Hardcore Off-Road ease up on Parking Lot Queens

[V8Man]

I see a ton of articles in this forum making fun of guys and girls that buy a 4Runner lift it, trick it out then never off road it. You all need to understand at some point that person that owns that fancy truck will wreck it, get tired of it, or simply move on when the next big thing comes along. These well kept rigs are prefect for parts or low mileage trucks for the next guy. Just like a doctor friend calls motorcycle riders without helmets, organ donors. Don't pitty them. They both are doing thier part for society.
So don't rip on the rig that's never seen dirt or the soccer mom that cannot park straight. Someday that rig will be on the market in whole or in pieces for the rest of us. Look at my signature, I bought one new 2003, and now own 3 more Frankinstein rigs made with pieces from my first and a few others.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

I don't disagree with you... but it's not like we have a ton of Heeps to make fun of on this forum.

 

[Morphyne]

I will go ahead and throw myself in the queen category. For two main reasons: 1. North Raleigh area does not have a lot of great option to wheel. If I can find them, I'd be all over it. 2: I need my ride for work. I drive about 25k per year for work and if I break something that impacts my cash flow.

So you are right. Until I get third vehicle my trr and wife's gx470 will be asphalt queens. But you will not get my parts. I intent on clocking at least 300 on each before moving on.

 

[cashmoney]

Or maybe some folks just like the look and style of a lifted vehicle but have no interest in going off road. Who cares. I don't like low riders but I can at least respect a fellow car enthusiast for building something they love.

 

[Knight-Errant]

Buying a car merely because you like the looks is a legitimate reason for buying a car. We all don't need to take on off-road trails every day, or squeeze out the maximum potential that was engineered into the car. I doubt the majority of Porsche owners are doing multiple track days every week.

Also as I stated yesterday in a different thread...

To be fair if only "people who used them off road" bought 4x4s, the sales volume would be so low that companies probably wouldn't make them or the price would be so high that most of us wouldn't be able to afford them.

If you apply this logic to other types of cars (sports cars, muscle cars, hot hatches, most pickups) you'd eliminate many cars from the road and replace them with civics, camarys, CRVs, RAV4s, etc. You'd only have the cars that are basic reliable transportation, which would be dull.

Let people drive what they want to drive; it ain't your money.

 

[Knight-Errant]

I completely understand the point of this thread, I've brought up this general idea several times in other threads...Judging people for what they do or don't do in their car is about a dumb as you can get. Let people drive/live they way they want to.

Edit: And while I understand it, it sadly won't change the attitude of the "hardcore" crowd.

...

Second...I don't get the whole "mall rated" thing (and I know it is a play on jeep...). So none of us have ever driven our 4x4 to the store? My 4runner is my only car, I drive it everywhere. On trails and to the supermarket. It goes to the supermarket much more than it goes on the trails. That's life for most of us. Lets face it, 99.9% of the time the 4runner is probably more than any of us need. I got by ok with my honda civic; maybe I didn't drive trails but I mountain biked, hiked, camped, and went on plenty of awesome adventures in the civic. Maybe a select few of us use our 4x4 only off road as a second car, and if that is you that is awesome, congrats. For the rest of us, the 4runner probably does spend more time in the parking lot of a store or in our driveway than it does on a trail...and that is ok too. What are you trying to say? "Oh man that guy is such a looser bro, he drove his FJ to the store" Grow up...there are seriously tons of photos on this site of 4runners in a drive way or parking lot. How come we're not all saying "mall rated" for those?

 

[4Rager]

Or maybe some folks just like the look and style of a lifted vehicle but have no interest in going off road.

This thing is, that's pretty much the exact definition of a "poser". Aka "I want to be associated with this or that because it makes ME look cool." It would be like all of a sudden telling everyone you're a Broncos fan because they're going to the Super Bowl and it's so exciting, but you have no idea who Peyton Manning is. Sure you have every right to support the team, but a true fan is not gonna have that much respect for you.

The Porsche argument doesn't hold up that well for me, because you can get a lot of enjoyment out of a sports car as your daily driver on public roads. When it comes to 4x4's, you have people willingly making on-road sacrifices for off road capability that they admittedly never use. To an enthusiant your basically saying you're only interested in the looks, not the culture or experience. This leads the "hardcore" people scratching their heads wondering why you didn't spend your money on something more functional for you.

But to your point, in modern culture cars and trucks have established themselves as a unique form of self expression that is rarely 100% rational.

 

[wadle5]

This thing is, that's pretty much the exact definition of a "poser". Aka "I want to be associated with this or that because it makes ME look cool."
But to your point, in modern culture cars and trucks have established themselves as a unique form of self expression that is rarely 100% rational.

