Car Camping / Trip Reports / Photos / Buildouts / “Overland” / Expedition Rigs Area (homeless?)

If armor is coming first before gears/locks, sliders are the first for sure.

 

If you were going places that required gears and lockers, wouldn't you want armor in order to utilize traction enhancements?

 

Yep but I I'm doing one before the other that shits going second.

 

For me, I got the sliders after taking a hit on a trail. $600 for the body work and another $600 for the sliders to keep it from happening again. After that I got a better skid plate, a small lift (1.75") and a 1" taller tire because I got tired of bashing my factory skid plate back into shape.

I currently have no plans to get anything else for suspension or armor. That may change, but for now, small upgrades to ensure/enhance reliability on a trail is worth it.

 

This has been my experience as well. My 4x4 OR Tacoma was stock for 5 years, with the exception of sliders which I added after a few weeks of ownership. And I took the Tacoma everywhere it could possibly go. I may not have been fast, but I got there, and got out safely. lol

 

To each their own. There is no "wrong way" to build a truck. I got some armor and a lift--those things are a given. But I see some trucks that are clearly geared toward rock crawling and the guy claims "this is my expo truck." I've gone too far and too big on some builds and find that it can become detrimental to the primary way I use my truck.

 

Armor > Tires > Lift. They all go hand in hand though, lift needed for the extra weight and better ride. Armor to protect the vehicle. And tires to get better traction and get through tougher stuff imo.

I just like changing up stuff anyways, the overlanding/camping is just an extra perk of it all for me

 

I had my truck for a couple years before I started doing any heavy mods although a topper was bought within the first few months. Bumper, winch, sliders and full OME suspension all went on at the same time, that was a hell of a 3 day weekend my neighbors thought we were nuts! The bumper and sliders were DIY relentless so it also involved a lot of welding.

Agree with sliders being at the top of the list for armor, I am going to go the Aluminum route with skids sometime soon.

 

sometimes it's not about looking the part so much as preparing your rig for what may come, and what you use it for. if the Blue Tacoma doesn't need a locker/lower gears/winch/aggressive tires to get to where he camps... then what's the point? Hell I have Toyo M/T's on my truck, and want to go back to an A/T because I don't need them, I have an e-locker and plenty of armor, but my tires never put me anywhere someone with A/T's couldn't go. and they gave me shit for mileage (both mpg and life). and I'll say many places I go I'd MUCH rather have the Blue Tacoma (sans trailer) over the dodge... cause the trails are tight and not a whole lot of room to maneuver (even 2nd gen long beds have trouble).

who cares how people build their trucks... as long as they're enjoying them (and they're safe... ie no 5" body lifts). There will always be those who want to look the part, just like there will always be those who don't want to look the part at all.

 

X2

 

I have toyo M/T's. Downsizing to 33" Toyo AT II's next month...

 

I'm going with the Cooper S/T Max next. staying with the 285 (33's) though

 

I put a set on the FJ80, fantastic tires! One of the best woods tires I've ever ran.

 

Doh... I meant S/T Maxx
http://us.coopertire.com/Tires/Light-Truck/DISCOVERER-S-T-MAXX.aspx

 

Oh ya, I got confused too. The tires on the FJ80 (pictured above) are the STT Pro, I'm running the S/T Maxx on the duramax. Also a decent tire, largely worthless offroad compared to the Pro's though. Does OK in fresh snow but if it's more than 6" deep...turn around. For a gravel road/highway tire they are great, but just average on the trail.

 

well the Toyo's SUCK in snow, anything but deep snow that is... deep snow they dig and paddle, but packed snow, and snowy/icy roads they are horrendous!

 

That's what I wanted, but I hunt in eastern Oregon (an ancient lava bed, so sharp rocks slice the shit out of sidewalls) and weak sidewalls I just can't chance.

 

When I think of over landing, I think of taking a vehicle places you've never been and being prepared for every eventuality. Kinda like the old land Rover and British explores you saw in movies. I think it greatly depends on where a person is located in the world, which will determine which mods are more important. I've got a bit of everything in BC but mostly dense forest and big ass rocks. Sometimes it goes a big week long trips, sometimes it goes for a quick rip. If I had to do it all over again... I'd probably do it the same way still having tons of fun... also super happy with the ko2 very grippy on and off road, and takes the abuse well

 

Where at?

 

Am I expo yet?