Cytronus 2016 4Runner Trail Premium Build Thread (Pic Heavy)
- Thread starter Cytronus
- Start date
trailstriker
New member
I really like this look. It's subtle, yet like you said, can read it apart from the black. Great idea.
I really hope Nox Lux soon offers a kit for the TRD Off Road emblems on the 2017 models.
Cytronus
New member
Pre-tensioned winch line and a 2015 Inferno Red TRD Pro joins the family
Since buying my 4Runner and adding mods, my twin brother Mike started to take notice. Summer 2016, while at the Ultimate Yota Jamboree, Pismo Beach, my brother got his first taste of my new 4Runner with the ICON lift and loved it. We then crossed paths with a 2015 TRD Pro in Inferno Red - which is really an orange metallic color that changes in different light conditions. Anyhow Mike loved that color and mentioned if he got a new 4Runner, that would have to be the color.
It happens to be the rarest 4Runner of all time since the 2015 Inferno Red TRD Pro is a commemorative color for 2015 only, on a very limited production number, signifying the first time the 4Runner and all 3 Toyota trucks in the lineup were available in a TRD Pro trim.
I've been searching nearly every day for months and at long last, this past Friday, an alert hit my inbox for a newly arrived Inferno Red gem in Los Angeles, CA with only 1500 miles...exactly 1500 miles on the ODO. Most of these are driven and at present sell with about 25 K to 35K. It turns out a car collector had bought this one and needed to make room for another collectable darling. I immediately phoned my bro and told him he had to book a flight to LA to buy this TRD right away for it would surely be sold this weekend. At 7am Saturday, the next morning, he flew down, bought her and as he walked out the door, a buyer ready to pay full price walked in, only to find himself utterly disappointed it had just sold to my brother. Mike drove her back to SF Bay Area that day, where we ended the warm spring evening at a local bar to celebrate. It's going to one fun summer!
Today we took my Trail up to a nearby hill so I could hook-up to the TRD Pro's rear tow hitch to let my winch pull me up to pretension the new synthetic winch line. How fitting that this would be the TRD Pros first duty with its new owner. WARN's instructions were to have "at least 1000 lbs" of weight for the pretension. I'd say we had about 2000 lbs based on the slope angle. No issues and the winch worked as it should and now officially prepared for the first recovery.
Next up on Mike's Inferno TRD - Weathertechs, ICON Stage 7, 285s, and much more. We'll probably do the twin thing and match things up. He likes the SSO Slimline Hybrid front bumper with LED and winch. It's not even my car and I've got nerves about cutting a hole in that rare TRD Pro front bumper with it's gorgeous paint, given it's a collector's classic in stock form. To those collectors years from now who ponder the 2015 Inferno Red TRD Pro, it'll surely be considered a sacrilege for it to have been altered in anyway. I'd be curious to know what other owners of the Inferno Red TRD Pro think about this and what mods they have done, if any. I haven't seen any.
I drove the TRD Pro for the first time today and I'm impressed. The stock 2" TRD Pro lift was not as soft as I had expected in lieu of other posts I've read but there is some softness as it's meant to soak up whoops at speed. Perhaps it may soften a little more over time but shouldn't be much.
Even without KDSS, as my vehicle has, the TRD body roll is minimal around corners, however it may fair differently with heavy accessories such as I'm running. Surprisingly, there's not a dramatic difference but KDSS does add a slightly noticeable leveling and rail-like sensation in the twisties.
Comparatively, the SR5 is too soft and nose-divey when braking to the point of annoyance. As is, the TRD Pro is a well-mannered and compliant ride on road. There's a very slight dive during heavy breaking but again, nothing to really complain about. It's much better suspension than the 2" lower, stock Trail Premium suspension, barring any consideration of KDSS.
I'm now curious how the TRD Pro will stack up to the KDSS Trail Premium with ICON Stage 7 off road. We'll have to see....
