'02 Limited, Springer's Build

[zimp132]

Mods

Suspension:
- Front: TRD Tundra Coils with Tundra Bilstein 5100's
- Rear: LC 8 wraps with Tundra Bilstein 5100's
- Wheelers Diff. drop and Panhard Drop (welded in)

Armor/Recovery:
- Demello Sliders

Drivetrain/Wheels/Tires:
- 275/75/17 Cooper Discoverer STT Pro
- 2016 OEM 6 Spoke 17x7

Performance
- B&M Tranny Cooler
- Andymod 2.0 with TRAC OFF Switch

Interior
- Weathertech Mats Front to Cargo
- Custom Headrest "Rack"
- Pioneer Double DIN Head Unit
- Back Up Camera

Exterior
- Custom Full Length Roof Rack

Mods to come
- SPC UCA
- Tundra Brakes
- Custom Bumpers
- Winch
- Locker(s)

It all started 16 years ago when my mom bought this 2002 Limited T4R off the showroom floor and promised me it would be mine one day. A month ago I got the call to come pick it up, and a couple days later I was driving it from Texas to Minnesota. Thanks to my loving mom who babied this truck and only drove it an average of 10k a year.

Mom's new 2018 T4R next to my new 2002 T4R

After driving it home I pulled off the running boards, updated suspension, and put new wheels and tires on. No in progress photos of this stuff, but a nice finished one romping around in the snow!

 

[zimp132]

To get ready for a summer of family camping trips and some off road adventures I created a bucket wish list of things to get done. One of the top priorities was to get rock sliders on. Luckily my timing worked out pretty good, and a fellow T4R member was selling their uninstalled Demello 4th Gen sliders on craigslist. I picked them up and brought them home for modifying to fit.

I documented the install on an earlier thread to show how to make 4th gen sliders work on 3rd gen, so there is no need for me to go into that here--but here are some pics of the install:

 

[audiness]

Those are some beefy looking sliders! Did you happen to weigh them?

 

[audiness]

Those are some beefy looking sliders! Did you happen to weigh them?

 

[hugo2go]

Nice build!!!
Always wanted a white 4x4 4Runner

 

[cblock406]

That looks super clean, love the white! Have fun with your project.

 

[zimp132]

I started working on the roof rack. Shout out to Josh at Whitson Metalworks for the inspirational design I based my design off of.

MDF Jigs to check bends and serve as a welding jig. Clam shell design to help form both top and bottom rings, then stack to properly align top to bottom with proper spacing between the two for stub stringers. Jigs look good--that means the final product will too--right??

Went to pick up tubing and though up a quick way to safely transport 11ft sticks.

 

[MN4runnerman]

Where’d you get the tubing?

 

[zimp132]

Those are some beefy looking sliders! Did you happen to weigh them?

I did not weigh them.. they are hefty 3/16" wall steel, and pretty dang heavy. However, they were MUCH heavier with the original 1/4" plate that ran full length of slider for bolt on attachment to 4th gen.

Nice build!!!
Always wanted a white 4x4 4Runner

They are sexxxy, thanks for the kind words

That looks super clean, love the white! Have fun with your project.

Thank you! I have a great car wash around the corner from home, and they sell unlimited monthly plans, so I went ahead and bought one. Minnesota winters and salt ruin vehicles up here, so I think the $25/mo for unlimited car washes is well work it to keep Pearl singing!:guitar3:

 

[zimp132]

Where’d you get the tubing?

Discount Steel is my go to place. I called Ryerson to shop prices and they came in at 3x the price of Discount. The Ryerson sales guy told me that steel prices are very volatile at the moment and instead of trying to compete on prices they are going to play the long game. So when all the vendors like Discount are out of steel Ryerson will have stock.. more info than you wanted, but I thought it was interesting

 

[MN4runnerman]

Discount Steel is my go to place. I called Ryerson to shop prices and they came in at 3x the price of Discount. The Ryerson sales guy told me that steel prices are very volatile at the moment and instead of trying to compete on prices they are going to play the long game. So when all the vendors like Discount are out of steel Ryerson will have stock.. more info than you wanted, but I thought it was interesting

Thanks! I need some steel for building ladder stands. The place I go to in Burnsville, metal supermarkets, is ok. I never order large quantities so I’m kind of low on the priority list down there.

