bpwwer's 2015 Limited build and drive thread

[bpwwer]

I purchased the 2015 Limited below just after Christmas 2014 after trading in a 2006 Limited.

Here's what it looked like after picking it up from the dealer

I didn't really do much to the 2006; better tires, one of those aluminum front skid plates and aftermarket navigation. But this time, I want to start early and make it special and enjoy the results. There are so many excellent build threads here and reading through them has provided the inspiration.

I ended up with a fairly basic Limited (if that makes sense). It came with the carpet mats as the only option. I managed to get all-weather mats included at no charge. After getting it home I started ordering a few other accessories.

Exterior:
Mud flaps - installed
Exhaust tip - installed, needed something to protect the stock tip from rocks
Roof rail cross bars - installed
OPOR sliders - installed (still need adjusting)
Plastidip the silver rails black - done
LED replacements - mirror puddle lights
drabbits roof rack - ordered

Interior:
LED light kit - done
Husky cargo mat - installed
Cargo cover - wrong part received, returned, and new correct one installed

I'm also actively looking for new tires. My first choice is the Cooper AT3's (or ATP's) in 275/55/R20, but the local America's Tire won't install them since they aren't recommended for the 7" wheels. If I can't find a local place to install that size, my second choice is SCS Stealth 6 wheels with appropriate 17" AT3 tires.

There's a number of other things I'd like to do, including a full-length roof rack (but which one?), skid plates, and even some type of mild lift.

A note about the LED interior light swap. I don't have pictures because I've only worked on this at night. Nothing like ripping apart the outside mirrors, of a brand new vehicle, at night to replace the puddle lights. The kit I bought was from ebay seller yitamotor based on this thread http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/182662-led-swap-lights-tools-steps-pictures.html I contacted the seller and had them put together a deluxe kit for the 2015. I have not replaced the dome light or the hatch lights because I was not able to get the included bulb to fit in the dome light. I also forgot about the visor mirror lights, but don't expect any issues with them. I've ordered a couple of other bulbs to try and get a better fit for the dome and hatch lights and will update this with the results once there're here. Update: hatch and visor lights installed without any issues.

 

[Mistaken]

Love that color!

 

[itsdchz]

Looks GREAT! Love the color.
For the Dome light. REMOVE the entire light assembly. I had a horrible time trying to get the LEDs into the mid section dome. I gave up... Then had an epiphany.. Why not remove it and try to get it to fit? BAM! 10 minutes later.. DONE!

 

[bpwwer]

My 2006 was Nautical Blue also. I think my second choice current color would be the Magnetic Gray but 4Runners seem to look good no matter what color they are.

Looks GREAT! Love the color.
For the Dome light. REMOVE the entire light assembly. I had a horrible time trying to get the LEDs into the mid section dome. I gave up... Then had an epiphany.. Why not remove it and try to get it to fit? BAM! 10 minutes later.. DONE!

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll have to try again. I did have the housing out but still was having issues. I'll have to try it when it's light out, it was dark in vehicle without the dome light to light things up I've also ordered a 12 led panel with a festoon to panel adapter and some bulbs that claim to be 28mm instead of 31, but those may not be the same color temp.

itsdchz, I really like what you've done with your build. The stance looks perfect!

 

[itsdchz]

...
itsdchz, I really like what you've done with your build. The stance looks perfect!

Thank you!

 

[Masaro]

Nice looking 4R! I'm glad my LED write up was useful to someone! My crooked dome light bulb is still holding up OK, but I still think about it every time I hit a pothole. I might try the suggestion to remove the entire housing and try to make it fit that way. If you find a shorter bulb that matches the yitamotor color temperature, please let me know so that I replace mine as well. I also tried the LED panel with the adapter, but the color was WAY off so I decided to risk it with the crooked festoon bulb. Also, I can relate with the feeling of prying off the mirrors on a new truck. Mine was also a couple of weeks old when I popped them off and remember feeling like I was going to break them.

I was also in the same boat with the wheels / tires. I tried getting Discount Tire, Costco and Sam's to agree to install 275/55's on the 20" wheels and none of them went for it. I ended up buying 18" 4th Gen LE wheels and am pretty happy with my decision http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...ou-do-your-5th-gen-today-433.html#post1886844

 

[txforunna]

Great combo

Nice combo Bob, I have the same and love it. Please be sure to post pics with the opors on. I ordered my runner without boards because I was thinking of opors/metal techs as well. Just have not pulled the trigger yet.

