2013 Magnetic Grey SR5 Premium




Current Mods:
TRD Intake
Plastidip Chrome
GrillCraft Upper
Schrockworks Engine Skid (repaint)
Schrockworks Front Bumper (and wiring in LED turn signals)
Integrating GrillCraft with Schrockworks Bumper
Spidertrax Wheel Spacers
ICON Stage 2 w/ heavy coilovers, overland springs and tubular UCAs
BFG KO2 285/70/17 on American Racing Baja Wheels
Powder Coated Shackles and Devil Horns Toyota Emblem
Budbuilt Bump-out Sliders
Midland CB Radio
Front Runner Slimline Full length Rack
Dual Battery Setup

Small Projects:

Wiring and soldering lights
ICON UCA Dust Caps
Dog Crate Storage Box
Trail Edition Fender Caps (to cover up those colorful pink clips)
Removing the back seats (second row)



Video: How to remove 5th Gen console


Backstory:

I have always loved my cars and taken good care of them. Not typical for most chicks. Whatever.... I'm not like most. I started driving in 1995. My first car was a beat up 2 door 1985 Ford Tempo. The paint was horribly oxidized and somehow before junior prom I made the burgundy paint shine like glass. It was an automatic with what had awful mechanical issues. It stalled frequently in intersections. I believe my mother sold it for $400 when I purchased my first 4cyl 1989 Mustang coupe. I loved that car. It was sold after I graduated from Marine Corps boot camp and went to Okinawa Japan. This is when my love affair started with Mustangs.

My second Mustang came in 1998 after my return from Japan. It was the first new car I bought from the money I had saved overseas. Because I had no credit built up, my mother co-signed with me, telling me if I missed one payment, that she would fly to California, take the car, drive it home and sell it. I agreed, and never missed a payment. I had it for three years before I ended up overseas again on Embassy duty, in Frankfurt, Germany. The car was sold back to the dealer upon my departure.

While overseas in 2002, I became hungry for another Mustang. Marines were not allowed to own a car as Marine Security Guards, so I searched far and wide for something to purchase when I returned home on leave. I found a 1968 coupe that had an engine swap to a V-8 and custom paint. It was beautiful and in decent shape. I probably paid too much for it, but my mother and I borrowed my grandfather's suburban, rented a flatbed trailer and hauled the car from Kansas to Northern Indiana in some of the worst rain I have ever driven in. I enjoyed the car for eighteen days while on leave, rented a 10X20 storage unit, and put it into storage to return overseas to finish my Embassy duty in the United Arab Emirates.

When I approached the end of my tour in the UAE, I found out I would be heading to the Pentagon in DC. I knew that the '68 would not be practical and I neither had the money or the time to work on the car. I needed something reliable. I decided to put the car up for sale. I had saved some cash so put a decent down payment on a brand new 2003 Mustang GT Premium in Dark Shadow Grey. One hitch... it was a manual. I did not know how to drive a manual. I returned on leave to Indiana for six days before I had to report to duty in DC. My mother taught me how to drive it in six days and sent me on my way. Within six months I was at the drag strip in Crofton, MD meeting some amazing people and learning as much as I could from them.

After my year tour in DC, I headed to North Carolina to Camp Lejeune. I purchased my first home and brought home a Ridgeback puppy. Things changed. I soon realized my love affair with Mustangs might not be practical. It became more than evident when I could not fit a screen door into the car and my 75lb dog was quickly outgrowing the backseat. In early 2005 I traded in the GT for a used F150 in the same year and color. This was about the time I became involved in canine performance.

The truck was nice but I quickly learned that traveling in the truck to events was putting a dent in the bank with the amount of fuel the truck was sucking down (funny how things circle back around). Another vehicle change was in order. I did lots of research and stumbled upon the Toyota Matrix. At 31 Hwy MPG, it was exactly what I needed. I bought a silver manual and named it Hooptie. For five years all I did was change the oil, rotate tires and replace tires. Not so much as a light bulb needed to be changed. This was completely different that what I had experienced with my Fords.... my blood ran Ford Blue up until this point.

