The mod you regret the most....

[cbmontgo]

It’s interesting. Nearly every regrettable mod is something that deviated from stock or OEM. Mr. Toyota knows what he’s doing for sure.

 

[3rdGen4R]

It’s interesting. Nearly every regrettable mod is something that deviated from stock or OEM. Mr. Toyota knows what he’s doing for sure.

I mean that is kind of something... But modifications come at cost of other things. For instance, a new front bumper has huge trade offs, safety, fuel economy, but I get better approach angles, can carry a winch, and so on. So of course Toyota knows what it's doing, but it's also making the vehicle for a mass market that isn't off beaten path the way we do... so... you don't modify your vehicles at all?

 

[cbmontgo]

I mean that is kind of something... But modifications come at cost of other things. For instance, a new front bumper has huge trade offs, safety, fuel economy, but I get better approach angles, can carry a winch, and so on. So of course Toyota knows what it's doing, but it's also making the vehicle for a mass market that isn't off beaten path the way we do... so... you don't modify your vehicles at all?

I totally get it. Most of my rigs are modified (lockers, bumpers, lifts, winches, etc.). But if Toyota makes the part, I use OEM.

 

[Crash]

1" body lift to fit 35s on the FJ62. Did this for the sole reason of wheeling the Rubicon. Loved the clearance but center of gravity was negatively impacted to the point of tippiness that I'm no longer comfortable with. Other negatives are decreased fuel mileage, power and gearing. Will be removing the 1" pucks and going back to 33s this spring.

 

[DaveInDenver]

But if Toyota makes the part, I use OEM.

What I've come to think is (1) do not modify the engine from stock unless you're really sure and (b) any other change has to be justified as necessary or some how improving a deficiency (and in 2008 Toyota had some, they aren't perfect).

 

[nakman]

On every truck, something to do with wiring. Using in-line fuses instead of a panel, or 60 wires poked through the firewall instead of a distribution panel in the cab, or just messy unlabeled wires running everywhere. I get better with every truck, but still not perfect.

I did an elaborate OBA system on the 80 that always had problems- had a fancy manifold, rear storage tank, more storage in a slider... I was always chasing leaks, had a few fittings just blast off on their own, and didn't even notice much difference in air-up time vs. just living right off of the compressor essentially. I probably won't do OBA in another rig again, pretty happy with the simplicity of the portable battery ones.

And running too big of a tire- on my 80 I ran 295 75 r16's because that was the biggest that would fit without rubbing... and it just sucked away the already dismal performance and fuel economy. All for probalby .125" more ground clearance. And on the GX470 I ran 255 85 r17s for a season, and same deal- couldn't find a gear, -3mpg, slower, and it also rubbed when stuffed in front.

 

[Rzeppa]

It’s interesting. Nearly every regrettable mod is something that deviated from stock or OEM. Mr. Toyota knows what he’s doing for sure.

My dear friend Wayne Smith of Calgary (Crushers Rule), who had a Land Cruiser shop up there and sold me my HZJ75 and I subsequently traded that rig with him for my FJ45: while we were installing my 2" lift on my 1971 FJ40 so that I could fit 33s, had a really good maxim. He said to me "The farther you get away from stock, the farther you get away from that legendary Toyota reliability". That sentence has stuck with me, and I have no posts to make in this thread about any mods I regret.

In my 1976 FJ40 I installed fog lights on the stock bumper, and they worked great. I also designed and installed a dual battery setup to run the huge sound system I designed and fabricated for that rig, no regrets on any of those 3.

On my 1978 FJ45, the stock bias ply tires on split rims were flipping scary on snow and ice, I sold them to Wes Worek and got regular rims and radials, problem solved. Built a custom rear bumper (trivia - FJ45 pickups don't come from the factory with any kind of rear bumper). The only other mod I have done to that truck was put an SOR seat cover on.

On my 1971 FJ40 I took out the bottom factory leaf on all 4 corners and added an add-a-leaf in its place to give me the ~2" lift to clear 33s. Added 33s. Threw a Lockright into the rear (undeniably the BEST mod I have ever done). Installed a CB. Built a custom (or as Christo would characterize it "home made") winch bumper and 8274. That's it.

