New Here! Mod suggestions please!

[Fiona]

Hi there,
I have been browsing this forum since October when I first started looking at 4Runners and everyone seems so helpful. I am now the proud owner of a 2012SR5 and was hoping I could get some suggestions on some things that would help make my 4R look a little less generic. It is my daily driver (when I dare) and I don't intend on taking it offroad (those days are over- after having a built '71 Bronco and (2) Jeep Cherokees) but it could potentially see some dirt roads on one of my husbands fishing adventures. I have attached a photo of our new rig (not the greatest, taken with my phone). It came with the running boards, and while I don't care much for them, they do serve a purpose in helping my toddler get into the vehicle. Rock sliders may be in the horizon and maybe some different tires and wheels. A lift... well... I don't want to lose the comfy ride but I have driven more lifted vehicles in my life then stock so it is an option (if I can get the husband on board). I have removed the bug shield that was on it and added HuskyLiners already.
So, what do you guys think? What should be my first mod??

 

[NorthWest 4R]

Why hello their sweetie, How about some Radflo's or King's, a new bumper and possibly a winch maybe?

( Let's hear more about Fiona and less about the hubby :naughty

 

[Titanpat57]

Tires....

Hands down


Welcome aboard and enjoy the ride...

 

[flying fuzz]

Tires....

Hands down


Welcome aboard and enjoy the ride...

:iagree: Made a big difference in ride quality and capability.

 

[Fiona]

Regarding tires and wheels- any good suggestions for stock size so I don't have to get a lift right away? Also, anyone had luck selling their stock tire and wheels?

 

[Jayhawk5G]

First off... what a VIEW!! Coming from Kansas I would love to walk outside every morning and have mountains like that to look at.

If you really won't be doing any hard off-roading then maybe focus mods that will make it more enjoyable in the way you do use it. Better tires and new wheels will set it apart from stock, and will help during snow and the "dirt" road. Sliders may be overkill if you aren't going to take it anywhere that you would need that sort of protection.

 

[andor]

Why hello their sweetie, How about some Radflo's or King's, a new bumper and possibly a winch maybe?

( Let's hear more about Fiona and less about the hubby :naughty

Good thing we arent putting it on too thick, huh?

265 BFG AT's. Huge difference in drivability and gaining the feel of a proper vehicle, not some wishy-washy crossover. I couldnt lose the stock tires quickly enough.

 

[Fiona]

First off... what a VIEW!! Coming from Kansas I would love to walk outside every morning and have mountains like that to look at.

Yes, the mountains and view are gorgeous (except the yellow neighbors house hwell I defiantly take it for granted having lived here my whole life.

All great suggestions guys! Thank you! I am going through a lot of pictures on this forum as well and there are some great looking vehicles!

 

[Antman]

Welcome!:tea:

Might I suggest you take off those factory running boards and check out the N-Fab steps?

They are a nice compromise between sliders and running boards and look and function great! You have a few options to mount them as well (more on that if you are interested).

This forum will cost you a lot of money so get ready!

 

[Dusty Driftwood]

I don't intend on taking it offroad (those days are over- after having a built '71 Bronco and (2) Jeep Cherokees) but it could potentially see some dirt roads on one of my husbands fishing adventures.

Rock sliders may be in the horizon and maybe some different tires and wheels. A lift... well... I don't want to lose the comfy ride

Congrats on the new T4R. That is some breathtaking scenery you've got there.
Pardon my asking, but if you "don't intend on taking it off road" then why would you waste money on sliders and a lift, especially if your toddler already needs help into the back seat? As Antman said, the N-Fab steps are pretty nice. HERE is a link to some info on those steps and a couple images that may offer an appealing direction you should take your 4Runner


To answer your question more directly, I usually tint the windows (in accordance with local laws) before anything else

 

[NorthWest 4R]

Good thing we arent putting it on too thick, huh?

To soon maybe? I knew I should have just asked for said pic :girl:

 

[Fiona]

Congrats on the new T4R. That is some breathtaking scenery you've got there.
Pardon my asking, but if you "don't intend on taking it off road" then why would you waste money on sliders and a lift, especially if your toddler already needs help into the back seat? As Antman said, the N-Fab steps are pretty nice. HERE is a link to some info on those steps and a couple images that may offer an appealing direction you should take your 4Runner

I don't mind you asking at all. The reason for the sliders is to simply replace the factory running boards with something that I like the looks of better and that might offer some protection in-route to a camp spot. I do like the N-Fab steps. Those may work nicely.. As for the lift- in a nutshell, I like bigger, beefer tires and wheels and if a lift is needed to acheive that then I am not opposed to a lift. Right now I really do love my new rig but I am feeling like it isn't looking quite like a T4R should.