I left active duty in 2008 and moved North to Maryland in 2009. I purchased my second home in Pennsylvania in 2010. In 2011 the amount of dogs in my house had grown to 3 and I needed a bigger vehicle for dog shows. I still kept the Matrix and brought home a 2001 Ford Excursion Limited Diesel. It was a beast. I dumped thousands of dollars into the truck, mostly on maintenance that had to be done... ball joints, sway bar, air conditioning, hubs, brakes... the list goes on. It got old fast. Within 18 months (and 40k miles later) I sold it. The Matrix was paid off in March of 2012 and by October it had 96K miles on it. I was ready for something bigger and Toyota reliability. Enter the 4Runner...

My first 4Runner was a used 2011 Black SR5. After a few months I realized I would never purchase another black vehicle again. But I loved everything else about it.

In summer of 2013 I went to the dealer for one of my my free oil changes. There were three grey 4Runners on the lot. I had just sold my PA house to move in with my fiance. I drove home a brand new 2013 SR5 Premium in Magnetic Grey.

I love this truck.

First thing I did was tint the windows. 20% in the front with a visor strip. Of course I moved from PA to MD.... had to remove tint, get inspected and re-tint, but whatever. Oh here's a good tip... those of you with a sunroof.... Limo tint. It's worth every dime.

Here's a link to my album with previous cars.

Currently what she looks like:







Current running list of states I have camped/wheeled in.....

Maryland
Virginia
West Virginia
Pennsylvania
Kentucky
Tennessee
Georgia
Colorado
Utah
..... Summer trip planned to DRUMMOND ISLAND Michigan!!!!

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The first change that came was a TRD intake. I did not purchase the intake. My husband bought it for me as a gift. After reading the information on this forum I didn't have the heart to tell him it probably wasn't worth what he paid for it, but in it went.

Eliminating the mufflers from the intake made a nice change in the sound at least, even though the performance change is minimal. I followed the directions on this forum and they were spot on.

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Next up was some PlastiDip. I had never heard of it, nor used it, but it was by far the easiest thing I have done and made a world of difference in the outward appearance of the truck. A couple of weekend afternoons and it was done... Rockers, front and rear bumpers, fog light bezels, door handles, roof rack, rear and front emblems and wheels. No more chrome.

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Fall of 2014 my husband and I went to the T4R event in Gore, Virginia at the Cove. This was the first real opportunity I had to see what this truck was made of. I showed up completely stock... no tires, no lift.... nada.

I had no problems navigating the trails that everyone else did. We met some awesome people and had a really great time. But, this did open my eyes to what I wanted to do with the truck. And let's face it... this forum has no issue helping you decide how to spend your money.

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For my birthday this summer my hubby got me the grill from Grill Craft. Again it changes the way the truck looks... It was a fairly easy install. Remove the stock grill, cut out the center, mask off and paint behind the new grill, use the provided screws to install the new grill. TAA DAA!

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Can't wait to see what you do with your runner!

I purchased a set of used (but in great shape) rockers from another member here. Mine were torn up pretty bad from the Cove. I had planned on putting them on, but when I took the old ones off, I decided it didn't look so bad without them. Since I plan on putting on sliders at some point any way I decided to leave them off for now. I wrapped them up and stored them in the attic. They may never make it on the truck.

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Right now I am waiting on my lift... ICON stage 2 w/ UCAs and heavier springs up front. I had been waiting on a group buy, and lo and behold...it finally happened. Hoping it will be delivered sometime in the next week or two. I am beside myself waiting for the lift to arrive..... Not to mention impatient.

I hope to do tires by September as well as sliders by some point as well... hopefully before the Cove this year.

Also... I am heading up to PA to pick up a Schrockworks front bumper and skid from Jesse.

Big changes coming... big changes indeed.

Sounds like your on a mission, i am looking forward to seeing the progress. And thanks for your service.

Very nice! I enjoy hearing people's backgrounds, and what cars they came from, and how they ended up with a 4R. Good work, and thank you for your service.

At first I thought it might be too much information... but it all flows and the reasoning behind for how I landed at a Toyota. I'll have another Mustang some day... but I will always have a reliable Toyota. I have photos of the previous cars, I might add them to my garage.

Cool build so far. You will love the Icon setup.

Thanks for your service.

Looking forward to following this build.

Nice background story. Sounds like this is going to turn into a very cool build. Keep up the good work!

If you decide you want rockers again (not sure about the space under the doors and moisture?) A set of trail rockers with the front cap is what you want, not cheap but won't rust and will add a clean look and allow any sliders.