Do You Need To Mod?

My premise:
A stock Tacoma will continue to go long after your courage fails you. 99.9% of the owners don't have the balls to do what this truck, in stock form, can do. I watched a demo last year of a stock 4Runner and Tacoma take a line that, even though I have been off roading for close to 40 years, wouldn't have taken in a stock truck. The drivers were Toyota Corporate drivers but were not off road racers. They knew what the trucks could do and showed us (about 30 invitees) what they could do. There was an overgrown grass hill with dips and divots and rocks next to the dealership. The grass was waist high, the dew still hadn't burned off yet and the hill was damn steep. Those guys didn't even blink. One walked the hill first to check things out and then both the Tacoma and the 4Runner walked right up the hill. Stock tires even.
After watching that display, I knew then that any mods made to either of these trucks would be to cover up the inadequacies of the driver. These trucks can go off road.
The drivers said that the most important thing is not the vehicle, its learning to drive the vehicle you have. My suggestion is, instead of modding your vehicles, go take an off road driving course.
Thoughts?

 

I'm a very inadequate driver.

I say mod.

 

MOD AF

 

In stock form (with the exception of a jeep cause its not a truck) tacoma is the most capable truck off road.

 

Most of my mods are done cause I think they make it look better

 

Mods to make mistakes less bad. And the driver mod.

 

Mod for intended usage.

Most people MOD for looks so your statement is somewhat correct. Just watch the 3rd gen forum.

But for some, they MOD because it is needed:

They MOD to get through difficult terrain.
They MOD to be able to live off the grid of several days/weeks.
They MOD so they can jump their trucks.
ETC.

I agree that a driving course has it's benefits, but there will come a time when you can't get around an obstacle and the modded trucks will leave you behind.

 

Stock clearance alone is enough of an excuse to upgrade the suspension. Just because you saw them do one hill doesn't mean that suddenly every trail out there is doable in a stock truck. And I don't think that armor (sliders/bumpers/skid plates) account for any "lack of driver skill". It's just plain smart to protect your $30k+ investment if you plan on off-roading regularly. Stock lighting sucks at night when you're out in the middle of nowhere, no reason not to upgrade that if you are actually going to use it.

 

A driving course is a good idea, especially for a newbie with no off road skill yet. I see benefits to no mods and mods that are useful, so it depends on the person.

 

You know 99% of home owners buy full house insurance but never have their house burn down...

But isn't it nice to know your investment is protected from fires....

100% of Tacoma owners who have rocker sliders never have to worry about rocker panel damage...

Get what I am saying? Lol

Keep it stock height if you want, but don't cry that one day your stock wheels don't hold traction on a muddy hill and slide you sideways into a rock and mess up your rockers and then While trying to drive it out from a bad spot you then drive into something that messes up your under carriage cause you don't have skid plates. Then when you try to get your buddies to tow you out to help , they ain't got now where to shackle into cause you don't have tow points forward and aft with your stock bumpers....

And this all happens at night and you don't have light bars to help you see what you're doing either.


Hahaha

 

What's the point of this forum if you don't mod.

 

Yes...

Mod for functionality... not looks.

 

I go places stock trucks cannot go, no matter who is driving them. It's a simple fact of lack of clearance to go over boulder fields or the need for more articulation when you're leaning 25°.

 

Or until your CPS fails you

 

My suggestion is to do both ... because those avenues are not mutually exclusive.

A first time golfer may see no benefit from a Titleist golf ball, but after formal lessons and a bit of practice equipment improvements begin to matter.

 

Moding also personalizes your taco. It's the only one like it, and with that comes even more pride in your ride!
It's not really a matter of "do I need to". Who really cares what the reasoning is but me?

 

My post was not meant to mean all mods are worthless. It was a quasi response to many posts that ask about mods in order to take them down fire roads or fishing or gravel roads. Of course there are mods that will protect your investment. There are mods that will improve off road lighting. There are mods that will improve ground clearance. But, let's face it - most people mod for looks and that's OK. My point is (was) an off road driving course will be the best money spent if you truly want to go off road, yet very few talk about that aspect of their modding. Modding the driver is the first step. THEN mod the vehicle if needed.

 

Welcome back! Where you been?

 

Most mods are to make the vehicle unique to you, its yours and no one else's is exactly like it, I think your missing the point OP. Though I agree some of the extreme mods are more of a peacock'ing thing.

 

In the last 40 years, what type of off-roading did you do?