TLDR: If you are struggling to find a good place to mount your ScanGauge II, look into the Team Tech Offroad housing. It's OEM styling and added switch slot make it a win-win.


General ScanGauge Info and Mounting

If you peruse the forums enough, you are bound to come across multiple posts referencing the ScanGauge II. It is a compact vehicle monitoring tool that can scan for vehicle trouble codes and display various vehicle parameters. For those wanting to data log and track vehicle performance or even those just wanting to monitor TPMS, the ScanGauge is a must. There are a few versions of the ScanGauge, but the most popular is definitely the ScanGauge II for its small size and vast capabilities.

Despite the compact size, mounting the ScanGauge II elegantly proves challenging. Most owners seem to mount it on the top of the steering column with a 3D printed filler piece, which matches the contour of the plastic steering column surround (3D print file can be found on the forums, but this requires you to own a 3D printer). You might be able to stick the ScanGauge directly to the plastic steering column but it will likely shake/vibrate while driving. The big problem I found with this mounting location is the obstruction of the factory gauge cluster. On the pre-updated 4Runners (pre-2020?), this mounting location blocks the bottom half of the gauge cluster display including the ODO, outside temp, compass, lower RPMs in the tachometer, and the lower MPH in the speedometer. I also noticed the backlighting of the ScanGauge is relatively bright at night, almost overpowering the gauge cluster lighting (this may not be a deal breaker but should be considered for those with sensitive eyes or trouble with night vision). I had originally mounted a ScanGauge II in this location but I was very disappointed and ultimately removed it and sold it. It felt very "tacked on" and did not fit with the OEM aesthetic I was aiming for. Fast forward several months, I came across the custom ScanGauge housing for the lower center stack cubby from Team Tech Offroad and decided to pick up another ScanGauge II to try it out.


Team Tech Offroad Scan Gauge Custom Housing

Some may be more familiar with S-Tech (S-Tech Switch Systems for Jeep, Toyota, 4x4s and OHV Vehicles | Made in USA), which appears to be a child company of Team Tech Offroad (TTO). They seem to have a bigger presence in the Jeep community but they still have several products for the Toyota crowd. Their switch systems for the 4Runner utilize the virtually useless cubbies below the HVAC controls. The TTO Scan Gauge Custom Housing piggybacks off of the switch system housing design to fit a ScanGauge II. There is a great review of the S-Tech 4Runner switch system in this thread if you'd like to read more: S-Tech 5th Gen Specific Switch Systems - Review/ Overview - Factory Look and Feel

The Team Tech Offroad Scan Gauge Custom Housing is a 3D printed mount that fits perfectly into the lower cubby in the 4Runner's center stack (SCAN GAUGE CUSTOM HOUSING Fits Toyota 4Runner 10-23 – Team Tech Offroad). I came across it while looking for ways to add more OEM style switches. I haven't seen any other reviews or product photos besides those on the TTO website and thought this was a good opportunity to share an elegant solution to mounting the ScanGauge II. The custom housing comes in a few different options and is available for the 2010-2013 or 2014+ 4Runners (the lower cubby changed with the facelift). It can be chosen with an optional switch on the left side or you can choose a housing with simply a slot for the ScanGauge. I decided to choose the option for the added switch because who doesn't want an extra switch for more accessories! TTO can also make custom switch graphics for any accessories you have; I chose a double switch for roof and grille light bars.

TTO has been great to work with and they are very good at responding to emails. Jackson had all my questions answered almost instantly. The housing also shipped very quickly, especially considering the custom switch that I requested. When it arrived, everything was very well packaged in ample bubble wrap and the "made in USA" stickers are a nice touch. My kit came with the 3D printed housing with the custom switch already installed, a 3D printed drilling template, hex head hardware with associated allen wrench, a switch pigtail, and some stickers. They also included a QR code that directs you to the install instructions. When I first test fitted my ScanGauge into the housing, it fit perfectly. The friction fit is just enough to hold the ScanGauge in place but not too difficult to situate. The tolerance they print the housing to is very impressive.


Initial Impressions

The TTO custom housing has been installed in my 4Runner for about a week at this point and I have a few first impressions:
1. Quality and Value - As mentioned above, the fit and tolerance of the 3D printing is fantastic. Everything came as expected and you do get what you pay for, especially for a product made here in the USA. The $135 price may be shocking to some but the design itself is certainly worth something, and you also get a custom switch in the bundle.
2. Installation - I did hit a small snag when drilling the holes into the cubby but I was able to slightly elongate (oval) them to align the hardware. Not sure if this was a slight deviation in the template or maybe my cubby deformed a bit over the years. I'll create a follow up post with my install procedure to help others out. In total it took me about 3 hours to finish everything including disassembly and reassembly of the interior, but it is not a difficult installation.
3. Location - Like most owners, I was finding the lower cubby useless how it came from the factory. I had originally stored a pair of sunglasses in it, but they constantly slid out while driving. Might as well make use of the cubby by mounting the ScanGauge in it and it does look very good in this location.
4. Viewing Angle - I have found that only the bottom row of gauges are visible from a glance down (at least for my driving position) but I typically only monitor trans and coolant temp. Leaning over or bending your neck reveals all four gauges, which is not difficult at a stop light or before/after a drive. This is the only negative I found with the housing and I don't think it is a deal breaker. If you need to constantly monitor all four gauges, the steering column mounting location may be a better option, but you will sacrifice a gauge cluster visibility as noted above.

