When Does It Become "Built"

2018 SR5. I have upgraded the tires to 275 Wildepeaks, a 2" lift, full skids including the gas tank. Has a front bumper and winch. A rear bumper is coming in April. Hell, the back window is covered with stickers. I was recently in Moab and everybody on the trail was commenting about where I was taking my "stock" 4Runner. To me, it is far from stock, but to serious off-roaders it is. Where's the line from stock to built?
Recent pic.

 

2" lift and tires isnt built

modded yes

 

Never.

 

that amount of stickers on a rear window = built.

 

LOL, Those are a fashion statement , not a functional mod.

O.K., now we're getting somewhere. A regear and lockers, front and back, makes sense to me. I probably won't get down the rabbit hole that far.

 

Your rig was built, when it shipped out of Japan.
Just saying

 

your trail friends were drunk or high

 

Well duh? How the heck are you supposed to get anywhere. Kids these days just don’t know how to mix alcohol drugs and driving anymore. Shessh! And don’t try this at home. These acts are performed by professionals.

 

The range of replies is entertaining.

This is like when we debated mods vs accessories.

It's going to be a different anwer from everyone.

You're definitely not stocked. Maybe there's a "modified" class between stock and built.

 

Kids today don't grow up and learn to drive because they never had to close one eye and concentrate on the white line to hold the wheel steady. It's the lack of focus that has ruined the youth and makes it hard to get anything productive done after 11pm.

 

OK, please enlighten me; is there a difference between "built" and "build"? "Built" obviously implies completed, whereas "build" could be a work in progress. But to me, a build becomes built as soon as the owner achieves their goal for the vehicle. If someone wants their 4Runner to have 22" spinners and rubber band tires, with the entire cargo area taken up by speakers, and they accomplish those goals, I consider that a "built" vehicle, with a completed "build".

Calling a vehicle with a lift kit, aftermarket tires, a winch, and underside armor "stock" is moronic. Sounds like the OP built a great build, IMHO.

 

Yeah. Or when we debated whether 4Runners should be called trucks or SUVs. Or rigs. Rig is getting very close to build in my opinion. Not so much in meaning as in stature.

You know what? I think this is a good time for:


The List of Perpetual 4Runner Controversies

• Is KDSS better?
• Oil change at 5k or 10k miles?
• Toyota brand? Mobil 1? Amsoil? Redline? Blah blah…
• 0W20? 5W20? 5W30?
• Replace plastic oil filter housing with metal?
• Will it rub:
  • with a fender nip and tuck?
  • if I delete the mud flaps?
  • if I upgrade the upper control arms?
  • with a body mount chop?
• Do these huge tires require a re-gear?
• Ladder? Yes or no?
• Bull bar? Yes or no?
• Light bar? Yes or no?
• Raptor lights? Yes or no?
• TRD Pro “Heritage” grille? Yes or no?
• C load or E load?
• Call it AWD or 4WD?
• Call it an SUV or a truck?
• What qualifies as a mod?
• What qualifies as a build?
• Part-time 4WD okay to use on dry pavement?
• Ditch your Pedal Commander for a Dry Flow filter?
• Can I retrofit a heated steering wheel?

 

I guess it depends on what you comparing it to. If your buddies are in similarly modified Tacoma's and 4runners, then yes it's not stock. If your buddies are driving custom built rock buggies on 1-tons with 40 plus inch tires and rear steer and whatnot, then yes you're basically stock in comparison.

 

Yes. One is past tense.

 

I have a build thread, but I don't refer to it as being built. I just say "this is my money pit."

 

Now you're just arguing for the sake of argument. "Build" is subjective, as proven by this very thread. "Stock" is an objective term. Referring to a vehicle with extensive modifications as being "stock" is incorrect to the level of absurdity, so I chose to call it moronic.

As for the rest of your comment, the kind of person who would "flame" someone at an event for having a different definition of a build is the kind of person who is more concerned with ego and image than they are with enjoying a hobby. That's not my crowd.

When one dude buys an LE6920 and throws a red dot on it, that's his "AR15 build". When another guy buys a Noveske and puts MagPul furniture on it, a Geissele trigger pack, an ACOG with RMR piggyback, weaponlight and a DBAL on it, that is his "build". Neither one is more of a "build" than the other, they are just different builds.

 

You can call it “thoughtfully built”. Anything that travels 1000 miles to the trail and back needs to be thoughtfully built.

I am also warming up to the term “rig”…. Just because the longer I have mine, the more rigged it seems to get. Seems to fit with continual adding and removing equipment to suit the situation.

