First 5 Things to Upgrade for Off-Road Use?

dirtbike250x

dirtbike250x

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When I first had the means to upgrade my 4Runner, I got quite eager to get it off-road ready and went straight for the popular 3 inch lift and 33s. However, I feel that may not be the best First choice for this this rig and many others.

Do you agree with more mild mods to get started?

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When I got mine I knew I wanted an overland style not a crawler. For thing I did was a custom full length roof rack. Love the look and the use for extra storage. Then got some 4xinnovations sliders as they work for protection and running boards when I put grip tape on them. Stayed with that for a long time while trying to find the cheapest bumpers. Again like the look and the fact of having some beefy protection. Luckily found the bandit bumpers so I didn't have to break the bank of some Shrockworks. Once I had those I went suspension and tires. 3" with the 33s. And that is how it sits now. Still need the inside storage but that is coming this winter. The one thing I wish I did do was a locker over the suspension. Same price ish but didn't think I would need a locker. Now I am kicking myself for it and debating if a lunchbox locker will be okay for me. I do like the way I did my mods except for the locker. I think the way I should have done it was rack, sliders, locker, extra armor, tires. But at the time I couldn't justify that much for a locker that I am going to only use a limited time per year vs a nice suspension that I use every day and a nice light set up I use a lot as well. Those Montana backroads.
 
I think the best upgrade I did for actual off roading (not things like stereo) was sliders. They have saved my truck many times. I have gone out a few times with my full RCI skids and only have a few scratches....so as of now that was a $1000 wasted investment. Its nice piece of mind though. The lift definitely helped as well.
 
Armor

Sounds like you've already gotten your tires upgraded and are working on your suspension, so I'd recommend investing in top-notch Sliders/skid plates. Get these are the same time. Will cost you a couple grand, but will save you much more in the short run. I can't tell you how many times I've sung Bud Rosenberg's (Budbuilt) praises when I've been on trail. That man's work has pulled me through some seriously dangerous moments. You can buy the pieces as you go along; but if you can, just get the whole set right off -- it's a little cheaper and you'll get them all eventually, so dive in head first if you can.

I love Bud's sliders. When I was looking for mine, he was the only one making them with a kick-out. Those have been great for keeping trees off my ride.

Front bumper has been a great investment for me as well. I live in California and go to the desert often. So being able to scrape through narrow slots between rocks, using the bumper as a gauge, as well as saving my lights with the hoops has been awesome. Love my Demello bumper. Rear bumper has been good too, but definitely not been as much of a safety need thus far for me.

More than anything -- I'd recommend patience. All of these fabulous fabricators are busy and take time making quality products. So do your research. Order your gear. Then forget about it.
 
My order to mods

I've got a 2011 Trail that I bought new. Bone stock the truck is very capable but here are all the mods I did (I'm including them in order).
Metal tech sliders
RCI skids
Stock size COOPER AT3s I ran that was for about 6 months and then did the following:
Bolstering 6150 and Icon rear
255 COOPER STMAXX
Only reason I did the lift was because I wanted the look and with the RCI skids hanging a bit lower than stock it would sound like the gong show when I hit rocks.
I've never felt the need for a roof rack or bumpers. I may one day hang a rear bumper just to move my spare but it comes with a lot of draw back. Honestly the best thing you can upgrade is your brain. Invest in driver training and proper recovery tools and techniques and your stock truck will do things you never thought capabil I have a buddy of mine who wheels the same trails I do here in the East but he does it in a stock 3rd gen limited. He does it by picking his lines and going easy (most of the time) on the throttle.
 
MountainClimber78 said:
. Honestly the best thing you can upgrade is your brain. Invest in driver training and proper recovery tools and techniques and your stock truck will do things you never thought capable. I have a buddy of mine who wheels the same trails I do here in the East but he does it in a stock 3rd gen limited. He does it by picking his lines and going easy (most of the time) on the throttle.
Click to expand...


To go off of MountainCLimber. He is right about your brain take it easy the first few times you ride a trail to get used to what it does stock. I have a small suspicion he is talking about me with the stock 3rd gen limited ( I could be wrong though). I do have a 99 limited as well if he isn't talking about me. I have led a few groups now and the lines I take on the same trail i keep getting more aggressive and I have yet to damage my rockers or anything else, These trucks are so capable stock. I'm not intentionally trying to destroy my truck so I am still care while working on executing more technical moves. I have only added Nitto Terragrapplers, the Tundra Brake Upgrade (commonly called TBU) and I removed my Running boards. So far so good. The only 2 other things I want to do is sliders and a 2 inch lift, once I do those I will be happy with how my truck looks and performs.
 
From my experience, my 2.5/1.5 spacer lift and 275 AT's were a great upgrade. Didn't have the coin for a top of line lift but the spacers and tires got me way over the obstacles that I was bragging bone stock first few times out. Once my front coils are ready for replacements I'll ok at upgrading.


