How much should I expect to pay for my first mods? First vehicle

I want to buy my first 4runner I am really confused which one to go for. I like the reliability and build of 4r. I am thinking of modifying it. how much is it going to cost for modifications and is it worth it? the goal is to look badass and go off road but mostly to look badass it's gonna be my first car I've ever owned from bc, canada

 

What is your end goal and use case (rock crawling, FS roads, looking badass at Costco)? We need to know that info to direct better.

 

Just get a base SR5 4WD and go to town on your mods. Get the OR or ORP if you need a rear locker.

 

hahaha, yup badass is the main goal but I might go for off roading once in a while not that much though

 

this is what I've done. I don't need a rear locker for "off road" trails and play. I have sunk a bunch of money into the little mods, like lights, wheels, tires, and such. If you want it to look badass, you can do it on a budged if you wanted to. I've tossed around the idea if i "really" needed the expensive lifts, and i don't. Just want the looks. So I have the Eibach stage 1 truck lift. Method 305DB with 285s.

 

Keep in mind the beautiful instagram pic 4runners have all the popular and expensive mods. To get that look will be some serious coin. A lot of the pretty IG runners seem to be from california, which seems to be a weird place in terms of money. It seems money grows on trees there, but not enough of it for people to afford housing.

A 4runner can look great with a simple 2-3 inch suspension lift, the right tires, and the right wheels.

Off the top of my head… Figure $1000-2000 for decent suspension, $1500-2000 for a nice set a wheels, $1000-1500 for tires, and 500 for chopping the body mounts if you rub. A good armor set would be another 1k, but nobody really looks down there, I don’t think.

Sliders would be $1,000, same for stubby front bumper. A decent looking rear steal bumper will be 2-3k unless you weld it yourself. Closer to 3-4 depending on how many swingouts.

You can spend all the money in the world on lights. Skip them. Or just get fake ones if you don’t actually need to use them.

If you want the IG super wide stance, you’re probably looking at long-travel suspension, which will require so much modification that it will probably end up in the 10s of thousands range, maybe 30k if you want it to not break expensive parts while off roading.

Just about all the common 4runner mods will each add a considerable amount of additional maintenance requirements, so make sure to keep that in mind!

 

4runners would make a great first car if you can afford them. Perfect vehicle to work on yourself. Good skills to develop that can save you a lot of money and headeache over the years.

 

For your use case I’d say keeping it stock would probably be the best cool-to-cost ratio. (budget in fuel costs too if you’re not coming from something similar in fuel economy)

“Worth it” is really subjective and also depends on the target audience. Those highly lifted, big wheel/low profile tire look has its fans but I don’t think it’ll have many here. (different strokes for different folks and all)

I don’t think mods are remotely worth it for cosmetics-only personally. If you find yourself scraping too much on a trail then a lift to go farther might be worth it if you want to spend the money.

But either way, cha-ching. You can always go more ham later. Worst case if you get tired, solid resale will help.

 

Get an SR5 without a sunroof and you should be good. These are solid trucks so anything 60K miles or less is okay to buy

 

If all you care about is looking cool, then buy a previously modded 4runner. You will save at least 50% on the mods and also not have to deal with installing it.

 

Looking badass...sounds good and great but the ride quality will be compromised. I think I would just search for what's out there as opposed to do each mod at a time. The fun part on mods is knowing what the vehicle does in it's stock form and then appreciating the mod. Hope you plenty of resources!

 

I spent 9k over a year

Eibach Suspension
Sherpa Crestone Roof Rack
Diode Dynamics light bar and fog lights
Rock Sliders
Recovery shackles
Rago side window Molle inside and out
Cat Covers.

 

Off Road does not have rear locker?

 

The off-road trims do come with a rear locker.

 

I think java's asking about the jump from SR5 to ORP, skipping over the OR but not really a big deal since that's been cleared up

 

Thank you for clearing my head out of my butt. I fixed my original post. Sorry to @java

 

Its their first car ever - double all those costs (which sound low TBH - I just paid 1300 ordering a set of Cali Raised Sliders) to add the labor paying a shop to do it.