Overall, if you are looking for an elegant and OEM looking mount for the ScanGauge, the TTO Scan Gauge Custom Housing seems to be the best offering. I would not hesitate to recommend it.
Now onto some pictures:

Shipping box with TTO Made in America sticker:


Contents of package:



Test fitting the ScanGauge into the housing:


Very nice fit and the friction fit shows the TTO printing tolerance:


Rear of housing showing the plug locations for the ScanGauge and switch:


Installed in the 4Runner:


View from my driving position (camera held at my head location). Notice the top row of gauges cut off:


I tested the custom TTO switch, using my rock lights double switch wiring, to test functionality and see the backlight color:


This is the wiring diagram provided by TTO for the custom switch:

Install

The TTO instructions are essentially a few pages from the full S-Tech switch system install instructions. They are a bit generic, especially with the photos, therefore I decided to put together the following guide to hopefully help others. Note, I have yet to fully wire the custom switch but there are other specific switch wiring threads that will likely better explain it. I also provided the switch wiring diagram above for reference.

1. I started off by removing the lower cubby section. To do this, the vertical trim pieces surrounding the climate control/HVAC knobs must be pulled straight back. Then the HVAC controls can be removed. There are several videos on Youtube that show this process, here is a good example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7T8...OtzleeExplains.

Before removal:


After removal (note, the piece circled in red is the small plastic trim piece that is described in the next step):



2. Next, the small plastic trim piece at the base of the cubby section must be removed. In order to do this, the shifter surround must be slightly lifted (it pulls right up, no need to remove it completely). With the shifter surround lifted up, the small plastic trim piece at the base of the cubby can be pulled up and out. Then the two 10mm bolts can be removed and the entire cubby assembly can be pulled straight out (don't forget to disconnect the USB and 12V sockets from the back).

Here you can see the faux carbon fiber shifter surround slightly lifted out of place and the small plastic trim piece removed:


Here is the removed cubby section. Note the plug for the 12V socket (my USB was replaced with a TPMS display and will look different from yours):



3. Once the cubby was removed, I test fitted the housing into it and the fit was spot on (again, the tolerances are impressive). I then taped the TTO template to the back of the cubby and proceeded to drill the 1/8" holes (1/8" drill bit not provided but it is a very common size). This is where I hit a small snag; my holes did not perfectly alight (see photo below). Not sure if the template came a bit deformed or if my cubby warped over the years. Both sides were about 1mm lower than needed but I was able to ream out (ovalize) the holes slightly to align with the mount.

Template taped to the back of the cubby:


Holes slightly off from the mount inserts:


Ovalized holes to align with mount inserts:



4. The TTO instructions say to drill a 3/4" hole at the back of the lower cubby. I prefer completely reversible installs and I hate drilling into factory parts. The entire cubby section can be purchased new from Toyota if needed but I figured a hole at the top of the cubby wouldn't be too impactful if I ever decide to remove the housing. I went with a 1/2" hole through the top of the lower cubby. This was the smallest size that fit the switch connector and the ScanGauge connector.

1/2" hole through the top of the cubby:


Here is the hole looking up. If the housing is ever removed, the cubby can still be used for storage without items falling through the hole (unless you store tiny helium balloons):



5. After all of the holes are drilled, the TTO housing can be permanently installed into the cubby. If you are wiring the switch, make sure to connect the cable at the rear before mounting the housing. Using the supplied allen wrench, fasten the mount in place using the shorter hex screws. The ScanGauge does not need to be installed for this step.

Fasten hex head screws through the 1/8" holes that were previously drilled:



6. Bring the cubby assembly back to the 4Runner and run the ScanGauge wire to the center console. I found it best to route the wire under the steering shaft, around the knee airbag and into the center console. The wire can then be fed through the 1/2" hole that was made in the top of the lower cubby and connected to the ScanGauge. Then push the ScanGauge into the housing till fully seated (it is a snug friction fit).

Feed ScanGauge wire through 1/2" hole:



7. Reassemble center stack. Don't forget to install the small plastic trim piece at the base of the cubby (AMHIK...). And you're done!

Don't forget this small plastic trim piece: