After Market Recommendations

I've done a ton of performance upgrades on the car, just looking doe some style upgrade recommendations.
Maybe something like
running board
bumpers
A cool roof rack
grill?
Don't need a light bar. I'm already pulling 500 rmw watts from the battery for my stero. I'll just stay with xenons

Hard to see, but it's running a set of KO2s with 2 inch progressive lift

 

Im guessing you want more of a rugged look. I have a Yakama roof basket on my 96 sr5, I removed the running boards which made it look 6" taller. I also threw on at 28" light bar to the bumper and I have no issues with my battery (I also have an amp and sub and new speakers and new headunit on the inside). I'm also looking at getting some black rims (maybe just plasti dip them to save money) and throw on some 33's. I don't know if you are into winches, I have seen guys who have the same lip bumper as you and they mounted a winch right where the license plate goes. There are also options to change out your running light lenses, either black them out or get clear ones. I also have the weather tech rain visors (not exactly sure what they are called) that go over windows and one for the sunroof and I think they make the truck look a lot better(although many people do not like the look at all).

One more thing that made a whole world of difference was tinting my windows, I have 5% on top of factory tint on everything but the front.

You can also clean up/ repaint/ get new skid plates

Good luck with your modding and please follow up with whatever you decide to throw on, I'm always looking for new mods!

 

Thanks! How hard is to remove the running board? Do you have a picture?

 

It took 10 minutes at the very most. I don't have any pictures of the process, but its very simple. There are two main parts to the running boards, the plastic mud flaps and the actual step board. The first step involves working on the mud flaps. First you need to take off a couple screws in the wheel well and then there are two bolts that connect the mud flap to the actual step board. You do this for both front and back plastic pieces. Then the second step is crawling under the truck and unbolting the brackets from the body. I think its only 6 nuts and then slide it back and they come right off.

Like I said, the entire process (for both sides) takes about 10 minutes.

If you look at some of the pictures in my gallery of the rig before running boards were off and after I removed them.

 

This is stock ride height by the way

 

Looks great! I'll start off removing the running board this evening. I'll post a picture. Then i'll decide what i'd want to do. i was looking at a more beefy roof rack. Not sure if the basket does it for me, looks great but a lot of extra drag

 

Thank you! And I completely agree with the basket. I love the low profile look of some of the baskets with the mesh floor that run the entire length of the roof(If I had enough cash i would get one). Unfortunately I am a broke college student and I borrowed the rack off of my dads tacoma for that trip and like the look of it better with the rack on(too much so to give it back). The only complaint I have from it is that it generates more noise when Im on the highway with the sunroof open.

The great thing about taking the running boards off is that if you don't like the look, you can put them back on in no time.

 

That's true! I'm a college student too, so i have no real need for running boards. I just dive into the car. Might as well get rid of the doors, and dive in the windows

 

I always found them to get in the way... and I go out hunting almost every weekend so the leftover mud on the sides of the running boards always got all over the back of my pants...

 

That's exactly what happens to me! You get a nice pair of jeans, and this nasty mud just smears down the pant leg. Did you take the running board off, and then the brackets? Or the whole running board assembly at once

 

Haha I share your pain! And I have seen guys separate the boards from brackets first. But I just went straight to where the brackets and body meet and took all of those nuts off. The bolts are tacked to the brackets so you just remove the nut from the other side and slide backwards and the whole system drops down. Oh and a piece of advice, hose down the underside of truck before you start to work on it. I didn't and I couldn't see any of the nuts under the layers of mud and dirt.

 

Did it! Love the look. why didn't i do this sooner!

 

I asked myself the exact same thing after mine came off! Looks good man!

 

Any hints as to where to get a decently tough, better than stock, not overly heavy bumper for a 98?

 

Here's a thought I've had. Amp power steps aren't available for this gen 4Runner. Other power step options?