Upgrades are nice, but are they necessary?

[Boris]

I got the 3rd gen knowing that this whip is a bulldozer, it can go anywhere anytime. I know the truck because I had hilux surf back home which is basically same thing, well a bit more luxurious, and right handed... Back then I didn't have any upgrades, other then a winch, and I took it off road every other day. Now when I got 99 t4r limited I started thinking about lifting it, adding lockers, changing wheels and all the other things available on the market. My friend has a 2002 dodge ram lifted like 10 inches with huge wheels winch and all the other toppings, and his friend has a wrangler all tuned up to the max. Anyways they were going on the trail so I went with them. Right now my t4r is completely stock with 250k miles on it, except for the toyo open country m/t 32's. I finished the trail, and kept up with big guys, got stuck only once and at the end had only one front left sway link broken. Now my question is are the mods and lifts and upgrades really necessary? What is the mod when you are fairly stock but still can beat any trail?
Thank you.

 

[the great him]

your friends are pu55ys if they cant out wheel a stock 4runner, not trying to say that a stock 4runner is junk and pathedic, but if you have a truck with lockers, gears, a lift, big tires and a winch ect and you cant out wheel a stock truck then you are pu55y or the guy driving the stock truck is Bill Burke... either way if you dont feel the need to mod your truck then dont do it. dont do it impress us, cause really do you care what we think about your truck? (i doubt it as you dont post much here...) do you care what the guy sitting next to you at a stop light will think about it, or your neighbors... if you do then you need more than mods to your truck. if its not important to you then dont waste your money on it...


the question you are asking us is not a question we can answer, that is an answer you must find for yourself...

 

[JayRolla]

I used to feel like you. I always thought I could keep up, which for the most part I can but there is times the mods give you great advantage. When you stock you look for the easy line to get through. When your modded you look for the hard line. Instead of being the trails punk, you want too punk the trail, if you know what i mean.

I just went on Eagle Rock yesterday with 7 rigs, I am open diff and really see where I was at a disadvantage. The trail was a little moist making traction horrible and the guys with lockers cruised right up. I had too work a lot to get up and was winched once.

If you get a rear locker 4runner they go crazy. My buddys stock fg with rear locker was having less trouble then my lifted 33" setup and his tires where coming off the ground. It comes down too how much you want to do and where you really want to take it. Stock if you feel good, then keep her stock. For some of us we want to own all the trails one day.

 

[LittleCaesar]

Yep, otherwise why be on this forum? It could get very boring to stay stock while being a member here. But as the kid postulates quite well, one's driving ability plays a large part, maybe the largest, in taking one's off-road vehicle off-road.

That said, I love having installed my HIDs, 906s, Billy HDs, e factory locker, etc on my 4runner that sees mud maybe 30 minutes a season. I am slowly waiting for a Supercharger, that is if the prices ever come down to earth.

 

[BlackCat914]

I've never had a girl complain about the size of my junk, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't like another inch or two. See what I'm getting at?

 

[the great him]

Yep, otherwise why be on this forum? It could get very boring to stay stock while being a member here. But as the kid postulates quite well, one's driving ability plays a large part, maybe the largest, in taking one's off-road vehicle off-road.

That said, I love having installed my HIDs, 906s, Billy HDs, e factory locker, etc on my 4runner that sees mud maybe 30 minutes a season. I am slowly waiting for a Supercharger, that is if the prices ever come down to earth.

there is a ton of knowledge on service and maintenance for our rigs, not just off roading them or building them up. a lot of the "mods" are for fixes that are common issues like say the scion radio swap, or the tacoma whip mod... ISR delete, tundra brake upgrade, trans cooler ect ect ect. those are all great "mods" that have nothing to do with building up a rig or wheeling it. then we can get into the benefits of basic maintenance like tune ups, or cleaning MAS, or u-joint replacement, or timing belt jobs ect. or trouble shooting advice on issues.... there is a lot more to this forum than who make the best lift, or how big of a tire can i run and what tire, or best bumpers ect...

 

[OffRoadGuy]

I got the 3rd gen knowing that this whip is a bulldozer, it can go anywhere anytime. I know the truck because I had hilux surf back home which is basically same thing, well a bit more luxurious, and right handed... Back then I didn't have any upgrades, other then a winch, and I took it off road every other day. Now when I got 99 t4r limited I started thinking about lifting it, adding lockers, changing wheels and all the other things available on the market. My friend has a 2002 dodge ram lifted like 10 inches with huge wheels winch and all the other toppings, and his friend has a wrangler all tuned up to the max. Anyways they were going on the trail so I went with them. Right now my t4r is completely stock with 250k miles on it, except for the toyo open country m/t 32's. I finished the trail, and kept up with big guys, got stuck only once and at the end had only one front left sway link broken. Now my question is are the mods and lifts and upgrades really necessary? What is the mod when you are fairly stock but still can beat any trail?
Thank you.

Not necessary, but without pictures of the trails, we think you and your buddies ticked out rigs took a stroll around Disneyland. Come to California and we'll take you on some runs that will make your stock t4r take the ez way around. If you keep up, I'll take you to the real Disneyland.

 

[BrianSD_42]

The only thing necessary is changing the oil.

But back to your question, you are comparing apples and oranges. Try keeping up on a trail that requires sliders and see how your door panels hold up.

 

[5vzT4R]

Upgrades are necessary when the stock components wont hold up to the use of your vehicle. Or Toyota did not have the upgrades as a factory option.

Or you simply like to feel good about not driving around a vehicle that looks and performs as every other on the road. Then, upgrades are necessary to make your vehicle your own.

 

[masphx]

I would say sliders would be one of the most important mods. I wheeled my Runner stock for almost a year and a half. Went on Broken Arrow, Back way to crown king plus a few others all stock. Never a problem but I always worried about my rocker panels. I was told several times (once by Steve at SS) I should get sliders first. It was the first major offroad mod I did to my truck. I have yet to have the need to use them (have come close) but it puts my mind at ease. If you have a 2000+ 4R I would say lift is most important. I have a 98 so already have the second highest stock suspension. I still have no plans on lifting it yet but that will come next as the stock suspension has almost 200K on it.

 

[SV_Dude]

What is the point of modifying a vehicle for offroad use? The stock runner is very capable in its stock form. BUT, there comes a point where you drive over obstacles that the stock runner cannot conquer. So you need to improve your traction, ground clearance and protection for your runner. Those 3 crucial upgrades are the points for upgrading any offroad vehicle.

I guarantee you that if your friends had lifts, tires and lockers tht either they held back a LOT or you did not take the same lines that they did.