Toyota 4Runner Mods, Off-road Accessories & Build Reviews 3rd, 4th and 5th gen

Mods and Off-road Accessories

So you decided that you want to make your truck look good and improve its off-road characteristics at the same time, but not sure where to start and what brands to rely on. Our simple guide will help you to navigate in the sea of aftermarket add-ons and choose tried and tested solutions.

“As a rule of thumb, the form should always follow function, so in case if you’re excited about the look of an aftermarket steel bumper that you’ve just found online, calm down a bit, check all the specifications, research reviews, and make sure that it will satisfy your main requirements.”

The sequence illustrated below is optimal for the majority of the offroad projects. While we insist on starting big mods from wheels and tires you can interchange the steps listed below and adapt them to your own requirements and budget.

Step 1 – Suspension

While one of the most important parts of your off-road project is the wheels & tires, your suspension will limit you in their sizes.
*Skip this step if you don’t want to exceed factory-recommended wheel and tire specifications, but keep in mind that larger tires will tremendously improve the off-road capabilities of your rig and spice up the appearance at the same time.

• Suspension upgrade doesn’t always mean big money. If you are looking for slightly larger and beefier tires, a simple 1-3″ spacer lift kit will do the job with ease.

• If you want to step up, improve the suspension articulation, and open up the new complex trails, a full suspension kit will be your best bet.

Step 2 – Wheels & Tires

A properly selected rim and tire package will extensively improve the off-road capabilities of your Toyota 4Runner. If you chose a lift kit, then most definitely it’s supplier provided you with a maximum available tire size for your model. Just follow the recommendations and choose A/T or M/T tires that fit in your budget.

• A/T
  Pros: All-Terrain is a universal type of off-road tire that performs perfectly in the sand, ok on gravel, ok in the snow, and bad in dirt and mud. Thanks to the less aggressive tire tread than M/Ts it behaves much better on concrete roads, providing a better gas mileage and quieter ride.
  Cons: Useless in deep mud.

• M/T
  Pros: Mud Terrain is an advanced type of an offroad tire, that works great on pretty much any terrain including mud, rocks, snow, and even sand.
  Cons: Due to the aggressive tread patterns it doesn’t do great in terms of handling on paved roads. It’s a lot noisier and wears out faster.

Step 4 – Recovery

• A recovery kit will help you to unstuck yourself from any sticky situation while keeping you safe and avoiding injury. It’s an absolute must for any driver going off the paved roads.

Hi-Lift Jack ORK Off-Road Kit

WARN Heavy-Duty Epic Accessory Recovery Kit

Step 5 – Lighting

It’s often necessary to have a few more light sources other than your headlights and fogs to navigate the trails at night or set up your camping spot. Perimeter mount pod lights and light bars will allow you to light up the area around your Toyota 4Runner.

Step 6 – Gear & Accessories

Think about what would you need on the road and at your camping spot. Food, camping, and sports gear should be on your list, so figure out a way to carry them conveniently.

• A roof rack is an absolute must for any overland adventure style project, as it allows you to free up some space in the cargo area of your vehicle and mount all necessary gear and supplies – View Our Selection for 4Runner

• Jerry cans – keep yourself hydrated and your fuel tank full – View Our Top Picks

• Bike carriers, kayak carriers, etc.

Modified Toyota 4Runner 3rd, 4th, and 5th gen Off-road Builds

• 3rd gen production years: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002;
• 4rd gen production years: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009;
• 5rd gen production years: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021;