A.Wilson013's Build Thread
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BigBluePile
New member
Holy crap man. What an adventure! Mad jelly for sure!! Thanks, once again, for sharing such an awesome expedition! Looks like the rig did fantastic!
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SDmtnbkr
Member
So I never drink to get drunk anymore but I had my friend card pulled last night and ended up at a bar talking a friend through some relationship troubles. Needless to say I got hammered and have been hungover all day! Pretty shitty, but I had your build thread bookmarked to read through at some point, and well today was that day.
Wow!! I literally read this whole thread from start to finish today. It's kind of like when I choose not to watch Game of Thrones weekly and just wait for the whole season to be downloadable and just do a straight marathon all the way through! It was like my own little soap opera into your amazing adventure life up there haha.
Anyway, as everyone always says, just amazing! All the way around, I've been systematically bookmarking build threads and going through them, but yours is something else. Aside from the ridiculous organization and write ups that Ripcord does, definitely my favorite so far!!
You've done such an amazing job explaining everything I have no questions at all, but I've been inspired to do a lot of things differently now that I've read your thoughts on so many things. However, I really want those 231 Tundra brakes, so I'm gonna have to go against your advice away from 17' and D rated tires.
Actually, I do have one question, come to think of it.... why have you never installed an ARB (or like) fridge?? Has your Pelican or Yeti cooler (I couldn't tell which one you have) been adequate?
Wow!! I literally read this whole thread from start to finish today. It's kind of like when I choose not to watch Game of Thrones weekly and just wait for the whole season to be downloadable and just do a straight marathon all the way through! It was like my own little soap opera into your amazing adventure life up there haha.
Anyway, as everyone always says, just amazing! All the way around, I've been systematically bookmarking build threads and going through them, but yours is something else. Aside from the ridiculous organization and write ups that Ripcord does, definitely my favorite so far!!
You've done such an amazing job explaining everything I have no questions at all, but I've been inspired to do a lot of things differently now that I've read your thoughts on so many things. However, I really want those 231 Tundra brakes, so I'm gonna have to go against your advice away from 17' and D rated tires.
Actually, I do have one question, come to think of it.... why have you never installed an ARB (or like) fridge?? Has your Pelican or Yeti cooler (I couldn't tell which one you have) been adequate?
SDmtnbkr
Member
On Second thought I did have some questions if you don't mind....
One of the first things I will be doing is the Icon Stage 5 kit with 265/65/17 Tires and 17in wheels. Can I just bolt this on and go? I've seen other People mention having to add adjustable pan hard bars or differential drops or radiator drops, or stuff like that. Are you running any of those, and do I need to run them if I only plan to lift the truck maybe 2" to clear the tires?
Thanks for your help!
One of the first things I will be doing is the Icon Stage 5 kit with 265/65/17 Tires and 17in wheels. Can I just bolt this on and go? I've seen other People mention having to add adjustable pan hard bars or differential drops or radiator drops, or stuff like that. Are you running any of those, and do I need to run them if I only plan to lift the truck maybe 2" to clear the tires?
Thanks for your help!
EatonKyleH
New member
Killer trip and photos Alex!
Rig is stunning as usual. My sister in law just moved out "Near Portland somewhere" (My knowledge of the PNW is weeaaakk) but my wife and I are planning a trip out there with the rig 2017 sometime and up into Washington. I hope we can run into you and Joe for a bit when that happens.
Rig is stunning as usual. My sister in law just moved out "Near Portland somewhere" (My knowledge of the PNW is weeaaakk) but my wife and I are planning a trip out there with the rig 2017 sometime and up into Washington. I hope we can run into you and Joe for a bit when that happens.
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Wyker
New member
I too just read your entire thread and am blown away by your build and adventures.
As a recent 3rd gen T4R owner and new forum member, it was great to see the progression of your build. I'm looking at a 2017 move to the PNW and loved seeing all of the trails and scenery that aren't as common for east coasters to know about. There is so much to explore our there. Who knows, I may use the TAT as my route to Oregon.
Thanks for actively sharing your journey.
