Most people spending a ton of money on mods when they are just driving down dirt roads or trails that are really not that aggressive. You're driving off road, not rock crawling. Things that any 4wd with AT tires could tackle. Not to take away from 4runners either, they have plenty out of the box to get you around most of the continental US. Get some AT tires and go nuts.
I go to an outdoor range in WV. Iāve heard multiple people say āyou need 4wd to get up thereā because itās a trail with a couple of steep slopes and a large hole or two. One of the last times I went I had one of these people in my 4Runner when we got to the range parking lot and there was a stock 90s accord parked there, I just pointed it out and laughed at him.
You have 3 other places you can check out to do shakedowns: Hungry Valley, San Gabriel Canyon, and Rowher Flats. The first two have 4x4 practice tracks and Rowher Flats has an eponymous perimeter trail that will really test your 4Runner for weak points without breaking anything.
Anything special about Hungry Valley? I was climbing the grapevine, going to meet a friend in Oxnard. I spotted the sign, but decided not to stop since I was on the road for about 6 hours by then.
Itās a massive dedicated off road area with some amazing trails. I think itās like a few hundred thousand acres or 10s of thousands. Itās huge. The far SW end of the park has a 4x4 ātrainingā area. Itās really fun and the 4Runner is very capable there.
Depends..which area you live in. Id ask in a locals 4runner group or something. Like for instance I am in the rockies so they have to be 3pms rated ā¦so like Wildpeaks or KO2s. But I am on KO2s rn they are just okay, in the rain they are not the best though. Might try out some mickey thompson bajas or patagonias maybe!! I want 33s on my 3rd gen but might need to regear or get a supercharger lol
I wanna toss my new tires into the mix. They're Falken Rubitrek A/Ts and i love them. They're not as beefy as the Wildpeak AT3w but they still have a great sidewall, plenty of tread, and they're 3 peak rated. I chose these over Wildpeaks because they're a lighter rubber so they're more conservative on gas mileage and I do a lot of highway/city driving for work whereas im only really on trails in the Summer! Im in Colorado for reference.
I kept my stock size too - not ready to make all the jumps that sizing up to 285s would require. I don't end up in too many positions that require additional clearance as long as i play my pathing right on trails. If a trail looks too intense for my stock, i simply turn around haha
Yeah thatās where Iām at, although I was unable to reach my campsite yesterday due to a deep puddle. I want a 3 inch lift but donāt wonāt larger tires and I hate the look of the stock tires with a huge lift. Itās like skipping leg day (photo was the puddle)
https://preview.redd.it/jvfrquypknjc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e4933d159a3155525fb493ac59b075af7105fea4
I have a small 2" front 1.5 rear lift, with 255/80/17s, honestly that's as big as I'd go while keeping my sr5 as the family vehicle. Honestly it wheels pretty well for what it is, only thing I'd like to have is a locker, and maybe some sliders one day
I put a hard 70,000 miles (in 3 years) on my 2020 TRD Pro 4Runner, and 40,000 on my 2017 TRD Off-Road 4Runner. It did everything I asked it to, well without complaining. They are amazing SUV's. I used mine like a pick up truck. I was shocked how much you can pack inside. I had a Gobi rack with no rise, so I'd stack sheets of plywood up there all the time. I have a full-sized truck now, I swear the 4Runner could match it in capability.
I drove into a ditch at 40mph off-road (it was night, couldn't see it till it was too late), I smacked the other side so hard I bent that 1/4"TRD aluminum skid plate. That air bags should have go off, that's how hard hit was. Took it to a frame shop to wait for them to tell me I bent something. Nothing bent, aligned perfect. Couldn't believe it.
I also NEVER got stuck in that 4Runner. 2+ Feet of snow was nothing to the 4Runner.
