To Mod Or Not To Mod? - '14 TE

[pbcolt]

The ARB skids don't weigh much, so they won't affect ride height. Sliders might a little. Why would you need sliders anyway?

It does ride a little lower in front. You can fix that with Bilstein 5100s but now you're going down the slippery slope of modding.

You have to decide what little "imperfections" in the stock setup you're willing to put up with to preserve reliability. If you really feel like it needs to be addressed, go ahead and mod it, but just understand there is a trade-off and no solution is perfect.

Sliders just seem like "cheap" insurance. Everything from that rock you can't quite get around to the little kid who goes Daytona 500 with a shopping cart right into your truck or the guy who has apparently never opened a door next to a car before.

Modding definitely is a slippery slope. Something like:

1. Add some protection because the stock skids are wimpy.
2. Well, that lowered the front a bit so let's fix that with a front lift.
3. Well, now it sits butt down when it's loaded, so add rear lift.
4. Well, now its high and the tires look silly so add some bigger tires.
5. Well, now that I can seriously off-road it, I'll do that. Better add sliders.
6. Well, now that I'm stuck I guess I should get a winch to get me out.
7. Well, I need a way to mount the winch, so add a front bumper.
8. Well, might as well add a rear too so it doesn't look silly.
9. Well, that's a lot of weight, better change out the suspension again.

Or I could just live with the capable vehicle I have now and avoid 1-9.

 

[NoDak]

Sliders just seem like "cheap" insurance. Everything from that rock you can't quite get around to the little kid who goes Daytona 500 with a shopping cart right into your truck or the guy who has apparently never opened a door next to a car before.

Modding definitely is a slippery slope. Something like:

1. Add some protection because the stock skids are wimpy.
2. Well, that lowered the front a bit so let's fix that with a front lift.
3. Well, now it sits butt down when it's loaded, so add rear lift.
4. Well, now its high and the tires look silly so add some bigger tires.
5. Well, now that I can seriously off-road it, I'll do that. Better add sliders.
6. Well, now that I'm stuck I guess I should get a winch to get me out.
7. Well, I need a way to mount the winch, so add a front bumper.
8. Well, might as well add a rear too so it doesn't look silly.
9. Well, that's a lot of weight, better change out the suspension again.

10. Well, I am too old for this crap, just buy a new 4Runner and leave it stock


fixed

 

[Antman]

If there's something you don't like, change it. Just realize that others may not like what you've done at trade-in time and you may run into problems down the road with your mods/durability.

Personally, I have never had the ability to leave any vehicle stock. Once you start you can't stop.

 

[roktoy]

Sliders just seem like "cheap" insurance. Everything from that rock you can't quite get around to the little kid who goes Daytona 500 with a shopping cart right into your truck or the guy who has apparently never opened a door next to a car before.

Modding definitely is a slippery slope. Something like:

1. Add some protection because the stock skids are wimpy.
2. Well, that lowered the front a bit so let's fix that with a front lift.
3. Well, now it sits butt down when it's loaded, so add rear lift.
4. Well, now its high and the tires look silly so add some bigger tires.
5. Well, now that I can seriously off-road it, I'll do that. Better add sliders.
6. Well, now that I'm stuck I guess I should get a winch to get me out.
7. Well, I need a way to mount the winch, so add a front bumper.
8. Well, might as well add a rear too so it doesn't look silly.
9. Well, that's a lot of weight, better change out the suspension again.

Or I could just live with the capable vehicle I have now and avoid 1-9.

This is so true, a big rabbit hole. But that's why its fun.

 

[MillerPKA]

You came to the wrong place to ask if you should mod

 

[danoT4R]

I'm going with an OME 3" lift and 285s. I think this will get me around and/or over anything I'm going to do in the summer here in CO.

7. Well, I need a way to mount the winch, so add a front bumper.
8. Well, might as well add a rear too so it doesn't look silly.
9. Well, that's a lot of weight, better change out the suspension again.

You can avoid steps 7-9 above if you just do the Bud Built Hidden Winch Mount

You came to the wrong place to ask if you should mod

THIS