Modifications you regret

REDDY_KILOW4TT said:
Seems to be tons of conflicting reports on what you have to do to run 285's. Some people say you need a 3'' lift and will still have to do body chopping. Others say 2'' is plenty and you don't have to trim a thing.

Seems like a simple straight forward scenario but apparently not.
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Yep, thats why I said every 4runner has slight differences. Two 2018 trails, with a 3" lift from bilstein, same shocks, same springs, same wheels, same tires will rub or not rub in different places. Most people have a set size in mind, buy it, and make it work.
 
REDDY_KILOW4TT said:
Great info! I'm learning so much today about suspension but at the same time it's creating more questions than answers for me.



Basically, I just want something that rides nice on/off road and will lift me high enough to fit 285 BFG KO2's.
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IMHO I wouldn't worry too much about the performance/high end shocks for your intended use from your post. I used the Toytec Ultimate (UL-FJ210 - 2010+ FJ Cruiser/4Runner Ultimate 3" lift package) and it was more than adequate for my use/expectations (which sounds exactly like yours). I had 285 KM2s and I had to trim the body mounts (most especially on the driver side). Because I kept it at 3", the SPC UCAs were great and made alignment very easy.

As for other add-ons - don't know if it was mentioned before, but waste money on a CAI. Put it towards something more functional (M2M and exp).

Also there's a good sticky on wheel & tire sizes and triming based on stock height.

GLHF

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Quick math because I have seen at least one reputable vendor claim on their site that rebuildables are more cost-effective in the long run.

Best value 2.5 performance setup I have seen is Radflo 2.5IFP front and rear, add rear springs for 1900 total normal price (no discount).
Same lift via Eibach with aftermarket springs, either Eibach or other coils, 750sh.

"industry standard" mileage with offroad use that does not abuse the shocks and rods are protected, 60,000 for the Eibachs and 40,000 for the Radflo between rebuilds. Mileage can be twice as much or half, of course.

So, by the time one is at 120,000, one has spent 1,900 on Radflo, plus 2 rebuilds at minimum 200 each time for parts, plus oil, plus extra for spherical bearings between rebuilds, assuming one has nitrogen and tools already. So that's 2,500-3,000 depending on the exact prices of kits, oil, spherical bearings, and frequency of wearing the latter. King kits are 50-54/shock.

By contrast the Eibachs are 750 plus another set of shocks, 450, that's 1,200.

If you have to pay for struts (re)assembly, the Eibach is even more cost effective. If you have to pay for the shock rebuild, costs for the performance suspension go through the roof, as does downtime.

Basically, the only way even the most budget-friendly high-end suspension will ever pay off for itself is if it is actually used to potential. If Eibachs or 5100s or Dobinsons TT can do the job, then there is no scenario where the higher-end suspension is more cost effective, which is not to say it is not worth it at all. Just a money comment that it cannot be justified in terms of long-term savings, I think.
 
mcox522 said:
Do you have a RTT? Just curious because if you do maybe you got a bad one. I spent 1300 for it and honestly the mattress is very comfortable, more than sleeping on the ground and mattress. I have ground tent camped all my life and don't think I could go back now after having a RTT. Admittedly though, I don't use it as much as I would like.

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x2. i've been renting a hardshell RTT, then last trip we just went back to ground camping, it's pretty sucky. i'm too old to not sleep all night.

RTT's have been around for a long time, the "fad" is everyone and their mom calling car camping """""""Overlanding""""" and putting kings, heim uppers, billet rear links, and maxtrax on their minivan for trips that guys are doing in their bone stock nissan altimas.
 
honda250xtitan said:
RTT's have been around for a long time, the "fad" is everyone and their mom calling car camping """""""Overlanding""""" and putting kings, heim uppers, billet rear links, and maxtrax on their minivan for trips that guys are doing in their bone stock nissan altimas.
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This is beautiful :love:
 
My biggest regret is getting Nfab steps and not getting sliders. But sliders are my next purchase for sure

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honda250xtitan said:
x2. i've been renting a hardshell RTT, then last trip we just went back to ground camping, it's pretty sucky. i'm too old to not sleep all night.