I wouldn't say it is to be associated with a group, but some individuals like bigger vehicles. .case in point I appreciate my lift on my vehicle. Being a little over 6'3 it is nice to just slide right into my vehicle and not have to fall in and crawl out of a smaller/lower vehicle. In other regards some do like the small compact cars(I will never understand this?). But as stated some peoples idea of function is different. Some feel safer being up higher, or have a better viewpoint of all surroundings and vehicles? It clearly is preference.
I appreciate a clean vehicle, but I would also refute that yes sometimes the vehicle does need to see a little dirt and stretch the legs. I guess that is the benefit of having a lifted vehicle, as it is more likely to occur in that one off situation that requires it or freak scenario/weather if the rig is already modified and lifted.
If more capable I am going to jump that curb and take that island parking at the mall....lol.

Or I will just continue to take it hunting and down to the farm, and our annual Colorado trip and get some more technical driving in.

 

[4Rager]

case in point I appreciate my lift on my vehicle. Being a little over 6'3 it is nice to just slide right into my vehicle and not have to fall in and crawl out of a smaller/lower vehicle.

This is where personally I feel it's all relative. Your personal preference combined with the fact that you go hunting and camping make a lift a reasonable purchase. I think it's more the people who are like "This is my first SUV and I just found this sick forum. I just ordered my TRPD (Inferno!) and I have an Icon Stage 7 kit on the way cuz it's the best and I like to go snowboarding a few times a year! My buddy has an FJ with 35's, which look sick. Can I fit those without rubbing?"

My point is, a lot of the enthusiast snark is based on the fact that anyone can throw their money at whatever they want, but a lot of enthusiasts do loads of research and spend significant time & $ to create their ideal build. So when someone shows up throwing top dollar at a build even though they could do everything they plan to do in a stock truck, it sometimes rubs people the wrong way.

 

[Pigeye]

There are a few of us!

I don't disagree with you... but it's not like we have a ton of Heeps to make fun of on this forum.

 

[Jernik]

Well, I'm a shorter guy at 5'5", so I like to compensate by driving a HUGE truck. It makes me feel like I suddenly have God-like power and totalitarian authority over the road! It's the one time I can be the BIG MAN and push everybody else around for a change! Not to mention, it instantly makes my **** 50% bigger too! :wacko: :rofl:

 

[zidaro]

Oh my! so sensitive.

 

[Unner]

I think you've taken it wrong. It's not like we go around making fun of people's rides on this forum. We all respect a well built rig if it's wheeled hard, or parked hard. Mine sees more parking lot time than anything because it's a DD and I don't live on a remote rock crawling road, but I do get out every now and then.

The thing most people here don't like is the stupid questions like "What size tire can I fit?" etc.

The crowd I don't care much for is the 12" lift, HID's, rollin' coal, obnoxious diesel american trucks, but that's because their trucks annoy me not just because I don't like their looks or the fact that their mall crawlers.

 

[wiley81db]

seriously, who cares?? whether you are bone stock or lifted, whether you go out every day and wheel and tear shit up or drive it daily. just enjoy the vehicle and enjoy how it suits your needs.

 

[wanderMT]

Some places, it takes 4x4 to get to the mall!

 

[wadle5]

Well, I'm a shorter guy at 5'5", so I like to compensate by driving a HUGE truck. :

Feel sorry for you man. .anytime you need a step stool or a running start I will offer a hand. :bolt:

In the end you are still 5'5"

 

[Brooklyn@3260]

Hi, a great cobalt blue. Is it safe in fog, visible. Which colors would you recommend. Thank you.

 

[NinjaOne]

Hi, a great cobalt blue. Is it safe in fog, visible. Which colors would you recommend. Thank you.

According to AAA, there is no significant safety difference between colors. The exception noted would be silver as it tends to blend with the fog. With proper lighting, (bright taillights, side markers etc.), there shouldn't be a problem.

https://www.aaafoundation.org/sites/default/files/CarColorAndSafety.pdf

If you want the safest color, a reflective lime green paint :lasercannon:

 

[Brooklyn@3260]

Thank you, that's what I thought that siiver was a little risky, in fog, although beautiful. I love the cobalt color, but they also say red is pretty safe. Thanks. All best.

 

[Bstrom]

I view my 'runner as an urban assault vehicle. Rough city streets, crumbling interstates and the occasional winter storm more than justify driving a 4WD vehicle. And I have had more than one need to crawl up a gully washed dirt driveway in a rural county.

It is multipurpose too for many a weekend errand and has towing capacity as well. None of these capabilities in a more car or even a pickup. I too need long term use out of my vehicle so will care for it well and avoid any abuse off-roading would bring.