[ugamurph]

Murph's TrailRunner
2001 Toyota 4Runner Limited 4WD - Locked

In the fall of 2012, I was inspired by @Fjatheart to buy an off road capable rig. He had an FJ40 that he wheeled and an 01 4Runner that he was planning to build into a trail capable daily driver. After searching many FJ80s and 4Runners, I purchased this 2001 4Runner Limited on October 27, 2012. It was completely stock except for a TRD cat-back exhaust, K&N air intake, and an aftermarket Stereo/CD/DVD player with 12" subs and amps. I started modding it just days after I brought it home.







What it looked like the day I bought it:


Suspension:
Front - Old Man Emu 883 coils with OME 9004 shocks
Rear - OME 891 coils with Bilstein 5100 Tundra shocks (part# 24-100144)
SPC Light Racing UCAs
Toytec Diff Drop
Front & Rear swaybar removed (destroyed the driver's side mount twice, so I'm done with it!)

Armor:
Shrockworks Front Winch Bumper with Full Hoops
Stubbs Welding HD-SKO Sliders
Budbuilt Front Skid and Belly Pan Skid

Tires & Wheels:
265/75R16 Cooper Discoverer STT tires
Stock 16" Limited wheels (minus center caps)
Matching spare

Powertrain & Steering:
Stock 3.4L V6
Stock air intake with ISR Mod (Intake Silencer Removal)
TRD cat-back exhaust
Safari-LTD Steering Gear (11/06/2013)
4.30 gears
Rear e-locker (retrofit from a 1999)
Genuine Toyota Front Wheel Bearings
Genuine Toyota CV Boots on original Axles
Denso A/F sensor (10/31/12)
Plugs & Wires (11/4/12)
Denso Radiator (10/1/2013)

Exterior:
Snorkel
PIAA 510 fog lights in front bumper
4' Wilson CB antenna on front bumper
PlastiDip rear badges
Pinstripes by the trails of Tennessee
Sport hood installed (04/09/16)

Interior:
6th seat in cargo area (2nd gen front bucket w/ 3rd gen rear 3-pt seat belt) (Currently removed)
Cobra 19 DXVI installed in place of ashtray
Constant 12V plugs (console and rear)
Weathertech Floormats
BlueSea USB port
Fire Extinguisher
ARB Fridge/Freezer

Recovery Gear:
Superwinch Talon 9.5SR with Viking Amsteel Blue Synthetic Rope
Factor55 ProLink winch thimble
Superwinch roller fairlead
CO2 onboard air tank
Hi-Lift jack with roof rack mount
Various straps, shackles and other gear

Things to come:
Electric rear locker (axle housing and diff purchased (3/21/2016)
CBI (or homemade) rear bumper with Tire Carrier
Whitson Metal Works Roof Rack
Modular drawer system

[ugamurph]

Because I didn't actually keep up with a build thread since I bought the 4Runner, a lot of this will be a look back at what was done. It'll take some time for me to catch up. I'll be including not only mods and maintenance stuff, but there will be some off-roading pictures thrown in too.

I hope y'all enjoy.

Murph

[gmv4k]

I'd love to see pictures of the 6th seat. I'm looking for ideas. How did you bolt it in?

[ugamurph]

Originally Posted by gmv4k

I'd love to see pictures of the 6th seat. I'm looking for ideas. How did you bolt it in?

Those pictures and details will be up eventually. I should have started a build thread back in 2012 when I bought the T4R. Now I'm having to play catch up and it's going to take me some time. I'll try to get them up quickly.

Check back regularly for more updates.

_Murph_

[ugamurph]

The first mod was removing the running boards… "instant lift". Maybe not, but it did make it look better.
Before:

After:

[ugamurph]

On the drive home, the check engine light came on. After checking the codes, I determined that I needed to replace the pre-cat A/F ratio sensor. I ordered a Denso (part #234-9002) from Amazon for much cheaper than anywhere else. Of course, it was an easy plug and play install.

New sensor with gasket:


Old sensor:


New sensor installed:


The CEL codes also indicated a misfire on two of the cylinders.

This is why:


I installed new NGK plug wires and spark plugs.

Pretty Blue Wires:

[ugamurph]

I learned that PlastiDip wasn't just for tool handles. Dipped the emblems and tag surround



















Finished:





I also PlastiDipped the grille:


**I need to redo the grille because I messed it up with a pressure washer. I got way too close with it.

[ugamurph]

I ordered 5 Cooper Discoverer STT tires (265/75R16) from Discount Tire. It's beginning to look like a true off-road vehicle.





(11/28/12)

[ranbar02]

I've got the same tires and I love them. Good looking 4runner. I'm ready to see the 6th seat as well

[ugamurph]

The day after I bought my tires, I received my Old Man Emu 883/891 lift with OME 9004/60027 shocks from Toytec.



I paid the extra money to have Toytec assemble the front shocks/coils. I loved the "running man" hieroglyphics that they added. A special touch.



(11/29/12)

[ugamurph]

On 12/06/12, the UPS man brought these all the way from Susanville, CA.

Stubbs Welding HD-SKO sliders…



I took them out to the garage and "mocked them up".

[ugamurph]

Finally getting to the stuff everyone wants to see….

On 12/8/12, @Fjatheart and I filled the day by installing the OME lifts on both of our 4Runners. That was a LONG day!

Before...


Front going on…


Rear going in:


The money shot…


And a couple of after lift poser shots…





(12/08/12)

[ugamurph]

Once my lift was on, it was time to get working on the sliders and having them installed. Over the next few days, I primed and painted them. One thing that I do regret is using the white "bare metal" primer. I found out quickly that when the topcoat gets scratched, the white shows through like a sore thumb.

These Stubbs HD-SKO sliders are great looking and very strong. I liked the fact that the legs came pre-welded. If I could go back and do it again, I would have had Richard weld in some gussets between the legs and mounting plates for a little extra rigidity and strength. Since I don't have a welder of my own, I had Essentially Off Road of Murfreesboro, TN weld them on.

Primer...


Paint...


Mounting by EOR…




(Installed 12/20/12)

[ugamurph]

Originally Posted by ranbar02

I've got the same tires and I love them. Good looking 4runner. I'm ready to see the 6th seat as well

Thanks for the compliment. I've enjoyed these tires as well. They do great off road and they have good on road manners as well. I would've liked to have gone with a 285/75R16 or the 255/85R16, but I didn't want to deal with rubbing issues.

[ugamurph]

For Christmas of 2012 I got a Motorola 19 DXVI CB to be able to use on trail rides. I ordered an 18' Wilson antenna cable, a Wilson Flex-4 antenna and a FireStik stud mount. I built an antenna mount that attached under the left taillight. I eventually sold that mount and ordered an ODL mount which are no longer available.



I installed the CB in the dash in place of the ashtray. I created a how-to thread here… Install Cobra 19 CB in place of ashtray - 3rd Gen

That was a fun and useful install that created an OEM look for the CB.



Here is the mount that I built out of scrap metal that was in my garage.




(12/30/12 - 01/3/13)