Blcktpgsr's '97 transformation

[blcktpgsr]

you trying to get rid of that extra spoiler you have now? i have been looking online for that for about 2 months now and can only find the jaos one and cant really see myself spending that much on it. plus over here in afghanistan all they lease out to americans are hilux surfs on base and its to the point where every few nights i try to sneak around with one of my buddies and steal one off a car here... for the 2500 a month we pay for it it only seems like a fair trade haha

I'm actually planning on using the JDM spoiler since it's the original piece, just waiting for my buddies decision if he wants the Jaos one, if not that's what I'm gonna put in the market.

Looks good man! I'm really not liking you now! HA HA HA! For a while, I was the only guy that I knew of who had any kind of tire carrier that didn't involve changing out the whole rear bumper......:uzi: HA HA HA! The only thing I'm partial to, between yours and mine, is that mine is centered in the rear of the truck.....but yours is definately a better looking contraption! Why didn't they bring those over here too??

Great job on the install! Just out of curiosity....what does one of those setups cost???

Hey, can't let you be the only one who has a tire carrier and the original bumper still intact, ha ha! but thanks man.

I'll be modifying the carrier in time and move it just a tad towards the center and lift it up a bit more to accommodate at least 33" M/T, plus it's good for departure angle as well.

The cost to bring the whole set up from Japan was an even $1000 CA, still considerably less than say buying an aftermarket bumper w/ tire carrier, but what attracted me to it the most is how the spare tire hugs the body of the truck close.

This looks sick, I love the tire carrier and the surf hatch gives the runner a nice new look. You need to put some details up about where you ordered all this from and how hard it was to do the conversion. :bravo:

Here in Vancouver there's at least 3 JDM vehicle importers that I know of, the ordering process from finding one at junkyards in Japan, paperworks to container ship sail time took close to 3 months, it can be longer.

The only modification, provided you also get the rear door is on the hinge mounts, most especially on the bottom mount. The lower portion of the Surfs just below the tail light has some recessed area of about 1/4". The bottom mount has this 1/4" of protrusion that then goes into that indented part on the panel.

The pic is kinda small but just to give you an idea about the recessed panel on the Surf...look just below the tail light

I didn't want to make any adjustments on the panel so instead I added approx 1/4" of fiberglass around the bottom hinge to make it fit flush with the body, otherwise you'll see 1/4" of gap around the lower mount. The upper mount was easy, you can either leave it the way it is or do what I did and also add <1/4" of fiberglass just for uniformity.

The reinforcement involved some welding of some thick ga. tubing to tie the panel and the d-pillar for strength both on the upper and lower mounts. Search Macgyver's Hilux Surf retrofit on YotaTech for some photos of the said reinforcements.

Looks awesome! How much was the rear from the hilux?

Can you take a picture of the rear view from the driver's seat? I am curious how much the rear tire carriers affect the rear view.

As I previously mentioned, it was an even $1000, the rear hatch came up to $625 and the carrier was $275 as per the receipt. I'm assuming bringing these from Japan costs alot more but the guy gave me a super super deal. He said not all junkyards sell them at the same price, and some could go as high as $1700 less shipping. Mine was just a last minute deal before the cargo container closes and onto the cargo ship.

I'm hoping to come close to at least breaking even by selling the 4Runner hatch and at some time the Jaos spoiler.

Here's a photo I took this morning...just for you man!

 

[Nelsonmd]

Cool, that doesn't block too much of the view. That is one of the main drawbacks I have thought about with the rear tire carriers.

How did you install the carrier mounts?

 

[blcktpgsr]

All I have to say is WOW!!! I've always wanted a rear tire carrier, but all I've seen use an aftermarket rear bumper which to me doesn't look that clean. But that.. That right there is as clean as it gets! I really want to know where and how you got that there in place so I can do the same someday! This 4Runner has become my favorite now.
:trophy:

Hey just let me know when you're ready to do it and I'll fill you in on the details.
But thanks, thanks.:cheers:

 

[blcktpgsr]

Cool, that doesn't block too much of the view. That is one of the main drawbacks I have thought about with the rear tire carriers.

How did you install the carrier mounts?

That's what I see from the drivers seat and yes the view is well...you hardly notice the wheel arch.

I had to drill 3 7/16" holes for the top mount and 2 for the bottom. Had some nuts welded at the d-pillar end along with the thick wall tubing in between the panel and d-pillar for reinforcements.

 

[SCRunner12]

That thing is sweet! Nice work. I could be interested in the Jaos Spoiler as well depending on price. Keep up the good work.

 

[Ron Helmuth]

I'm in awe again of all you have accomplished! Stunning and unique.

Well done!

 

[1985taylor1925]

As I mentioned earilier on the thread, this must be my favorte 4runner on the site. Awesome! And if you do end up selling the JAOS, I am also very interested.

 

[blcktpgsr]

That thing is sweet! Nice work. I could be interested in the Jaos Spoiler as well depending on price. Keep up the good work.

As I mentioned earilier on the thread, this must be my favorte 4runner on the site. Awesome! And if you do end up selling the JAOS, I am also very interested.

I sure will keep you guys informed about the Jaos spoiler, My friend is in the phase of spending alot for his truck right now, recent lift, new tires etc...but he implied interest in the spoiler as well....so we'll see!

Thanks again guys!