RTT's have been around for a long time, the "fad" is everyone and their mom calling car camping """""""Overlanding""""" and putting kings, heim uppers, billet rear links, and maxtrax on their minivan for trips that guys are doing in their bone stock nissan altimas.
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I think RTT's are overwrought as well. They're huge, bulky things that kill mileage and rack space. You have to break camp and take them down every time you want to move the truck. And they look dumb around town, if you don't have a crane to remove them after every trip.

Instead I invested in a QUALITY car-camping mattress, the Exped Megamat Duo. It's nearly queen sized and more comfortable than most beds I've slept on. It's not just an inflatable "pool toy" cheapo, it has internal insulation and an R value of 9.5. You can chuck it into any car camping tent and sleep like a king. And mattress/tent pack up relatively small inside the truck.

Rooftop tents ARE a fad everywhere, except where they originated: keeping trekkers off of the ground, away from being trampled or mauled in their sleep by big game in Africa.
 
mynameistory said:
I think RTT's are overwrought as well. They're huge, bulky things that kill mileage and rack space. You have to break camp and take them down every time you want to move the truck. And they look dumb around town, if you don't have a crane to remove them after every trip.

Instead I invested in a QUALITY car-camping mattress, the Exped Megamat Duo. It's nearly queen sized and more comfortable than most beds I've slept on. It's not just an inflatable "pool toy" cheapo, it has internal insulation and an R value of 9.5. You can chuck it into any car camping tent and sleep like a king. And mattress/tent pack up relatively small inside the truck.

Rooftop tents ARE a fad everywhere, except where they originated: keeping trekkers off of the ground, away from being trampled or mauled in their sleep by big game in Africa.
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Dude those exped's are awesome. I've been back and forth on buying one for a couple years now, occasionally they go on sale too. The RTT works great for us, i throw in on the trailer we built and if we need to leave or whatever we just leave the trailer. also its only 130 lbs:lookout:
 
honda250xtitan said:
Dude those exped's are awesome. I've been back and forth on buying one for a couple years now, occasionally they go on sale too. The RTT works great for us, i throw in on the trailer we built and if we need to leave or whatever we just leave the trailer. also its only 130 lbs:lookout:
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Our variation of the theme is at a more basic level. I have favorite campsites (size, shade) in favorite campgrounds (decent facilities) in Colorado and Utah (even Oregon lol) and we just pitch our basecamp there. Then trail riding and hiking as day trips from the basecamp. It is easy, relatively convenient, and unapologetically cheap.

I am not really adventurous enough to put up with the logistics of spending a week without facilities or access to groceries/restaurants. Dealing with food yourself all day long day after day gets tedious quickly.

"Overland" travel as in Australia--a guy I have been in touch with for years just returned home one month after breaking down in the middle of Australia and trying to have the vehicle repaired in some small town with a couple shops while air-shipping parts from Sydney--is both a fad and a choice in the lower 48. There is not a single place that requires more than one night camping and that's not overlanding. Australia is different: self-sufficiency can be a matter of life and death, vehicles are normally very heavy because they need to be, not to look cool, and this is also why standard Australian suspensions are not normally great on empty vehicles.

As for RTT, we could use one in the desert because there is no way we camp in the AZ desert on the ground. But I would not be doing that more than a few nights/year anyway so there is no point for us going that route.
 
sactown said:
If I had to guess
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No doubt

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Thrasher_S said:
Also add "sharp pointy rocks" everywhere.
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Haha, no question, that's a thing, too. Due to the reasons pointed out by [MENTION=169146]sactown[/MENTION], :cheers: -- pointy rocks is something that normally I think about in relation to tires, not tents.

This spring, however, that came into play, too. There is a phenomenal campsite atop of House Mountain trail just south of Sedona (best panoramic view of the area). I took a very close look and, nope, there was absolutely nowhere to pitch a tent. Fantastic spot and there are two ways to drive to the top, one of which is quite fun, two faster sections and a mildly rocky shelf in between. But the campsite was completely covered by embedded rocks, far too many to move around and far too pointy...

In short, yes, an RTT can be useful in Arizona.

By contrast, have not had any issues ground camping in the Utah desert and never seen a snake there (knock on wood, 'cause we are headed there soon enough!).
 
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