Oh and if you are just doing it for "the look" remember that the huge tires, lift and wide stance make a pretty slow soft truck drive even worse on road.

 

Some of my favorite looking 4R's are more simple builds with a very mild lift and 285's.

When I see a fully built out 4Runner I start looking for trail damage. I get a sense of relief when I see a crushed exhaust pipe or some pin striping from trees on a tight trail. It makes me happy to see that it's being used. Otherwise I just don't see the point. It's like buying the four cylinder Supra... Looks fast sure, but its all a lie

Rant over lol

 

I wouldn't listen when I was younger, but here is my advice:

Don't waste your money on heavily modifying your car. It is rich person's hobby. Get tires, do all the maintenance and you are good to go. Instead of trying to outspend someone on the internet, invest into experiences. Go overland, take an extra road trip. Your 4Runner is fine as-is to have PLENTY of fun.

 

I will let you in on a secret. A LOT of car modding is about social status. Sure, some people also go offloading, but even then it is still largely about status. If you dive deeper, it is about signaling success and/or signalling that they still got it.

From your profile and post, I assume you are young and female. Your status already through the roof. Sure, the cool car will give you a bit more, but it is well into diminishing returns. Every single owner of a cool car would gladly trade it to be 20-something again.

 

BORING!!

...also not wrong.

 

I’m boring compared to people in here. I love the looks & capability of a stock 4Runner, and the only thing I’d wanna add on in order to max out the “Badass-ness” are rock sliders, better tires, and making it the ORP trim. That’s about my peak. Lol not even bigger tires, just better ones. Having the “ORP” written on the side of it is the extent of my status beacon.

 

I want rear lockers just so I could tell people at Costco that my 4Runner has rear lockers. Oh and also so I can repeatedly pretend (to myself) that I’m about to adopt a lifestyle that calls for a vehicle with rear lockers.

 

Those Costco mountains and mall jungles can be treacherous at times.

 

Lol. I’m like a huge boxing fan who can’t even fight, and doesn’t even know how to throw a punch. I been a fan of the old school 4Runner forever, and I’m gonna buy one now that I know they’re going extinct (well the old school build at least). I can’t TOTALLY say that I just pretend to actually need lockers at some point, who knows I might become possessed with adventurous ambitions after I get one. This forum can get someone fired up for adventures as well!!

 

Building a 4Runner is a very expensive exercise and there will be consequences from all the suspension mods and added weight. One thing leads to another. Big tires lead to regearing and a lift, armor leads to heavier springs, weight leads to new brakes, lights lead to an expensive switching setup. Setups like those you pictured can double the cost of the vehicle, and make it less drivable on the road. If you don't actually use it, you will end up installing a bunch of stuff you don't understand and can't maintain.

An alternative approach: Buy an SR5, seek out an off-road training course, and learn to drive it off-road. Hang out with a local club that goes on trails rather than rigs and coffee events. Buy affordable mods when required for your use case.

 

Some folks even take the opportunity to park on the grass at peak times!

 

Sr5 all day. 4wd, sunroof sounds fun. Later down the road, get a mild lift/level. Throw in some wheels and tires, maybe some lights. I have a trdor and have never, ever, even remotely come close to needing the rear locker.

 

That’s called flexing

 

I do understand that a built up 4Runner can look awesome, but maybe I’m just low maintenance because luckily I actually think that an untouched 4Runner has 95% of the good looks. Combined with what you have said, for me the thought of changing things almost feels like I’m ‘Ruining it.’ Unless of course a person actually needs to tackle obstacles that are beyond the ability of a stock 4Runner that has been left alone.

I’m gonna add rock sliders, and possibly nothing else. And even adding sliders has me thinking that I’m being too crazy & aggressive, and weighing down an already heavy vehicle lol.