 

[bpwwer]

Nice looking 4R! I'm glad my LED write up was useful to someone! My crooked dome light bulb is still holding up OK, but I still think about it every time I hit a pothole. I might try the suggestion to remove the entire housing and try to make it fit that way. If you find a shorter bulb that matches the yitamotor color temperature, please let me know so that I replace mine as well. I also tried the LED panel with the adapter, but the color was WAY off so I decided to risk it with the crooked festoon bulb. Also, I can relate with the feeling of prying off the mirrors on a new truck. Mine was also a couple of weeks old when I popped them off and remember feeling like I was going to break them.

Yes, very useful write up on the LED swap. I probably would have bought one of the cheap packages if it wasn't for reading your posts.

I found some LED panels that claims to use the same 5630 SMD's so we'll see. I think it's coming from Hong Kong so it will be a bit of a wait. I think the shorter bulbs are 5050 so I don't really expect them to match.

Was it just the dome light that didn't fit well? I haven't tried replacing the hatch lights yet since I assumed that I'd have the same fitment problem with them.

Nice combo Bob, I have the same and love it. Please be sure to post pics with the opors on. I ordered my runner without boards because I was thinking of opors/metal techs as well. Just have not pulled the trigger yet.

I ordered them with powder coating so it will probably be a couple more weeks at least before I get them. I don't plan on installing them in the dark so I'll make sure I get lots of pictures of the process and results.

 

[ggunn9]

Love that color. Never considered it but I should have. If you decide to sell the limited wheels let me know.

 

[BigOlTater]

Re: 275's take it to les Schwabs, I asked the manager if I could put 275's on my stock 20's and he said yes, the rim is 7.5. I've seen 2 limited around town sporting 275's on stock 20's too. I told him about this forum and people saying you can't put them on and he said they are full of it. I planning a set of 275's and spider tax spacers and call it good, I actually went full circle regarding the stock wheels and just decided I like them better than any aftermarket wheels, well I shouldn't say that, there is 1 or two I like but not enough for me to spend the $$. I love the color, the shot it down and we went black.

 

[briancl]

Looks great. Post up some more pictures, we really want to see that blue color in different lighting.

 

[bpwwer]

Re: 275's take it to les Schwabs, I asked the manager if I could put 275's on my stock 20's and he said yes, the rim is 7.5. I've seen 2 limited around town sporting 275's on stock 20's too. I told him about this forum and people saying you can't put them on and he said they are full of it. I planning a set of 275's and spider tax spacers and call it good, I actually went full circle regarding the stock wheels and just decided I like them better than any aftermarket wheels, well I shouldn't say that, there is 1 or two I like but not enough for me to spend the $$. I love the color, the shot it down and we went black.

But does Les Schwab sell Cooper tires? Their web site only list their store brands. I see that Big O sells Cooper so I might have to stop in there and see if they'll mount them up.

I'm not really concerned with the slightly wide tire for the rim, but really want a stronger tire. I'm mostly concerned with rock punctures on gravel roads. With the 2006, we popped two of the OEM tires while in Moab and we were just on the gravel roads. That put a bit of a damper on wanting to try anything more challenging while we were there.

I like the SCS Stealth 6's and the TRD Pro wheels better than the stock ones. My wife likes the stock wheels. Keeping the stock wheels for now would be the path of least resistance if I can find someone who'll ignore the tire spec. sheet.

My wife really likes the blue too so we both got what we wanted. Vehicle color is something we tend to agree on.

 

[Eight04runner]

That blue looks incredible! I just purchased a 15 myself and was torn between nautical blue and attitude black. Ended up going with black because they had one with beige interior which I wanted (VA heat can be brutal), but I sort of wish I went blue. Congrats.

 

[Masaro]

I think you can go with 275/55s if you want to. It's not like you CAN'T put them on. Plenty of members have them on their LEs and years have gone by with no accidents or known safety issues (someone correct me if you've heard otherwise).

It's just a matter of personal choice whether you want to keep the tire/wheel combination up to spec or not. If Cooper says that their tire fits wheels starting at 7.5" wide, then installing them on a 7" wide wheel would put them out of spec. Some members are OK with that, others are not.

And don't get fooled by people claiming that the LE wheels are 7.5" wide. It is now well documented that they are 7" wide. In any case, below is a picture of the inside of the LE wheels currently sitting in my garage. Clearly reads 20x7

Re: 275's take it to les Schwabs, I asked the manager if I could put 275's on my stock 20's and he said yes, the rim is 7.5. I've seen 2 limited around town sporting 275's on stock 20's too. I told him about this forum and people saying you can't put them on and he said they are full of it. I planning a set of 275's and spider tax spacers and call it good, I actually went full circle regarding the stock wheels and just decided I like them better than any aftermarket wheels, well I shouldn't say that, there is 1 or two I like but not enough for me to spend the $$. I love the color, the shot it down and we went black.

