Mike- Definitely man! Let's get something going in the next couple weeks. I'm trying to get my CO's on ASAP.

Mark- It was great meeting you. I had an awesome time out there. You guys will definitely be seeing me around for the next few years. Thanks again for all the help.

Phill- The side skirts didn't get roughed up. I did dent my passenger side nFab but no big deal. The truck went through the entire day pretty much damage free. The 20's did pretty good out there while being aired down to 23psi.

Did you go up this hill?

Looks like great fun! I'm still waiting to hit the timing right for the So-cal meet ups. I've missed most meet ups Hoping next month lands on a day I can go.

I've only been able to do some light off roading here and there on my own but nothing that looks those pictures!

I didn't go up this run. I took the bypass. I didn't want to rip off my sides doing that. I'm going to take them off and give it a go though. It shouldn't have any problems.

After I posted on your GB for the HIDs I started searching for other posts of yours and found your build thread.

Your truck looks absolutely amazing!!

Your picture taking skills are even better! Just amazing pics!

^Thanks man!



That's how I feel right now. Just ordered Icon Stage 5 sans trailing arms. WOOO!!! Hopefully I get them on in the next couple of weeks! PICS TO COME!

Wait you got stage 5 without the rear control arms? Blasphemy. Kidding. Good choice you'll be super happy.

Mike- Yea, definitely excited about them. I went from thinking all I needed was a spacer lift to Icon's with remote resi's in about a weeks time. I actually cancelled my Daystar kit order from Autoanything this morning.

It was a good chunk of change but I know how I am with these things. I would have just eventually got the Icon's. The difference from OW to the Icon's I wanted was only $700 more in the end, so I bit the bullet and just went with it. I love the look of the Icon's and have heard nothing but awesome things about them. I'll upgrade the rear trailing arms if a problem with the stock ones arise.

I have some plans for some desert trips this year and definitely want to experience higher speed runs through the desert.

btw- I contacted 4x4 labs for a 5th gen rear bumper and they said they are very willing to make one. They just need a truck to build one. I really want a rear bumper like Mark's 4th.

Mark, if you spoke to Luke he's the owner and the metal fab wizard. What Luke meant about needing a truck to build one, is the bumper is entirely custom and is being built off your truck. When I had my rear bumper built, I had to leave my truck at his shop for almost two months. Luke doesn't have a welding jig to mass produce the 4runner bumpers, so it's very labor intensive to build the 4runner bumper.

Just FYI, since Luke's bumpers significantly improve departure angle, he has to cut the rear cross member off the frame to achieve this. Hope your not squeamish about cutting up a new truck.

I'll leave you a link here for you to check out the other owners of the 4th gen 4x4Labs bumpers.

4X4Labs Bumpers

Hey Mark, Thanks for the info. That sucks about the 2 month wait. I can't do that just yet. Thanks for the link though. This is definitely something I'm going to consider down the road.

Has anyone run the 17" steel wheels on a 5th gen? Pics? These wheels are really cheap and come with some pretty aggressive specs. These wheels can be had for $380 shipped on ebay right now for a set of 4 brand new.

I would just leave the center cap off. 17x8 -12 offset are pretty good specs. These would be perfect beater wheels.

I forgot what his username was, but he has the flat black wrapped runner. He got the procomps in that style, but you need spacers with that kind of wheel.

Mark, Just make sure the back spacing is right, should be around 4.5 in of back spacing, if my memory serves me right. The negative 12 on an 8 in wheel seems like it will be off a little. I know the guy Adio3x is talking about, his name is Daryl (d2dak) but I think he is running spacers with his steelies.

That should fit pretty good if the bore(hole in the rim) is at least 108mm.The 4Runners hub is a 106.8mm where a GM's is a 78.6 mm.

17x 8 with a -12 offset comes out to a 4" backspace which would be good. I don't know why anybody would need spacers with this size unless the bore was too small or for looks.

The weight of a steel wheel could be of concern also.I would get the 17" wheels you want and not worry to much if they are cheap beaters . IMO it's way too much of a pain to swap out wheels to go wheeling.Truck wheels and tires are just too dang big and heavy to be swapping out on a regular basis.

backspace chart

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Daryl is running different steelies then the ones above, I think they were ProComps and did not have enough backspacing.

I know, ya'll say i'm crazy, but I do like the look of FJ steelies best thus far..