Since buying my 4Runner and adding mods, my twin brother Mike started to take notice. Summer 2016, while at the Ultimate Yota Jamboree, Pismo Beach, my brother got his first taste of my new 4Runner with the ICON lift and loved it. We then crossed paths with a 2015 TRD Pro in Inferno Red - which is really an orange metallic color that changes in different light conditions. Anyhow Mike loved that color and mentioned if he got a new 4Runner, that would have to be the color.
It happens to be the rarest 4Runner of all time since the 2015 Inferno Red TRD Pro is a commemorative color for 2015 only, on a very limited production number, signifying the first time the 4Runner and all 3 Toyota trucks in the lineup were available in a TRD Pro trim.
I've been searching nearly every day for months and at long last, this past Friday, an alert hit my inbox for a newly arrived Inferno Red gem in Los Angeles, CA with only 1500 miles...exactly 1500 miles on the ODO. Most of these are driven and at present sell with about 25 K to 35K. It turns out a car collector had bought this one and needed to make room for another collectable darling. I immediately phoned my bro and told him he had to book a flight to LA to buy this TRD right away for it would surely be sold this weekend. At 7am Saturday, the next morning, he flew down, bought her and as he walked out the door, a buyer ready to pay full price walked in, only to find himself utterly disappointed it had just sold to my brother. Mike drove her back to SF Bay Area that day, where we ended the warm spring evening at a local bar to celebrate. It's going to one fun summer!
Today we took my Trail up to a nearby hill so I could hook-up to the TRD Pro's rear tow hitch to let my winch pull me up to pretension the new synthetic winch line. How fitting that this would be the TRD Pros first duty with its new owner. WARN's instructions were to have "at least 1000 lbs" of weight for the pretension. I'd say we had about 2000 lbs based on the slope angle. No issues and the winch worked as it should and now officially prepared for the first recovery.
Next up on Mike's Inferno TRD - Weathertechs, ICON Stage 7, 285s, and much more. We'll probably do the twin thing and match things up. He likes the SSO Slimline Hybrid front bumper with LED and winch. It's not even my car and I've got nerves about cutting a hole in that rare TRD Pro front bumper with it's gorgeous paint, given it's a collector's classic in stock form. To those collectors years from now who ponder the 2015 Inferno Red TRD Pro, it'll surely be considered a sacrilege for it to have been altered in anyway. I'd be curious to know what other owners of the Inferno Red TRD Pro think about this and what mods they have done, if any. I haven't seen any.
I drove the TRD Pro for the first time today and I'm impressed. The stock 2" TRD Pro lift was not as soft as I had expected in lieu of other posts I've read but there is some softness as it's meant to soak up whoops at speed. Perhaps it may soften a little more over time but shouldn't be much.
Even without KDSS, as my vehicle has, the TRD body roll is minimal around corners, however it may fair differently with heavy accessories such as I'm running. Surprisingly, there's not a dramatic difference but KDSS does add a slightly noticeable leveling and rail-like sensation in the twisties.
Comparatively, the SR5 is too soft and nose-divey when braking to the point of annoyance. As is, the TRD Pro is a well-mannered and compliant ride on road. There's a very slight dive during heavy breaking but again, nothing to really complain about. It's much better suspension than the 2" lower, stock Trail Premium suspension, barring any consideration of KDSS.
I'm now curious how the TRD Pro will stack up to the KDSS Trail Premium with ICON Stage 7 off road. We'll have to see....
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jbstrd
New member
.....and really? You haven't seen an Inferno Pro modified?
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/197658-lawndarts-build-thread.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/197658-lawndarts-build-thread.html
omaguz
New member
Me likey this one also!!!!
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/185958-chudiddy-inferno-trd-pro-build.html
inlinejohn
New member
Great Build/Adventuring Thread
So many great pics, adventures and write ups. Great job. I'll follow this and enjoy. Time to start my own
So many great pics, adventures and write ups. Great job. I'll follow this and enjoy. Time to start my own
Cytronus
New member
Xenon Depot Extreme HID 4300 K with Phillips bulbs and no Canbus
Headlight upgrade! Clean install under the fender side skirt trim, added wire loom protection and Velcro tape to keep the ballast and wire harness box together. Used the 25' method against the garage door for initial adjustment, then refined it after a quick drive around the block. It's a tad lower than my brother's TRD Pro OEM headlights so I may raise the beams just slightly but very happy with these lights. One of the best mods to do since the OEM halogens don't cut it IMHO.
