Yep, that's what comes in the Sonoran Steel kit.

I mean good grief I love what you have done with this truck!

Suscribed!

Thanks, I'll have to see if home depot has one. Lowes didn't...

Thanks man, I don't mean to brag, but this truck is pretty sexy.


Today I got the last two holes drilled for my rear bumper into the frame. I was getting a squeak back there but now it's gone with the final bolts in the frame, so I would recommend just installing them from the beginning.

Then I packed my stuff and drove to SC. No issues at all, got 18.4 MPG on the first tank and 17.4 on the second. Really good for a truck with 200k miles, the AC on all the way, and probably close to 5200 lbs plus 200-300lbs of stuff.

One of my headlights just burned out too so I ordered a set of Phillips Xtreme Vision bulbs for $23 on amazon. Hopefully they last longer than the Xtravision bulbs I have been using.

First, a picture of my helper as I was drilling the final holes for my bumper.
DSC04451 by Unner Unner, on Flickr
Saturday I drove up to NC and ran Hurricane Creek Trail. Fun trail, I went out by myself and only saw one other person on the trail. An older couple that I assume has one of the cabins back there. Lots of pictures were taken and some videos that I'm working on converting the format of. I'll try and get them uploaded eventually too.

The trailhead right off of I-40. Traffic had just come to a stop too, so I jumper off into the woods.
DSC04456 by Unner Unner, on Flickr
DSC04457 by Unner Unner, on Flickr
At the first creek crossing. Another American flag along the trail too.

DSC04487 by Unner Unner, on Flickr
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In a Magnolia Tunnel.

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Hard parking in the woods.

DSC04530 by Unner Unner, on Flickr
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Another neat creek crossing.
DSC04541 by Unner Unner, on Flickr
DSC04542 by Unner Unner, on Flickr
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Another crossing. Lots of water made this a fun trail.
DSC04571 by Unner Unner, on Flickr

And yet another. This one was an "optional" route. No problems for me getting through it, but it definitely needed the added approach angle of the front bumper at least.
DSC04576 by Unner Unner, on Flickr

Just needs new tires!
DSC04578 by Unner Unner, on Flickr

I had no damage until I got to this spot. I had been making sure not to stuff the driver side tire because of my driveshaft gas tank skid issue that is still ongoing, but it happened here and I sheared another zerk. I can't seem to find a button head bolt that is short enough and I am not sure that I want to put one in because the zerks are really easy to pull out when it happens. I hope this issue gets resolved soon. It really hinders my ability to wheel...

DSC04580 by Unner Unner, on Flickr
DSC04586 by Unner Unner, on Flickr

Airing up a couple miles off the trail when I got back to pavement.

DSC04606 by Unner Unner, on Flickr

Not a whole lot of nature pics because it's a very dense wooded trail, it was pretty dark in most spots, I had to take off my sunglasses multiple times just to see.

Overall not a "hard" trail, but a fun trail for sure. I'm sure I'll do it again. I think a stock 4WD could make it, but I wouldn't take a 2WD out there without a buddy who can give you a pull if needed. When I came up the end of the trail there was a Jeep Liberty parked there and two guys. The one looked at me and said he would have felt a lot more confident had he known I was behind him haha. I'm not sure how they got a Jeep Liberty through there but I'm sure it involved a lot of throttle and he did say his skid plate is trashed now... It was also apparently his wife's hahaha


That's the end of my mini trip report. Fun trip, all done withing a day. 2 hours there, 2 hours back, and about 3-4 hours on the trail made for a fun relaxing Saturday.

@Unner , looks like a great trip and the 4Runner is looking great! It would be awesome to meet you up there in NC one of these weekends. I tend to get up that way monthly.. I have a buddy who lives in Sylva and we explore almost every time I go up there.

so where does the Hurricane Creek trail spit you out and what route did you take back home?

Thanks! Hit me up when you go up there, if I'm around I'll go up there too and we cant hit some trails.

It's marked as Meadow Fork Gap on the map I believe.

Nice!

@Unner - After looking through your build thread another time, I think you have built the perfect truck. I have an offer for you - I have a 1999 Limited with E-Locker that is mostly stock. Lets trade and you can start another badass build that everyone will want to follow!

Let me think about it and I'll get back to you on the trade.

Seriously, thanks for the compliments. It's nice to know someone reads my ramblings here.

Haven't done anything to the truck lately. I rolled over 203k yesterday and gave her a bath.

@JBurt @Bijan

I've been in contact with Shrockworks and they said I will be getting a new redesigned gas tank skid plate. I last spoke to then two weeks ago and they said a month at the time, so hopefully I have something in two weeks.

No bigger plans for the truck now other than tires sometime in the near future hopefully. Waiting on the discount tire sale. Not really sure if I'll even swap a locker in unless a crazy deal lands at my feet. Between the winch, tried pro recover boards, and being an 01 with TRAC I'm not sure I need a locker for what I do.

I've also been looking into dashcams after an interesting event with a guy driving a company truck aggressively, and then video taping my truck and me personally when he pulled up next to me on the interstate(while driving the company truck at 70mph, 10 over speed limit) as if I had done something wrong.

I'd like to eliminate the few interior rattles my truck has also. They aren't noticed on normal roads or with the radio on, but those of you who've driven in SC will understand...

Pictures after the first wash with new bumper and winch. It's strange putting tire shine on 5 tires now haha
IMG_20160908_195126670_HDR by Unner Unner, on Flickr
IMG_20160908_195253790_HDR by Unner Unner, on Flickr
IMG_20160908_195301332_HDR by Unner Unner, on Flickr
IMG_20160908_195357764_HDR by Unner Unner, on Flickr

Have you re-geared you rig? Just wondering how you are stilling seeing 18mpg with all of the armor and 33's while I haven't seen 18's in a while without the armor and 33's.

How long did it take for them to reply to your initial email?

It's looking great man!