 

[Masaro]

Yeah, the 5050s will definitely look different. If the panel also uses the Samsung 5630s then the color will be very similar. How many diodes does the 5630 panel have? Those things are BRIGHT! If it has more than 9 or 12 it will be VERY bright.

On the festoons, only the dome light will give you trouble. The hatch lights go in much easier since they have more space and the spring tab is able to flex more. You'll have both of those installed in less than 5 mins.

Yes, very useful write up on the LED swap. I probably would have bought one of the cheap packages if it wasn't for reading your posts.

I found some LED panels that claims to use the same 5630 SMD's so we'll see. I think it's coming from Hong Kong so it will be a bit of a wait. I think the shorter bulbs are 5050 so I don't really expect them to match.

Was it just the dome light that didn't fit well? I haven't tried replacing the hatch lights yet since I assumed that I'd have the same fitment problem with them.


I ordered them with powder coating so it will probably be a couple more weeks at least before I get them. I don't plan on installing them in the dark so I'll make sure I get lots of pictures of the process and results.

 

[BigOlTater]

I think you can go with 275/55s if you want to. It's not like you CAN'T put them on. Plenty of members have them on their LEs and years have gone by with no accidents or known safety issues (someone correct me if you've heard otherwise).

It's just a matter of personal choice whether you want to keep the tire/wheel combination up to spec or not. If Cooper says that their tire fits wheels starting at 7.5" wide, then installing them on a 7" wide wheel would put them out of spec. Some members are OK with that, others are not.

And don't get fooled by people claiming that the LE wheels are 7.5" wide. It is now well documented that they are 7" wide. In any case, below is a picture of the inside of the LE wheels currently sitting in my garage. Clearly reads 20x7

Have read all the threads on this issue and seen many photos, so I'm aware of the concern. Have you measured the rim? I've seen a few photos of people measuring them showing 7.5 inches. Either way once I run the stock tires down to the nub I'll have a decision to make.

 

[bpwwer]

That blue looks incredible! I just purchased a 15 myself and was torn between nautical blue and attitude black. Ended up going with black because they had one with beige interior which I wanted (VA heat can be brutal), but I sort of wish I went blue. Congrats.

We wanted the beige too for the 100+ in the summer. That's what made our search difficult. There's not a lot of nautical blue's in the area (I think the dealer found 4 they could trade for). Most seem to have black interior and 3rd row seats. I did manage to find one outside the dealer's trade area that had the redwood interior, so we were starting to think about a road trip for that one.

Our dealer did have an attitude black with redwood and it was nice, the redwood seemed a little dark with the black exterior. So attitude black with beige would be my choice too, that's a really nice looking color combo.

I think you can go with 275/55s if you want to. It's not like you CAN'T put them on. Plenty of members have them on their LEs and years have gone by with no accidents or known safety issues (someone correct me if you've heard otherwise).

It's just a matter of personal choice whether you want to keep the tire/wheel combination up to spec or not. If Cooper says that their tire fits wheels starting at 7.5" wide, then installing them on a 7" wide wheel would put them out of spec. Some members are OK with that, others are not.

Yeah, I'm OK with going out of spec. But the tire store I normally do business with wasn't. So I'll try a couple other places around here. If anyone has a recommendation of a shop that will do this in the Sacramento area, let me know.

Yeah, the 5050s will definitely look different. If the panel also uses the Samsung 5630s then the color will be very similar. How many diodes does the 5630 panel have? Those things are BRIGHT! If it has more than 9 or 12 it will be VERY bright.

On the festoons, only the dome light will give you trouble. The hatch lights go in much easier since they have more space and the spring tab is able to flex more. You'll have both of those installed in less than 5 mins.

Well, I destroyed one of the festoon's trying to make it shorter to fit the dome light better. I guess I should order another, then I can make the comparison in the dome light between the three different options. Might help other out to see the differences.

I did the hatch lights and visor lights last night. All 4 went in no problem. I still have enough to do the backup and license plate lights but haven't decided if I want to do those. I don't think the license plate needs to be more visible at night

 

[bpwwer]

Plastidiped the roof rails today. Turned out OK and I think it does look better than the silver. This is really a temporary solution until I can get a real roof rack up there.

If I had to do this again, I'd remove the rack and do this off the vehicle. Even though I thought I had masked things off well enough, I still had a lot if small drops of overspray on the sides to clean up.

 

[bpwwer]

Sliders!

These arrived today

Unfortunately, I probably won't have time to install them for a few weeks.

 

[Masaro]

Nice!

Do these fit on the Limited without any further mods? Or will you have to cut or replace the rocker panels?

These arrived today

Unfortunately, I probably won't have time to install them for a few weeks.