Versatile build without lifting it?

Hey,
I just traded in my Tacoma for a 2016 trail 4r. Im pretty pumped! live in CT and this is my everyday driver. I love the idea of taking this camping up north or on the beach and some off roading, though im new to it and the there isn't a lot of places to do it where I am. I dont expect to do much in the way of modifications, but like the idea of new wheels and tires and blacking out the front and back end. Eventually maybe upgrade the lights. It's white. I don't expect to lift this. Does anyone on here have a build they haven't lifted? How much does it affect gas mileage anyways? My girl is only 5 feet tall so it's already a little tall. I have never done this before and am not mechanically inclined whatsoever. I need help. Send me some ideas, pics, advice please. Can I build a pretty rugged, versatile truck on a budget? Help please. Thanks

 

First of all, welcome and congrats on the 4runner!
Second, and most important before any modding begins, since you live in the salty northeast, buy some fluid film and undercoat that vehicle to prevent/stop any rust from eating away your new ride. You can find threads on this in the 5th gen section.
My runner is white, its a pro so the front end is already black, cheapo way is a couple cans of plasti-dip. I plasti-dipped my door handles (keeps from scratches and looks cooler). I am keeping mine stock, you can do a fairly inexpensive swap in suspension. The trail model you have has ok suspension, you could easily pick up a set of pro take-offs from someone upgrading. The earlier pro models came with bilsteins, but the latest pro series come with fox shocks. either setup will bolt directly onto your truck. You already have a rugged, versatile truck in the 4runner. Major mods aren't needed unless you are going to do some serious off-roading.

 

If you dont want a lift, keep the suspension stock and throw on 265/70/R17 all terrain tires and have fun. Cosmetic stuff you can research here on the forum, theres a hundred threads detailing how to do all that.

 

Thanks man. Honestly I do just want it to look a little cooler. Im hungry for adventure too, though have a little one on the way. I like the all black wheels and go back and forth on the bronze ones. 32 inch tires would be the biggest I can fit right? Should I at least level it out if I don't lift? Im thinking of taking off the running boards.

 

Taking off running boards/steps and a set of more aggressive tires does wonders for the appearance, even without any lift.
265/70R17(~32") is the biggest you can easily fit without a lift. There are some extenuating circumstances and some trucks are different than others, but that is a general case. You can get a set of eibach (pro truck) or bilstein (5100) front shocks that have height adjustment on them. They are both relatively cheap and you can use the stock springs to get a little bit of height and level things out.

 

Great, thanks man.

 

Welcome, JP1, and congrats on the new to you ride. Your vehicle is very capable in stock form, and doesn’t need modification unless you have a specific need. Keep it simple! One thing, though, when it comes time to renew your shocks, you could get better after market coil overs that would improve the ride, and level the vehicle. Same goes for tires, when the time comes for new ones - there’s lots of cool options depending on where you’re taking your vehicle. Enjoy, and post some photos, this forum isn’t only for dealing with problems or answering questions! Haha.

 

I have always wanted a trd pro but full time 4wd is really important to me so I decided to upgraded my stock suspension on my Limited.

I didn't lift it since I want to remain stock geometry and a high quality ride. Plus,the runner is my highway DD.

 

Elka - the best! Nice choice, LimitedTrd!

 

Very nice!

 

What do you consider a build? My pro is stock height and will remain that way until stock suspension is done for. It’s capable just the way it is.

 

Thank you! I love it!

 

Here's mine on stock suspension and stock size KO2's with rock sliders and a roof rack.



They're pretty capable stock. I haven't encountered anything that it hasn't walked through with ease, but I haven't been to any really hard-core trails yet.

The only issue I've had was hitting a rock hiding in a water crossing and smashing my skid plate. New skids are ordered

 

Welcome!

 

That is a great looking truck.

 

Thank you! It's a SLOW work in progress. I just ordered a bunch of goodies and I might start a build thread after I start installing them

 

Change the tires out and your build is done. It doesn't need much more than some better rubber under it. I went to 275/70-17 on stock suspension, just a little rubbing that is easily taken care of. I'm in the Army and use mine when training, haven't encountered anything that I really felt like I needed more. I will lift mine eventually, but having some sort of means of self recovery is where I would invest my $$ first. Can't go wrong with a shovel (e-tool), chains or straps, and a come-along (hi-lift extreme).

 

I'd say just invest in some recovery gear. X-bull traction boards, a cheap harbor frieght shovel, recovery strap, d ring shackle or soft shackle or both.

The rig is super capable as is. Ground clearance kind of sucks but as long as you're not rock crawling it should be all you need. Like the last guy said, just change out the tires maybe and you're good. My "build" isn't really a build. I just changed out some aesthetic pieces, modified my roof rack (i bought my 4R used with the worlds largest rhino rack), and installed Bilstein 5100's. When my current tires have a few more miles on them I'll get a more agressive tire but that's it. Maybe eventuall install a light bar. Other than that I have a hard time taking this into extreme terrain as this is my daily driver. I don't want to worry about flipping it or tearing open my oil pan just for a cool instagram shot.

 

Welcome and congrats on your 4R. Building out your rig is an itch that's hard to satisfy by scratching, you can only get rid of this itch by throwing lots of cash at it. There's your warning. A few tips, mostly the same everyone else will offer:

1) Your truck is extremely capable stock, not much need to build it out; the best build advice is drive it until you find a need that it can't do, and build around that need
2) Tires
3) Basic protection like sliders is helpful, especially if you need a step up to get in; you don't want to damage underneath, but generally you'll know if you need skids, so you can probably wait to add these
4) Everything affects gas mileage
5) Spend your time and money enjoying your 4r, not your build

 

Good advice @toffees

 

I tend to keep mine utilitarian. I would do the following as need arises.

1. Good LT tires
2. Sliders
3. Skid plate
4. Winch and coils to support it