 

[zimp132]

Rack Progress

Last night I had some time to tack together the rack around base ring and get ready for the expanded steel. I ran out of mig wire, switched gears, and decided it was time to see what the rack looked like up top. Take a look, what do you all think?

 

[RedSled]

That is very nice, what material is that? Nice work.

 

[sleepydad]

Last night I had some time to tack together the rack around base ring and get ready for the expanded steel. I ran out of mig wire, switched gears, and decided it was time to see what the rack looked like up top. Take a look, what do you all think?

very nice work.

are you going to use the 5 mount points and drill an extra hole? I just put a longer rail on my rig and I did drill an extra hole up front. it was not something I wanted to do but I'm putting a full length rack on it and wanted the extra connection point.

 

[zimp132]

very nice work.

are you going to use the 5 mount points and drill an extra hole? I just put a longer rail on my rig and I did drill an extra hole up front. it was not something I wanted to do but I'm putting a full length rack on it and wanted the extra connection point.

So far the plan is to mock it up with 4 connection points to existing rails, and levelers VHBed to roof up front. Can you send some photos of how you mounted yours?

 

[zimp132]

That is very nice, what material is that? Nice work.

1" 16ga tube electric weld. After researching what other people did it seemed plently strong and lightweight. Entire rack will weigh less than 100#, I'll weigh it once done.

 

[sleepydad]

So far the plan is to mock it up with 4 connection points to existing rails, and levelers VHBed to roof up front. Can you send some photos of how you mounted yours?

I can and since I’m in minnetonka I could even show you. However I’m not sure I understood. I took the factory rail off completely.

I did not build my own rack, I’m using this setup.
https://www.equipt1.com/item/k9-2-2-m-1250mm-roof-rack-system-for-toyota-3rd-generation-4runner

So you replace the factory rails with theirs. Have been running it for a year now. Super sturdy flat rack. I can walk around up there no trouble. I resisted putting another front connection point, but finally gave in when I had my head liner out. It hurt to drill the hole but... it’s very solid now.

 

[zimp132]

I can and since I’m in minnetonka I could even show you. However I’m not sure I understood. I took the factory rail off completely.

I did not build my own rack, I’m using this setup.
https://www.equipt1.com/item/k9-2-2-m-1250mm-roof-rack-system-for-toyota-3rd-generation-4runner

So you replace the factory rails with theirs. Have been running it for a year now. Super sturdy flat rack. I can walk around up there no trouble. I resisted putting another front connection point, but finally gave in when I had my head liner out. It hurt to drill the hole but... it’s very solid now.

Ah, I see what you are talking about now. Looks like a good system. The idea I was trying to describe is what RickShay did on the Dirt Buster. Here are some pictures from his flickr:
20121130-IMG_3379 by Addison Rickaby, on Flickr
20121130-IMG_3388 by Addison Rickaby, on Flickr
20121130-IMG_3380 by Addison Rickaby, on Flickr

 

[Hepar]

Oh man. Love all-white 4Runners. Especially with the wider flares.

 

[sleepydad]

Ah, I see what you are talking about now. Looks like a good system. The idea I was trying to describe is what RickShay did on the Dirt Buster. Here are some pictures from his flickr:
Flickr

and I'm not sure about the last pict but I think that is a dent? after having the headliner down and looking for decent support areas, unless you plan on taking the headliner down and adding extra support up front... it's super thin single layer up in that part.

I have a sunroof @ about the 1/2 way point on the sunroof opening on the sides is a double piece of support added into the roof. not sure about the non sunroof version. I would be scared to put much weight up on the front portion of the rack. Any kind of shock might put a dent or deform that part of the roof?

I have seen people put spare tires, 10 gallons of gas, 10 gallons of water... even grandma can ride up there.

it's a great looking rack I love it but over the years I have worked to get everything off the roof and someplace else, the only thing that goes up on my rack now is RTT.

I'm sure with your fab skills (which are top notch IMO) you will get it right on. when I saw the templates... I'm a long time wood worker... I knew this was a build I was going to like.