of people until you realize how much you need it( I’m guilty).

 

[T4R_RA]

Definitely agree on the recovery gear! you can never be too safe in that regard.

On another note, where are these deals on the SPC UCA's for $400? haha

 

[Angry_shoe]

In hindsight to my post... how about some recovery equipment , that is the most overlooked by a lot of people until you realize how much you need it( I’m guilty).

I agree.

Hi-Lift + winch kit + wheel lift kit, a good kinetic strap and recovery points if you don't have them on the rear.

Any money left over, spend on gas.

 

[doro89]

If I would be in your situation I would get a Smittybilt winch and ask a relative for a hidden winch mount for Christmas. I mostly travel alone on trails or cross-country trips and for self recovery it's hard to beat a tool like winch I think.

 

[jrm]

Numero Uno

b/c even if you dont go off roading all the time the aftermarket coils with higher spring rates will improve the vehicles performance and control on and off the road..:barf:

 

[Mile9]

rock sliders, theyll allow you to drag yourself over a ton of stuff. and also give you the entire length of the truck to fall onto so you can have more options on lines to take. the factory skid setup works decently well, i only replaced mine because i got a great price. and the transmission is tucked high enough to not really be an issue. i would follow sliders with UCAs, going to an after market uca will actually let you use the extra travel the bilsteins have in the front coilover.

Good advice. I am going to do the same.

 

[4OYOTER]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I do already have a basic recovery kit and full size spare. (Forgot to mention in OP). A winch would be great, but I rarely go off-road alone or push my DD hard enough or often enough the justify a winch right now. I would love to have one in the future though.

 

[Bumbo]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I do already have a basic recovery kit and full size spare. (Forgot to mention in OP). A winch would be great, but I rarely go off-road alone or push my DD hard enough or often enough the justify a winch right now. I would love to have one in the future though.

Perhaps you should consider some convenience modifications to make the process of off-roading easier or more comfortable.

I don't know if you air down regularly, but that is a very inexpensive way to actually get more capability / performance off-road.

A decent higher volume portable air compressor like a Viair 400P, or an installed on-board equivalent makes it less of a chore / burden.

I dont know what you consider basic in terms of recovery, but traction pads are a pretty worth while items depending on where you go deserts/sand/beaches.

If you are ever without cellular reception where you go then you should really look into getting a decent VHF radio and or a good dedicated GPS unit... items like that could literally save your life. I've heard enough sad stories to try and not be one of them.

 

[madeinhb]

I love spending other people's money haha

 

[RonJR]

I agree with Bumbo that some good long-range "out in the boonies" communication would be high on my list, especially if you go out alone often, as I do. I don't go anywhere anymore w/o my Delorme/Garmin Inreach. Being able to send/receive texts to/from any cell phone from anywhere on the planet is way cool, and so reassuring to my wife.

Remember those two women who just got picked up off the coast of Japan after 4-5 months of drifting in a disabled boat? An Inreach would have had them picked up in < 2 days.

 

[madeinhb]

I agree with Bumbo that some good long-range "out in the boonies" communication would be high on my list, especially if you go out alone often, as I do. I don't go anywhere anymore w/o my Delorme/Garmin Inreach. Being able to send/receive texts to/from any cell phone from anywhere on the planet is way cool, and so reassuring to my wife.

Remember those two women who just got picked up off the coast of Japan after 4-5 months of drifting in a disabled boat? An Inreach would have had them picked up in < 2 days.

So this essentially replaces a CB or something if out around no where?

Does it cost money to text?

 

[RonJR]

A CB is worthless for long-range communication. It's great for vehicle-vehicle while traveling in a group.

A VHF radio is good for long range comms if you have line of sight to a repeater. Otherwise it won't work either. Also good for vehicle-vehicle comms.

A satellite phone is the ultimate for phoning home, but very expensive.

The Garmin Inreach is not cheap, but not out of reach for normal people, either. Initial cost is about $350 for the SE, I think. Then it requires a $12/month basic subscription. That gets you 10 free texts/month ($0.50 each after that), and full emergency SOS service. The nice thing is that every message you send out includes your lat/long, so SAR knows exactly where you are even if you don't. You can also have it send tracking points at selectable intervals to an online map so your loved ones can see where you are. You can also enable a "location on request" feature, where someone back home can interrogate your Inreach and get your location.

It's not for chatting in the wilderness, but used wisely it can really up the safety of backcountry travel for less money per year by far then you spend on backcountry gas.

There is a pretty decent app for iPhone or Android that connects to the Inreach via bluetooth which allows moving map displays as well as much easier texting. The app is free if you have an Inreach subscription. There is also a premium version of the Inreach which has moving map displays built in, but costs an extra $100. I find it easier to use my phone for that sort of thing.

As you can tell, I'm pretty sold on mine. I had a friend who carried an Inreach on a winter snowshoeing trip last year in the backcountry, and suffered a heart attack 5 miles in, no cell reception. He was in a chopper on his way to the hospital in an hour, and has completely recovered. Likely would be dead if he hadn't had it.