Build order for off-roading

[matphat]

I've got a stock 2008 v8 SR5 that I am about to start building for overland and some off road. I'm on a budget, so I plan on doing this a piece at a time. What I'm wondering is, what is the most effective build order that makes the most logical sense and gives the most return the quickest.

My guess was suspension/lift > wheels/tires > sliders/skids > bumper/wench

Can you good people give a noob a hand?

 

[KidVermicious]

First off, what do you mean "overlanding"? Is this that thing that five years ago used to be called "expedition"? Because that's nothing more than car-camping on a dirt road. You don't need mods for that (and you don't need a pretentious name for it either ). Your stock truck is already ideally suited for random backcountry dirt roading and mild wheeling, and the more you mod it the more you move away from the sweet spot. I wouldn't mod at all until you've been wheeling at least a year and have a better idea where your truck can and can't go, and where you want to go, and you can make a more educated decision about exactly what mods you need and which ones you can skip.

If you have to spend money right now, start with recovery gear (offroad jack, straps, air compressor, etc). Then armor - skid plates and rear bumper first, unless you're adding a winch (not wench) right away in which case you'll probably need a front bumper to mount it on. IMO don't even think about lift and bigger tires yet, because you really want to do those at the same time (and regear too) and you don't know what size/how high you want to go yet.

TLDR version - wheel first, THEN mod.

 

[Xetabur]

^ This guy nailed it. Everyone's quick to throw a bunch of crap on their rigs. If your on a budget then spend what little money you have on gas to get out there and explore. In time you will know what YOU NEED and you won't need to ask a group of strangers what YOU need to be spending YOUR money on.

Enough with the term overland-your not driving through Africa or South America. Driving down a gravel road in the country or going mudding at an off road "park" is not overlanding.

 

[kevinpt]

a good set of tires is a great place to start. i ran larger tires before i installed my lift so i got almost an inch out of running 32's stock

 

[CXS]

[MENTION=49649]KidVermicious[/MENTION] is spot on. My recomendation has always been to drive your truck as you want to and mod only after finding what you, as the driver, need. Our trucks are surprisingly capable when stock.

 

[STX4Runner]

First off, what do you mean "overlanding"? Is this that thing that five years ago used to be called "expedition"? Because that's nothing more than car-camping on a dirt road. You don't need mods for that (and you don't need a pretentious name for it either ).

I love it. And no disrespect to the OP, but I am so sick of everyone talking about overlanding. There are few places to truly overland in the lower 48. Maybe Kokopelli Trail, Death Valley/Mojave Road, random areas in the Great Basin I don't know about, etc. IMO, unless you're out for multiple days on remote unpaved roads, you're car camping or off roading. Even then, people used to just call it car camping.

According to Expedition Portal, if you're truly overlanding you need to go drop a grand on an Engel fridge and battery, another grand on a roof tent, and another grand on khaki clothes. Don't forget, your gear can no longer live in $10 Rubbermaid containers, you now are required to buy $350 Spacecases or aluminum cases! /rant

 

[Sleeter]

You should be good-to-go stock, but if you want to send some money I'd start with tires then lift and armor or roof rack.