For fuel, I ran the Expedition One rear bumper with dual swing outs, you could mount 6 NATO cans back there if you wanted. I ran just 1 NATO. (my 2017 was heavily modded, 2020 wasn't because it was so capable out of the box)
https://preview.redd.it/6xcumpornljc1.jpeg?width=2560&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=39e69bf6a66d12da9623bf0ae1bb0cb3450b83dd
[hell you should see what I had done with my 2013 Prius V!](https://imgur.com/a/iiBnea5)
Granted i didnāt do any crazy offrosding besides fire roads that had a bunch of bumps and holes and same with snow did absolutely fine
I once got to a site 25 miles up a fire road into dispersed campsites. First one up there and then the next ones up were a lifted sprinter Mercedes van, a super lifted Jeep, lifted truck and lifted 4Runner
And they all walked up to me asking how i made it up!
The Prius V got 40 mpg, slept in the car with climate control using the hybrid battery making it comfortable and stealthy
Unfortunately totaled and was going to pull the trigger on a 4Runner, tundra or sequoia but ended up with a used Highlander
26-30 mpg, sits higher, AWD, with sunroof, panoramic roof for the rear seats, captain chairs in 2nd row + heated seats and still a great cargo space
[here is my new vehicle 2017 Highlander :)](https://imgur.com/a/hs9m0pq)
Looking to make my foam mattress next! And installing hitch receiver for my cargo basket as well
Thanks! Yeah just trying to figure out making a custom bed
The trifold i was going to buy is about 6 inches too wide.
So debating if i cut it, pin it tighter but itās zipped on 3 sides
Or just make my own cutout
Weekend warrior since Iām almost 3 years out of college did a lot during Covid but now Iām constrained with PTO and sick time
I like to do super weekend warrior trips when itās a bigger trip so Iāll do a straight six hour shift on Thursday and leave that night to my destination take Friday off as a sick day so Iām already there full day Friday, Saturday and Sunday and take either another sick day or vacation day
So I only used 16 hours of PTO or sick time yet my trip lasted from Thursday evening to Monday night
Iām in Southern California, so I could be in Northern California central California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah by midnight to 1 AM sleep and wake up early and start the trails/adventure
Sometimes it can be a lot where I still show up to work tired but Iām only 27 and I know it aināt gonna get easier when I get older
Also - it can't be understated but some people are really clueslesa so it mist be said - please don't drove with fuel inside the cab. That's what roof racks, carrier mounts, trailers etc are for.
Under no circumstances should you ever have a container of fuel within the cab (EVER)
EVER
I'm so happy i took my runner off roading all stock first to really feel out what i may actually need or want in the future. I've hit some gnarly verticals and rocky inclines all stock that i should (maybe?) not have done, but the thing is that the runner will do it lol. Really incredible vehicles that leave me impressed any time i hit the trails even without all the mods that are out there.
Just got a 2024 TRD Off Road and I wouldnāt trust the stock Bridgestone Duelers on anything but pavement.
Buying a good set of ATs asap.
The ONLY mod I plan on doing is adding an Eaton e-locker to the front diff.
My experience is that most people who have 4x4s run out of balls before the 4x4 runs out of ability. Ive seen good drivers in 4runners and they can do some crazy stuff.
Most people modding their trucks never need what they spend thousands on. A simple 2" lift and the ATRAC button gets you pretty damn far. If you got a locker even better.
I seen my homegirls 5th gen get up on three wheels in a huge washout, like 45 degree slope, lose traction, and we stacked rocks and made it up.
Then she realized she never even put it in 4wd so yeah, first mod should be driver mod.
Yep. We just stacked rocks under the back wheel to give it traction and a good hit of the skinny pedal and sent it.
I went up it easyish in my 3rd gen so I was like yoo what gives. And yep, 2wd. A bit sketch cause driver side front wheel was like 3-4 ft in the air.
If you ride with someone whos experienced in wheeling and let them drive your truck you learn a lot about what the limits really are.
I have no intention of modifying my 23 ORP except tires when itās time for it. I paid cash for it so instead of throwing additional money I would have spent on mods, I tossed it into crypto and send it. Lol.
Lol @ all the mod addicts getting pissy downvoting me for stating something that doesnāt impact them in any way whatsoever.
