I have a 2007 4Runner SR5 4WD. It is completely stock besides tires.(BFgoodrish All-Terrain KO's) I have been wanting to do some mod to my car but my parents(im 16) wont let me do anything. Are there any accessories that I can add/use? Or mods like small little lights with a button that goes next to the Center Diff Lock button on the dashboard? Let me know any ideas! The worst thing that will happen is me saying I cant do it.
Easy Non-Noticeable mods
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Krayziekid
New member
I have an 03 Limited and I am a huge fan of stock-like/clean installs. I like the factory look of the 4runner and don't really want to have anything too flashy or noticeable on my car. I swapped suspension and lifted it, which is about the most noticeable thing on my current setup. My next mod is going to be a stealth LED light bar behind the lower grill. It will sit behind the grill where it won't be very noticeable unless it is lit. All of the wiring and stuff sits under the hood and the only that really gets added is a switch in the cabin right next to the steering wheel. I will primarily be using it as an off-road and bad weather light (just gotta find an amber lens or something!)
You can search around this forum and find some pictures of the stealth LED bar. You either need to fab a bracket or buy one. I ended up picking some stealth brackets from [MENTION=93512]MojaveMadMan[/MENTION]. I think he is doing another production run in the near future, so it might be worth reaching out to him if you are interested. Hope this helps!
black4vcobra
New member
The problem is it's their 4Runner, you cannot legally own it so what they say goes.
Besides that, don't mod the truck just because you want to mod it. Figure out what you want to do - lift, exhaust, off road lights, new head unit, etc and save your money for those items. Eventually your parents will back off on how strict they are about it and you can do "real" mods to the vehicle.
Besides that, don't mod the truck just because you want to mod it. Figure out what you want to do - lift, exhaust, off road lights, new head unit, etc and save your money for those items. Eventually your parents will back off on how strict they are about it and you can do "real" mods to the vehicle.
wnelax04sr5
New member
doing mods in secret so your parents don't find out is worse than anything. ask first, it'll go a long way. If you have a mod you want to do, explain the positives behind it and why it'll improve the vehicle.
paperchasin
New member
Just my $0.02, but I wouldn't ever modify a car that isn't mine. Heck I wouldn't even add preset radio stations to a car that I was just driving for the day.
first 3 mods come to mind right off the bat:
once those "mods" are on the books, think what you want to use the truck for. dont just mod to mod, make it purposeful! im partial to the LED cluster mod. also the back up camera mod. floormats are great, but not really a mod, more of an accessory.
- Pay your own car payment mod
- Pay your own insurance mod
- Pay your own gas mod
once those "mods" are on the books, think what you want to use the truck for. dont just mod to mod, make it purposeful! im partial to the LED cluster mod. also the back up camera mod. floormats are great, but not really a mod, more of an accessory.
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fullboogie
New member
Class dismissed.
I understand the urge of upgrading it. as other people say, respect the wishes of your parents or explain well why you want to do it. if they still said no, just be happy about it that you have something to use. there are other kids out there who has to work and save just to get what they want. just live by your means... you'll get there at some point.
JustinB
New member
Look, you're old enough to decide what's right/wrong and evaluate the consequences for yourself. You say you're parents don't want mods, but you do. It's not my place to tell you to listen to your parents; you and your folks can sort that one out.
You came here for mod suggestions. Looks like you avoided the classic "do a search" response (probably because everyone had more fun advising you on purchasing your own car and respecting your parents). Which is all good, I would suggest taking much of the advice given here to thought (truck related or not), having your own car that you bought is pretty satisfying.
However; I won't judge. My first car was bought by my parents, I spent some money modding it (all cosmetic), sometimes they agreed, other times they didn't. Flash forward, now I've bought my own car, and have done my own mods, and I (and I'm sure they) like it better that way. You'll get there.
Others say "go have fun." Well for a lot of us, this is the fun (isn't that why we're on a common interest forum?). If you prefer spending your friday and saturday nights in the dash and underneath your 4runner, by all means, enjoy it.
But I digress, you wanted mod advice:
For now, I'd go with the previously mentioned "Easy Weekend Mods" Thread for little ideas. On my first vehicle I was partial to auxiliary lighting. Cheap auxiliary reverse lights can be had for under $50 and can make a world of difference when backing up at night, and give you an introduction to tapping wires and mounting equipment to the vehicle (often they are easy to mount, sometimes they even just use fat zip ties for your hitch or something). The fog-light anytime on mod is a nice quick one too, probably even easier than adding reverse lights. I picture my 16 y.o. self loving the ability to run fog-lights without headlights on (illegal in some places from what I hear, but hey, it looks cool right?) Browse that Build Thread Directory, even heavily modded vehicles probably got started with a tiny mod here and a little one there (it's not called catching the bug for no reason), so they could have some cool things you might like, such as plastidipped logos, or upgraded speakers.
Take care of your truck (don't forget about maintenance! oil changes, brake changes, fluid checks, all important things that you can't allow yourself to lose track of while being in full mod-mode!), learn about it, have fun doing it, mod it, be nice to your parents, then argue with them, then be nice again, then do that a few hundred more times and by that time you may be old enough to buy your own car, always respect your parents, accept consequences for your actions (good and bad), and be grateful you drive a 4Runner.
