Order of build-is winch first dumb? (1 Viewer)

[Reshala]

I've got this 2003 and I'm itching to start turning it into something I can play around with. Between tires/wheels with more sidewall, bumper/winch, and lift, we're looking at around $4k to get it started. Then sliders, skids, and rear bumper eventually. It's on some really nice newer Michelin road tires which I hate to give up and I'm thinking I'll keep them for daily and switch to the offroad tires for fun days. For context I usually daily the LC to keep the miles off of my other vehicle.

Given that my goal is to start making this something I can play with offroad I'm considering starting with a winch so that I can get myself out of the trouble I'm more likely to get in without good tires and wheels. I could do tires/wheels first and bring a comealong but man they suck. I worry that having a winch on an unlifted truck with road tires is a bonehead move and maybe I should just pull the trigger on everything at once. Then again, good tires and some clearance will keep me out of more trouble to begin with.

 

[Trapper50cal]

Doing bumper w/ winch first will help get the front lift set properly for the weight it will be carrying. Rear bumper and build out of the back will dictate the rear portion of the lift. Lift will dictate tire size. It's tempting to do tires first because they have so much visual impact...that's why people are always asking "How big of a tire can I fit without a lift and without rubbing"...

 

[T4R2TLC]

I think part of it depends on if and how much off road experience you have. If this is your first 4x4 and foray into off roading, good tires will get you out of more situations and teach you better driving practices than a winch on an otherwise stock truck IMO. These are pretty capable with just good AT tires.

Is starting with tires but tagging along with a friend an option? That way you have someone to recover you with strap/rope or maybe the friend would even have a winch.

My last truck (3rd Gen 4Runner) had a winch and I used it more times to move dead vehicles, trees, bushes, boats, etc than to recover myself on a trail. I used my tires and sliders often.

 

[Reshala]

I think part of it depends on if and how much off road experience you have. If this is your first 4x4 and foray into off roading, good tires will get you out of more situations and teach you better driving practices than a winch on an otherwise stock truck IMO. These are pretty capable with just good AT tires.

Is starting with tires but tagging along with a friend an option? That way you have someone to recover you with strap/rope or maybe the friend would even have a winch.

My last truck (3rd Gen 4Runner) had a winch and I used it more times to move dead vehicles, trees, bushes, boats, etc than to recover myself on a trail. I used my tires and sliders often.

My last truck was a 3rd gen as well! I only used the winch for self-recovery once. On that occasion it was very necessary and a comealong would've been miserable because it was a deeply bogged long uphill.

My experience would probably still best be described as novice if I'm being honest. Done it some, an understanding of fundamentals, but I shouldn't give anyone any advice.

 

[DiegoCrzr]

Sure, I've slowly added goodies to the cruiser over the years- but Slee spacers/crank torsion bars, good tires and recovery boards took me all over the west, and the winch never gets used. It's a Land Cruiser, you should see the places they take stock cruisers overseas

 

[Live to Ski]

slap some good at's on 'er, and just drive.

Experience will dictate what goes on/off next.

 

[Hugh Heifer]

My suggested order:
Sliders
Lift
Tires
Skids
Front bumper
Rear bumper
Winch

I have had a winches for 30+ years and used them only a handful of times. Spend it elsewhere. You normally will be wheeling with someone who can snatch you out if needed.

 

[jLB]

My suggestion would be:

AT tires (traction/durability).
Sliders (body protection).
Recovery points (getting un-stuck).

Then use/evaluate.

I wouldn’t install a “lift” or suspension, until I had figured out weight. If you need bumpers, great. If not a HWM with a factory bumper, that’s fine too. A rear locker seemed much more useful to me, than F&R bumpers, or a winch, based on my usage.

 

[Hugh Heifer]

My suggestion would be:

AT tires (traction/durability).
Sliders (body protection).
Recovery points (getting un-stuck).

Then use/evaluate.

I wouldn’t install a “lift” or suspension, until I had figured out weight. If you need bumpers, great. If not a HWM with a factory bumper, that’s fine too. A rear locker seemed much more useful to me, than F&R bumpers, or a winch, based on my usage.

Recovery points are inexpensive and very useful without a built front bumper. Not a big ticket item so, yeah, get those. (I have them and use them instead of the bumper often.)
I have OME heavies and they are not stiff enough anymore so I would go stiff no matter what knowing I would be adding to the already very heavy truck. Again, mileage may vary.

 

[Reshala]

I took her out today to start figuring out where the weaknesses were. She's stock on Michelin defender ltx and stock wheels. First, what an incredibly capable vehicle. She lives up to the lore and I'm truly blown away. I used the center diff locker to make sure the front had some grab on one obstacle but otherwise just sent it. Route was Daniel Boone Backcountry Byway.

I'm definitely starting with sliders. The running boards took a beating today. Skids after that because of my cringing over some rocks in the Kentucky mud. Something for departure angle soon because that poor hitch ate it a few times. Approach ended up not being the issue I feared. Tires are in the near future but honestly they did way better than I expected as well. Front bumper and winch went from front of the line to back. Rear bumper was at the bottom of the list and it jumped way up.


There's a mythology around these cars and I'm a witness to the truth of it.

 

[Bisho]

The receiver hitch is actually a quite capable skid plate. Recommend you do the mod to tuck the spare up higher, though. I ran that way for 4 years without issue. If you get 33” tires you gain another inch of clearance, stronger sidewalls, and better traction. Much better bang for the buck than most anything else.

 

[shtbrwn86]

How long have you had it? If you've owned it for a while and know the maintenance history (and nothing major needed) then mod away. It always gets me when people buy one of these (or any 4Runner/Taco etc) and the first thing they do is load it up with lift/tires/rack/sliders etc and then realize it needs like $8,000 in work to stay drivable and guess what? They don't have $8,000 because they spend all their money on mods.

On a more serious note, I agree that removing the steps and adding good AT tires will get you almost anywhere, especially with ATRAC.

 

[Reshala]

How long have you had it? If you've owned it for a while and know the maintenance history (and nothing major needed) then mod away. It always gets me when people buy one of these (or any 4Runner/Taco etc) and the first thing they do is load it up with lift/tires/rack/sliders etc and then realize it needs like $8,000 in work to stay drivable and guess what? They don't have $8,000 because they spend all their money on mods.

On a more serious note, I agree that removing the steps and adding good AT tires will get you almost anywhere, especially with ATRAC.

I've had it for a few months. Previous owner is a close friend who had it for about five years. Heater Tees were done by his guy. I've done valve cover gaskets and exhaust. Should follow up on timing and water pump.

 

[suprarx7nut]

My input:

1. Skip the lift unless you have to replace worn out shocks anyways. The lift buys you very little, IMO. The diffs are still the low points and will be the first thing to drag and get you hung up. With sliders, the breakover angle is less of an issue.
2. Sliders
3. New tires next season
4. Skid plates
5. Rear bumper (as you learned the hitch and the rear bumper cover itself are an issue before the front comes into play)
6. Front Bumper and winch


The winch is good if you wheel alone, but not the most important thing for me. Traction boards and a shovel will get you pretty far and are often the safer first thing to try before winching anyways.

 

[newbielx470]

Ironically, if you live near big cities, it's a good idea to first get a set of skid plates that cover the cat converter... So many cat thieves nowadays, and high ground clearance SUVs are more prone to getting it stolen

Of course, skids are also good for preventing damage and improving aerodynamics (to some extent)...

It sounds like you have an LC not LX. For LX, no lift is needed for a while. You get a free 1.5-inch lift from AHC which is good for most easy/moderate trails already.