Is modding worth it for a 98% city driver?

[radiclus]

Hello,

If the following describes you please answer my question below:

1. You have a new 4runner as a daily driver
2. You rarely go off-road, but might like to more
3. You have installed new lift, tires, wheels, etc.

Are you happy with the mods you've done?

I usually am against modding a vehicle, but since I purchased a new 4runner I am thinking about it. However, I am currently and in the future will mostly commute to work in the car. I am curious to know how many people in similar shoes has bitten the bullet and if it tastes good still?

 

[hrod79]

I use mine as a daily driver and am happy. I love looking at it now. However you have to ask yourself if you can deal with losing the fuel mileage. 400 miles to a tank to about 350....... from 19-20mpg to around 17 average... I miss the extended range but It is like having a completely different vehicle. Prior to moding I was bored with it and really was thinking of just trading it in on something else. Now I can see keeping it for good.

 

[Rubberdown]

I think I fit into this category. My wife daily drives our 4runner, and we never wheel it super hard at all. Mostly at the beach and on our farm in the pastures.

I have installed all terrains, king 2.5 coilovers and shocks, and icon springs in the back. While I wasn't really after the lift, I couldn't stand the way it rode, and it sort of snowballed a little bit. I really do like the way it rides now, and it looks a bit tougher which is cool. I need some bigger tires in my opinion (I stuck with 265s because I wasn't going to lift it).

Things I don't like are its a little louder with the all terrains, and it gets a mile a gallon less than it did. Ohh and it was expensive to do, and I bought everything used and am saying that.

Would I do it again? Definitely, but with 285 tires so I could feel cooler about myself.

 

[Rubberdown]

I use mine as a daily driver and am happy. I love looking at it now. However you have to ask yourself if you can deal with losing the fuel mileage. 400 miles to a tank to about 350....... from 19-20mpg to around 17 average... I miss the extended range but It is like having a completely different vehicle. Prior to moding I was bored with it and really was thinking of just trading it in on something else. Now I can see keeping it for good.

No trade it in and sell me your roof rack!

 

[pimpsta]

I wheel maybe 10-12 days out of the entire year so that's more than 95% on-road. With that said, the mods I did really made those 10-12 days really enjoyable. I think it all depends on how you see your 4R. Some see it merely a method of transportation or a "tool" to transport people and things. My sig will tell you I'm not that type. Call me vain but I check out my truck every time I walk towards or away from it. Also it's assuring to know that I have a rig that's ready for zombie outbreak...or at least until I run out of gas.

 

[G8RB8_12SR5]

I don't necessarily drive in the city but I do spend A LOT of time on pavement and have found what works best is to drive it a while and see what you're using it for and modify it to your needs. First thing I did was vent visors so I could vent the windows when it rained in Seattle to cool two warm hunting dogs off after training without soaking the interior, then swapped out to longer aftermarket crossbars than stock to add more versatility to roof rack accessories that I have (basket/bike/surf/kayak/eventually SUP), later I added air bags when my situation changed and I bought a travel trailer to live in part time, neoprene seat covers were because of the hunting dogs and the amount of outdoor stuff both wet (surfing/snowshoeing) and muddy (MTB/hiking/hunting) that we like to do as a family and wanted to protect the seats (I have cloth), and sliders I did because I wanted steps but I only wanted to spend money once in case I decide to start serious off roading and not have to replace cheap steps later.

And that's through my first 2 years of ownership, I didn't have the cash to drop for everything at once and that made me take a step back and put things in perspective of how I use the 4R which steered my modding direction. Probably later this year I will put a 2.5" lift on and definitely doing a good set of A/T tires, since they figure into future adventure plans. But that's the route I suggest, don't rush into something because it looks cool but you never use it and now have to park in a different garage because of lift height or don't want to lose that 50 miles of extra range with the mileage drop.

Side note: When I first got on here I looked at things that looked cool and built a mod list that totaled a jaw-dropping $18k and I didn't even have 5k miles on it at the time. Take the time and get your own perspective on what you use it for and mod accordingly. Spend your money how you wish BUT make sure you adjust your expectations accordingly if certain performance metrics degrade (MPG primarily) and you'll be a very happy owner.

 

[3wbdriver]

Hello,

If the following describes you please answer my question below:

1. You have a new 4runner as a daily driver
2. You rarely go off-road, but might like to more
3. You have installed new lift, tires, wheels, etc.

Are you happy with the mods you've done?

Yes to all of the above! But I also have a tendency to personalize any vehicle I have ever owned anyway. 2 months into ownership I still haven't really been able to play off road, but it's not for lack-a-wanna.

 

[2014 Warthog]

Mine is also my DD so yeah 98% oif the time it's all pavement.

So my first round of mods are all done to give it reasonable offroad and camping utility without sacrificing much or any MPG.

