Best Mods for Off-Road Capability

[salong53]

Sounds like a noob question, and maybe it is, but based on everyone's collective experience, what are the top 3 mods you've made, and in what order would you do them? I live in the eastern US and around here I don't do much high speed desert running like many of the guys out west. Instead it's about clearance, traction, and preventing rocks from destroying your rig.

I've done the Daystar lift to mine, and after a couple of moderate trails, I've realized this lift has done next to nothing to improve off-road capability.

 

[t-man]

Sounds like a noob question, and maybe it is, but based on everyone's collective experience, what are the top 3 mods you've made, and in what order would you do them? I live in the eastern US and around here I don't do much high speed desert running like many of the guys out west. Instead it's about clearance, traction, and preventing rocks from destroying your rig.

I've done the Daystar lift to mine, and after a couple of moderate trails, I've realized this lift has done next to nothing to improve off-road capability.

For us out here, Tires! I live in Northern Michigan, so very similar to what you have. Budget boost is ok, but not going to gain you much but some ground clearance. What kind of budget are you on?? Get a real suspension lift, good tires and then either winch or lockers would be my opinion. I don't have as much suspension travel as some of these guys, but I can drive through about anything in these parts with ease. As I said though, it all depends on your budget.

 

[poncharello]

I would say Suspension lift & tires and skid plates/sliders/bumpers would be the most important to me. Lockers/gearing/winch/anything else would all come after that.

 

[ebg18t]

Tires
Practice
Good spotter

 

[BlackWorksInc]

In terms of straight Mods:

-Tires
-Suspension (May be required for tires, depending on what size/width you go with)
-Armour (Front Bumper, Skids, ect. which again may need Suspension mods to go with them)

Those are the three most common and most useful mods to go with. In terms of equipment/training:

-Tow/recovery strap and/or winch (if you can afford it)
-CB and/or portable HAM (many groups use one or both)
-Practice Practice Practice (Learn proper techniques and practice them.)

 

[salong53]

Sort of the same thing I was thinking. [MENTION=101553]t-man[/MENTION] I don't really have a budget, other than to say I like to keep costs down. In terms of budget suspension lifts and rock protection, what does everyone prefer?

 

[Avwizz]

Tires
recovery gear (max trax, shovel, saw, straps, hi-lift)
experience

 

[zonianbrat]

First I would do skid plates and sliders. Protect the rig first. Don't want to get out on a trail and wreck a oil pan or tcase. Secondly tires and then a locker. That will get you handling some mild to medium + trails. If you need more then full on lift and bigger tires along with a winch!

 

[S p a r k y]

Sort of the same thing I was thinking. [MENTION=101553]t-man[/MENTION] I don't really have a budget, other than to say I like to keep costs down. In terms of budget suspension lifts and rock protection, what does everyone prefer?

I'm a knoxville 4runner as well! Go with something more than a spacer lift, they are just for looks! I can't say much cause I dont "use" mine as a wheeler!

 

[t-man]

Sort of the same thing I was thinking. [MENTION=101553]t-man[/MENTION] I don't really have a budget, other than to say I like to keep costs down. In terms of budget suspension lifts and rock protection, what does everyone prefer?

Budget suspension would be Bilstein's. Cost me $335 for the shocks, and another $35 for the rear lift block which I believe you already have.
Sliders, will have to shop around there but they can be found for a little less than $200 and well over $500 if you want. They are high on my list because now that I have so much lift and no running boards my kids can't hardly get into my truck anymore, so they will act like running boards with the added benefit of protection.
Can't express enough the importance of good tires here. Get yourself a good set of mud terrains and hit the trials. Take your time and if you can find a friend to go with you that has experience you will learn fast. Biggest thing is to pay attention and learn the capabilities and tricks of your truck. I'm of course going on the assumption that you don't have much experience, if you do then you already know all this!