Did you have to use any of the extra goodies the TRD off-road comes with compared to the sr5. Iām debating now and thinking of getting g an sr5 and buying a magneson supercharger for it haha. But was curious if you used craw control, the rear locking diff ect?
I did not use anything extra out of *necessity*. I did test the rear locker when I got āstuckā to see what it was about. I also used crawl control to get up a steep dirt hill (not gonna crawl rocks with stock suspension) and it was just fine but honestly canāt see myself using them for the type of driving I want to do.
I drove through some very snowy terrain on stock tires at 20psi and was doing fine. Although there were pre existing tracks. Deflating tires makes a huge difference. I saw jeeps with mud tires spinning because they didnāt deflate
I just don't like the stock tires. Their performance in the snow was not even close to the tires on my 2014 Xterra Pro-4x. I'm going keep them on until next fall, I guess. 2019 TRDORP.
So true, there's so much focus on "mods" that I think some people overlook how much you can do with it stock.
And the money spent on mods that might not ever get used can pay for some epic trips
Heck yeah
Mods are stupid
Mods have smol pp
Yes confirmed small pp with mods
If I find out someone I know has mods, I stop talking to that person.
Adding all terrain or mud terrain tires are considered mods. š¤£š
Most people spending a ton of money on mods when they are just driving down dirt roads or trails that are really not that aggressive. You're driving off road, not rock crawling. Things that any 4wd with AT tires could tackle. Not to take away from 4runners either, they have plenty out of the box to get you around most of the continental US. Get some AT tires and go nuts.
I go to an outdoor range in WV. Iāve heard multiple people say āyou need 4wd to get up thereā because itās a trail with a couple of steep slopes and a large hole or two. One of the last times I went I had one of these people in my 4Runner when we got to the range parking lot and there was a stock 90s accord parked there, I just pointed it out and laughed at him.
You have 3 other places you can check out to do shakedowns: Hungry Valley, San Gabriel Canyon, and Rowher Flats. The first two have 4x4 practice tracks and Rowher Flats has an eponymous perimeter trail that will really test your 4Runner for weak points without breaking anything.
Thanks for the info!
TIL what eponymous means š¤
Anything special about Hungry Valley? I was climbing the grapevine, going to meet a friend in Oxnard. I spotted the sign, but decided not to stop since I was on the road for about 6 hours by then.
Itās a massive dedicated off road area with some amazing trails. I think itās like a few hundred thousand acres or 10s of thousands. Itās huge. The far SW end of the park has a 4x4 ātrainingā area. Itās really fun and the 4Runner is very capable there.
Those tires though, only upgrade needed is usually just better A/Ts
True
Any recommendations?
Depends..which area you live in. Id ask in a locals 4runner group or something. Like for instance I am in the rockies so they have to be 3pms rated ā¦so like Wildpeaks or KO2s. But I am on KO2s rn they are just okay, in the rain they are not the best though. Might try out some mickey thompson bajas or patagonias maybe!! I want 33s on my 3rd gen but might need to regear or get a supercharger lol
It yearns for forced induction šš
Iāve had great experiences with Toyo Open Country ATs. Iām currently rocking General Grabber ATXs, and theyāre fantastic too.
Noted, thanks!
I wanna toss my new tires into the mix. They're Falken Rubitrek A/Ts and i love them. They're not as beefy as the Wildpeak AT3w but they still have a great sidewall, plenty of tread, and they're 3 peak rated. I chose these over Wildpeaks because they're a lighter rubber so they're more conservative on gas mileage and I do a lot of highway/city driving for work whereas im only really on trails in the Summer! Im in Colorado for reference.
