[MasonT4R]

Originally Posted by MattJakobs

What did you use to paint your under carriage and the where the front bumper previously covered?

Rustoleum Satin Black works and looks well.

[MasonT4R]

A couple weeks ago a great group of guys from here on T4R ( @KCcarguy @Petromaniac @fo' runnin' ) took a trip through the Ozark National Forest on a trail designated as the High Water Mark. Our plan was to enjoy the fall colors and stop to take lots of pictures while traveling through some of the best landscape that Arkansas has to offer.

We succeeded but not without some hiccups...

I decided to try a "small puddle" that I had no business being anywhere around. It did not go well and ended up with me being stuck in muddy pit while water poured in from every nook and cranny.






I stayed right here for much longer than I would have liked. The guys did a great job of quickly moving into action to save me. A quick winch pull and I was watching many many gallons of water pour from my 4Runner.




It didn't take long to discover that I have managed to intake water into the transmission. Two of the guys ran into town for supplies, ATF, Air Filter, Headlight Bulbs, and everything needed for an oil change. Luckily we didn't end up needing the oil change but the rest of it was needed. We drained a gallon of ATF, filled it back up, ran it a bit, and drained another gallon, rinse and repeat until we had 3 gallons through the transmission.

Being as how we were in low gear most of the trail this got me back up and going for the rest of the trail. It clearly became a bigger issue once we got back to the highway. On the trip back home we stopped three times and ran another three gallons of ATF through it to limp her home. To her credit she got me all the way home under her own power.

She has been to the mechanic for a complete fluid change but the damage to the transmission has already been done. I can drive her around to work but the transmission slips and will need rebuilt or replaced. Which works out somewhat as the rear main seal has started leaking quite a bit of oil (probably due to all my abuse of her).

My biggest lesson from this trip was that while this website is a fantastic source of information... TRUST BUT VERIFY. I can't blame anyone for misinformation because I never actually checked where my transmission breather was. I read multiple places that it was located high on the firewall along with the front diff breather. Mine just so happens to sit directly on top of the transmission. I knew that this trip was going to involve water and didn't take the proper steps to protect my 4Runner.

[MasonT4R]

We did manage to capture some fantastic pictures and still managed to have a blast even having to drag my poor butt around.

[KCcarguy]

Nice pics Mason! Can't wait to see Godzilla healthy and better than ever....and get back the trail!

[thebwlife]

So was this trail a little wider than K-Trail?

[MasonT4R]

Originally Posted by thebwlife

So was this trail a little wider than K-Trail?

Most of it was wider (a lot was gravel roads in fact) but there was narrow sections. In this part of the country I think you have to abandon any thoughts of saving your paint if you want to run trails.

Or you can plastidip your entire rig like @KCcarguy !

[KCcarguy]

Originally Posted by thebwlife

So was this trail a little wider than K-Trail?

Originally Posted by MasonT4R

Most of it was wider (a lot was gravel roads in fact) but there was narrow sections. In this part of the country I think you have to abandon any thoughts of saving your paint if you want to run trails.

Or you can plastidip your entire rig like @KCcarguy !

I would say it's about the same width as the first section of the K-trail that you did, @thebwlife . @MasonT4R is exactly right.....Pinstriping is just part of the game here in our area of the country. Even with my dip I still have lots of damage to the roof, fender flares, window trim, etc. Not to mention dents in bodywork, sliders, gouges in wheels, and busted-up skids. Even the relatively mild trails can be tough/ risky for our 5th gens because they're so wide. I was one wrong move away from some serious body damage on that tight squeeze above^^.

[MasonT4R]

Today I got started replacing the nasty carpet.

Just like the snorkel project this has been an exercise in patience.









The factory carpet surprised me by being gray! I figured it was tan like interior so I ordered 5 different tan samples. Rather than going gray again I decided to replace it with a darker tan and am really liking it. I didn't order a replacement for the rear deck so it will be interesting to see what the end product looks like.

This picture kinda shows the difference.

[MasonT4R]

Finished installing the new carpet and put the rest of the interior back together.

[shootmymime]

Originally Posted by MasonT4R

why did you run the bolt from the bottom up. id be scared if i ever lost the nut the bolt would come loose and i would loose my tire carrier. just thinking.

Hows the sliders and rear bumper when flexing? any problems with the bumper touching the body.

Build looks great man, i like the color.

[MasonT4R]

Originally Posted by shootmymime

why did you run the bolt from the bottom up. id be scared if i ever lost the nut the bolt would come loose and i would loose my tire carrier. just thinking.

Hows the sliders and rear bumper when flexing? any problems with the bumper touching the body.

Build looks great man, i like the color.

Thanks man. It's been a lot of fun building it. The sliders and rear bumper haven't been rubbing anywhere that I've noticed but I also took a hammer to some spots for clearance as well. If it ever does start to rub somewhere you will probably get a PM from me about some spacers.

The bolt thing was kind of interesting. There wasn't really any official instructions on assembling it so I googled around to see how people were running it. I ended up finding about an even mix of up and down. It has been awhile but I want to say I saw a vehicle on Savage's website showing it ran up like that so I went with it. It is also a lock nut otherwise I'd feel pretty nervous running it that way. So far it hasn't budged.

[Sje1124]

Great looking 4Runner man.

[MountainBiker]

Sorry about your submarine adventure! Perhaps I missed it, but what stopped your forward momentum?

Other than needing to extend the Auto Trans breather, any other tips for waterproofing?

[MasonT4R]

Originally Posted by MountainBiker

Sorry about your submarine adventure! Perhaps I missed it, but what stopped your forward momentum?

Other than needing to extend the Auto Trans breather, any other tips for waterproofing?

We didn't properly scout the puddle. Figured it was like the other ones we had run into but longer. As it turned out mudders or someone with huge tires had been in there and completely rutted out the track so the bottom fell out from underneath me. My cute little 265's couldn't find anything to grab hold of and I sat down on the differentials.

It was a stupid mistake made my a guy who was too busy living in the moment. The whole trip was a blast irregardless but I should have been doing a better job of thinking things through. We did much better as a group after my incident.

As far as preparing for water crossings I would read this multi-part article from Central Overland. It does a great job of covering water crossings.

Water Crossing 101: Part One - Central Overland

3rd Gen specific I would check to make sure all your breathers are raised, not just assume they are because you read it on the internet. ;) I'm running a snorkel with definitely saved me in the mud puddle as my air box was in the water but for almost all the rest I've run across it has been unnecessary.

[MountainBiker]

Originally Posted by MasonT4R

3rd Gen specific I would check to make sure all your breathers are raised, not just assume they are because you read it on the internet. ;) I'm running a snorkel with definitely saved me in the mud puddle as my air box was in the water but for almost all the rest I've run across it has been unnecessary.

Thanks! I just got the same snorkel you have, not because I expect to use it regularly(or even ever), but to protect the engine when things go wrong!