Crazydubman's 97 limited runner build
- Thread starter crazydubman
- Start date
crazydubman
New member
haha. is that right... 
I needed a rack for the larger items that I need to carry when camping and wheelin.
I needed a rack for the larger items that I need to carry when camping and wheelin.
crazydubman
New member
So i'm in a bit of a pickle...
My current optima yellow top battery is deciding to go out prematurely. when it was in my pickup, the mounting strap failed at one point and slid the battery over into the power steering pulley. The battery was perfectly fine except for the gouge out of the side, but alas the replacement warrenty is no longer valid with the chunck missing from it.
With that said, I have a ruffstuff optima battery box welded into the 97 now with the optima... I know the quality of the optimas has gone down substancially since they are now being produced in mexico instead of Colorado.
My question is... With the current battery box welded in, is it worth bitting the bullet and picking up another Optima (With the 3 year warrentee), or getting a diehard platinum (Which I have heard great feedback on) with a 4 year warrenty and picking up another ruffstuff battery box that works with the Diehard and weld that in????
I need to make a decision because i'm hoping to get out and go wheeling in the next couple of weeks but am currently not willing to drive it with how weak it cranks over.
Any feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks,
My current optima yellow top battery is deciding to go out prematurely. when it was in my pickup, the mounting strap failed at one point and slid the battery over into the power steering pulley. The battery was perfectly fine except for the gouge out of the side, but alas the replacement warrenty is no longer valid with the chunck missing from it.
With that said, I have a ruffstuff optima battery box welded into the 97 now with the optima... I know the quality of the optimas has gone down substancially since they are now being produced in mexico instead of Colorado.
My question is... With the current battery box welded in, is it worth bitting the bullet and picking up another Optima (With the 3 year warrentee), or getting a diehard platinum (Which I have heard great feedback on) with a 4 year warrenty and picking up another ruffstuff battery box that works with the Diehard and weld that in????
I need to make a decision because i'm hoping to get out and go wheeling in the next couple of weeks but am currently not willing to drive it with how weak it cranks over.
Any feedback would be appreciated.
Thanks,
SantaCruzRunner
Senior Member
If the optimas have gone down in quality i wouldnt chance it. what about a toyota battery? ive had mine the whole time ive owned mine and its held up great. even with the subs headunit speakers and stuff. the only time it died was when my sister left the spare key in it on over night.......
jumped it and it charged right up.
wheeling trip soon?
jumped it and it charged right up.
wheeling trip soon?
crazydubman
New member
Thanks for the advise guys.
Just ordered the Odyssey/Diehard battery box. Wish I could have waited for the next sale but at least I was able to get the Pirate 4x4 discount.
I think it was 56 to my door.
Odyssey/Diehard Single Battery Box - RuffStuff Specialties
Guess i get to start cutting the old one out and prepping it for the new one... Hopefully the Diehard battery treats me better than the Optimas have in the past.
Just ordered the Odyssey/Diehard battery box. Wish I could have waited for the next sale but at least I was able to get the Pirate 4x4 discount.
I think it was 56 to my door.
Odyssey/Diehard Single Battery Box - RuffStuff Specialties
Guess i get to start cutting the old one out and prepping it for the new one... Hopefully the Diehard battery treats me better than the Optimas have in the past.
crazydubman
New member
If the optimas have gone down in quality i wouldnt chance it. what about a toyota battery? ive had mine the whole time ive owned mine and its held up great. even with the subs headunit speakers and stuff. the only time it died was when my sister left the spare key in it on over night.......
jumped it and it charged right up.
wheeling trip soon?
Reason for not going OEM is because I can actually get a real battery box if I go with the 34/78 packages. When your wheelin and about laying on your side or smashin through some whoops in the desert, the last thing you want to have happen is your battery to come loose from the mount.
Had that happen once, and don't care for it to happen again.
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downpour11
New member
Me too! Isn't it so much fun ripping battery terminals out? LOL ughhh
crazydubman
New member
Ya I gouged the side of mine pretty bad. Thankfully it was an optima or I would have lost all of the acid all over the engine... It is a paste like substance so I just epoxied over the hole and kept rockin
SantaCruzRunner
Senior Member
that does look good. may have to invest in one of those soon 
crazydubman
New member
Speaking of updates.
