[Dirtco]

More progress! I removed the old fuel tank and rear suspension, along with the old axle.



Then I started working on mocking up the suspension, fuel tank, spare tire and tube work. This is where things started to get exciting, and I could actually see what it was going to look like! So here are some of the details; it looks like the rear axle will be getting moved back approximately 7" for a wheel base of roughly 114". The stock fuel tank wasn't going to work so I used my old auxiliary tank for mock up and ordered a new tank for a fuel injected application.

In these pictures the tank is setting a little high, and the spare tire a little low, but it gives you guys a good idea of what the end product will look like. I will probably have a tray above the tank for two Action Packers.

[Cree]

Jesus. That's sexy.

[Road Bull]

Holy crap!! Someone has been busy. This post roll build has really been setting a new bar for thoughtful personalization. I really liked how classy your old wood stained drawer storage system was planned out. I always thought of your rear cargo drawers as the Ethan Allen of cargo options.

But the new geometry out back looks bad ass. Do you think you will try to store anything above you on some sort of roof rack fabrication? For maybe a Hi-Lift? Or do you think that you will find a way to store all that out back? I dig seeing all the progress and I can't wait to see it rolling around again.

[Dirtco]

Originally Posted by Road Bull

Holy crap!! Someone has been busy. This post roll build has really been setting a new bar for thoughtful personalization. I really liked how classy your old wood stained drawer storage system was planned out. I always thought of your rear cargo drawers as the Ethan Allen of cargo options.

But the new geometry out back looks bad ass. Do you think you will try to store anything above you on some sort of roof rack fabrication? For maybe a Hi-Lift? Or do you think that you will find a way to store all that out back? I dig seeing all the progress and I can't wait to see it rolling around again.

Thanks Ryder! The sleeping and camping platform is the one item I will miss the most after the accident, but even if I had body swapped the 4Runner once I built a cage the sleeping platform would've been useless. Unfortunately a safe cage and sleeping comfortably inside a vehicle don't really go together.

I'm pretty sure I've found a home for most of my regular gear inside or on the back of the truck. Camping gear on the other hand is a work in progress; I thought long and hard about sleeping options, and after exploring several options I decided to go with an OzTent. They have the same build quality as a nice roof top tent but are lighter and the main tent sets up in about 30 seconds (once you get it out of the bag). It will be really nice for Overland style trips when I'm camping at different places every night.



For trips that I'm camping in one spot for several days I got the side and front panel kit, along with the floor. It will take more time to set up but it really transforms the "simple" tent into something much more comfortable!



To carry the tent I plan on building a very basic, light weight, removable roof rack; pretty much some crossbars with stops and maybe a spot to put some firewood. I also bought an Inno cargo box to carry my camping gear since the cargo room in the 4Runner is pretty much gone. So when I'm doing Overland style camping trips I'll have the cargo box and tent up on the roof, but the rest of the time the roof will be empty for running harder trails and being able to park in my garage.

[Road Bull]

Nice choice in camp tents. I was seriously looking at Oztents a few months back. I ended up going with a Kodiak Canvas 10x10 VR tent. Kodiak Canvas Tent 6011VX 10 x 10 Super Deluxe With Free Ground Tarp I really dig it, but I might just pick up either a smaller version, or get an Oztent. I just mounted up my new Sperpa Matterhorn roof rack, so now I would have somewhere to put an Oztent. I even tried my hand at hammock camping a few weeks ago. I will need some more practice with that one if I am to make it work. lol. What Oztent did you end up going with? I really like that they can be mounted and dismounted a heck of a lot easier than a RTT. One other benefit with the Oztent is that they are not as dependent on being staked down like the Kodiak. I don't think you could find much better, especially if you plan to camp a night, then move.

[Dirtco]

I've been slow on updates but rest assured, I'm working on the 4Runner whenever possible! Here is a teaser shot of how the truck sets right now, I'll get into specifics as time allows!

[Dirtco]

Here's a couple pictures from mocking up the spare tire carrier. The rear axle has been moved back 7" for an approximate wheelbase of 114".

[eimkeith]

Links look good! - we should compare spreadsheets.

[derpiful]

This is getting wild and I love it. Keep up the good work, super stoked to see it completed!!

[Dirtco]

Originally Posted by eimkeith

Links look good! - we should compare spreadsheets.