As a recent 3rd gen T4R owner and new forum member, it was great to see the progression of your build. I'm looking at a 2017 move to the PNW and loved seeing all of the trails and scenery that aren't as common for east coasters to know about. There is so much to explore our there. Who knows, I may use the TAT as my route to Oregon.
Thanks for actively sharing your journey.
Mostly cow crap, but yes.
As promised, some pictures.
New shock mount. The bend in the middle is an illusion... Measured it 217 times.
Larger front part on the platform. So much better now.
How are these mounts holding up for you ? Any tire clearance issues ?
Kowitz
New member
Hey man, somewhere in your build thread, I think I remember reading that you had a fuel gauge issue. Where it either wasn't very accurate, or sometimes would just drop all the way down and flash.
Sorry if I am mistaken! But if so, how did you go about fixing the issue. I have a 99' Highlander also. Thanks!
-Brenton
Sorry if I am mistaken! But if so, how did you go about fixing the issue. I have a 99' Highlander also. Thanks!
-Brenton
johnsonnate
New member
Hey so I know it may not be what you're looking for, but I had my fuel gauge drop and start flashing. Mine was a short caused by some fog lamp wiring that got wet and messed with the entire system. Have you had any wiring work and may have gotten wet?
A.Wilson013
New member
Signed on to respond to your PMs but I figured posting here may be better for others.
I had the mounts made by my brother in-law.
They're holding up well and clear the tire throughout the full range of motion. However, it is pretty close at right height. My finger barely slides in between the tire and mount. That's with whatever back spacing my Tundra wheels have, 1.25" Spaceres, and 285/70/R17 Duratracs. Obviously a skinnier tire would clear more easily, and these wheels without a spacer would not clear.
I am still using the stock mounts on the bottom.
Brenton, I dropped the gas tank and pulled out the fuel pump/floater mechanism. There is a circuit board looking thing in there that is used to read the level of the tank (as the float raises or lowers the contact on the board moves up and down). I simply used a pencil eraser and cleaned off the contact points. Has been working PERFECTLY for a few months now.
I got the idea from another forum member's excellent build thread, but I do not remember his name...
Edit** FOund it! Page 6 of [MENTION=123173]Jhelms[/MENTION] excellent thread.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/193922-my-4gunner-restore-refurb-re-work-6.html
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s20004runner
New member
I have been looking at lots of roof racks lately and I love your rack even more.
Do you know if the fab guy made the same rack for anyone else?
Do you think a local fab guy can make one w/ your design?
Do you know if the fab guy made the same rack for anyone else?
Do you think a local fab guy can make one w/ your design?
BigBluePile
New member
You do any sweet snow wheelin yet.......?
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A.Wilson013
New member
Snow Wheel 04 December 2016
You don't know me...
Snow Wheeling
Late last night a friend of mine invited me to, "go look for snow" in an area I figured PROBABLY had snow, and was interested to find out.
Well, it became quite apparent that we'd be hitting snow when we were welcomed to Enumclaw by a nice dusting on the ground, some 3000' below where we wanted to go.
At the "staging area" the was a couple inches of slush on the road, and 3-4" of powder on the side of the road. We all aired down (I went to 10 psi, if anyone was curious), and started up the road behind an older Toyota pickup, a wrangler, and my buddy in the blue 1st gens old 2016 Tacoma that he hated so much he sold after a couple months.
DSC_0137 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr
DSC_0143 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr
DSC_0148 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr
As we made our way up the road (FS-70 off of Hwy 410) a LOT of family suvs, minivans, and cars were coming down. I thought the was a good sign. However, we quickly caught up to the rest of the crowd- about 10 full size pickups charging up the mountain in front of us.
One by one the full sized trucks bowed out with a seemingly brand new stock F150 making it the furthest (is that considered full size?). However, he was stuck in the middle of the road (on an incline) and going nowhere. His friend was trying to dig him out but getting him nowhere. I busted out the ol' Tred recovery boards, he backed up on to them and was able to get enough forward momentum to take him ~100yds up the road to a turn-around spot. Well, a turn-around spot for a 4Runner. Not for an F150. He tried, he failed, and out came the Treds again. He backed up onto them (after a couple re positionings) and was able to get turn around on the road. Our small convoy (5 or 6 vehicles at the point) all drove around him and wished him well on his way back down the mountain.