 

Equivalent? Yeah. If the light bulbs cost as much as the truck. Decent optics often cost more than the rifle.

 

Raptor light install

 

It’s built when my wife says it’s done. I agree with some others, it’s about perspective … but I would debate “built for what intended purpose?” Where I am, building it out for hardcore rock crawling is pointless since I’d have to drive 24 hrs for any trail truly worthwhile. My goal is to build it out to enable it for more photography opportunities. From a photographer perspective it will be built (as I’m copying 2 other photographers’ builds).

Last local 4Runner meet up I drooled over some of the builds. At the grocery store last week, a stock TRD Off Road parked across from me at the same time I parked. The guy came up to me and wanted to see (and I think I don’t have much done). He ended up walking all the way into the store with me, lol.

In any case, a truly built machine for hardcore offroading, 4Runner wouldn’t be the first or best choice. As much as some would like to debate “it can be built to do it”, it isn’t the best platform to do it.

 

You’re right. And nice cherry-picking!

 

This sums up the part about perspective so well!

I've been to some mall crawler shows and I occasionally get all googly eyes looking at 4Runners with massive roof rack, RTT's, full steel bumpers, etc. And then, I remind myself that I actually want to keep it fairly simple.

It's nice that I can take off the roof rack and most people won't even notice it's not stock. OTOH, with the roof rack on, I have been asked about it 3 times at gas stations in the past month.

It's actually kind of funny, because I recently started thinking about getting a Wrangler. It almost seems like the universe is trying to talk me out of it (along with the Tacomaworld WI crew ).

 

The Wisconsin crew of 4runners and tacos went to an off-road park last year in Tigerton. One of my spotters told me the jeepers down below were watching and muttering “he’s f*ckin crazy”and shaking their heads while I got spotted through a tight rocky corner. Maybe they didnt know I had sliders and thought the metal grinding was my body panels. Lol.

Seriously though, we had guys in SXS’s, and jeeps, refusing to pass when we waved them through past our slow group… because they wanted to watch! I didn’t quite expect the attention our largely stock looking vehicles would get. Makes it easier to resist going full crawler-bling, as much as I like the instagram 4runner look.

 

I'm looking forward to driving up that steep rock this year!

We've had people watch us on the Pipeline, too. I guess some folks are surprised that anything besides a Jeep can wheel.

 

Built? When your spare doesn’t fit behind the bumper or when your OE bottle jack is useless for changing the tire, or when you have to explain to your wife that people aren’t staring at us - they’re staring at the truck.

Just make sure you’re enjoying your SUV, er.. I mean rig!

 

I would consider this "built". SAS with one-tons, 40s, 5.7L swap, etc. Most other 4Rs are modified, or even heavily modified, but few are actually "built". (I. E not just bolting on readily available aftermarket parts). Just my .02. Feel free to call yours whatever you like.

 

Hmm. I consider it built when you can tell someone spent time and effort in the modifications. Serious modifications, engine swaps, suspension work, driveline upgrades, axles swaps, roll cages.....

 

I've only heard built in terms of the engine. Its a built engine. We built the engine. The car has a built engine.

People were misusing the term.

The engine is built when you replace internals for lot of power for naturally aspirated or forced induction. Engine swap is not built. Suspension or anything else has nothing to do with it.

If someone said they had a built car I would assume it's a kid who heard the word once before from older guys and desperately wants to be cool.

Pretty darn sure it comes from way back when, when people were building naturally aspirated muscle cars. People might ask if it's a stock motor. "No I built it." As in ordered all kinds of parts for it and put it together. So it's been built. Or maybe built by a shop. You would say it's "fully built" if you had aftermarket internals like bearings, valves, crank, pistons, rods, heads etc... just to drive the point home that you really did everything you could.

I think this term fell off as it's become common to build motors and forced induction is very common which means if you're making any real power you by default have to have a built motor. It's just standard. People might be curious what internals, compression your running or other specifics but obviously your engine is built so that's no longer a question or bragging point. If I'm running a 1,000 hp car and I say hey guess what it's got a built motor. Yeah, obviously it does.

Edit: i would even guess it comes from the hot rod days when guts were grinding their own cames. So some stuff they may have

Here:
https://www.motortrend.com/how-to/1711-what-makes-a-fully-built-engine/

 

Never

 

Tons, 40’s, and taco box is definitely built. That being said having a build could mean something in progress. Will it get bigger? Definitely. Am I working on my build? Yes. Is it built? Not yet.