My 1987 FJ60 is undoubtedly the MOST modded rig I have. Sliders. ARB front bumper with 8274 and synth cable. 4x4 Labs rear bumper with swing out. OME and 33s. Lockright. CCOT locking center console with cb mounted inside. The PO added a stereo.

So, I don't have any mods I regret. And my 60 is the farthest from stock than any of my rigs, but they all still have that legendary Toyota reliability. Okay maybe one I regret, in the 1980s I put Rancho 5000s on my 1976 FJ40 for a while and they sucked. But that wasn't really a mod, that was just replacing worn out shocks that were on there with new ones, didn't realize how stiff and crappy RS5000s are.

 

[J Kimmel]

Not learning to weld several years before I did.

 

[White Stripe]

Getting custom fj40 leaf springs from alcan and not having bigger spring eyes than stock. Should have had them made with fj60 spring eyes. I go through spring bushings too fast.

 

[DomOfTheDead]

#1 for me: running cheap tires. I ran goodyear 37x12x16.5 humvee takeoffs for a while because they were way cheaper than every other 37-38" tire on the market and I loved the 1st gen goodyear MTR. A Goodyear is a Goodyear, right? Wrong. Dismal performance in every type of terrain. Thin sidewalls and stiff carcass.

#2 for me: selling my truck to buy a subaru because I thought I was getting out of 4wheeling, only then did I realize that the love of this hobby was rooted deep within me since I was a child and the subaru was a big mistake.

 

[Notyourmomslx450]

None really that I can think of.

Maybe just the fact that I'm into wheeling. If I wasn't I'd have a lot more money...

 

[Cruisertrash]

@Rzeppa Ever daily any of those trucks with a Lockrite? If so I’d love to hear feedback. I keep considering that for my 60 but feel like it would be “the mod I regret”.

 

[LARGEONE]

@Rzeppa Ever daily any of those trucks with a Lockrite? If so I’d love to hear feedback. I keep considering that for my 60 but feel like it would be “the mod I regret”.

I ran an aussie locker on a daily. No problem with a locrite in the rear, except you have to be a little careful if you "get into it" turning on slick pavement. It can be a little like driving a light pickup truck on ice when the roads are wet. It's typically not a problem on toyotas bc they are so underpowered

 

[DaveInDenver]

I ran an aussie locker on a daily. No problem with a locrite in the rear, except you have to be a little careful if you "get into it" turning on slick pavement. It can be a little like driving a light pickup truck on ice when the roads are wet. It's typically not a problem on toyotas bc they are so underpowered

I had an Aussie in the '91. Wheel base, lack of power and being easy on the throttle helps. If you have worn tires you'll know it. I don't remember it ever really being a problem, though. It's not quite a full spool, there is a little bit of give, you do kind of have to push it to break loose. But when it does the rear goes end around.

 

[nuclearlemon]

i also ran an aussie in one rig and a lockright in another. coast through turns and don't crap you pants if it unloads on you. my 40 did it most, every once in a while an ungodly bang sound. not real great in snow/ice

 

[DouglasVB]

Buying my in the first place? Probably should have gone with a stock pickup or 1st gen taco and built it while learning how to weld along the way.

I started with a beautiful stock 1st gen 4runner that I did some bolt-on farkles to and put a dent in. It was so fun driving that thing around with the top off and tube doors. I was collecting everything to SAS it and put it on 35" tires with dual t-cases, 5.29:1 gears, air lockers, blah blah blah. But then I bought the 4runner I have now because it was already built and less expensive than having a shop build the other 4runner. Now that I've had basically every problem imaginable with my ... it would have been cheaper to build one fresh and right than try and keep screwing with this one.

The original idea with going with a 4runner versus a pickup or Land Cruiser was the removable top and the rear seating for friends visiting from out of town. I think I've had people ride in the back six times total. And until I have the cash to get a new soft top (mine died last year), it's that hard top life for me. Oh, also the manual transmission is very important to me -- LOVE driving manual.

One specific thing I wish I had not done is a driveline e-brake. I needed something and didn't have the cash at the time to hop up to a droter conversion for the full float kit on my rear axle versus getting a driveline e-brake. But it sucks and has been nothing but a headache.