I'm in awe again of all you have accomplished! Stunning and unique.

Well done!

I appreciate the kind acknowledgment, my friend. Hoping to buy a set of matching tires and wheels including the spare to better dress the truck with in the future. Until then this'll do.

 

[Rc4r]

Can you not fit a full size spare?

 

[blcktpgsr]

Can you not fit a full size spare?

I can mount a full size tire on the carrier, no problem. The dilemma being...that I cannot find the same 17" rims as I have on right now anywhere.

So just for the sake of making a better presentation, I thought a matching set would better set it off.

 

[BigFishAllDay]

THAT. IS. AWESOME. I wish I had more to say, but those three words pretty much express my sentiments. Over the top, man, simply over the top! :trophy:

 

[fightman80]

I can mount a full size tire on the carrier, no problem. The dilemma being...that I cannot find the same 17" rims as I have on right now anywhere.

So just for the sake of making a better presentation, I thought a matching set would better set it off.

I know what you mean about having the 5th wheel and tire to match! It drove me crazy for over a year looking at that old black steel wheel with the stock 265 on the back when I was running my Procomps and Bighorns! Now all is good....as I have bought a matching spare and rim! Cost me though....another $612.00 to be exact!

That carrier really does sit nice and close to the hatch....I wish mine did...all and all though...pretty happy with my setup..only cost me around $100.00! As for modifying your carrier so it sits more in the middle. Just an FYI, the spare will really limit your view out the window....at least mine does. I just use my side mirrors more!

 

[98_4runnerSR5]

The new hatch w/ tire carrier looks awesome man! Took sometime and went through your build thread again and it's definitely come a long way and looks sweet! Good stuff

 

[bak3rme]

good heavenly gods....so simple yet sick

dang i love the tire / rim combo everytime i see it

 

[blcktpgsr]

THAT. IS. AWESOME. I wish I had more to say, but those three words pretty much express my sentiments. Over the top, man, simply over the top! :trophy:

ah shucks! hey theres nothing worse than someone not taking compliments , right? so....thanks man..i'll take that as a motivation..

I know what you mean about having the 5th wheel and tire to match! It drove me crazy for over a year looking at that old black steel wheel with the stock 265 on the back when I was running my Procomps and Bighorns! Now all is good....as I have bought a matching spare and rim! Cost me though....another $612.00 to be exact!

That carrier really does sit nice and close to the hatch....I wish mine did...all and all though...pretty happy with my setup..only cost me around $100.00! As for modifying your carrier so it sits more in the middle. Just an FYI, the spare will really limit your view out the window....at least mine does. I just use my side mirrors more!

Exactly, and what a difference that matching 5th set makes on your rig, its night and day, really. But for what it's worth, the Ltd. rims that I have for spare isn't half as bad as throwing on a steelie. :guitar2:

You originate the spare tire idea in a nice perspective, and that was sort of why I wanted one as well, just took on a different route....a more expensive route, but well worth IMO..

I'll probably just wait until I can afford to throw a spare 33 as a spare and see if any modification to the tire carrier is necessary..Thanks for the heads up!

The new hatch w/ tire carrier looks awesome man! Took sometime and went through your build thread again and it's definitely come a long way and looks sweet! Good stuff

I love the simplicity of this tire carrier and how it more than adds up to the appearance of the rear, and the overall look of the rig, something you don't see everyday..

One guy at the parking lot just the other day gazes at the 4Runner, went to his truck, grabbed the camera and took some snap shots...all the while I was watching, he hasn't seen a 4runner with one, I don't think!

good heavenly gods....so simple yet sick

dang i love the tire / rim combo everytime i see it

I didn't think much of those rims the first time but it really has grown in me...come to think of it.....I do love those rims and tires and how it compliments the truck....hey you know what they say....

Simple is beauty what?.............nah!:naughty:

 

[surf185]

Beautiful find; Hilux Surfs all the way!

 

[blcktpgsr]

Yeah it's one of those sorta coveted mods I thought was also very functional at the same time.

Yours though, is as close to the real Surf as it gets...nice nice personal touches too, I love the color combination you've got going.:surfer:Surfs up!

 

[ryhi]

definitely one of my favorites on the board!

 

[xskydivingdudex]

Wow dude the tire carrier looks great! i have been looking for something like this so i can still use my ladder since the carrier only takes the right half of the rear hatch but at $1k, its too steep of a purchase for me to justify.

 

[Nelsonmd]

I know what you mean about having the 5th wheel and tire to match! It drove me crazy for over a year looking at that old black steel wheel with the stock 265 on the back when I was running my Procomps and Bighorns! Now all is good....as I have bought a matching spare and rim! Cost me though....another $612.00 to be exact!

That carrier really does sit nice and close to the hatch....I wish mine did...all and all though...pretty happy with my setup..only cost me around $100.00! As for modifying your carrier so it sits more in the middle. Just an FYI, the spare will really limit your view out the window....at least mine does. I just use my side mirrors more!

So just a thought on this point, if the tire were off-center on the drivers side, wouldn't that help visibility? I know it would just be adding more weight to the drivers side, which already has more weight on it, but other than that, it seems overall visibility night be unaffected by the carrier if you did that.

Thoughts from the guys that have them?

BTW: are you not keeping the SSRx badge? I thought it was kind of cool.