What's your best/favorite mod/upgrade (poll)?

[OCD90]

As a relatively new owner...the thought was bouncing around...rather than bang my head against the wall...and reinvent the wheel...

What was each of your best/favorite mod/upgrade/etc? The one where you thought, "this is damn cool!"

It doesn't have to be costly (or it can), and it doesn't need to be extravagant. But what did you do (or have done) that when it was done, you REALLY were impressed. I mean it can be as simple as stainless bolts or rust treatment, or it can be as wild as you want...

I'm not only thinking dirvetrain, but suspension, accessories, interior, stereo/technology, whatever.

I know it's random, but I'd think it'd be helpful for the rest of us to know.

[Tawayama]

Favorite mod? The one I just got done doing (whichever one that was).

I think that my favorite mod has been the one to my brain. Doing the modifications, doing the research, seeing what worked and what didn't, is for me the coolest thing.

I've modified my brain in much better ways than I could ever modify my truck.

That said...favorite mod...preventative maintenance. Gotta have peace of mind when I go out. Everything else is just bling if you don't have reliability. Get it first, know how to maintain it, THEN go after the goodies.

That is not what you were looking for, but it's actually what I do think.

Michael

[read]

Bottle opener mounted to the front bumper... dirt cheap and if I break down... at least I can enjoy a cold one...

now that's peace of mind :toast

[PT94D90]

The interior drop curtain that Art Vigil sells. Without it, I'd be freezing my ass off right now. With it, I stay warm.

Close second is the Borla stainless steel cat-back exhaust.

But I'm just gettin' started. :grin

[DJ Menasco]

My mantec spare tire carrier! My rear door sounded as if it was going to literally fall off until I got the carrier. Money well spent.

DJ

[tbmcneill]

someone may call me on this one since i said i'd never go with a 3-link .... but, after wheeling Yousef's rig (which, at the time was almost identical to mine except for his 3-link) on Prichett Canyon, I've got to say the SG 3-link is the best off-road mod you can do to a D90 without going to a custom suspension. I pushed his truck into stuff that would have me feeling uneasy in my setup, but felt 'easy' in his.

a close 2nd is the bottle opener...:grin ....but, take a spare as bumper mounted openers tend to get ripped off rockcrawling ;)
T

[Cube II]

My recent custom logo on sides...
:grin
:cool:
:proud
:thumbs

[snuffer]

A strong winch on a good bumper, the D90 is a great offroader off the showroom floor. Suspension, tires, axles, lockers, underside protection, all great but you can still get stuck bad. If you always wheel with others and they have winches its not so important. If you ever wheel alone, or with others who don't have winches, it can be very useful.(a high lift jack is right in there too)

I want all the other stuff too but if starting over I'd spend first on the winch. Maybe someone will get you the jack for your birthday.

[Tawayama]

...or maybe not.

The Hi-Lift jack is ovverated as far as I'm concerned. I've been trained how to use it and they still scare the shit out of me.

I've given away two of mine just to eliminate the temptation to use them.

Spend that money on recovery gear and not the Hi-Lift.

Time for a new thread on Hi-Lifts?

:D

M

[milli]

Roof tent. Not really an off-road mod, but the thing is rad. Most of time I keep bedding inside the thing. 30 seconds and you can be asleep. Got a little propane heater at Fred Meyers for like $20 that has kept me warm on some pretty cold nights.

Besides that, H-4 headlights were a big project for me with relays and all. They are great too.

[Mike Hippert]

:grin

[Mike Hippert]

That sticker adds power, covers small holes from rust, makes the 90 more aero-dynamic while looking cool. I recommend it to any D-90 owner!:grin

[rover4x4]

a definate must for any person that uses this site

[chrisvonc]

:thumbs

[rover4x4]

I 2nd the high lift, I am scared of those things too. I got scars to show it. needless to say they are versital and indeed a good tool but as with anything gotta be careful with them.

[snuffer]

Yes, I've torn up my share of paint and body trim with the high lift when I wheeled full size trucks but it was always operator error.

If your axles are buried and you have one of those nice long travel flexy suspensions how else can you raise it?

Or did you buy the winch first, and for sure the recovery gear to go with it like Michael says.

[TwisteD90]

My best mod is everything I've done to my D90 :)

I do agree with Troy about the 3-link. However, this is not my best mod. The best mod I have done is going with 35 spline Salisbury rear axle. The rear axle becomes the weakest point when you run big tires and there is no way you can make your "modified" stock rear axle unbreakable w/o sacrificing something.

[mhansen]

My vote is the OME springs and shocks. The best mod in my opinion using the "dollars per satisfaction" scoring criteria.(The amount of time spent grinning while staring at your empty wallet on the dash)

[dmarchand]

Randy, you might try getting some strong ratchet straps and strapping the axles to the frame once stuck, then raise the truck with the hi lift to working height.

That's how you deal with the flex. It actually works really well. The hardest part is getting the strap underneath the axle when buried.

[snuffer]

Great tip David, sounds like you've done some mud diving.

Bill Burke's new DVD is out, "Getting Unstuck" lots of good info, even on the versatile HighLift jack and other stuff.

Training and info is a great addition, like the brain modification.

[Burke]

This is a simple thing, and only useful to the ST owners, but a set of those "quick nuts" for easy door top removal is great for those like me who can't decide top off or on... I praise them every time I use them.

[Doug]

Lights. I love my lights in the deep desert, lights off too the side lighting up the canyon walls, back up lights, and my Lightforce 240s on the bumper for cruising those long grades across the valleys.... ;)

Doug W.

[wicks]

True on the lights. But the blingest of all bling for me is the wolf defender tool/bonnet spare setup I did. To me a Defender looks best with crap hanging all off of it everywhere, but neat and tidy, and of course, as Genuine as it can be. For instance, the wolf pick head mount is technologically advanced compared to the Mantec design. I do have the Mantec snorkel, but that's it from them at the moment. Would like to swap out for one of their steering guards. The one I have came cheap.

#2: Getting rid of that fugly and approach-angle destroying ARB eyesore that was hanging off the front when I got it (just being cheeky, no offense DW110 - it is real strong and at your altitude not a problem).

#3: Upgraded speakers (All stock radio and CD)

#4: Stealing the trunk organizer net outa the CLK430 and strapping it into the D behind the seats.

Those are the most impractical things to do of course - like he said about the maintenance. Gotta know how to bypass that brake light switch when it dies on the trail killing the ignition.

[xmod]

my two are basic (and thus far my only upgrades, not really mods):

XM radio (good to have tunes anywhere without messing with a CD),

and, Badger seat covers (a must have in the Arizona sun).

[mikeslandrover]

Fitting a tdi engine. Speed (compared to a 2 1/4 petrol) and economy.