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Tires, Sliders, Lift, Recovery Gear, Plastidip...

The sliders on our 5th gen were a godsend when we got caught on some more challenging trails. Even just a spacer lift made a pretty big difference, too.
 
Thanks for this, very helpful and exactly what I was looking for. I got a 2016 Trail in the fall and immediately put on same sized Hankook ATs and basic recovery gear. Tires aren't the best, but the price was right and they've been quite capable. After denting up the running boards (I didn't want them, but to get the color I wanted I was stuck), I've ordered sliders. I actually just took the boards off last night. I was pondering what to save up for next and it sounds more armor is the next step.

I have a limited budget (darn kids) so while I know it is overall cheaper to get everything at once, I'm probably going to go piece by piece. Should I start with a bumper and live with the factory skids for a while. Or start with real skids and work up to the bumper?

I'm offroading in southeast, N GA do far but plan on expanding to other nearby states.

Thanks!
 
Recovery gear should come first. I have lost track of how many times over the years I have ran across people who are stuck, and they have no recovery gear or good recovery points.
 
I'm not suggesting that this is the best order, but it's the order I took along with reasoning:

1. Tires (first week) - Better traction, sidewall protection (E 10-ply tires), appearance upgrade...
2. Sliders (second week) - Protect the rockers -- plus something of ******* door ding protection on my brand new truck.
3. Recovery gear (shortly after, pre first trip) - MaxTrax, non-kinetic "snatch" strap, shackles, and a hitch receiver recovery bar. On-board air and air-down tools probably go in here as well. MaxTrax, strap, and shackles got used a few times on my first trip while "breaking trail" through early season snow with my brother.

That was it for a while. Didn't have budget for a lift, also wanted to hold off until I "finished" adding weight. Did some functional mods in the meantime: added fridge, cargo management, Gobi rack, etc.

4. Better skids - that first trip did a number on the stock front and fuel skids. Got a full set of RCI aluminum skids during the group buy.
5. Front bumper and winch (waiting for delivery of bumper) - I've REALLY been wanting a winch for self-reliance. I went with a modest SSS bumper to provide a bit of direct protection and to retain the 4Runner look, but still get better recovery points and a place to mount the winch.
5b. Lift (as soon as bumper and winch get installed) - Belly clearance, breakover angle, and dealing with the added weight (and appearance, I mean come on)

One of the decisions I juggled, for my more overlanding needs, was whether the lift or armor should happen first. Arguably with a lift the armor would be less used, but I decided that either way the armor is a required damage prevention measure, even if the armor will see more use without the lift it'll get used either way. Plus adding weight after the lift would require adjustment and possibly even spring replacement.
 
I would recommend new skids before a bumper. You can get by without a steel bumper, you'll just scratch up the plastic one. But the stock skids are pretty flimsy and your vehicle's underside will take a lot more hits than the bumper.
 
Thanks for all the replies, very helpful information. Air up/down tools and skids a have moved up my list. Shiney bumper later. :-)
 
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Upgrading your tires from stock to A/T's or M/T's should be first for going off road. And dont go out without recovery gear. Once you are past the beginner level & want a taller tire for more technical trails then look into a suspension lift, sliders & taller tires.
 
1) Maintenance - Baseline your vehicle and ensure you have done your diligence so it won't let you down when your stuck in the middle of nowhere.

2) Recovery Gear

3) Tires - AT or MT depending on how you use your rig

4) Sliders - factory skids will get the job done for mild trails as you start to get into offroading, however the rocker panels are left bare so sliders should be the very first armor mod IMO

5) Suspension/lift - now that your "plus" sized tires have self-clearanced as you purchased new tires at step 2), now follow up with proper suspension to carry the oncoming weight of all your gear and additional mods.

6) Rear locker - If your building slowly, by the time you get here you should have enough trail time with an "open" diff to be able to pick your lines on the trails and you will be able to fully appreciate the dramatic increase in capability once installing a rear locker.

7) Everything else.

You only asked for 5, but I was never good at counting.
 
rickashay said:
6) Rear locker - If your building slowly, by the time you get here you should have enough trail time with an "open" diff to be able to pick your lines on the trails and you will be able to fully appreciate the dramatic increase in capability once installing a rear locker.

<snip>

You only asked for 5, but I was never good at counting.
Click to expand...

I appreciate your inability to count, thanks! So my 2016 Trail has a locking rear differential. Are you suggesting a mod above the factory feature?

Thanks!
 
Kokope11i said:
I appreciate your inability to count, thanks! So my 2016 Trail has a locking rear differential. Are you suggesting a mod above the factory feature?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Nope, one of the perks of having a Trail ;) You're just a step ahead of the game already!
 
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