Recent content by Michigander

So you are saying that we should easily be able to overload our truck by at least 1.5x toyota's numbers due to the over conservative engineer's calcs? Just kidding :D:jk: To add more numbers: The manual I am looking at has the following: GCVWR: 11300lb (4WD) Max tongue weight: 500 lbs Max...

Regardless of size of diff, the Toyota axles are reliable units, you should not have any problems. When running open fire roads you will not need to have the axle locked and loose gravel is not going to be a major stress condition for the axle. The most likely place to break an axle shaft or...

Looks like I was mistaken. I did not know Toyota changed the diffs in 2010. The pre-2010 diffs were 8" for elocker vs the 8.4" non elocker. A few desert racers changed out the Tacoma diffs for non elocker diffs to get the extra strength, then put an after market locker in. The rating may have...

You could always go on McMaster carr's website and order plastic sheet and make your own flaps like rallyarmor Subaru flaps, make them as big or long as you want. I would recommend using a flat mud flap if you off road, my mud flaps on the late-model tacoma had a 3-D shape and they tore off the...

If you haul a trailer regularly, it would be good to find out the 4runners gcvwr which takes into account your total trailer weight, not just tongue weight. Gcvwr is both your truck and trailer weighed together. To be legal and safe, you should be below both the gvwr and gcvwr when traveling.

Gvwr = gross vehicle weight rating, maximum total vehicle weight allowed ( add up bare vehicle (curb weight) + cargo + passengers + trailer tongue weight, don't exceed this number) Gawr = gross axle weight rating, don't exceed this weight at each axle, ie truck has to be evenly loaded to safely...

E-locker differential is smaller than standard diff and therefore it is weaker. Which is why the load rating of the truck is lower. It is a known issue with late-model trucks, tacomas/4runners. The 5 vs 7 person loads are Toyota trying to help people that can't do math, those numbers are...

I have the B&M cooler that was supposed to have the cold bypass, but it does not keep the fluid temp up high enough IMO. I used 5/16" hose, it fits over the hard lines OK due to the raised part of the line. You will want to get hose protection sleeve where the house goes through the sheet...

Be careful of over-cooling in colder weather. Your transmission needs to operate at a minimum temperature to protect against wear due to lack of lubrication. I have the medium sized cooler and when air temps are below 55F, the trans temps are too low in my opinion (100F), especially if I am...

I would start simple first. You said that it is leaking at the valve stem, if it is leaking at the inside of the stem (where the core is), put soapy water or spit on the end of the valve stem, if it bubbles, then it is the valve core, not the gasket where the stem attaches to the rim. If it is...

That strap is a cast piece and has failed. Either the shop did not reinstall the bolt or they did not tighten the bolt enough and it rattled loose. Once that happened, the swaybar deformed the strap. I would not re-bend that strap, get a new one. Sway bars see an incredible amount of force...

Nope, the powder coat sprayer missed the tube because the mesh was in the way, they didn't try to hit it from different angles to make sure it was completely coated. Same thing on the back where the light tabs are. We will see what GOBI says. Their powder coater sure is costing them a lot of...

Thank you Shawn for posting this. After I read your post I went out to check my rack since we received our racks about the same time. Bad news is my rack is even more rusty that yours, I live in CA so the first rain the rack has seen was a week ago. I will post pics when I get them off my...

I have this exact complaint. If I have the lights on for safety, trails or rain / fog, but it is not night time - you cannot read the screen. Very frustrating. I went through the nav screen settings trying to change the brightness, but a lot of the buttons were greyed out if I remember...

Great attitude. Although I share Ryan's thoughts on Susan G Komen's business and do not agree with their political involvement (pulling funding for Planned Parenthood), he could have been a little more polite about his thoughts. I am not a facebooker, so no likes, but I commend Duc for his...