I don't have any pictures of any of that because I was the second to the back vehicle, and carrying those damn Treds back and forth.
About that time down Toyota truggys came down the road and told us we wouldn't be making it much further. With that news, all but one random Wrangler (and our group of 3) pushed forward.
We got to where we thought our 1st gen friend could make it no further, and messed around a bit. It was DEEP up here, and mostly untouched. Probably my first time messing around in over a foot of fresh powder.
DSC_0151 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr
This was not a staged photo or I'd be less of a lurker =p
DSC_0154 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr
DSC_0157 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr
DSC_0161 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr
We attempted to go toward "Gov Meadows Horse Camp" but right past this sign is a dip, followed by a SHARP uphill left hand turn that the 1st gen just couldn't get through. The Rubicon and I could have made it, but we didn't want to leave our buddy behind, or park his 4Runner in the middle of the road.
More playing in the powder... Kicking myself for not bringing my polarized filter...
DSC_0168 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr
It was just Holly and I on this trip. Our first time out with just the two of us since we got Elle.
DSC_0172 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr
My buddy in the 1st gen tried to follow us over this hump and got stuck lol...
DSC_0183 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr
DSC_0194 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr
Some pretty beautiful views on the way back down the mountain...
DSC_0204 by Alex Wilson, on Flickr
My buddy sent me some pictures he took of me with his phone... I'll have to upload those in the following post.
You don't know me...
Snow Wheeling
Late last night a friend of mine invited me to, "go look for snow" in an area I figured PROBABLY had snow, and was interested to find out.
Well, it became quite apparent that we'd be hitting snow when we were welcomed to Enumclaw by a nice dusting on the ground, some 3000' below where we wanted to go.
At the "staging area" the was a couple inches of slush on the road, and 3-4" of powder on the side of the road. We all aired down (I went to 10 psi, if anyone was curious), and started up the road behind an older Toyota pickup, a wrangler, and my buddy in the blue 1st gens old 2016 Tacoma that he hated so much he sold after a couple months.
DSC_0137 by Alex Wilson, on FlickrDSC_0143 by Alex Wilson, on FlickrDSC_0148 by Alex Wilson, on FlickrAs we made our way up the road (FS-70 off of Hwy 410) a LOT of family suvs, minivans, and cars were coming down. I thought the was a good sign. However, we quickly caught up to the rest of the crowd- about 10 full size pickups charging up the mountain in front of us.
One by one the full sized trucks bowed out with a seemingly brand new stock F150 making it the furthest (is that considered full size?). However, he was stuck in the middle of the road (on an incline) and going nowhere. His friend was trying to dig him out but getting him nowhere. I busted out the ol' Tred recovery boards, he backed up on to them and was able to get enough forward momentum to take him ~100yds up the road to a turn-around spot. Well, a turn-around spot for a 4Runner. Not for an F150. He tried, he failed, and out came the Treds again. He backed up onto them (after a couple re positionings) and was able to get turn around on the road. Our small convoy (5 or 6 vehicles at the point) all drove around him and wished him well on his way back down the mountain.
I don't have any pictures of any of that because I was the second to the back vehicle, and carrying those damn Treds back and forth.
About that time down Toyota truggys came down the road and told us we wouldn't be making it much further. With that news, all but one random Wrangler (and our group of 3) pushed forward.
We got to where we thought our 1st gen friend could make it no further, and messed around a bit. It was DEEP up here, and mostly untouched. Probably my first time messing around in over a foot of fresh powder.
DSC_0151 by Alex Wilson, on FlickrThis was not a staged photo or I'd be less of a lurker =p
DSC_0154 by Alex Wilson, on FlickrDSC_0157 by Alex Wilson, on FlickrDSC_0161 by Alex Wilson, on FlickrWe attempted to go toward "Gov Meadows Horse Camp" but right past this sign is a dip, followed by a SHARP uphill left hand turn that the 1st gen just couldn't get through. The Rubicon and I could have made it, but we didn't want to leave our buddy behind, or park his 4Runner in the middle of the road.
More playing in the powder... Kicking myself for not bringing my polarized filter...