Thanks, I'll see if I still have mine. As you know the 4 link calculator might as well be the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland... I spent hours moving stuff around and recalculating. I finally had to cut myself off and actually get to building the suspension. I had several sheets, and deleted them when I made my final decision.

Originally Posted by derpiful

This is getting wild and I love it. Keep up the good work, super stoked to see it completed!!

Thanks Hayden! I'm excited to get it out of the garage and back on the trail! I've pretty much spent the last two years rebuilding the 4Runner (SAS last year).

[Dirtco]

From day one the plan has always been to enclose the 4Runner. While it will be super capable on rock crawling trails, I also want a well rounded vehicle that I can still explore long distance hot dusty trails, take out snow wheeling, and hit the high mountain passes in the rain and cold while being comfortable.

I designed the cage to be safe, but I also made it so I could close off the back of the 4Runner from the elements. The Ultra 4 inspired light bar adds strength and safety to the 4Runner, but it also adds a recessed area for a window to sit and not have water pour directly on the seal. Like they say, the devil is in the details and this project has been no exception!

I bought some 3/8” thick dark tinted plexiglass acrylic sheet that I will use as the window material.





Left window cut and getting fit





There will also be a small side window to fill in the gap where the large back side window was.





The license plate will be installed on the back window, the small black dots on the rear light bar are license plate lights.



Speaking of lights, I installed some Rigid A-Series knock off light pods I got off Amazon above the rear seats. I wired them into the factory door switches so when you open the door the corresponding light turns on.

[Dirtco]

So about a month ago I made a little trip back up to where the accident was. I had salvaged and accounted for everything after the accident, except the rear seat head rest which I had to remove to get out of the truck when it was upside down. It wasn’t that big of a deal to find it, more like unfinished business and I wanted to check the site out in the summer.

My vehicle for the day was my work/plow truck, I bought it from my work about a year and a half ago and have been slowly fixing it up. It was originally a fire department truck, then was used at my work for carrying spray rigs. It was pretty tired when I bought it and needed a bunch of work to get it back to being reliable (thats why they sold it to me cheap). It also looked pretty bad from tree spraying and all the over spray the vehicle gets. But the truck has a 454, 14 bolt rear axle and the heavy duty transmission, so I felt it was worth the work to get it back to where it was when it lived at the fire department. It’s perfect for getting firewood, and has been great for home improvement projects. It's honestly hard to think about not having it at this point, it's just a super useful tool to have.



Anyways, it was a beautiful day for a drive in the woods and I made short time of getting up to the location of the accident. I parked the truck and hiked down the hill to the tree I thought it was, but there was nothing there. So I walked down the hill side to the next tree, and again there was nothing there. I finally walked down to the furthest tree and found what I was looking for, the pile of broken glass was a dead giveaway. When I looked back up the hill side I was blown away at the fact that I rolled this far down the road!



Setting right where it should be was the headrest, untouched for months. I looked around some more, just to make sure there was nothing else I had missed but besides for the broken glass and mirrors everything had been accounted for.



Like I said earlier, it was a beautiful day (the tree to the left is where the 4Runner came to a stop) so I kept going up the road.



I even found some snow to bust through!




—-

[TonyB66]

I call that closure. Full circle man. I might have taken a piss there too, but that's me... Next might be going there with your rebuilt rig!

[Dirtco]

Originally Posted by TonyB66

I call that closure. Full circle man. I might have taken a piss there too, but that's me... Next might be going there with your rebuilt rig!

It was something that needed to be done. A lot of stuff went through my head climbing down the hillside, and struggling to get back up it. But I feel a lot better about the whole thing now. Oh yeah, I'll be going back in the 4Runner! There is some killer snow wheeling back in that area, but I'll also be paying a lot more attention to the conditions.

[4R4Trout]

Wow I just got caught up with your thread and I am completely blown away. First off from a first responder stand point (and human for that matter) I am glad you are healthy and still around to entertain us with your awesome build. This is a classic example of when life gives you lemons you make lemonade. And you have done just that, this build is way cool. I love the fact you are still keeping the cab enclosed and free from the elements. I recently just got back into the Toyota arena and bought a new to me 5th gen TE. I just lifted it and that’s just the beginning. My goal is for a capable overland rig, probably not to the extent of capabilities of your rig but close. Oh hell who am I kidding no where close. I am looking forward to your completion of the comeback rig.