yeah these are our first and probably only. We built a house with a legit basement so my in-laws could live there and while it has its annoying moments, i think it will be a godsend once the babies are born. We're thinking of a nanny as well just for some relief for the wife while the rest of us are at work.

You'll have a steeper learning curve starting with two immediately, but at some point, you'll get efficient at it. Having a toddler to take care of at the same time is/was a challenge but at least we knew how to take care of a baby already. We already had/have a nanny and got a night nanny (errrr... newborn care specialist) for the first ~4 months (just past when my wife went back to work). Breastfeeding is a huge challenge but is do-able if your wife commits 100% to it - but then you need to step up to do everything else you can. Survive the first 2-4 weeks, then work on figuring out a schedule that works for the babies and the parents - and know that it will keep changing. Wake the second baby when the first wakes (generally) and put them both down when the first one gets tired to keep them on the same schedule or you will never get a break/sleep. Follow the babywise eat-play-sleep routine once they are able to stay awake for more than just feeding - a full night's rest (or even just one wake up) will be the best thing ever after a few months of 1-2 hours at a time.

And now, back to your regularly scheduled 4Runner forum!

-Charlie

Appreciate the tips man! We know we're in for quite a ride so anything helps.

Finally did the deck plate mod on my new airbox with no missing mount or cracked underside


Also stabilized the drawer when pulled out, just a couple of wood scraps and it has zero side to side movement


Another couple from moab eventhough this thread is buried with no real updates yet

Started my swingout as ill have a lot of time at home for a bit. Just hoping i have enough metal and argon.
Kind of planning it out as i go but so far it looks like i’ll be able to keep the plastic step and just notch the bumper for these components



For strength im using the 3.5” square tube, notched to sit on top of the frame but will also be attached to the skid bar i already built and bolted to the frame where the hitch usually bolts up.




Its offset to the driver side for my hinge.

This is how the hinge will be welded up, ill notch the piece for the hinge case to mount up as tight as possible before welding.


Also planning to add some gussets for extra strength



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Got started tacking it all together








Plastic needs a trim


Might shorten the mount a tad but dont have a ton of room


Also opened up the beam for bolt access




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Welp, rethought it after talking to a local guy and decided to angle the arm outward and just trim the bumper side as well.

It was going to clear as it was but the hinge was going to sit away from the bumper more than i’d like. This way its closer and still clears the hatch.









Also drilled the swing arm for the upper pin






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Update: Despite having a bent guide bit on my holesaw i got the swingarm drilled straight for the upper pin. Put it on for shiggles and its just right.














Pulled the whole shebang off to add the hitch.


Opened up my access hole a little more as well

OE bumper trimmed to fit hiding all that junk aside from the hinge.







Also got the hidden hitch receiver fitted and cut a hole in the bumper for it.










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Leave plenty of room between the OEM bumper bits and all the frame mounted parts you are fabricating. Do you have poly rear body mounts? Even with those, there will be more movement that you might expect when flexing offroad.

-Charlie

Thanks Charlie!
I figured i’ll have to open the gaps a tad more for that reason. Havent finished modifying the bumper mounts yet either(need a lot of clearancing) so its currently floating on the sides and some little braces i made. Thought about using a little rubber seal around the cut but maybe i should leave it open and wider?

I ran out of square tube unfortunately, so its either wait until i can get some more or use this.





Kind of surprised i got it lined up as well as i did considering the scraps looked like this and they were at the wrong parts of the turn




Thoughts anyone who may still be reading?


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I can't speak to design from a functional standpoint, but I dig the square base/round tube combo. Looks a little smoother than the sometimes over-tactical looks of all square tubing.

thanks Greyhome, im gonna run with it and if it sucks i'll cut it down and start over. Planning on extra gussets and bracing wherever i can manage for plenty of strength and thinking that i want the bottom of the spare sitting on plate that would be welded to the base arm for less hanging weight. just really hoping i dont run out of metal and argon right before finishing it.

Dang dude! @Joelzy this is epic! I love the integration into the stock bumper. I have always been a fan of keeping the OEM look. great job #healthymods

If you do that, you'll need to slot the holes for the lug nuts/bolts for different/changing tire sizes. Also, keep that tire inflated...

Good idea though, as it will triangulate the swingout a bit so the weight isn't cantilevered up so high.

-Charlie

Thank you Sean! appreciate that coming from a healthymodder Started with not wanting to pay more for a bumper than i did for the whole truck but now i do like the OE look and being that i have an OE upper front it just made sense.

Yeah i was already trying to figure out the best way to slot the holes while keeping it from wiggling loose.

thanks, glad i got a little confirmation on that idea, most of them are way up there hanging, seemed like a good idea to keep as much weight as possible close to the mounts

Looks great. Very nice tying the swingout into the factory bumper. The round tube actually looks like it belongs. Was your initial plan to do the same thing using the square tube or different design?

I've considered doing something similar as an option for carrying a full size spare.