 

[Titanpat57]

Regarding tires and wheels- any good suggestions for stock size so I don't have to get a lift right away? Also, anyone had luck selling their stock tire and wheels?

Well I'm a Bridgestone Revo AT kind of guy....but I do a 100 mile commute everyday. I got the Load Range E because I also tow.

I like the stiffer sidewall, and it gets great traction in an off road scenario as well. You'll get tire opinions here to make your head spin!:lookout:

 

[flying fuzz]

Regarding tires and wheels- any good suggestions for stock size so I don't have to get a lift right away? Also, anyone had luck selling their stock tire and wheels?

Cooper ATP or BFG AT in 265 would fill the wheel well nicely, as for resale I sold my tires on cragslist for $450 in two days, they had 4000 miles on them

 

[Intruder]

You'll get tire opinions here to make your head spin!:lookout:

Yeah, because I'm going to throw Duratracs into the mix now too. They're mountain snowflake tires that perform well in snow (which appears to be plentiful there based on the pic), rain, dry, and off road. A little noisier than a P-rated tire but maybe the tire hum will help put the toddler to sleep on long drives. They also look more aggressive than most other tires - I've busted more than a few people next to me at a red light staring at my tires including a couple of cops.

 

[PopsSmith]

Yeah, because I'm going to throw Duratracs into the mix now too. They're mountain snowflake tires that perform well in snow (which appears to be plentiful there based on the pic), rain, dry, and off road. A little noisier than a P-rated tire but maybe the tire hum will help put the toddler to sleep on long drives. They also look more aggressive than most other tires - I've busted more than a few people next to me at a red light staring at my tires including a couple of cops.

I second this. Put on durtracs this past weekend and love them. Look great perform great. If you don't mind doing a couple quick adjustments to the fender liner you can get 33s on a stock truck.

 

[j_shoe99]

1. Tint (since you already have husky mats)
2. Seat Covers
3. Interior LED lights
4. Tires

next up for me is adding front Seat Heaters, and the Smart Start Remote Starter. :bigok:

 

[andor]

Depending on your budget I am very much in the slider camp as a second addition. Guys that have forgotten more about offroading than I'll ever know will tell you that lift and tires look good at the mall but armor and drivetrain look good on the trail. Obviously tossing some ARB's and 5.29's in it arent really in your agenda but you get the idea. Worse case scenario a set of sliders (NOT "steps") allow you to drag yourself over stuff if you end up over your head (easy to do). Most of them have a very usable step anyways. My 9 month pregnant wife used the kickout portion to get into my lifted 3rd gen all the time.
Depending on where in UT you are you should take into account sidewall thickness. We are always shredding Duratrac sidewalls on our range trucks here in the CO front range. They just dont hold up well on the sharpish rocks (once again, an easy situation to get into without realizing it. Ask me how I know). I stuck with BFG AT's. First set was 58,000miles on a set of 265 E rated, now im on 285 D rated. Couldnt be happier.

 

[Fiona]

Welcome!:tea:

Might I suggest you take off those factory running boards and check out the N-Fab steps?

They are a nice compromise between sliders and running boards and look and function great! You have a few options to mount them as well (more on that if you are interested).

This forum will cost you a lot of money so get ready!

I just noticed that the N-Fab's say Trail Edition Only. Are they available for SR5's with some modifications?

 

[Okki]

There are some spacers you can get, but you also loose ground clearance in that case. You can always cut the SR5 rockers or change out to Trail Edition (TE) rockers and front fender flares.

I'm running Cooper ATP's on my Limited (when I switched to the TRD rims) and they have done well for me in both daily driving (city) and road trips (both on and off pavement). They tend to be cheaper that the BFG's and come with a better warranty.

based on your location, a Gobi or Baja Rack full length roof rack may be a good next step to carry ski's, camping gear, etc around while still leaving room for the kids and all their stuff :fish2:

Okki