Were I starting over again, probably I'd get a 2WD 1st gen access cab taco with a 3.4L engine and manual transmission (if I could find one with a good frame). Ditch the stock bed. Link the front with a Dana 60 or something bigger. Probably link the rear as well and also go with a one ton axle back there. Atlas 4 position t-case. Cut off most of the frame and go hard toward the truggy side (but still street legal in western states -- mud flaps, full coverage fenders, stock gas tank and exhaust). Heck if I were really going wild, electric motor, no transmission, direct drive to the axles. Now *THAT* would be a wild truck.

Ironically the only reason I got into 4x4s was because my isn't into motorcycles. I had been heading down the dual sport path to adventure. Dual sports are cheap, plentiful, and disposable. Our beloved Toyotas are increasingly becoming the antithesis of those things. Don't get me wrong... I absolutely love 4x4 Toyotas. And also... I love not having a broken leg from wrecking a dual sport Have a few friend that suffered that fate 🏍

 

[Rzeppa]

@Rzeppa Ever daily any of those trucks with a Lockrite? If so I’d love to hear feedback. I keep considering that for my 60 but feel like it would be “the mod I regret”.

Yes they are all daily drivers. IMHO the BEST mod I have ever done. No worries about blue air lines leaking or compressors etc. and WAY less expensive. I wrote an article that was published in Toyota Trails about installing a lockright in your Land Cruiser. The most important and often overlooked thing is getting the clearances correct. With proper thrust clearances you get a little click click click when pulling into parking spots. With improper clearances people get BANG BANG BANG. What I have done each time, is order in a complete set of thrust washers, then find the thickness that gives the proper clearance and then return the unused ones. Long wheel base rigs like my HZJ75 and FJ60 have less noticeable clicks than shorty forties.

With a Lockright in the rear, I can drive up my snow covered hill home and not even worry about putting it into 4WD. And can crawl stuff I used to have to use a lot of skinny pedal for momentum.

 

[Cruisertrash]

Yes they are all daily drivers. IMHO the BEST mod I have ever done. No worries about blue air lines leaking or compressors etc. and WAY less expensive. I wrote an article that was published in Toyota Trails about installing a lockright in your Land Cruiser. The most important and often overlooked thing is getting the clearances correct. With proper thrust clearances you get a little click click click when pulling into parking spots. With improper clearances people get BANG BANG BANG. What I have done each time, is order in a complete set of thrust washers, then find the thickness that gives the proper clearance and then return the unused ones. Long wheel base rigs like my HZJ75 and FJ60 have less noticeable clicks than shorty forties.

With a Lockright in the rear, I can drive up my snow covered hill home and not even worry about putting it into 4WD. And can crawl stuff I used to have to use a lot of skinny pedal for momentum.

Thanks for the info - this makes me less hesitant to pop one in my 60. As there are several similar "part-time" lockers out there, I assume you use Lockrite for a reason, yeah? That's as opposed to Aussie or Spartan. We can take this off this thread if you'd like, too.

 

[rover67]

I personally didn’t like the Lockrite in my 60. The one wheel drive most of the time was annoying. Especially around town.

 

[Rzeppa]

Thanks for the info - this makes me less hesitant to pop one in my 60. As there are several similar "part-time" lockers out there, I assume you use Lockrite for a reason, yeah? That's as opposed to Aussie or Spartan. We can take this off this thread if you'd like, too.

From what I have heard from other Rising Sun members such as Ige, my understanding is that an Aussie locker is essentially similar in quality and performance as a Lockright, as far as I know it is essentially a copy. I just don't have any first hand experience with them to give a thumbs up or down. I have never heard of Spartan. I think I have typically paid around two hundred and fifty bucks or so for each of my Lockrights, give or take. Factor in the new cork gasket for your rear diff cover and new 90wt. Obviously that's way less than an ARB or Toyota electric where you have to take the entire 3rd out and do additional mods. A Detroit locker is another alternative. It's an automatic locker but way beefier (and more expensive) than a Lockright. I did break one Lockright in my HZJ75 at Cruise Moab 2003. Christo strolled past me campsite where I was doing the repair and said "what you wanna put those weak parts in your Land Cruiser?" Of course as an ARB seller he has skin in that game LOL!