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[Swingshiftworker]

TexasCabledawg previously said:

This got me thinking about mods such as a lift and tires, but how it would affect it as a daily driver. We don't go wheeling very often, but would the benefit of the added offroad capability outweigh the benefit of a stock rig that is a great daily driver? What are the new tires and lift (among other possible mods) going to do to my MPG vs avoiding damage and associated costs with the occasional trail run?

The rig performed really well stock, but I would like to have had a little more clearance.

It's apples and oranges.

If you lift and put big tires on your rig (and do all of the other suspension stuff you should do to accomodate the lift & tires) it will NOT be the same car. Your mileage will go down, it will (or should) ride stiffer) and it won't be able to get into your (or other) garages. I decided early on not to lift my FJ for these reasons. My "solution" was to buy another 4x4 (my 99 Wrangler TJ) which has already been lifted 5 inches, sports 35" mud/rock tires, and has all of the other necessary mods to allow it to go anywhere the FJ can't (and there aren't many places that the FJ can't go).

I use my FJ as a daily driver too, so my mods were mostly "comfort" and "convenience" related. Sunroof, auxillary fuel tank & fog lights are in this category. I also have a couple of off-road mods, including the Lucrum winch mount, Warn M8000 winch and Optima dual battery system. My FJ already came w/OEM sliders, skid, TRD wheels & BFG AT tires and a TRD exhaust. So, it's ready to go off road at a moment's notice, but it won't be able to do much rock climbing.

So, if you like to go on the kinds of trails that knock your bumper off and dent your skid plate, you'll have to decide what's more important to you. Comfortable and affordable daily driving or less comfortable and less affordable off-road capability. Only you can make that decision, based on the amount of money you have (lift/tire/suspension mods are EXPENSIVE) and how much you think you'll actually make use of these mods.

Good luck!