Give Your Opinion: Top 5 Mods?

TravelWest01

TravelWest01

New member
We always have a ton of questions about individual modifications. How about ranking the relative importance to improving off road capability? Assume we are looking at a brand new 2014 SR5. In priority order, what top 5mods would you do to make it as off-road worthy as possible?
 
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zopperman said:
1: Plastidip
2: Stickers
3: Throttle body spacers
4: The "chips" or whatever they are
5: Cold air intakes
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What about a stubby antenna? I was sort of thinking of things like locking differentials, or maybe big tires, but hey, whatever blows your hair back!
 
TravelWest01 said:
We always have a ton of questions about individual modifications. How about ranking the relative importance to improving off road capability? Assume we are looking at a brand new 2014 SR5. In priority order, what top 5mods would you do to make it as off-road worthy as possible?
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Thats such a subjective question based on so many different factors like cost, type of off road driving, etc......

I think if you asked five people that question you would get five different answers.

....and yes, PlastiDip would be on my list.
 
1. Locking rear diff. (Heck, just buy the Trail Edition in the first place!)
2. Tires (replace stock tires with whatever suits the type of driving you do)
3. Suspension upgrade (shocks/springs/airbags - again, only as necessary to accommodate your off-road needs)
4. Winch Bumper/sliders/skidplates (if you are into the extreme stuff!)
5. Something to keep the beer cold.
 
zopperman said:
1: Plastidip
2: Stickers
3: Throttle body spacers
4: The "chips" or whatever they are
5: Cold air intakes
Click to expand...
6. Cat back exhaust

The actual list I'd give to someone would be:
1. Sliders
2. Skid plates
3. Tires
4. Suspension
5. Winch

1, 2, and 5 don't increase actual "capability" but they pay for themselves in avoided repairs and peace of mind. A stock 4Runner is far more capable than most people will push them.
 
1.Upgraded Suspension/Suspension Lift. You'll need this to fit larger tires and allow your vehicle to handle all the extra weight for the rest of the things in this list and more. Not to mention the noticeable difference this mod will make to your onroad and offroad performance.
2. Tires. Should be self explanatory, but IMO its pretty much mandatory to go up a few sizes in a more aggressive LT tire for some extra sidewall, strength and traction.
3. Body Armor. We're talking about skid plates and rock sliders. Cheap insurance, protect your investment and prevent costly driveline and body repairs. Sliders also provide a highlift point for the 5th gens.
4. Accessories: Recovery Gear, Gloves, Tools, Air Compressor, deflators, Radios, etc. and a secure storage solution for everything.
5. A good roof Rack: Besides the suspension and tires, this mod comes in more handy than any other I have done.

I would say winch, but it's just not as high in the priority list as the rest, especially if you always offroad with a friend or in groups like I do. That being said, they are a very good investment and an invaluable accessory in a many situations. I don't need to own one to know that. Definitely next on my list now that I've done everything else.
 
Ol'Baditude said:
1.Upgraded Suspension/Suspension Lift. You'll need this to fit larger tires and allow your vehicle to handle all the extra weight for the rest of the things in this list and more. Not to mention the noticeable difference this mod will make to your onroad and offroad performance.
2. Tires. Should be self explanatory, but IMO its pretty much mandatory to go up a few sizes in a more aggressive LT tire for some extra sidewall, strength and traction.
3. Body Armor. We're talking about skid plates and rock sliders. Cheap insurance, protect your investment and prevent costly driveline and body repairs. Sliders also provide a highlift point for the 5th gens.
4. Accessories: Recovery Gear, Gloves, Tools, Air Compressor, deflators, Radios, etc. and a secure storage solution for everything.
5. A good roof Rack: Besides the suspension and tires, this mod comes in more handy than any other I have done.

I would say winch, but it's just not as high in the priority list as the rest, especially if you always offroad with a friend or in groups like I do. That being said, they are a very good investment and an invaluable accessory in a many situations. I don't need to own one to know that. Definitely next on my list now that I've done everything else.
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That is a solid list, what about rear and or front lockers?
 
TravelWest01 said:
That is a solid list, what about rear and or front lockers?
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Expensive nice to have's.
Do I want them? Hell yes! The guys who are locked in the rear or fully locked can always get up the lines that I can't do with ATRAC.

Do I need them? Debatable, and there are other things that I need to buy first. I'm still finishing of my skid plates, then the winch needs to go in, then maybe after I've saved $6-7K, when I go to a larger tire size I'll re-gear and throw some lockers in there.

Like kpd1999 said above, these lists are very subjective and priorities really depend on what you're doing with your 4Runner and the kind of offroading you like to do.
So far, I offroad with friends or larger groups, on trails that more often than not, a stock vehicle could probably get through(albeit maybe with a bit of body damage). Hence, I do not really need lockers yet and have focused my investment in other areas.
 
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My top 5 things to make a trail worthy vehicle:

1. Winch - when nothing else can get you (or someone else on the trail) out of a bad stuck.
2. Tires - The tread of a tire makes a huge difference off road. Size also helps as long as you regear your differential to match the change in tire size.
3. Lift - Only enough to clear the tires you want to run. No reason to go stupid-tall.
4. Lockers - They can make the difference between conquering the obstacle and spinning your tires.
5. Armor - It's difficult to enjoy wheeling when you bash your rocker panel into your door and you can't get out.

There's more (like lights for when you get caught out on a trail after dark, etc) but those are the 5 most important things to me.
 
1. Consolevault
2. Sliders
3. Roof rack
4. Tires
5. Recovery/safety equipement: first aid kit, straps, winch, 14 day water/food supply, bug out kit.....
 
1engineer said:
um... 14 day water supply?
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No problem...

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Quality tires are all you really need with these trucks. After that depends on what you are doing.

In regards to the lockers question--
If you are doing something you are going to need the use of lockers... I would first get a quality winch installed and learn proper winching techniques BEFORE I invested in lockers (unless you are wheeling with people who already have them). Lockers are good at getting you stuck in even more remote places... a reliable, quality winch will save your butt and almost always pay for itself the first use.
 
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Seriously?
1. Tires
2. High Lift Jack
3. Block and Tackle (3 fold purchase), Come-Along
4. Really Good Boots
5. Work Gloves

Tires so you don't flat as much and get better traction
High lift for when you get in a precarious position and have to use item 5.
Block and tackle works every time. Winches don't.
Really good boots for when the stuff above won't work and you have to hike out to get help.
Work Gloves help tremendously when stacking rocks...

If I could only have five items and those items were to help you go off road those are what I would take. I'm pretty sure that with the above items there would be very few places I couldn't take my TE. Now, some places would take quite some time to cross but eventually I could do it.
 
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