Building, Driving and Adventuring the MTN4RNR

[RollTide2414]

So yall were right these wheels have been a nightmare to fit on the new 4 runner and I guess my bigges problem since they are aftermarket wheels the factory lug nuts will not work. Toyota said if I got some spine mcgard lugnuts part 65357 that they would work but I'm afraid to order them and be out another $100. Would it be easier you think to return the wheels I listed above and just buy the ones from Toyota? If I do that will I also need new lug nuts or will they be able to use my factory ones? Help!!!!!! Just want my black TRD wheels on

 

[Magnetic4R]

So yall were right these wheels have been a nightmare to fit on the new 4 runner and I guess my bigges problem since they are aftermarket wheels the factory lug nuts will not work. Toyota said if I got some spine mcgard lugnuts part 65357 that they would work but I'm afraid to order them and be out another $100. Would it be easier you think to return the wheels I listed above and just buy the ones from Toyota? If I do that will I also need new lug nuts or will they be able to use my factory ones? Help!!!!!! Just want my black TRD wheels on

You can get a complete set of gorilla spline for about $30

 

[MTN4RNR]

So yall were right these wheels have been a nightmare to fit on the new 4 runner and I guess my bigges problem since they are aftermarket wheels the factory lug nuts will not work. Toyota said if I got some spine mcgard lugnuts part 65357 that they would work but I'm afraid to order them and be out another $100. Would it be easier you think to return the wheels I listed above and just buy the ones from Toyota? If I do that will I also need new lug nuts or will they be able to use my factory ones? Help!!!!!! Just want my black TRD wheels on

Do what you want with your wheels, it sounds like [MENTION=107460]Magnetic4R[/MENTION] has a source for your lug nuts, but I have a very simple policy when it comes to new stuff. The more trouble it gives you from the get go, the more trouble it will likely be down the line. To my knowledge, the factory lugnuts are the same as the ones used with the factory TRD wheels. Best of luck!

 

[BS Goodwrench]

As long as you still use Toyota aluminum rims and your 4Runner did yes come with aluminum rims the lugnuts will still work, you just can't use lug nuts for a steel wheel on an aluminum wheel.

 

[Rotorgeek]

As long as you still use Toyota aluminum rims and your 4Runner did yes come with aluminum rims the lugnuts will still work, you just can't use lug nuts for a steel wheel on an aluminum wheel.

Is this a difference in metals thing, or is it the way they mount?

 

[BS Goodwrench]

The way they mount,

Factory aluminum lug nuts will have a tapered end to be used with a steel spare. However the base trucks with steel wheels don't have the cylinder looking end that the factory lugs for aluminum wheels have.

Steel on left, AL on right,
Note the identical tapered cone shape on the front ends so you can run the AL version on a steel wheel if needed but not the other way around.

 

[FMain89]

So any good 3-day weekend trips and photos to share [MENTION=129593]MTN4RNR[/MENTION]?


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[MTN4RNR]

So any good 3-day weekend trips and photos to share [MENTION=129593]MTN4RNR[/MENTION]?

 

[MTN4RNR]

Labor Day Adventures in the Sierras - September 2016

I decided that the long weekend would be a good opportunity to bring the ladies along for a weekend adventure in the Sierras. My girlfriend is a grad student, so we like to take advantage of whatever time that she’s not busy. This weekend, we decided to hike the Sierra Buttes Fire Lookout, located in Tahoe National Forest just outside Sierra City. We left Saturday, and headed for my cabin near Grass Valley where we hit the river in the afternoon after a few beers at Knee Deep Brewing in Auburn. We crashed for the night for an early start up highway 49.

Sunrise at the cabin

We took off towards the trailhead, and as we were driving I noticed that there was a dirt shortcut that would bring us to the same spot, wahoo! It was an improved gravel road, and after a quick air down to 28psi, we were cruising along…

Nothing but green on the OEM nav, perfect.

We arrived at the trailhead to find that we weren’t the only ones that had this great idea to spend the morning outdoors. While the parking lot was full, thankfully the trail didn’t feel crowded

Doggo was rocking a new pack my buddy gave me, and enjoying every bit of it

As we hiked up the trail, we could see the fire lookout far up the mountain…

Nothing beats a cold summit beer…

1,700’ elevation gain in 2.5 miles. Solid. On the way into town we caught a glimpse of where we had come from, and it was pretty amazing.

