Taco04
Member
This is another build thread lol... Since I live right on the Texas Coast, I hate Rust! Everything rusts here including plastic buckets:lie:! With this in mind and the fact I am not a hardcore trail guy, I would like to keep this vehicle light weight so I am running a lot of aluminum parts since they don't rust. I would love to run some steel replacement bumpers but the salt air would just eat at them constantly, I already have this problem on another truck.
I started with a base SR5 4wd. I have always wanted a 4runner but after numerous 4x4s this is my 1st 4Runner. First thing to replace was the stock suspension. After looking around awhile, I decided on Old Man Emu at the recommendation of a coworker who is a fellow Toyota enthusiast. With a few tweaks, I am super happy but time will tell.
Next up was the biggest shortcoming on these rigs - the factory street tires (the wheels are not too far behind). I looked at a ton of tires and decided on my old favorites Bfg's At's even though I know many people don't care for them. My Job has had me working off road for the last 10 years and I have found that while they may not be the "perfect" tire, I have found them to be one of the most dependable! With this in mind, I decided to run 275's and the FJ wheels-Trail wheels. I wish this was the factory set-up!
I focused next on the skids as the factory led us a bit short so to speak. I am using Asfir front and transmission skids with fourtreks bolt-savers.
I am going to fabricate a transfer & exhaust skid next.
Next, I swapped the factory roof rack for a Front Runner rack since it's crazy modular, aluminum and stainless to boot!
Finally, rock-sliders have to be steel otherwise they are just steps! After searching far and wide, I chose White Knuckle since I like the way they mount with the added benefit of monitoring frame rust.
I have also done a ton of small mods so no reason to re-post. Long story short, here is where I am at: Keep it light and semi rust proof! This spring I am adding a rear Aussie locker, maybe a front as well. Hopefully, someone will have aluminum bumpers out by then but if not, oh well, it's another project! Here are some pics of where I am at so far. Thanks for looking!
I started with a base SR5 4wd. I have always wanted a 4runner but after numerous 4x4s this is my 1st 4Runner. First thing to replace was the stock suspension. After looking around awhile, I decided on Old Man Emu at the recommendation of a coworker who is a fellow Toyota enthusiast. With a few tweaks, I am super happy but time will tell.
Next up was the biggest shortcoming on these rigs - the factory street tires (the wheels are not too far behind). I looked at a ton of tires and decided on my old favorites Bfg's At's even though I know many people don't care for them. My Job has had me working off road for the last 10 years and I have found that while they may not be the "perfect" tire, I have found them to be one of the most dependable! With this in mind, I decided to run 275's and the FJ wheels-Trail wheels. I wish this was the factory set-up!
I focused next on the skids as the factory led us a bit short so to speak. I am using Asfir front and transmission skids with fourtreks bolt-savers.
I am going to fabricate a transfer & exhaust skid next.
Next, I swapped the factory roof rack for a Front Runner rack since it's crazy modular, aluminum and stainless to boot!
Finally, rock-sliders have to be steel otherwise they are just steps! After searching far and wide, I chose White Knuckle since I like the way they mount with the added benefit of monitoring frame rust.
I have also done a ton of small mods so no reason to re-post. Long story short, here is where I am at: Keep it light and semi rust proof! This spring I am adding a rear Aussie locker, maybe a front as well. Hopefully, someone will have aluminum bumpers out by then but if not, oh well, it's another project! Here are some pics of where I am at so far. Thanks for looking!
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