/end Devil on the shoulder/'cool uncle' rant
edit: non-noticeable? You could always just start replacing OEM things that need it. You get to work on your car, you make it ride better, you learn about it, and you can tell your parents you're making it safer, it's a win-win across the board. There are bushings and such that maybe need replacing at almost 9 years old and some aren't too expensive. Maybe new poly swaybar bushings?
You came here for mod suggestions. Looks like you avoided the classic "do a search" response (probably because everyone had more fun advising you on purchasing your own car and respecting your parents). Which is all good, I would suggest taking much of the advice given here to thought (truck related or not), having your own car that you bought is pretty satisfying.
However; I won't judge. My first car was bought by my parents, I spent some money modding it (all cosmetic), sometimes they agreed, other times they didn't. Flash forward, now I've bought my own car, and have done my own mods, and I (and I'm sure they) like it better that way. You'll get there.
Others say "go have fun." Well for a lot of us, this is the fun (isn't that why we're on a common interest forum?). If you prefer spending your friday and saturday nights in the dash and underneath your 4runner, by all means, enjoy it.
But I digress, you wanted mod advice:
For now, I'd go with the previously mentioned "Easy Weekend Mods" Thread for little ideas. On my first vehicle I was partial to auxiliary lighting. Cheap auxiliary reverse lights can be had for under $50 and can make a world of difference when backing up at night, and give you an introduction to tapping wires and mounting equipment to the vehicle (often they are easy to mount, sometimes they even just use fat zip ties for your hitch or something). The fog-light anytime on mod is a nice quick one too, probably even easier than adding reverse lights. I picture my 16 y.o. self loving the ability to run fog-lights without headlights on (illegal in some places from what I hear, but hey, it looks cool right?) Browse that Build Thread Directory, even heavily modded vehicles probably got started with a tiny mod here and a little one there (it's not called catching the bug for no reason), so they could have some cool things you might like, such as plastidipped logos, or upgraded speakers.
Take care of your truck (don't forget about maintenance! oil changes, brake changes, fluid checks, all important things that you can't allow yourself to lose track of while being in full mod-mode!), learn about it, have fun doing it, mod it, be nice to your parents, then argue with them, then be nice again, then do that a few hundred more times and by that time you may be old enough to buy your own car, always respect your parents, accept consequences for your actions (good and bad), and be grateful you drive a 4Runner.
/end Devil on the shoulder/'cool uncle' rant
edit: non-noticeable? You could always just start replacing OEM things that need it. You get to work on your car, you make it ride better, you learn about it, and you can tell your parents you're making it safer, it's a win-win across the board. There are bushings and such that maybe need replacing at almost 9 years old and some aren't too expensive. Maybe new poly swaybar bushings?
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Im just providing my opinion of my rice rocket days.. 10k on a built motor on a honda civic.. Got me tons of speeding tickets.
I look back and wished I just not care about cars. I learned a lot about cars but also lost a lot.
A lot of money was spent on things I thought was cool. If it makes you happy modding then go for it.. But there are other things to do as a teenager.
I love my 4runner its not modded much at all.. I love it because its reliable and love it more when it takes me comfortable on trips, camping, hauling, kayaks, dirtbikes. etc..
T4RNightHawk
New member
My parents were the same way (I'm also 16). I've been driving for like 5 months and They've already loosened up and are now fine with anything. What really helped is that I have a friend with an insane jeep so when they saw that they were like "oh well I guess you can get a light bar."
Now their policy is "if you pay for it you can have it." But if you're really itching to do something I'd do something like removing your mud flaps or something simple.
I wouldn't do anything without your parents consent because then they'll only be more against mods if you do them without their permission and getting your car taken away sucks. I'm doing a build thread soon and mine is pretty modest IMHO if you wanna check it out when I do post one.
The best mod would be to stop worrying about mods and get some mud on it. Sometimes I just have to take a step back and realise what an awesome car I have.
Now their policy is "if you pay for it you can have it." But if you're really itching to do something I'd do something like removing your mud flaps or something simple.
I wouldn't do anything without your parents consent because then they'll only be more against mods if you do them without their permission and getting your car taken away sucks. I'm doing a build thread soon and mine is pretty modest IMHO if you wanna check it out when I do post one.
The best mod would be to stop worrying about mods and get some mud on it. Sometimes I just have to take a step back and realise what an awesome car I have.
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Nice advice from a 16 year old... To the OP, just be responsible on the road and avoid trouble and asking for permission is the way to go and be respectful. you don't know how appreciative a parent can be when you do that.
Inv4drZm
Senior Member
Couldn't have said it any better myself!
IMO, don't spend your money on it if you don't currently own it. If you plan on buying/making payments eventually on this 4Runner, if that is a possibility, then go ahead and get whatever your parents allow you. Working on your vehicle can be a lot of fun and you can learn a lot from it, even with the easy mods. But if they don't plan to sell/give it to you and are just letting you drive it to school or whatever, any money you don't spend on it can be put towards your own vehicle in the nearer-than-you-realize future.
