"What should I mod first?" — let's discuss (1 Viewer)

[mdh384]

Reviving an old but good thread here.

Why does everybody put a suspension upgrade up so high on the priority list?
(Honest question here, not trying to be an askhole (to borrow a term from @AnyMal))

I ask this because my home CFO allows me one large expenditure a year for my camping/overlanding.
This thread convinced me that I need a fridge.
Opinions on fridges - https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/opinions-on-fridges.1313113/

But now I’m contemplating which I should do this year. Suspension or fridge. I’ll do the other next year.
And fridges are hardly mentioned in this thread here discussing the order for mods.

Am I wrong in looking at both as nice-to-have’s that make trips a little more comfortable?

And yes, 2” more ground clearance would offer a safety benifit along with comfort. I don’t discount that.
But my usage is more in line with @Itsky. I’m not interested in rock-crawling. It’s more camping and getting to trail heads. So wouldn’t the main gain for me just be in comfort on the dirt roads?



Or is it that this thread is more about “modifications” and a fridge doesn’t count as that?
I’m contemplating it from a money spending/ wife allowing perspective.

I think a lot of it has to do with attitudes and looks. A stock 200-series, in LC or LX flavor, is more capable than most drivers are... but that doesn't look cool, and it doesn't set you apart from the crowd. Big tires and a lift make any truck look cooler than stock, even if they actually make the thing less capable offroad if done poorly.

A fridge doesn't look cool, and no one can see it, so why spend $2k on that when you could make your truck look cooler?


I would say do the mods that you know you will use, and then address anything that follows. For example, if putting in a fridge eventually leads to installing some drawers that you keep filled with heavy stuff you will start to bottom the rear suspension. So that would then justify some suspension mods. Or if in your use you're legitimately running out of clearance, adding taller tires and an appropriate lift would be justified.


in OZ most vehicles are limited to tires that are (depending on state) +-50mm diameter from stock, and roof heights that are something like +-50mm from stock otherwise they need to have a licensed engineer test/inspect/placard the vehicle to certify it as road safe. These laws are much more actively enforced than anything in the US, and a fixit ticket immediately suspends the vehicle registration until it is fixed and inspected. So down here fridges, awnings, drawers, solar, etc are all common mods and are considered to be a "real" modification. 35" tires are considered to be a "big" tire.

 

[2HundyJTex]

How have I missed seeing this thread after four years on here? Love it. Bump!

I agree with the general arc of upgrades. I started with better tires, then several small mods like a tailgate light and better floormats, then Slee sliders with door-activated under lights (who doesn’t love a few days in Golden?).
Next is likely 17” wheels and even better tires. Then maybe better shocks… and skid plates… we’ll see.
I did Imogene bone stock with aging OEM Dunlops and running boards, so it’s capable but anything is better than that.
Slow and steady wins the race. See you out there.

 

[Heckraiser]

Thanks for bumping, I'm not sure how I missed this thread either.

#1 mod for any Landcruiser, any generation, is a @bhicks BH3D cupholder. Not even being cute, this is the first thing I buy and I've owned a lot of land cruisers over the years.

Getting specific to my 200:

0. Cupholder
1. craigslist tundra 18's and 35x11 tires.
2. Hard-mounted my old PUMA compressor
3. 4.88 gears, front and rear lockers (not needed for most, but in line with the type of wheeling I like to do).
4. Better 17" wheels and 35x17's
5. Haven't gotten them yet, but really need skid plates as my undercarriage is taking a beating.
6. Body lift because 37's one day.

My truck came with slee step sliders (which I have beat the snot out of and need replaced), otherwise sliders would have come after the compressor on that list. My truck also came with weathertech floormats, otherwise that would have come after cupholders.

I have yet to feel the need to replace the stock suspension, though I do have some "AHC long travel" mods in the works. I do not plan to get bumpers, though a hidden winch is a possibility. My stock bumpers are trashed from wheeling. If I care, I'll replace them when it's time to sell. Not worth the weight penalty IMO. No plans for anything else really.

 

[MRego]

It’s more camping and getting to trail heads. So wouldn’t the main gain for me just be in comfort on the dirt roads?

Nope. On the contrary. IMO, nothing is more comfortable than the OEM suspension honestly. Unless, I guess (and that's a big guess), you are desert running the thing. Then maybe a dedicated reservoir suspension might make sense.

 

[TXMoose]

Only thing I don't like about those cup holders is you have to take off the lid and it's $80 for cheap looking plastic.