Headlight upgrade! Clean install under the fender side skirt trim, added wire loom protection and Velcro tape to keep the ballast and wire harness box together. Used the 25' method against the garage door for initial adjustment, then refined it after a quick drive around the block. It's a tad lower than my brother's TRD Pro OEM headlights so I may raise the beams just slightly but very happy with these lights. One of the best mods to do since the OEM halogens don't cut it IMHO.
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Cytronus
New member
More photos...XD HID Extreme
Compared the HID Extreme kit (Left) to OEM headlights (Right). The beams are slightly crossing into each other but you get a good idea of how bright they are. Also, with the HIDs on - when turning the fog lights on, it almost does nothing as the HIDs light up the foreground very well on their own. It's like having the fogs and headlights on without actually having the fogs on.
Compared the HID Extreme kit (Left) to OEM headlights (Right). The beams are slightly crossing into each other but you get a good idea of how bright they are. Also, with the HIDs on - when turning the fog lights on, it almost does nothing as the HIDs light up the foreground very well on their own. It's like having the fogs and headlights on without actually having the fogs on.
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infamousRNR
Senior Member
Sierra at Tahoe
Throwback to when we went to Sierra at Tahoe for my birthday in March 2017...
.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bVcJWd2FVn4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Throwback to when we went to Sierra at Tahoe for my birthday in March 2017...
.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bVcJWd2FVn4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Cytronus
New member
Dual Battery Installation - Big Progress!
Special thanks to the huge hands-on help from infamousRNR and vital technical and materials input from Bumbo, most of the dual battery project is completed! The car started right up and the National Luna Isolator did its thing - charged the main starter battery and then charged the Aux battery.
I learned a great deal through this project and really glad to have added knowledge on electrical/dual battery systems that I can share with others.
Most of the work was in calculating wire gauge based on run length, amperage, voltage drop compensation, run times, heat AND in calculating the ring terminal sizes and stud hole sizes for each wire based on where it would be connected. I used the BlueSea Circuit Wizard app on iOS for all calculations.
I went with high quality Temco welding cable with thick shielding that supports high temperatures (221 degrees F), a must when considering the 4Runner's engine bay sees up to 195 degrees F. Temco ring terminals are stout, all tin plated copper to prevent oxidation. Both the wiring and terminals were ordered from Temco in Fremont, CA. If you use these guys, it's cheaper to call in, give your list, and pick up locally in Fremont. If you can't make it to Fremont, go to eBay. Highly recommend their stuff and great service. Welding cable is HEAVY. I'd say I added about 15-20 lbs of wiring up front, including looming and terminations.
I used a heavy duty 16 ton hydraulic hexagonal die press I picked up on Amazon for crimping the 6 gauge and larger terminals to the stripped wire ends. The press literally fuses the individual copper strands and ring terminal together as one solid piece of metal, which makes for a safe termination that helps prevent terminal overheating and fire. This method is preferable and safer than soldering and standard crimping methods for larger gauge wiring with high amperage.
Progress made includes:
- Aux battery terminals installed. Military grade lead with 3/8" studs
- Aux battery wired to National Luna isolator/controller and the main starter battery. Controller wire installed through firewall.
- ARB dual air compressor wired to main starter battery.
- New wiring & 50 Amp short block for sPOD 8 channel accessory unit run from aux battery and Ethernet for LCD touch screen controller run through driver side firewall.
- sPOD bracket is in for powder coating and should be installed next week
- Drilled 5/16" hole and installed new 5/16" studs/flange nuts in each OEM starter battery terminal connector to accommodate isolator connections, air compressor.
-50 Amp Bussman circuit breaker installed on passenger side, under air compressor for future wiring that will run from Aux. battery to trailer hitch to charge 2 Lithium trailer batteries via Anderson plug (SB50).