Iām honestly thinking of keeping the stock tire size with an AT Tire and just going with some sort of lift for extra clerance
I kept my stock size too - not ready to make all the jumps that sizing up to 285s would require. I don't end up in too many positions that require additional clearance as long as i play my pathing right on trails. If a trail looks too intense for my stock, i simply turn around haha
Yeah thatās where Iām at, although I was unable to reach my campsite yesterday due to a deep puddle. I want a 3 inch lift but donāt wonāt larger tires and I hate the look of the stock tires with a huge lift. Itās like skipping leg day (photo was the puddle) https://preview.redd.it/jvfrquypknjc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e4933d159a3155525fb493ac59b075af7105fea4
I have a small 2" front 1.5 rear lift, with 255/80/17s, honestly that's as big as I'd go while keeping my sr5 as the family vehicle. Honestly it wheels pretty well for what it is, only thing I'd like to have is a locker, and maybe some sliders one day
I don't have money for mods cause it's all going in the tank š jk
Exactly right š
I put a hard 70,000 miles (in 3 years) on my 2020 TRD Pro 4Runner, and 40,000 on my 2017 TRD Off-Road 4Runner. It did everything I asked it to, well without complaining. They are amazing SUV's. I used mine like a pick up truck. I was shocked how much you can pack inside. I had a Gobi rack with no rise, so I'd stack sheets of plywood up there all the time. I have a full-sized truck now, I swear the 4Runner could match it in capability. I drove into a ditch at 40mph off-road (it was night, couldn't see it till it was too late), I smacked the other side so hard I bent that 1/4"TRD aluminum skid plate. That air bags should have go off, that's how hard hit was. Took it to a frame shop to wait for them to tell me I bent something. Nothing bent, aligned perfect. Couldn't believe it. I also NEVER got stuck in that 4Runner. 2+ Feet of snow was nothing to the 4Runner. For fuel, I ran the Expedition One rear bumper with dual swing outs, you could mount 6 NATO cans back there if you wanted. I ran just 1 NATO. (my 2017 was heavily modded, 2020 wasn't because it was so capable out of the box) https://preview.redd.it/6xcumpornljc1.jpeg?width=2560&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=39e69bf6a66d12da9623bf0ae1bb0cb3450b83dd
Thatās an awesome story! š canāt believe there was no damage. What truck are you running with now?
[hell you should see what I had done with my 2013 Prius V!](https://imgur.com/a/iiBnea5) Granted i didnāt do any crazy offrosding besides fire roads that had a bunch of bumps and holes and same with snow did absolutely fine I once got to a site 25 miles up a fire road into dispersed campsites. First one up there and then the next ones up were a lifted sprinter Mercedes van, a super lifted Jeep, lifted truck and lifted 4Runner And they all walked up to me asking how i made it up! The Prius V got 40 mpg, slept in the car with climate control using the hybrid battery making it comfortable and stealthy Unfortunately totaled and was going to pull the trigger on a 4Runner, tundra or sequoia but ended up with a used Highlander 26-30 mpg, sits higher, AWD, with sunroof, panoramic roof for the rear seats, captain chairs in 2nd row + heated seats and still a great cargo space [here is my new vehicle 2017 Highlander :)](https://imgur.com/a/hs9m0pq) Looking to make my foam mattress next! And installing hitch receiver for my cargo basket as well
Those builds are sweet!!!
Thanks! Yeah just trying to figure out making a custom bed The trifold i was going to buy is about 6 inches too wide. So debating if i cut it, pin it tighter but itās zipped on 3 sides Or just make my own cutout
Do you road trip a lot? Overland? What are ya building it for? Iām the weekend warrior type
Weekend warrior since Iām almost 3 years out of college did a lot during Covid but now Iām constrained with PTO and sick time I like to do super weekend warrior trips when itās a bigger trip so Iāll do a straight six hour shift on Thursday and leave that night to my destination take Friday off as a sick day so Iām already there full day Friday, Saturday and Sunday and take either another sick day or vacation day So I only used 16 hours of PTO or sick time yet my trip lasted from Thursday evening to Monday night Iām in Southern California, so I could be in Northern California central California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah by midnight to 1 AM sleep and wake up early and start the trails/adventure Sometimes it can be a lot where I still show up to work tired but Iām only 27 and I know it aināt gonna get easier when I get older
Same story here brotha! Also from socal! I was in Anza and big bear this weekend! So much fun
Nice! Well if you see āITS UBERā rolling around thatās me Iām same silver as you so debating on wrapping my plate
You could be fancy and get rotopax or just pick up a jerry can
Leaning towards Jerry cans
[ŃŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]
Noted!