DSC_0168 by Alex Wilson, on FlickrIt was just Holly and I on this trip. Our first time out with just the two of us since we got Elle.
DSC_0172 by Alex Wilson, on FlickrMy buddy in the 1st gen tried to follow us over this hump and got stuck lol...
DSC_0183 by Alex Wilson, on FlickrDSC_0194 by Alex Wilson, on FlickrSome pretty beautiful views on the way back down the mountain...
DSC_0204 by Alex Wilson, on FlickrMy buddy sent me some pictures he took of me with his phone... I'll have to upload those in the following post.
A.Wilson013
New member
Reserved for pictures..
Uh... These pictures are weird. They're from an iPhone and if I hold down on them they turn into videos (which makes them cool) but when they're just still shots they're lame.
Can I post those somehow? The magic video pictures?
Until I can figure out the pictures, here's a fun story that could have been avoided by reading more on 4Lo, and driving slower.
Today while playing in the snow I was going down a steep icy hill in 4Lo at about 10mph (foot off the gas, just riding the gear down) when a suburban started coming UP the hill at me. I didn't want to step on the brakes and risk losing control/sliding into them, so I tried to drop it from "2" to "L" on the shifter.
What happened next I was TOTALLY unprepared for, though I imagine it's some sort of safety feature used to keep you from going into "L" at high speeds?
When I shifted to "L" my truck instead went into neutral. Down to the idle RPM, throttle only revved the engine, and I QUICKLY gained speed down the hill.
I "panicked" (as much as I do... which means my blood pressure probably rose to normal levels) and tapped on the brakes a couple times to see if I could slow down.
Nope. Rear end came around and I started sliding sideways down the hill at about the same speed, though not accelerating anymore (glass half full)
I cranked the wheel the opposite direction and spun the rear end ALL the way around so I was sliding BACKWARD down the hill and then popped it into reverse (it engaged) and I rode the momentum into the snow bank on the side of the road, coming to a stop.
Put it back into "L", it engaged as it should in 4Lo, and off I went down the hill as if nothing happened. The people on the side of the road were looking at me like wtf... My buddy that was behind me never said a word, but I am sure he was thinking "wtf...".
At least it wasn't on the edge of a cliff!
Uh... These pictures are weird. They're from an iPhone and if I hold down on them they turn into videos (which makes them cool) but when they're just still shots they're lame.
Can I post those somehow? The magic video pictures?
Until I can figure out the pictures, here's a fun story that could have been avoided by reading more on 4Lo, and driving slower.
Today while playing in the snow I was going down a steep icy hill in 4Lo at about 10mph (foot off the gas, just riding the gear down) when a suburban started coming UP the hill at me. I didn't want to step on the brakes and risk losing control/sliding into them, so I tried to drop it from "2" to "L" on the shifter.
What happened next I was TOTALLY unprepared for, though I imagine it's some sort of safety feature used to keep you from going into "L" at high speeds?
When I shifted to "L" my truck instead went into neutral. Down to the idle RPM, throttle only revved the engine, and I QUICKLY gained speed down the hill.
I "panicked" (as much as I do... which means my blood pressure probably rose to normal levels) and tapped on the brakes a couple times to see if I could slow down.
Nope. Rear end came around and I started sliding sideways down the hill at about the same speed, though not accelerating anymore (glass half full)
I cranked the wheel the opposite direction and spun the rear end ALL the way around so I was sliding BACKWARD down the hill and then popped it into reverse (it engaged) and I rode the momentum into the snow bank on the side of the road, coming to a stop.
Put it back into "L", it engaged as it should in 4Lo, and off I went down the hill as if nothing happened. The people on the side of the road were looking at me like wtf... My buddy that was behind me never said a word, but I am sure he was thinking "wtf...".
At least it wasn't on the edge of a cliff!
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BigBluePile
New member
Tfti.......
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A.Wilson013
New member
Interesting... I'll have to give it a shot today to see if it'll do it again.
May be time to scrap it
BigBluePile
New member
May be time to scrap it
ZOMG U TAKE THAT BACK RIGHT NOW !!!?
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fourfive
Senior Member
Your story telling skills are hilarious. I'll usually browse through your thread to admire your quality pics then come across one of your stories & get a good laugh every time.
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