Things I Wish I Knew Before Building My First Off-Road Rig

Lessons from trail time, mistakes, and a whole lot of wasted money

If you’ve been following the 4Runner scene or just diving into off-road builds, you’ve probably seen the same checklist: lift, wheels, skids, bumpers, lockers, lightbars... maybe a snorkel and a winch by week two. I’ve been there.

Over the past few years, I’ve had the opportunity to build multiple Toyota 4Runners, meet some insanely skilled off-roaders here in Utah, and run some of the most iconic trails with them, places where you'd never expect an IFS rig to make it. These guys know their stuff. But even after learning from the best, I still ended up with a pile of parts I didn’t need and ignored upgrades I really should’ve done sooner.

That’s what this blog is about, the real stuff I wish I had known before building my first off-road rig. No fluff, no flex. Just honest insight from the trail.

My Current Build (and What I Did Wrong)

Let me start by walking through my current setup. I didn’t follow the traditional mod order most people suggest. My very first upgrade? Wheels and tires. Then I went straight into a rear bumper, followed by the front bumper, and only after that did I install skid plates and sliders.

Looking back, I’m still happy with the rig but I’d change the order if I could go back.

What I’d Do First: Wheels & Tires (Suspension As Well) 

This is still the number one mod I recommend to anyone getting started. Good all-terrain or mud-terrain tires (paired with lighter, stronger wheels if your budget allows) make a bigger difference off-road than anything else.

• Better grip
• Increased ground clearance
• Smoother ride on dirt or snow

Not only that, but the tires define your clearance and your traction and without those two, everything else is kind of irrelevant. Fancy steel bumpers won’t help if you’re slipping around on bald highway tires.

What I’d Do Next: Skid Plates & Rock Sliders

I put these on later than I should have. And trust me, nothing wakes you up like the sound of your transfer case smacking a rock at 5 mph.

Skids and sliders are like your trail insurance policy. You don’t realize how vulnerable your undercarriage and rockers are until it’s too late. If I could do it over, these would be #2 right after tires.

• Protect vital components
• Give you confidence to commit to harder lines
• Let you "slide" through obstacles instead of getting hung up

What I’d Add Last: Bumpers & Lockers

I know… this is what most people are excited to buy first. I get it. They look sick, they feel like a big upgrade. But the truth is, your OEM bumpers are more capable than you think, especially if you’re not afraid to trim or cut.

A lot of newer drivers think they need a bumper to hit the hard stuff. But I’ve seen stock-bumpered rigs make it through Moab’s hardest trails with a good spotter and some common sense.

Lockers are awesome but also expensive. If you’re just getting started, you’ll get more value learning how to pick good lines and work with a spotter. Lockers are the cherry on top once you’ve hit the limits of your traction.

My #1 Takeaway: Go Use Your Rig

This is the biggest thing I wish I had understood from the beginning:

Go out and explore. Push your limits. See where your rig falls short before you try to fix a problem that might not even exist.

Everyone online will tell you to buy this or that. But your trail needs might be totally different from theirs. You won’t know until you’re out there.

Maybe you don’t need a swing-out bumper. Maybe you do need a winch. Maybe your biggest problem is actually interior storage. You’ll never know until you run out of traction, clearance, or patience on the trail.

Final Thoughts

If you're just starting your build or even rebuilding after years of trial and error start simple. Invest in the things that actually help you explore farther and protect your rig. And most importantly: use your rig. Experience teaches you way more than YouTube does.

Catch you on the trail,
— Jordan