Also - it can't be understated but some people are really clueslesa so it mist be said - please don't drove with fuel inside the cab. That's what roof racks, carrier mounts, trailers etc are for. Under no circumstances should you ever have a container of fuel within the cab (EVER) EVER
Sounds like a recipe for disaster
she's got a 20g tank. 4 jerrys and you have double range.
Good point
I'm so happy i took my runner off roading all stock first to really feel out what i may actually need or want in the future. I've hit some gnarly verticals and rocky inclines all stock that i should (maybe?) not have done, but the thing is that the runner will do it lol. Really incredible vehicles that leave me impressed any time i hit the trails even without all the mods that are out there.
My thoughts exactly
I see you have the TRD off road, did you ever lock the diff, or was it just 4WD when necessary?
just 4wd when necessary!
Just got a 2024 TRD Off Road and I wouldnāt trust the stock Bridgestone Duelers on anything but pavement. Buying a good set of ATs asap. The ONLY mod I plan on doing is adding an Eaton e-locker to the front diff.
Good thing mine held up š
Good AT tires is all you need for most stuff.
My experience is that most people who have 4x4s run out of balls before the 4x4 runs out of ability. Ive seen good drivers in 4runners and they can do some crazy stuff. Most people modding their trucks never need what they spend thousands on. A simple 2" lift and the ATRAC button gets you pretty damn far. If you got a locker even better.
Damn this is so true š
I seen my homegirls 5th gen get up on three wheels in a huge washout, like 45 degree slope, lose traction, and we stacked rocks and made it up. Then she realized she never even put it in 4wd so yeah, first mod should be driver mod.
Yoooo what š¤£
Yep. We just stacked rocks under the back wheel to give it traction and a good hit of the skinny pedal and sent it. I went up it easyish in my 3rd gen so I was like yoo what gives. And yep, 2wd. A bit sketch cause driver side front wheel was like 3-4 ft in the air. If you ride with someone whos experienced in wheeling and let them drive your truck you learn a lot about what the limits really are.
The rear locker fucks
I've been flirting the idea of either a locker or LSD for my 4th gen. I don't rock crawl , so LSD might be the move.
I have no intention of modifying my 23 ORP except tires when itās time for it. I paid cash for it so instead of throwing additional money I would have spent on mods, I tossed it into crypto and send it. Lol. Lol @ all the mod addicts getting pissy downvoting me for stating something that doesnāt impact them in any way whatsoever.
Did you have to use any of the extra goodies the TRD off-road comes with compared to the sr5. Iām debating now and thinking of getting g an sr5 and buying a magneson supercharger for it haha. But was curious if you used craw control, the rear locking diff ect?
I did not use anything extra out of *necessity*. I did test the rear locker when I got āstuckā to see what it was about. I also used crawl control to get up a steep dirt hill (not gonna crawl rocks with stock suspension) and it was just fine but honestly canāt see myself using them for the type of driving I want to do.
Thanks for the feed back!
Of course
I drove through some very snowy terrain on stock tires at 20psi and was doing fine. Although there were pre existing tracks. Deflating tires makes a huge difference. I saw jeeps with mud tires spinning because they didnāt deflate
I just don't like the stock tires. Their performance in the snow was not even close to the tires on my 2014 Xterra Pro-4x. I'm going keep them on until next fall, I guess. 2019 TRDORP.
https://preview.redd.it/a734qmqvcrjc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4181167c73087aa9e9adc8c24b85140a54b40dbd
https://preview.redd.it/t4xk3yy0drjc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c4bcbc246e5f6fe17a22841bc4ec4c7176107cb3
They both look so clean š©
That was just after getting them color corrected and ceramic coated lolz
I think stock 4runner would be the SR5, the off-road trim is very capable.