We made our way into Sierra City for lunch, and wound up getting some good BBQ at an event being held at a local historical mine, score!

Our campsite was going to be the Gold Lake 4x4 Campsite, located about 20 minutes outside of Sierra City. The 4x4 trail was about 2 miles long and had plenty of rock gardens to make the way in fun, and just the right amount for the lady. She has not been out with me on 4x4 trails before, so I am starting things out slowly to make it a good time for all! After almost a year with the 4Runner, I feel rather confident taking it on trails, and being able to pick good lines that work with my stock suspension. We went through a couple of tricky spots, and I am happy to say that not a skid plate was touched this time out, although I did use my sliders a few times. It’s a great feeling being confident, especially when you have a new to 4-wheeling passenger along for the ride. It makes things easy, and fun.

We ended up camping at Little Gold Lake, on the west side of it’s bigger compadre

The slide out in action

In the morning, we broke camp and headed out. Next stop, Truckee for lunch and then home to the Bay Area.

Overall, it was a great weekend exploring with the family, checking out areas new to us all. Every time that I go on one of these trips, I am amazed with how many roads, trails, and path are just there waiting to be explored. Using my GPS, I am constantly seeing off-shoots and places that I can go to on the next trip. I mark them with a waypoint, and archive them for when I plan another trip. I will likely be coordinating a T4R group trip in this area either in the upcoming months, or in the spring as there are a good amount of 4x4 trails, as well as some hikes and nearby lakes/rivers/towns. So look for something in the future discussing it more.

More to come…​

 

[MTN4RNR]

Mod update

A few weeks back, after crumpling my exhaust tip at Bald Mountain, I had a new tip welded on at a local shop that pointed slightly out to the passenger side. After spending a weekend at elevation with the back window down a good portion of the trip, my exhaust smell problem is almost non-existent. I was able to smell it a bit as we climbed a winding, slow grade outside of Donner Lake traveling at about 20mph, but that was it. It came and went quickly. Very happy for a $20 mod. It also allowed me to add a second recovery point that I picked up from [MENTION=44305]weeeee[/MENTION] when I helped him install his CBI bumper swing out. If you haven't done an exhaust tip, it's worth the small amount of money to have it done :thumb3:

 

[FMain89]

Awesome, Don't really have view like that here in Texas

 

[jtc44]

Ha! Baileys 'n Coffee for breakfast.....who needs cream/sugar??

Nice trip report. You prove the capability of our vehicles with just some good tires, a set of sliders and, as you said, a little confidence.

 

[NuclearN8]

Are the rear points, Recovery or tie down points for flatbed trailering? There's a difference I think... Great trip! by the way... My wife just got her PhD last month so hang in there.... They return to being normal humans after its over.

 

[weeeee]

It also allowed me to add a second recovery point that I picked up from [MENTION=44305]weeeee[/MENTION] when I installed his CBI bumper swing out when he drank too much beer and made me do all the work

Fixed

 

[e60ral]

Are the rear points, Recovery or tie down points for flatbed trailering? There's a difference I think... Great trip! by the way... My wife just got her PhD last month so hang in there.... They return to being normal humans after its over.

Recovery point, you can use it. Some people do hitch recoveries because ita not always convenient, but it's okay to use.

Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk

 

[jamoc]

YO!

I live in bay area as well, burlingame. Thoroughly enjoy reading through your thread, and the places you have been!!!! I will def. be following your footsteps. Recently took a Gold Lake trip with a buddy and his GF, my GF came as well.. It was raining most of the time, so the ladies were miserable. The guys on the other hand... took the RZR for an insane muddy ride. Needless to say we spent more time washing the RZR than wheeling!


NEWB QUESTION: how do I subscribe?

 

[MTN4RNR]

Fixed

HAHAHA!!! :lol::cheers:

 

[N.Alvarez]

Great Design!

