Trail rig ~vs Daily driver

[nevada]

Well, it works, but only down hill. Otherwise it will drop 2 gears, go way too fast, upshift, rinse and repeat

After responding initially, I realized that's probably what you meant. I'm starting to run into the same thing after I got the lift installed and if I'm going >60-65mph up any hill.

regear those things! you'll wonder why you waited so long.



as to the OP, I don't have a 5th gen, but I did DD my wheeler for quite a few years. then finally decided I couldn't wheel as hard as I wanted to, so I got a different DD, and kept my other as a dedicated wheeler.

it is now a trailered wheeler, as it is far from street legal...

 

[joneseyyy]

Mine is my only vehicle and daily driver, cross-country roadtrip vehicle, and offroad toy. It is EXTENSIVELY modified with armor, storage, dual battery, aux lighting, not to mention a pretty insane suspension setup and goodyear MT/R mud tires.

Everything folks have posted here is generally true. The truck's mileage is pretty bad now (I avg 14 mpg), the high performance suspension requires lubrication and shocks/uca's need maintenance every ~2-3 years. The tires are heavy, make more noise than highway tires, and you can feel the big mud-tire tread voids at low speeds. Overall, the truck is not longer something you just put gas in and change the oil for the first 150k miles and forget everything else. That is fine with me; I understand the tradeoffs I've made and enjoy maintaining the truck.

Even with everything that has been modified, the truck meets my needs for the daily commute and I can run it over 1,000 miles in a day on the highway without getting beat to hell (I've done it several times).

 

[Jeremy556]

regear those things! you'll wonder why you waited so long.

The $2400 price tag...

 

[nevada]

The $2400 price tag...

I doubt it costs that much..
just drop some 3rds in, do it yourself, theres no way it will cost $2400.

but, factor in the extra money you're spending on fuel. and its only getting more expensive, the earlier you regear, the more you save.

 

[bimrunner]

Regear to 4.56 is somewhere around half what you mentioned (perhaps even less). I was just north of 3k with the regear, 2 ARB lockers and compressor with install kits.

 

[Okki]

Mine is my daily driver, and while I'm a bit more "Mall Princess pretty" than the weekend warriors, it goes everywhere I've pointed it so far and gets me to work and back each day. and without any damaged sheet metal and very minimal pin-striping.

As mentioned, more mods = more maintenance, but you should know that before getting them done...

Okki

 

[Jeremy556]

Regear to 4.56 is somewhere around half what you mentioned (perhaps even less). I was just north of 3k with the regear, 2 ARB lockers and compressor with install kits.

That is with an ARB for the front, with rebuild 3rds from East Coast Gear.

 

[downpour11]

lol that'll be the day when I see a 5th gen 4runner used as a trail-only rig.

 

[Semi-Hex]

I use mine for both, but I have only the Sierra's and the SoCal deserts to play in. I do have it lifted, with sliders, dual battery and tow my camping trailer, but have only been stopped twice... by the trail to Bald mountain.

I get a hair over 16 mpg towing my trailer and well over 19 without.

As for keeping it clean, it is coming to its two year anniversary, so I washed my other two vehicles instead. One hadn't been washed in four years and the other eleven, so I figured they were due.

It has never been to the mall, so I can't give you a report on how it does there.

The TR4.org stickers is what makes it cool.

 

[buchaja]

Well, it works, but only down hill. Otherwise it will drop 2 gears, go way too fast, upshift, rinse and repeat

Most annoying feature of the 4runner. I used it once. :wow:

 

[DannyLlama]

After my experience with a modifed DD that was offroaded and my purpose build offroader, my new truck would remain stock.

Can you elaborate about this part ?

 

[adio3x]

I daily mine and spend a good amount of time out on trails.

You just have to accept the fact that things will happen to your rig that you may not like. My paint looks like 100 tigers mauled the crap out of it and I have a giant dent in my passenger door, am I ok with that, totally. With proper maintenance and knowing your limits off road, you can daily it and still have a great time.

 

[SOcalTRAIL]

I daily mine and spend a good amount of time out on trails.

You just have to accept the fact that things will happen to your rig that you may not like. My paint looks like 100 tigers mauled the crap out of it and I have a giant dent in my passenger door, am I ok with that, totally. With proper maintenance and knowing your limits off road, you can daily it and still have a great time.

This... exactly!


I wheel the living crap out of my truck and drive it 25,000 miles a year. I don't abuse it and just take perfect care of it and make sure to fix what I break, and do the scheduled maintenance.

It works great for both!

 

[Intruder]

I have a giant dent in my passenger door, am I ok with that, totally.

A while back someone asked me if I was worried about that sort of thing since my truck is so new. I explained that there's just as much chance that someone would dent my truck in a parking lot with their shopping cart or vehicle. We don't set out to damage our trucks but it happens. At least I have a cool story behind my trail scars as opposed to explaining that it was a hit and run in the mall parking lot.

 

[mfregeau20]

Mine is my DD, although I work from home sooooo

Seriously though i don't plan to do any major wheel but do plan on hitting the snow this year and when I have the chance maybe some trails etc.

All I have right now is some wheels and BFG tires slightly bigger then stock.

My plan to add icon suspensions and Total Chaos USC's and Baja utility rack. I this way more then I likely need? Probably but who cares. If I am getting suspension for my DD I might as well get quality components.

Do your research know what your getting and just drive the thing!

:biggrin2:

 

[SOcalTRAIL]

A while back someone asked me if I was worried about that sort of thing since my truck is so new. I explained that there's just as much chance that someone would dent my truck in a parking lot with their shopping cart or vehicle. We don't set out to damage our trucks but it happens. At least I have a cool story behind my trail scars as opposed to explaining that it was a hit and run in the mall parking lot.

Very true.... plus... CHICKS DIG SCARS!!!!! :biggrin2:

 

[JayceeP]

Daily driver. Have no intention of deliberately off-roading either unless going to a camp or something in the woods. Took my brand new 2010 4-dr Wrangler off-road and regretted it every time. Don't get me wrong, it was very capable in stock form, however, the brush marks on the new black paint, the dirty engine bay from dirt and overspray, and loss of new novelty just wasn't worth it for me.

My 4Runner will be kept as pristine as possible and what matters for me is if the zombie apocalypse or some other more likely catastrophe comes along, my rig is capable. For now, I think the biggest obstacle I have navigated is a curb at the mall lol. So as the saying goes, I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it.

 

[jrandom]

Me, right in the middle, I drive it daily (short 5 mile commute to work, sometimes I just ride my bike) BUT I also want something that is at least 70% capable, meaning will go 70% of the places I want to go.

Of course I just made my first payment on this one, I need to have paid for at least 2/3 of it before I start considering any major changes (I did have a pretty damn big down payment), that said I will still drive it 50% of the places I want to go simply because these things are so damn capable with just a set of new shoes!

 

[PGRunner]

Daily driver and not intending to go off roading at all. Only mod I have so far is a change of wheels and tires. It gets me to work and when I get there I switch to my POS Ford Crown Vic. I am currently averaging 19.8 mpg with 70% hwy.

 

[toyslug]

My 2010 TE with 63,400 plus miles which I intend to keep stock with minimal "mods" like Cooper AT/3s is my only vehicle so it is used for DD (95% HWY), "light" off roading meaning forest,dirt,gravel roads,camping, snow trips and long multi-state road trips! You will not find me at the mall!