AT tires of the same size that it came with, new wheels, a short roof rack (Being set back from the lip of the windshield makes it much less of a wind drag), better shocks with only a tiny front lift (.85 in) to get it up off the bump stops some. Also getting some rock sliders.

They shocks are not in yet (backordered) but so far the AT tires and rack have not lessened my MPG /at all/ Still exactly 18.3 on my daily commute. It also looks awesome

Second stage would be higher lift front and back and 33 in tires with front and rear bumpers and THAT will then push your milage down, All depends on how much you want from iit offroad vs how much gas your willing to waste on it

 

[T4R_Finally]

Mine was my wife's dd and now it's mine. But to me it still feels and looks like a wife's dd. Sorry if that offends anyone but with the stock rake, no 4x4 badging, and the huge low running boards, that's how I feel about it. So I am going to drop the running boards and level the front end and put some AT style tires in it. Won't make it technically much more "capable" than it already is, but I will like the look better. It needs tires anyway so the only extra cost to me will be new shocks and installation labor and whatever mpg drop comes with it.

 

[KidVermicious]

I don't necessarily drive in the city but I do spend A LOT of time on pavement and have found what works best is to drive it a while and see what you're using it for and modify it to your needs.

Quoted for truth.

OP, you don't need upgrades yet. A 4Runner will get you through 99.9% of the dirt roads you can legally drive it on without any mods at all. If you're not already going those places, I doubt that a couple thousand dollars of lift and tires and whatnot will magically make you more likely to take the truck out on a weekend.

 

[1engineer]

Quoted for truth.

OP, you don't need upgrades yet. A 4Runner will get you through 99.9% of the dirt roads you can legally drive it on without any mods at all. If you're not already going those places, I doubt that a couple thousand dollars of lift and tires and whatnot will magically make you more likely to take the truck out on a weekend.

I love magic. I go off road more than most people I know and the only mod I did was tires. [MENTION=49649]KidVermicious[/MENTION] is correct: How you are now is usually how you are going to be later. Every time I see one of those lifted GMC trucks I just SMH.

 

[T4R_Finally]

No doubt, the 5th gens are deceivingly capable right out of the box. Dirt roads, mud, and snow certainly don't require modifications. Some justify mods by building towards an offroad purpose and others, like me, just admit that they want a tougher look, knowing full well there is really no practical reason for doing it. Most "souped up" 4x4's you see will never come close to using it for what they supposedly built it to look like it's for. We like what we like and want what we want. Just look at what many do with Jeeps. I'd do the same. They are some ugly vehicles right off the lot and I'd never care to own a totally stock one. But they can't be made to look really bad ass with some mods.

 

[jpclark]

Hello,

If the following describes you please answer my question below:

1. You have a new 4runner as a daily driver
2. You rarely go off-road, but might like to more
3. You have installed new lift, tires, wheels, etc.

Are you happy with the mods you've done?

I usually am against modding a vehicle, but since I purchased a new 4runner I am thinking about it. However, I am currently and in the future will mostly commute to work in the car. I am curious to know how many people in similar shoes has bitten the bullet and if it tastes good still?

First... I'm going to assume you purchased the 4x4 option. If not, then modding for offroad is mute.

I drive a minimum 350 miles each week commuting (1400 a month). I may drive 5-100 miles off road - hitting the trails about once a month, so I definitely meet the small % mark. I purchased a 2013 Limited in April and had never wheeled before. Knowing that I wanted to wheel, I immediately pulled the 20" rims and installed 17"s along with a set of BFG All Terrains.

So what have I learned in the past 10 months...

1) Without mods you WILL scratch/ding/break things. I slightly crunched my front bumper taking a steep dune... and I completely broke off one of the aluminum running boards while driving on completely flat beach sand. (A log was buried under the stand. Rolling over the log thrust it up and popped of the running board.) I've also scraped the bottom of my rig descending a very steep down-grade with ledges. All of these things could have been avoided with a good lift, off-road bumper and rock rails. BUT... all of that can be some serious $$$.

I generally agree with the point about "driving your vehicle for a while" before doing any mods, but I think most on this forum would agree at the bare essentials... getting higher off the ground and including broader shoes. In that arena, I can offer my opinions... unless you're just wanting to lift for "show", stay away from the spacers and go with a true suspension lift. Toytec Lifts offers a complete package with Bilstein shocks. I actually opted for the Icon Stage 2 kit and am waiting for it to arrive next week. BUT... if you plan on doing 70mph in Baja, you'll probably want to opt for their Stage 5 kit. Having said that illustrates the 2nd rule: 2) Mod for how/where you intend to wheel.