-All wiring properly terminated with heat shrink tubing, loomed, taped every 20" with 3" wide high temp electrical tape.
Lessons learned:
-Quality tools including cutters and hydraulic crimpers a must.
-Helper a must for wiring routing and hydraulic crimping.
-Should've gone with different aux battery terminal connectors that had 5/16" studs on them, to match OEM stud size and make it easier to/faster to service batteries simultaneously with the same socket size. Also, the terminations I used don't have any clearance for sockets to fit around them so an open ended monkey wrench is needed, which sucks.
-Should've ordered more wire loom, that stuff goes fast. Sizes of loom diameter don't match wire diameter at all. You'll need slightly bigger loom.
Next up:
-Route wire for National Luna controller under center console and stick on under side of lid with double-sided sticky tape (this reads out both battery's charge and has a jump from Aux battery button on it)
-Install sPOD LCD touch screen in cabin and connect Ethernet cable for accessory control
-Install 270 Amp DC Power alternator, which will give the 4Runner an additional 105 Amps over the stock 165, and augmented wiring based on the awesome write up by rigtec at "4Runner alternator upgrade (gen 5)".
-Install newly painted home made sPOD bracket and sPOD unit, connect wiring and begin installing accessories (bumper LED light bar and under hood light and more later)
-cut, strip, crimp terminals on new 6 AWG wiring to run from aux battery to circuit breaker to hitch and terminate with Anderson Plug to charge 2 camper trailer Lithium batteries
-Install trailer brake controller (likely in glove box)
-Install air lines and air tank for air compressor
More coming in a week or two!
Special thanks to the huge hands-on help from infamousRNR and vital technical and materials input from Bumbo, most of the dual battery project is completed! The car started right up and the National Luna Isolator did its thing - charged the main starter battery and then charged the Aux battery.
I learned a great deal through this project and really glad to have added knowledge on electrical/dual battery systems that I can share with others.
Most of the work was in calculating wire gauge based on run length, amperage, voltage drop compensation, run times, heat AND in calculating the ring terminal sizes and stud hole sizes for each wire based on where it would be connected. I used the BlueSea Circuit Wizard app on iOS for all calculations.
I went with high quality Temco welding cable with thick shielding that supports high temperatures (221 degrees F), a must when considering the 4Runner's engine bay sees up to 195 degrees F. Temco ring terminals are stout, all tin plated copper to prevent oxidation. Both the wiring and terminals were ordered from Temco in Fremont, CA. If you use these guys, it's cheaper to call in, give your list, and pick up locally in Fremont. If you can't make it to Fremont, go to eBay. Highly recommend their stuff and great service. Welding cable is HEAVY. I'd say I added about 15-20 lbs of wiring up front, including looming and terminations.
I used a heavy duty 16 ton hydraulic hexagonal die press I picked up on Amazon for crimping the 6 gauge and larger terminals to the stripped wire ends. The press literally fuses the individual copper strands and ring terminal together as one solid piece of metal, which makes for a safe termination that helps prevent terminal overheating and fire. This method is preferable and safer than soldering and standard crimping methods for larger gauge wiring with high amperage.
Progress made includes:
- Aux battery terminals installed. Military grade lead with 3/8" studs
- Aux battery wired to National Luna isolator/controller and the main starter battery. Controller wire installed through firewall.
- ARB dual air compressor wired to main starter battery.
- New wiring & 50 Amp short block for sPOD 8 channel accessory unit run from aux battery and Ethernet for LCD touch screen controller run through driver side firewall.
- sPOD bracket is in for powder coating and should be installed next week
- Drilled 5/16" hole and installed new 5/16" studs/flange nuts in each OEM starter battery terminal connector to accommodate isolator connections, air compressor.
-50 Amp Bussman circuit breaker installed on passenger side, under air compressor for future wiring that will run from Aux. battery to trailer hitch to charge 2 Lithium trailer batteries via Anderson plug (SB50).
