What mods do you wish you had done sooner?

[TerraCrawler]

damn, now I have to research how to do a re-gear.

You write a check for like $2000

 

[TerraCrawler]

Supercharger and Stereo. Expensive, but the driving experience is so much better.

What stereo? details please with $$$

 

[TerraCrawler]

I did lift snd 285s right away and although I dont regret that, I waited about 6 months to overhaul the stereo. I spent around $2400 on speakers, amp, processor/equalizer, wiring and sound deadening and did all of that work myself. It changed my entire relationship with the 4runner.

And I waited 2 years to get aftermarket wheels. Of course they dont really DO anything any better than the stock wheels, but visually??? Snap!....I had to do a body mount chop, ditch mud flaps, and perform a nose job to get the scs 17x9 -38 offsets to fit with 285s but damn it looks good!

...and theres something oddly satisfying about plunging a saw through the front fascia. Who woulda known?

That said, the body mount chop is the one mod I paid someone else to do. Everything else has been by my own hands and THAT is always satisfying.

Can you give some details on the stereo? Did you use a Body Mount Chop kit from someone?

 

[Louisiana Overland]

Stereo: i installed sound matt and deadening foam on all 4 doors. Ran a dual amp JL Audio amp install kit(2awg) power to under drivers seat. One leg powers the JL Audio XD700 5 channel 700 watt amp and Audison bit 10 processor(passenger seat). The spare leg powers a recepticle I added for a dometic cfx50 fridge. Front doors and dash speakers swpped for focal IS690TOY component set and both rear doors and hatch swapped for Focal IC165TOY 6.5” two way speakers. I brought it to an audio shop to grt the audison tuned and was blown away when I picked it up. Super clean and powerful and so much mid bass that I still have not installed a subwoofer...but alas....I bought an enclosure this week so that part of the project is coming soon.

Body Mount Chop- no kit plate....I am local to Southern Style Offroad and called Kevin to see if he knew anyone in the area who would do that and he offrred to do it at their shop. They recently moved to a larger shop and are now doing installs. They did a great job with a very aggressive chop and the gusset/plate that was welded back in even has their logo CNC’d in it. They gave me plenty room for larger tires if I ever decide to go that route. I have pics on my build thread.

 

[Louisiana Overland]

 

[Surgical Precision]

4.56 Gears

What did you re-gear to?

I re-geared to 4.56 gears. I have a significant amount of weight added to the vehicle

Steel front and rear bumpers with tire carrier
Gobi Stealth roof rack
Goose gear drawer sytem
Fridge with heavy drop down slide
Skids
Winch

Its a beast.

I live in Montana so interstate speeds are 80 mph. My RPM with the 4.56 gears hovers around 2600-2800 at that cruising speed. That is the main reason I did not go with 4.88, was the cruising speed. I did put a supercharger in near the same time as the 4.56, so I knew that would add to the ride and 4.88 felt like it might be overkill. My MPG before re-gear/supercharger was around 13.5, now after its 13.5. So by adding both a re-gear and a super charge, my MPG stayed exactly the same (that's a mix of city/hwy). If its all hwy driving then my MPG actually improved with the re-gear and supercharge since its not running in 4th at 3500-4000 RMP the whole time.

 

[comtn4x4]

What did you re-gear to?

I re-geared to 4:56. Check my signature for all my details but she's pretty heavy
Your guess is as good as mine on weight difference. I do continually mod and add weight it seems. I won't be adding drawers or a fridge but probably a second battery which is nominal all things considered. I added my rear bumper after the re-gear and it didn't affect performance much. Loaded with 2 adults, 2 teenagers, 2 labs, food, water, shelter, tools, recovery gear etc. she still does great IMHO.
MPG no significant change. I average 15. Straight around town driving is 13.5. All highway is 16.5.
Highway cruising is way better post re-gear. I'll run at 75 day to day, RPM's stay around 2500-2700 on the flat. Good power to pass at 75. Run unloaded up to 85-90 no problem. No more searching for gears or needing to drop it down to 4 other than in the mountains or when loaded up. Loaded I usually aim for 70 mph to hit mpg sweet spot of about 15.5. Much faster and MPG declines rapidly

I have about 35,000 miles on my re-gear

I can't say yay or nay to 4:88 as I haven't run them but I haven't regretted or been left wanting with the 4:56. Frankly if I build it to where it needs re-geared again I'd have to seriously consider a different platform

Here's a link to my initial review:

Review: East Coast Gear Supply Gear Swap

 

[Axix23]

I wish I would of bought a 4-Runner sooner and skip all the little sedan/coupes that purchased in the past.

 

[4FL]

I wish I would of bought a 4-Runner sooner and skip all the little sedan/coupes that purchased in the past.

Do not even get me started, lol.

I had an Explorer, POS it was, but due to financial and some idiotic mentality at the time, I got a Ford Edge to replace it. Goodness, biggest POS I ever owned, got rid of it 18 months later for my 4runner. Wish I would have just went straight to the 4runner because though at the time outside my financial range, it was not too outside of it, and I was rather being ridiculous to the extreme I was going in regards to finances, especially since I knew I was on an auto promotion track at work and would be getting pretty big raises anyway.

