Magnetic4R
New member
Which bumper did you get? This is way in the future but I was considering the CBI but lately the SSO peaks my interest.
Building, Driving and Adventuring the MTN4RNR
- Thread starter MTN4RNR
- Start date
Which bumper did you get? This is way in the future but I was considering the CBI but lately the SSO peaks my interest.
Magnetic4R
New member
I come for the beer, but I stay for the beer...
There's a National Beer run this weekend in SJ. =)
weeeee
New member
I'll post up pics later in my build thread. Don't want to get Max's thread too off topic with my own build haha
SSDuck8
New member
in regards to the arb compressor, why did you go with the slee switch instead of the one provided with the compressor?
MTN4RNR
New member
I used the OEM switch because I wanted to incorporate it into the dash in the most "clean" way possible, in my opinion. I thought about using the ARB switch in the cut out on the Slee bracket itself, but they are not water rated, and I didn't want an electrical gremlin to be the cause of a potential short, or non-functioning compressor.
MTN4RNR
New member
The FT-60 has been a great radio so far. So good that I have 2 of them. For rig to rig communications it works really well and can usually cover a few miles in the mountains without much issue. It'll cover more distance on flat ground. I have tested it to about 5 miles myself. I will eventually upgrade to a mobile unit for more power, multi-band monitoring, ease of use, and being able to use it as a repeater in remote places with groups. But at this point, it's just been a budget thing, and the handheld has worked really well for what I NEED right now. I'll hold off on the WANT until I get a few more things added to the truck that are a bit more pressing.
MTN4RNR
New member
You will definitely want to upgrade the antenna on that, or any handheld for that matter. And make sure you stay within the frequencies we are allowed. BF's can access those frequencies, but the Yaesu's are pre programmed to operate within the legal frequencies.
MTN4RNR
New member
Yes, yes we do!
Ricomondo
New member
Hi
I just installed my [MENTION=12905]XenonDepot[/MENTION] Phillips 4300K kit, mainly by following your steps back on page 5. Just wanted to say THANK YOU for the great write up!
The #9 step bit made it easy to drill for the gromet. Thanks again and keep up the great work with your rig!
I just installed my [MENTION=12905]XenonDepot[/MENTION] Phillips 4300K kit, mainly by following your steps back on page 5. Just wanted to say THANK YOU for the great write up!
The #9 step bit made it easy to drill for the gromet. Thanks again and keep up the great work with your rig!
MTN4RNR
New member
Woohoo! Glad that the write up helped you install! Those step drill bits are pricy but worth every penny. Have a good one :thumb3:
MTN4RNR
New member
I'm thinking of doing the rear diff/locker breather mods. Now that you've had yours running for a while, any regrets? Diff smells in the cabin? Not enough wiggle room in the lines for suspension travel? I don't suspect you will have any problems, but thought I'd check. Tanx!
MTN4RNR
New member
It has been solid so far. No smell, and everything has stayed in tact (even with wheels in the air under full articulation). I will need to reassess when I eventually lift, but that's a different story. Well worth the easy mod. :rockon:
MTN4RNR
New member
Bald Mountain OHV - August 2016 (Part 1 of 4)
Last weekend I took a re-visit to Bald Mountain OHV. If you remember, I went there last winter for the first annual Crawl-to-the-Top snow trip that ultimately ended in a big, old fashioned cluster. It was probably a good thing that we never made it to the trailhead that day, but I have been wanting to head back since. [MENTION=106195]v_man[/MENTION] and I hatched a plan to head to the mountains, and make a day of it. I invited [MENTION=133547]TheKent[/MENTION], and a buddy from college, Cam, who invited his friend Kayden.
Driver/Rig:
Vincent (v_man): 1990 Toyota 4Runner on 37” of awesomeness
Wes (TheKent): 2016 Toyota 4Runner Trail and my truck’s twin
Cameron: 1996 Toyota Tacoma with some sweet custom graphics
Kayden: 1987 Toyota Truck that just keeps truckin’
Max (MTN4RNR): 2016 Toyota 4Runner Trail that is used but not abused
We left the Bay Area early, itching to get higher in elevation. Wes and I would make it an overnight trip but for the others, it was a day trip, so time was precious. I met Vincent at 5am and we hit the road, meeting the others in Gilroy at 6am. A quick introduction, Vincent’s second cup of coffee, and a stretch; we were on the road, East bound!
Because half of California is on fire, the sunrise was a deep red color as it rose over the horizon when we came over Pacheco Pass.
Around 9am, we made it to the trailhead and after a quick air down and run around with the dog we hit the trail for a quick warm up on a nearby granite slab before starting up Bald Mountain. We opted to take the “North Route” up the hill as we had heard that it was the more challenging direction, and after reaching the summit we would return on the “South Route”. That being said, none of us had been to the area before, so there was a certain amount of error expected when we set off. And about 5 minutes into the journey, we realized we had started down the South Route, and had to back-track to the beginning of the North Route.
Cameron was really excited to get out in his Tacoma. This would be it’s maiden off-road voyage with him, although he has had plenty of Toyota off-road experience before this having owned a few late 80’s 4Runners prior to the Tacoma.
PC: v_man
Yes, that’s right. Water. In a creek. In California. Weird.
PC: v_man
Driver/Rig:
Vincent (v_man): 1990 Toyota 4Runner on 37” of awesomeness
Wes (TheKent): 2016 Toyota 4Runner Trail and my truck’s twin
Cameron: 1996 Toyota Tacoma with some sweet custom graphics
Kayden: 1987 Toyota Truck that just keeps truckin’
Max (MTN4RNR): 2016 Toyota 4Runner Trail that is used but not abused
We left the Bay Area early, itching to get higher in elevation. Wes and I would make it an overnight trip but for the others, it was a day trip, so time was precious. I met Vincent at 5am and we hit the road, meeting the others in Gilroy at 6am. A quick introduction, Vincent’s second cup of coffee, and a stretch; we were on the road, East bound!