I have been thinking long and hard about what I can really see myself comfortably attempting in the 4runner at this point in my life, and I came to the conclusion that spending the 15k to finish building the one tons and properly linking the front and rear, wasn't justifiable for the few extra lines I would feel comfortable running. Basically the short version is that the cost vs benefit didn't add up.
So last weekend I sold the 1 tons for what I paid and currently have the 38x14.5x16 toyos for sale. All that is left is these gems that will be making their way on the IFS setup on the runner with the help of adapters. :biggrin2:
Specs
GM Border Patrol Hutchinson's
DOT approved double beadlocks
16x8"
4.25BS I believe
8x6.5 bolt pattern
Welded in one off 3/8" aluminum rock rings by InnerAirLock
I have a total of 6 matching. Got me a spare and a spare to the spare just in case.
Can't wait to get them mounted up. Here comes firewall tubbing :biggrin2:
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crazydubman
New member
Thats pretty much what I have realized. I have a $100 dollar spacer lift with factory 06 rear shocks and swaybar endlinks and it walks through things that modded 4th and 5th gen guys stuggled with for days. This runner has seriously surprised me.
I figure get some decent suspension so it can take some bumps and desert running and get the rear elocker sorted out, I should be able to get through most trails I want to run.
I figure get some decent suspension so it can take some bumps and desert running and get the rear elocker sorted out, I should be able to get through most trails I want to run.
crazydubman
New member
UPDATE:
Whitson full length rack is paid for and built.
Should be shipping today with an estimated arrival of next Friday.
Worked out a deal with Jim at OutdoorLogic with the tires.
Looks like i'm getting the internal cage from the B pillar back with storage shelf for the rear sooner than I thought.: oh boy!
This is what we are shooting for in the rear. More triangulation on the roof line and a tube support across the two d pillars.
Jim should be working on getting a good start on it next week over christmas. Hoping to have some progress pictures by new years.
Whitson full length rack is paid for and built.
Should be shipping today with an estimated arrival of next Friday.
Worked out a deal with Jim at OutdoorLogic with the tires.
Looks like i'm getting the internal cage from the B pillar back with storage shelf for the rear sooner than I thought.
: oh boy!This is what we are shooting for in the rear. More triangulation on the roof line and a tube support across the two d pillars.
Jim should be working on getting a good start on it next week over christmas. Hoping to have some progress pictures by new years.
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crazydubman
New member
no plans until the 33's wear out. with 5 in rotation, it may take a while.
I'm already going to have to tub the firewall and rear fenders to fit the offset of the new wheels and tires. I will make sure I give enough clearance for the 35's down the road.
I'm already going to have to tub the firewall and rear fenders to fit the offset of the new wheels and tires. I will make sure I give enough clearance for the 35's down the road.
I have read the whole thread. Nice runner! I would like to see it when you have at Outdoor....I live 5min away from there. I hear you on the lines you would take in it. I have 2 hardcore rigs as well as the `98 runner. I am selling one very soon. If I get to build the `98 the way I want, it should do real well. I am thinking about the Icon extended travel setup for mine. What are you thinking for your front suspension. Either Camburg or TC would be my first choice but there is no $$ for that. lol
P.S. What did you pay for that Die Hard battery?
P.S. What did you pay for that Die Hard battery?
crazydubman
New member
Im actually going to be running a full icon 2.5 extended remote resi setup. The rears will be the new model tacoma rears as i no longer have the original upper mounting option since i drilled it larger to accept the 06 shocks. Springs i will be running the OME 861's like dirtco for additional support. Will be building some 1.5"x0.25 wall upper and lower rear links with 3/4 in heims on one end and bushing on the other. Front uppers will be camburg. Not really looking at long travel as i have a couple friends that ponied up for the kit only to realize after that spending the money wouldnt do it again. I can build tge whole truck for the cost of just the arms.
The cage will actually be a bolt in with weld in capabilities. Jim was trying to gauge interest in a full bolt in cage back a while ago. Im just helping him get that prototype ready for production. He will actually be shipping it up to me once its complete. He has a few runners at his shop he can use for mock up.
The cage will actually be a bolt in with weld in capabilities. Jim was trying to gauge interest in a full bolt in cage back a while ago. Im just helping him get that prototype ready for production. He will actually be shipping it up to me once its complete. He has a few runners at his shop he can use for mock up.
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