-All wiring properly terminated with heat shrink tubing, loomed, taped every 20" with 3" wide high temp electrical tape.
Lessons learned:
-Quality tools including cutters and hydraulic crimpers a must.
-Helper a must for wiring routing and hydraulic crimping.
-Should've gone with different aux battery terminal connectors that had 5/16" studs on them, to match OEM stud size and make it easier to/faster to service batteries simultaneously with the same socket size. Also, the terminations I used don't have any clearance for sockets to fit around them so an open ended monkey wrench is needed, which sucks.
-Should've ordered more wire loom, that stuff goes fast. Sizes of loom diameter don't match wire diameter at all. You'll need slightly bigger loom.
Next up:
-Route wire for National Luna controller under center console and stick on under side of lid with double-sided sticky tape (this reads out both battery's charge and has a jump from Aux battery button on it)
-Install sPOD LCD touch screen in cabin and connect Ethernet cable for accessory control
-Install 270 Amp DC Power alternator, which will give the 4Runner an additional 105 Amps over the stock 165, and augmented wiring based on the awesome write up by rigtec at "4Runner alternator upgrade (gen 5)".
-Install newly painted home made sPOD bracket and sPOD unit, connect wiring and begin installing accessories (bumper LED light bar and under hood light and more later)
-cut, strip, crimp terminals on new 6 AWG wiring to run from aux battery to circuit breaker to hitch and terminate with Anderson Plug to charge 2 camper trailer Lithium batteries
-Install trailer brake controller (likely in glove box)
-Install air lines and air tank for air compressor
More coming in a week or two!
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Cytronus
New member
Yosemite intermission
This past weekend, I took a break with my little sister and her boyfriend and went up to Yosemite for a few days. We stayed at the Diamond O campground right outside the park entrance off Evergreen and what a great campsite - next to a nice big creek with plenty of places to swim and cool off or lay out and take in the scenery. Nice and quiet too.
I'm happy to report that high altitude, high temperature (106 degrees F) hill climbing in the 5th gen 4Runner is no longer a problem as it was when the car was brand new, thinking back to my Mono Lake adventure. The boys at Toyota were right, the ECU just needed some time to adjust and learn and it's done just that. Even with 1038 lbs of new stuff on the car, it handled very well.
Here are a few photos I took of the rig on the trip around Yosemite and Evergreen. My factory skids are off in preparation for the new RCI skids, due back from powder coating next week, along with my sPOD bracket and a little tin light cover for the rear hitch gate license plate. Enjoy and if you haven't gotten the rig out in a while, get out there!
This past weekend, I took a break with my little sister and her boyfriend and went up to Yosemite for a few days. We stayed at the Diamond O campground right outside the park entrance off Evergreen and what a great campsite - next to a nice big creek with plenty of places to swim and cool off or lay out and take in the scenery. Nice and quiet too.
I'm happy to report that high altitude, high temperature (106 degrees F) hill climbing in the 5th gen 4Runner is no longer a problem as it was when the car was brand new, thinking back to my Mono Lake adventure. The boys at Toyota were right, the ECU just needed some time to adjust and learn and it's done just that. Even with 1038 lbs of new stuff on the car, it handled very well.
Here are a few photos I took of the rig on the trip around Yosemite and Evergreen. My factory skids are off in preparation for the new RCI skids, due back from powder coating next week, along with my sPOD bracket and a little tin light cover for the rear hitch gate license plate. Enjoy and if you haven't gotten the rig out in a while, get out there!
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Cytronus
New member
I shoot with a Nikon D810, which gets the credit. It's a great low light shooter and very good night shooter. One of the best for astrophotography. Lenses include the FX trifecta - 16-24 Ultra wide f/2.8, 24-70 f/2.8 and 70-200 VR f/2.8. Also like using: Nikkor 35mm f/1.8 prime, 85mm f/1.4 prime.
The shots I included here were 24-70 and 70-200.
I prefer to shoot full manual for the greatest control. I used to shoot professionally before working full time in the software world so I've developed the skill over years.
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