Hey everyone!
Joined a little while back but have yet to do a proper introduction. Figured I'd just skip that and get right to the truck itself. This thread will serve as the hub for my 4Runner, with everything from upgrades and modifications to adventures and so on.
Some of you may recognize this truck, as I bought it off a fellow member on here-- djtc is his username, he's a great guy and not just a true 4Runner lover but a true off-roading and adventure enthusiast.
Anyways, the truck: 2005 V6 Limited, purchased in January of 2017 in Ottawa (Canada) and imported into New York by yours truly [spoiler alert: it was a PITA but is totally do-able]. Here's how it sits as of this writing:
Modifications as of now (Feb. 2017) are:
-Toytec Superflex HD springs (rear) and Eibach springs (front)
-Bilstein 5100 shocks
-16" steel wheels and 255/85/16 BFG Mud-Terrain KM2s
-SPC upper control arms
-Custom front bumper w/secondary DRLs and integrated LED lights
-Front skid plate
-Snorkel
-Sleeping platform w/drawers and cargo area track lighting
-CB radio w/Firestick antenna
-Projector headlight conversion
-Custom roof rack w/Smittybilt awning and LED camp lights
-Rock sliders
-Deep cycle batter
-High-clearance tucked exhaust w/Dynomax muffler
The plan for the truck is to use it to take me on the trips I've been dreaming of doing for fifteen years or so but have never been in the position to make happen. Moab, Rubicon Trail, Black Bear & Imogene Passes, and so on-- that's just the tip of the iceberg. It'll also be used for trips to the "local" wheeling areas: Rausch Creek, AOAA, Maine, etc. And, of course, it will be subjected to the usual stuff, like beach trips and getting to the trailhead for hard-to-reach hiking spots, and the likes. It won't see much day-to-day use as I have a WRX for that, but should supplement the Subaru nicely.
I write for an automotive site,
Hooniverse, and will be writing about the Stormtrooper on a semi-regular basis (i.e., whenever something of interest happens). For reference going forward, all in-depth Stormtrooper updates I've written for Hooniverse can be found on the site by clicking this link:
Stormtrooper 4Runner
Plans for future mods are limited, but may happen when the need arises. Lockers, belly skid, on-board air, heavy duty rear bumper, back-up camera, winch, LED reverse lights, and an auxiliary input (for phone/iPod) are all on the to-do list, but will undoubtedly take a long while to make happen.
So that's about it for now. I don't have any huge plans for the truck itself in the coming future, but plan to take advantage of it as a platform for exploring and knocking off bucket list adventure items alike. Despite having ridden thousands of miles off-road on my Kawasaki Brute Force, and having grown up around my father's lifted YJ Wrangler which we wheeled occasionally, *and* having driven a Chevy Avalanche Z71 4x4 for nearly eight years, this is my first time owning something capable of trail runs and my first time owning a 4WD Toyota.
I'm pretty damn excited about this truck and can't wait to start wheeling it. Hope to meet some of you in the future, and see some of you on the trails!
Cheers,
Ross
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Current: 2018 GX460
Past: 2005 V6 4Runner, 2005 V8 4Runner, 2018 TRDORP
Love off-roading? Enjoy listening to podcasts? Consider yourself a four-wheeling enthusiast? So do we! Join in on the fun, and listen here:
The Off The Road Again Podcast