DriveTribe Article: This is Budget Wheeling

[DoctorPopcorn]

I just wanted to share this article here that my brother wrote, as it portrays our experiences perfectly. Hope some of you enjoy and can relate.

DriveTribe: This is Budget Wheeling

 

[MAST4R]

Some words of wisdom from the piece, which is a good read:

"The way in which you modify your old rig is crucial. Wanna change you airbox setup? Why mess with it? Keeping more stock components than aftermarket in my opinion is the key."
"If you don't need to lift your truck, then don't. In fact leave it alone if you can besides tires."

 

[Bezzos]

You'll notice a smoother, more comfortable ride with enhanced straight line performance, added load carrying capabilities, better road holding and braking, and even better gas mileage with a suspension lift kits on your truck or SUV.

 

[spartacus]

The article reiterates what has been known in the off road community for ages. Specific useful modifications
that enhance what the rig is built for is what counts. Some like the look and cool factor aka mall crawlers but no judging here. Its your vehicle do what you want.

 

[DoctorPopcorn]

The article reiterates what has been known in the off road community for ages. Specific useful modifications
that enhance what the rig is built for is what counts. Some like the look and cool factor aka mall crawlers but no judging here. Its your vehicle do what you want.

100%, build it how you want it, or think you want it. And if your needs/wants change, rip it all apart and do it again! For me, I think he did a good job of summarizing wants vs needs.

When I first started ripping my '98 apart and wheeling, I thought I needed full skids, armor, the whole 9, but that wasn't the case for me. And "drivability" and DDing is all relative, depending on who you're talking to.

 

[ChrisOIFdoc]

Great read!! I like to keep things fairly simple myself to a degree. I have a '94 on 35's..no suspension lift because I don't want to change the geometry. 1" body lift...trimmed an inch off of the fenders, and beat the schnitzel out of the pinch welds. That's all I'm gonna do. Gets me everywhere I wanna go in the mountains and mesa.

 

[DoctorPopcorn]

Great read!! I like to keep things fairly simple myself to a degree. I have a '94 on 35's..no suspension lift because I don't want to change the geometry. 1" body lift...trimmed an inch off of the fenders, and beat the schnitzel out of the pinch welds. That's all I'm gonna do. Gets me everywhere I wanna go in the mountains and mesa.

That sounds like a really nice setup- plenty of lift with the 35s and BL, and close to stock center of gravity. I'd love to see that thing crawl in person. I always forget about the amount of clearance you can gain just with tires.

 

[DAW89446]

Nice read. Basically my approach to off roading. I don’t see the value in spending $$$$ for a new vehicle and then tossing another $$$ to make it look the part.

All my 4x4 trucks over the decades were basically stock. BFG All Terrains in OEM sizes. No lifts. My 1970 Ford F-250 and 1996 Chevy S10 with no skid plates taught me good line picking skills. I’ve had few stuck situations and none where I didn’t extract myself. The e-locker in my 2002 Tacoma TRD amazed me at what it allowed; the electronic wizardry in my current 2018 4Runner SR5 does as well.

As for camping, I’ve had a variety of cheap sleeping bags, cheap tents and old style Coleman white gas stoves and lanterns. In later years I simply slept on air mattresses in the back of my 1996 S10 and Tacoma, as both had toppers. Tailgates served well for cooking and eating.

I’ve had a lot of good years with simple rigs and camping arrangements. Too old for that stuff now. Got good memories, photos and videos.

 

[ChrisOIFdoc]

Hope this pic works. Not sure if it uploaded. Here goes nothing.

 

[ChrisOIFdoc]

Son of a Bitcoin. It worked

 

[Sp00ner]

I've talked myself out of so many parts in the last 18 months it's unreal.

I love tinkering and modifying cars, but I constantly find myself asking "What is this actually going to do for me, and is it really going to make anything better?"

Sometimes, I give in and buy it, but I like to think that on the 4Runner I've kept it pretty well limited to things that I felt were legitimate issues that needed to be addressed. The intake... yea... that was a total, "I just want this part...".

 

[DoctorPopcorn]

I've talked myself out of so many parts in the last 18 months it's unreal.

I love tinkering and modifying cars, but I constantly find myself asking "What is this actually going to do for me, and is it really going to make anything better?"

Sometimes, I give in and buy it, but I like to think that on the 4Runner I've kept it pretty well limited to things that I felt were legitimate issues that needed to be addressed. The intake... yea... that was a total, "I just want this part...".

I've done the same thing this year, for the first time in 3 years... except for the lift in the 4th gen, lol, but replacing the XREAS and having heavier springs for towing was warranted, in my mind. That's exactly it though, how will I use "this" and how often will it be a benefit. Doing house stuff the last year, my truck time has mostly been delegated to keeping them both on the road and running.

 

[DoctorPopcorn]

Son of a Bitcoin. It worked

That, my friend, is necessary project. Glad someone is still giving attention to the 2nd gens and keeping them on the road.

 

[DoctorPopcorn]

Nice read. Basically my approach to off roading. I don’t see the value in spending $$$$ for a new vehicle and then tossing another $$$ to make it look the part.

All my 4x4 trucks over the decades were basically stock. BFG All Terrains in OEM sizes. No lifts. My 1970 Ford F-250 and 1996 Chevy S10 with no skid plates taught me good line picking skills. I’ve had few stuck situations and none where I didn’t extract myself. The e-locker in my 2002 Tacoma TRD amazed me at what it allowed; the electronic wizardry in my current 2018 4Runner SR5 does as well.

As for camping, I’ve had a variety of cheap sleeping bags, cheap tents and old style Coleman white gas stoves and lanterns. In later years I simply slept on air mattresses in the back of my 1996 S10 and Tacoma, as both had toppers. Tailgates served well for cooking and eating.

I’ve had a lot of good years with simple rigs and camping arrangements. Too old for that stuff now. Got good memories, photos and videos.

Well-said. Starting out, figuring out your lines, clearances, and learning good spotting, you can avoid the need for more armor for the majority of situations. After a season or 2 and you know your 4x4, spotting is minimal and you know what you can clear.

To each their own for mods and how they want their rig to look, I get it, you want to make it look how you want and your own. Still, I can't help but laugh at all of the Jeep wave folks with their angry eyes and fake beadlock wheels.

I'm also lazy, so sleeping in the back of the truck instead of setting up a tent is ideal. Taking down a wet tent and then having to set it up later to dry? Nope, I'm good lol.

Totally, the rear locker does wonders in the 3rd gens & 1st gen Tacos, and ATRAC on the newer stuff seems to one of the few nanny electronic systems that works well.

A lot of good memories, photos, and taking down camp hungover in the am and then getting back onto the trail.