Not sure if you've given more thought to making more of these... I'd be interested if you get around to making some:thumb3:

When I first bought the 4Runner, it didn’t take long before I realized that I would need to modify the stock cargo area to best fit my personal needs. I had a few basic requirements to consider:

Cargo Security:
My typical cargo usually consists of the Ruff Tough kennel for the pup and a Front Runner Wolfpack (used to be Action Packer). When I switch to camping/Overlanding mode, I will typically add my camping box (DeWalt Tough boxes), the cooler, and other miscellaneous small items. All of these things needed to be secured in case of a collision or other accident. The last thing that I want is for the dog kennel to smash around, or to see a fully packed Yeti cooler cruising through the windshield. A tie down system can also be more practical by keeping your gear secure when four wheeling as you start/stop/pitch/jolt. It was really clear that the stock 4 point system wasn’t going to cut it after a few 4wd trips, however for the better part of a year I have made it work.

A Fully Flat Cargo Area:
The 4Runner (without the OEM cargo tray) with the rear seats folded down does not allow the cargo area to be flush with the rear seats. It’s about a 2-3 inch drop, and that drop makes a huge difference when it comes to sleeping comfortably in the back. Like my issue with securing cargo, I was able to make it work using a yoga mat, and an extra blanket. It worked, but I slept terribly.

Additional Preparation Space:
When I camp and spend time outdoors, I tend to need a flat surface to perform various tasks. Cooking, organizing gear, working with maps, etc. In the past I have made due with cooking on my camping box, requiring me to pull everything out that I will need for the meal, and ultimately I forget something mid-cook. How hard is it to open the camping box while there is a full pot of water boiling on the stove? It’s very difficult, trust me. Sparing myself buying a table for camping, I thought having something that could be easily deployed when needed would be a great addition to this platform.

Room for growth:
When I design/start any project, I understand that even if it is well planned, and even better built, there is always the likely possibility that I will find some way to make it better. So I incorporated that reality into my build by using materials and a general layout that would allow me to incorporate drawers, a fridge slide or anything else later on down the road.

Note:
I won’t be going into full design details with this particular project at this time, mainly because I am contemplating doing a small production run of this platform once I give it a good shake down to test the integrity of my design. Once I can establish that there aren’t any weak points, I will consider moving forward if there is a suitable demand. In the meantime, I will be pricing the unit as it is currently designed because I understand that the first question many ask with this sort of product is “How much?” That’s what I am going to work out.

Product details:
-Baltic birch plywood construction
-Aluminum L-track tie down strips with movable tie downs
-Line-X platform coating
-Stainless steel hardware
-Minimal modification of the 4Runner to fit (plastic trim removal; no cutting)
-Flush to seat design
-Slide out preparation space

Product Description:
The platform is constructed using strong, Baltic birch plywood. It is made of a hardwood ply, and unlike cheaper substitutes, it doesn’t use a weaker filler between the layers of hardwood. It is hardwood through and through making it very rigid and durable. The plys are bonded together using marine grade adhesive, and the outside veneers are thicker allowing for a more durable surface. It’s not a cheap material to use, but the benefits well outweigh the cost.

The platform incorporates 4 aluminum L-track strips. Left, center, right, and against the rear seats. Each one with approximately one tie down option every 1-2 inches. This means that as cargo needs change, so do the tie down points. This variable approach allows for securing different cargo in different arrangements without compromise.

A Line-X finish on the platform was used to increase the base material’s overall strength, provide a waterproof finish to the top surface, and to increase the long term durability of the platform. As an added bonus, it ended up looking like something that should have come from the factory as it closely matches the plastic color.

The slide out is made of the same Baltic birch plywood, but with an added polyurethane surface protectant to seal it from water and other stains. The edges have been routed to provide a smoother grip when extended. The slide can come out approximately 18” with enough rigidity to hold a stove and food preparation supplies. It is branded with the Mountain 4Runner logo on the lower right corner.

The platform attaches to the 4Runner using existing threaded holes, and only requires the removal of 2 plastic trim pieces. No cutting is required for installation. It fits with approximately ½” per side to spare, and enough room to fold the rear seats up and down without interference.


As I mentioned above, I will be testing the platform in the coming months and determining if I can produce a small number of units and what the associated cost would be. I will update the build page with information as it comes. Feel free to send any questions to me via the personal message feature on the forum.

More to come…

 

[BS Goodwrench]

What GPS app or program are you using?

Looks like you had a great and memorable outing! :hail:

 

[MTN4RNR]

Awesome, Don't really have view like that here in Texas

Love the use of the second half of that scene

arty: