1904K9
New member
BACKGROUND
After taking my sports car up jeep trails to get to rockclimbing and backpacking trailheads for years now, I got the heart to put her up for sale and let her go.
I bought something a little more suitable for my lifestyle, and man....wish I would have made the switch years ago. Got a 2000 sr5 about a month ago with 110k and am in love with it! Like all the cars and trucks Ive owned, I have to tinker with it and make it fitted to me. and so the long (and as a broke college student, probably slow) road begins with modifing my new 4runner! Hers a couple pictures from the day I picked her up.
BUILD PLANS
As far as my plans for the build, I do want to eventually lift it, but dont really need or want anything too extreme. I was fully aware that I was buying a 2wd, and although I loved desert running my long travel ranger, I have no plans to rock crawl my 4runner. I do want to be able to navigate fire roads and moderate dirt roads comfortably. I love the outdoors and go backpacking, rock climbing, and mountainbiking regularly, and most of these activities involve several miles of dirt road to access the crag/trailhead/ect. I really wish I remember whos build this is so I could give them credit, but i really have no clue (feel free to tag them in a comment if you know whos beauty this is). Anyhow, i would like it to come out something like this, roof rack for all my backpacking and climbing gear with a small rear-facing led lightbar for lighting up a place to cook, set up a tent, unload gear, etc
"THE LIST"
So at the top of "the list" is a roof basket, Im pretty set on the baja rack for the 3rd gen 4runners, I love how low it sits on the roof and the shape and strength of it. I managed to sell my runningboards for a good price on craigslist and so I will probably be pullin the trigger on the roof rack very soon :thumb3: After that is a small LED lightbar that would face rearward. Im currently researching the extensive part list for a true 3" lift, I was able to find fj springs & trd tundra front springs from a seller on craigslist, $$ permitting Ill buy them and hold onto them until I can afford some bilstein shock, drop down bracket for the panhard bar, and some unknown length spacer to raise the front level with the back (and get rid of that damn awful stinkbug look :ybrick: ) Greatly appreciate a comment with any other missing parts from my planned lift or recommended parts. Im trying for a nice soft, factory ride feel, like i said above, Im not planning on doing and crawling with my truck or jumping it lol, just trying to get some more clearance. From what I gather, the bilsteins are a pretty comfy ride. Lastly on the list is some interior mods, my sisters getting me some leds for the map lights and domes, but i also want to get ride of those outdated green gauges and do the white led retrofit.
Nov. 12'
Remove Running Boards
before
after
Paint/Install 2 front tow hooks (from 2nd gen @ junkyard)
Remove rust&weathering - primer/paint factory skid plate
Undercoating on frame, cross members, gastank, and gastank guard
Current state: Nov.27 12'
After taking my sports car up jeep trails to get to rockclimbing and backpacking trailheads for years now, I got the heart to put her up for sale and let her go.
I bought something a little more suitable for my lifestyle, and man....wish I would have made the switch years ago. Got a 2000 sr5 about a month ago with 110k and am in love with it! Like all the cars and trucks Ive owned, I have to tinker with it and make it fitted to me. and so the long (and as a broke college student, probably slow) road begins with modifing my new 4runner! Hers a couple pictures from the day I picked her up.
BUILD PLANS
As far as my plans for the build, I do want to eventually lift it, but dont really need or want anything too extreme. I was fully aware that I was buying a 2wd, and although I loved desert running my long travel ranger, I have no plans to rock crawl my 4runner. I do want to be able to navigate fire roads and moderate dirt roads comfortably. I love the outdoors and go backpacking, rock climbing, and mountainbiking regularly, and most of these activities involve several miles of dirt road to access the crag/trailhead/ect. I really wish I remember whos build this is so I could give them credit, but i really have no clue (feel free to tag them in a comment if you know whos beauty this is). Anyhow, i would like it to come out something like this, roof rack for all my backpacking and climbing gear with a small rear-facing led lightbar for lighting up a place to cook, set up a tent, unload gear, etc
"THE LIST"
So at the top of "the list" is a roof basket, Im pretty set on the baja rack for the 3rd gen 4runners, I love how low it sits on the roof and the shape and strength of it. I managed to sell my runningboards for a good price on craigslist and so I will probably be pullin the trigger on the roof rack very soon :thumb3: After that is a small LED lightbar that would face rearward. Im currently researching the extensive part list for a true 3" lift, I was able to find fj springs & trd tundra front springs from a seller on craigslist, $$ permitting Ill buy them and hold onto them until I can afford some bilstein shock, drop down bracket for the panhard bar, and some unknown length spacer to raise the front level with the back (and get rid of that damn awful stinkbug look :ybrick: ) Greatly appreciate a comment with any other missing parts from my planned lift or recommended parts. Im trying for a nice soft, factory ride feel, like i said above, Im not planning on doing and crawling with my truck or jumping it lol, just trying to get some more clearance. From what I gather, the bilsteins are a pretty comfy ride. Lastly on the list is some interior mods, my sisters getting me some leds for the map lights and domes, but i also want to get ride of those outdated green gauges and do the white led retrofit.
Nov. 12'
Remove Running Boards
before
after
Paint/Install 2 front tow hooks (from 2nd gen @ junkyard)
Remove rust&weathering - primer/paint factory skid plate
Undercoating on frame, cross members, gastank, and gastank guard
Current state: Nov.27 12'
Last edited:
. Very clean truck though. I'm especially impressed with the under carriage. Good luck with it.