Because half of California is on fire, the sunrise was a deep red color as it rose over the horizon when we came over Pacheco Pass.
Around 9am, we made it to the trailhead and after a quick air down and run around with the dog we hit the trail for a quick warm up on a nearby granite slab before starting up Bald Mountain. We opted to take the “North Route” up the hill as we had heard that it was the more challenging direction, and after reaching the summit we would return on the “South Route”. That being said, none of us had been to the area before, so there was a certain amount of error expected when we set off. And about 5 minutes into the journey, we realized we had started down the South Route, and had to back-track to the beginning of the North Route.
Cameron was really excited to get out in his Tacoma. This would be it’s maiden off-road voyage with him, although he has had plenty of Toyota off-road experience before this having owned a few late 80’s 4Runners prior to the Tacoma.
PC: v_man
Yes, that’s right. Water. In a creek. In California. Weird.
PC: v_man
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MTN4RNR
New member
Bald Mountain OHV - August 2016 (Part 2 of 4)
This was a fun section of trail that was quite technical. Vincent, naturally, walked over it without a spotter (likely in 2wd, because he can) and then came back to spot the rest of us that were more gravity challenged.
PC: TheKent
PC: TheKent
PC: v_man
Here comes the point in the trip where I was feeling good. I had crawled over a few sections that I didn’t think were going to be doable. Confidence was high. I watched Vincent crawl up and over this rock face. When he then turns to me and says, “You should try it”. I looked at the obstacle, and at the 4Runner. Basically, I thought that it likely wouldn’t work, but if it did… It would blow my mind. Here’s the view from the driver’s seat 30 seconds later…
And Wes’s point of view…
PC:TheKent
I learned what I can’t do, well, at least not now. So, for the first time, the 4Runner needed the winch. Thanks to Vincent, it was a quick pull and I was over the top with only some mangled plastic on the rear bumper, a munched tail pipe, and a big smile to show for it. I didn’t make it over the obstacle, but then again I didn’t really expect to. Considering the only off-road upgrades done to the 4Runner at this point are tires and some sweet sliders. Not dissapointed.
PC: TheKent
Moving closer to the top, there was an obstacle that only Vincent could attempt, and he needed multiple attempts. But ultimately he made it over with a little “Skinny pedal, skinny pedal”. I did NOT attempt this line, because we just went over what happens when Max follows Vincent up rock faces.
A tale of two lines…
PC: TheKent
PC: TheKent
PC: v_man
Here comes the point in the trip where I was feeling good. I had crawled over a few sections that I didn’t think were going to be doable. Confidence was high. I watched Vincent crawl up and over this rock face. When he then turns to me and says, “You should try it”. I looked at the obstacle, and at the 4Runner. Basically, I thought that it likely wouldn’t work, but if it did… It would blow my mind. Here’s the view from the driver’s seat 30 seconds later…
And Wes’s point of view…
PC:TheKent
I learned what I can’t do, well, at least not now. So, for the first time, the 4Runner needed the winch. Thanks to Vincent, it was a quick pull and I was over the top with only some mangled plastic on the rear bumper, a munched tail pipe, and a big smile to show for it. I didn’t make it over the obstacle, but then again I didn’t really expect to. Considering the only off-road upgrades done to the 4Runner at this point are tires and some sweet sliders. Not dissapointed.
PC: TheKent
Moving closer to the top, there was an obstacle that only Vincent could attempt, and he needed multiple attempts. But ultimately he made it over with a little “Skinny pedal, skinny pedal”. I did NOT attempt this line, because we just went over what happens when Max follows Vincent up rock faces.
A tale of two lines…
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MTN4RNR
New member
Bald Mountain OHV - August 2016 (Part 3 of 4)
Finally, we reached the top, and the lookout tower.
PC: v_man
PC: TheKent
The platform slide out got it’s shake down in the form of a summit PB&J and a beer
From the tower
PC: v_man
Time to head back down. We moved a bit quicker on the downhill, so there are a few less photos to share, but when I come back, I think I’ll run it reverse to keep it fun!
We reached the bottom of the hill, the rest of the gang aired up, we said some goodbyes, and they hit the road. Wes and I turned around and made our way towards Dinkey Creek for a campsite, and HOPEFULLY a swim in the creek.
This looked promising…
Yep, it was a win
A quick dip, and some dinner and it was time to turn in for the night
PC: TheKent
Side note: I finally got to sleep flat in the 4Runner thanks to the 4Runner Platform I designed and built (more on that in a day or so) and holy crap. Game changer.
PC: v_man
PC: TheKent
The platform slide out got it’s shake down in the form of a summit PB&J and a beer
From the tower
PC: v_man
Time to head back down. We moved a bit quicker on the downhill, so there are a few less photos to share, but when I come back, I think I’ll run it reverse to keep it fun!
We reached the bottom of the hill, the rest of the gang aired up, we said some goodbyes, and they hit the road. Wes and I turned around and made our way towards Dinkey Creek for a campsite, and HOPEFULLY a swim in the creek.
This looked promising…
Yep, it was a win
A quick dip, and some dinner and it was time to turn in for the night
Side note: I finally got to sleep flat in the 4Runner thanks to the 4Runner Platform I designed and built (more on that in a day or so) and holy crap. Game changer.
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