Next... 3) Be sure to include proper recovery gear. D-rings, snatch cables, winches, etc... all dependent on where you plan to wheel. If you're going in to harms way, make a reasonable attempt to equip yourself to get out. I purchased a receiver-mounted d-ring and snatch cable day 1... I ended up having to use it 3 times across my first 2 outings... pulling OTHER people out.

If you're a person who likes "aesthetic mods", I hope you'll consider this... 4) Leave the aesthetic mods until last. Instead, focus on capability. In my opinion, this will get the most bang for your buck when wheeling.

So... to answer your question... "Is it worth it?" Well, that's a very subjective question. Is it worth it for you to buy a set of Calloways if you've never golfed? Probably not. But if you plan on golfing regularly? Maybe. For me, the peace of getting away from it all and catching a sunrise on the coast - with noone else around... or climbing I hill and feeling that adrenaline... all makes it worth while. THAT's why I just dropped about $9k in a new bumper, rock rails, bigger rims, and Icon suspension, and can not wait for it all to arrive!

If you'd like to see some of the pics and videos of what you CAN do with just a set of rims and tires, check out my "day in the life of" thread.

I hope this helps... and HAPPY WHEELING!

 

[KidVermicious]

First... I'm going to assume you purchased the 4x4 option. If not, then modding for offroad is mute.

Moot.

/pedantic butthead

 

[Daily-runner]

If it makes you happy everything else is moot.

 

[Intruder]

D-rings, snatch cables

Use bow shackles, not D-rings. You can side load a bow shackle but not a D-ring. In addition to just having the recovery gear you need to learn how to use them properly as well. Shackles and snatch straps are useless if you're wheeling alone too.

I daily drive mine and wheeled it completely stock for a while before modding it. That allowed me to figure out not only what I wanted to do with it, but also the order to do it in. Lift and tires, then skid plates and sliders, front bumper and winch, now just waiting on my rear bumper. Lots of people are fine just upgrading to an AT tire and nothing more.

 

[Intruder]

Moot.

/pedantic butthead

Irregardless we knew what he meant for all intensive purposes.

/grammar troll

 

[1engineer]

First... I'm going to assume you purchased the 4x4 option. If not, then modding for offroad is mute.

I drive a minimum 350 miles each week commuting (1400 a month). I may drive 5-100 miles off road - hitting the trails about once a month, so I definitely meet the small % mark. I purchased a 2013 Limited in April and had never wheeled before. Knowing that I wanted to wheel, I immediately pulled the 20" rims and installed 17"s along with a set of BFG All Terrains.

So what have I learned in the past 10 months...

1) Without mods you WILL scratch/ding/break things. I slightly crunched my front bumper taking a steep dune... and I completely broke off one of the aluminum running boards while driving on completely flat beach sand. (A log was buried under the stand. Rolling over the log thrust it up and popped of the running board.) I've also scraped the bottom of my rig descending a very steep down-grade with ledges. All of these things could have been avoided with a good lift, off-road bumper and rock rails. BUT... all of that can be some serious $$$.

I generally agree with the point about "driving your vehicle for a while" before doing any mods, but I think most on this forum would agree at the bare essentials... getting higher off the ground and including broader shoes. In that arena, I can offer my opinions...

I absolutely do not agree with you. The 4Runner is extremely capable in stock form. It will go much farther than your courage usually. Even with STOCK TIRES. This of course does not account for the driver though. I'm sorry you tore off your running board, crunched your front bumper and scraped the bottom of your vehicle. Spending $9K does not help you pick a better line but there are classes for that and they are much cheaper.
Sure, bigger tires will increase ground clearance. Better suspension will enable you to go faster and sometimes further than a stock vehicle. A winch is a great thing to have in certain situations but none of that is mandatory to go off road. Don't believe me? Here is a link to a trail several members have driven with their lifted and built 4Runners. Happy viewing: Poughkeepsie Gulch Trail - Subaru Forester Off Road - YouTube I wouldn't recommend it but the spotter was good and the guy can drive.

 

[thebwlife]

Quoted for truth.

OP, you don't need upgrades yet. A 4Runner will get you through 99.9% of the dirt roads you can legally drive it on without any mods at all. If you're not already going those places, I doubt that a couple thousand dollars of lift and tires and whatnot will magically make you more likely to take the truck out on a weekend.

I agree, I took a 100% stock truck over most of the big name trails around Ouray. I did lose a tire, but other than that no big deal!

I did my lift for me cause I always wanted a lifted fj but it's not practical with twin two year olds...

 

[T4R_Finally]

Irregardless we knew what he meant for all intensive purposes.

/grammar troll

My English teacher is rolling over in her grave.

A mute point would be one you never have to hear. A moot point is one that has no purpose in being heard.

Irregardless and intensive purposes in the same sentence - LMFAO. It's almost as bad as watching an episode of Honey Boo Boo.