 

[mr.walleye]

Another one of my favorite mods is the Morimoto XB black LED fog lights, they are awesome

I did the fog pods last night and highs/lows about a month ago (all Morimoto). over $400 in LED's and I love em. I do think I need to adjust the cutoff out farther. I also tinted all the rear windows with limo tint, dark as hell, you cant see inside from the outside even on a sunny day. probably not "mods" but they are to me. also got rago panels and fire ext mount, those look sharp and function great.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

I did the fog pods last night and highs/lows about a month ago (all Morimoto). over $400 in LED's and I love em. I do think I need to adjust the cutoff out farther. I also tinted all the rear windows with limo tint, dark as hell, you cant see inside from the outside even on a sunny day. probably not "mods" but they are to me. also got rago panels and fire ext mount, those look sharp and function great.

I hope your fire extinguisher mount was better than mine, the first one they sent me half the powder coat didn't stick and it was rusted on the inside, the second one they sent me after making me wait almost 2 months, the powdercoat came right off the extinguisher mount the first time I tried to install it. Very disappointed in their products and crap customer service anymore

 

[The Waco Kid]

What seats did you get? That's what I'm thinking about but haven't found much available

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I went with Katzkin. Solid Black leather, red stitching, perforated lowers, and seat heaters. Had a shop local to me that sold and installed them, they also were the installer for several local dealerships.

Cleaning and care is a lot easier now. With the tint on the windows, I really don't have any issues with them being too Hot in summer, and the seat heaters have gotten a lot more use than I expected (mostly from my wife).

 

[666HailSanta]

Two items really in no particular order:

1. Moving to 285/75's from 285/70's.
2. Re-gearing to 4.56's. I probably should have done this with 285/70's. The truck feels basically stock now (higher RPMS on the highway), but the transmission has stopped dumping me into 3rd every time I hit the smallest hill.

 

[vipers28]

Excuse my ignorance. Does re-gear help or matter if running stock 265's? Or mainly if going to 285's?
Does running higher RPM's at highway affect the life of the vehicle?

I re-geared to 4:56. Check my signature for all my details but she's pretty heavy
Your guess is as good as mine on weight difference. I do continually mod and add weight it seems. I won't be adding drawers or a fridge but probably a second battery which is nominal all things considered. I added my rear bumper after the re-gear and it didn't affect performance much. Loaded with 2 adults, 2 teenagers, 2 labs, food, water, shelter, tools, recovery gear etc. she still does great IMHO.
MPG no significant change. I average 15. Straight around town driving is 13.5. All highway is 16.5.
Highway cruising is way better post re-gear. I'll run at 75 day to day, RPM's stay around 2500-2700 on the flat. Good power to pass at 75. Run unloaded up to 85-90 no problem. No more searching for gears or needing to drop it down to 4 other than in the mountains or when loaded up. Loaded I usually aim for 70 mph to hit mpg sweet spot of about 15.5. Much faster and MPG declines rapidly

I have about 35,000 miles on my re-gear

I can't say yay or nay to 4:88 as I haven't run them but I haven't regretted or been left wanting with the 4:56. Frankly if I build it to where it needs re-geared again I'd have to seriously consider a different platform

Here's a link to my initial review:

Review: East Coast Gear Supply Gear Swap

 

[nb rob]

I probably should have bought a GX by now, instead of all the money I've spent on 4runner suspension parts.

But hey, it will be fun to do all over again.

 

[mr.walleye]

I hope your fire extinguisher mount was better than mine, the first one they sent me half the powder coat didn't stick and it was rusted on the inside, the second one they sent me after making me wait almost 2 months, the powdercoat came right off the extinguisher mount the first time I tried to install it. Very disappointed in their products and crap customer service anymore

nothing i can see wrong with the mount. however i called and asked to buy a quick release handle for the mount because i didnt like the pin that came with it rattling around. i was basically told too bad, we wont sell you one. gave me some bullshit about it wouldnt fit.. yea... i seriously doubt they'll ever see another dollar from me..

 

[Paragon1]

What stereo? details please with $$$

Alpine ILX-F309. With all the steering wheel controls, sat radio and the module that translates engine info to the display. Did Alpine R series front and rear door speakers & 400w amp. left the liftgate speakers alone. Dash kit made by Metra, but to install it to where it doesn't block the vents you need to use the double din mounts which will let you seat it a bit lower. Cost around 2k.

Alpine ILX-F309 Installed

 

[97BlackAckCL]

nothing i can see wrong with the mount. however i called and asked to buy a quick release handle for the mount because i didnt like the pin that came with it rattling around. i was basically told too bad, we wont sell you one. gave me some bullshit about it wouldnt fit.. yea... i seriously doubt they'll ever see another dollar from me..

Yeah, their customer service went to shit the moment Mrs. Rago got sick, their lackeys are unprofessional and basically useless. I'm never giving them another dollar personally

 

[Off-choader]

arb fridge, never thought id use it just got a hella sweet deal on it. camping/trips are a no brainer but It also gets use indoors as a backup and lives in the 4runner all Texas summer for ice cold drinks no matter where I go.

 

[buffalojay]

When I ran 285/70's I didn't think I needed a re-gear either. I knew that the truck was a bit sluggish but it wasn't bad enough to worry about, or so I thought then. At the time I was running lighter than stock rims and very lightweight Duratracs. When I switched to 285/75 Ridge Grapplers I not only picked up 3.5" of circumference but I think more significantly I picked up 11# a tire in weight. Or 44# rotational mass net. That turned the truck into a total dog. So I did the re-gear and wow what a difference.

So bottom line, when I consider what a huge improvement the re-gear was, I think how great it would have been for the first 30,000 miles I had the truck on 285/70's. If I knew then what I know now essentially

If you don’t mind me asking what’d you regear to? 4.56? I’m trying to see what gearing would be best.


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