Desert Dawg build...what a switch!

[Desert Dawg]

Snow storm moving around behind us and leaving our trail run all sunny and dry....

 

[gm350reratliff]

That is such an epic shot!

 

[chiz45]

Got my full sized spare finally; apparently there was more wiggle room than I thought would be possible to fit a 33 inch tire. I went with a Cooper ST MAXX LT255/80R17 inflated to 45 psi which measures 32.8 inches tall but only 10.2 inches wide; the tire fits right on the spare rim and is tucked up nicely. It was a great match for the Cooper ST MAXX LT285/60R17s which are right at 33 inches tall. Thanks [MENTION=77370]Gabex35[/MENTION] and others for convincing me all would be good!

Sorry if i missed this, but why did you go with a different dimension spare? was it for the reduced width? I am looking at tires, and am interested in the 255/80 ST Maxx.

Thanks!

 

[Oeconomia]

The 285/60R17 is too wide to fit the spare rim. So most people go with a smaller WIDTH spare. It is basically a "skinnier" tire and almost the same height.

 

[Desert Dawg]

Sorry if i missed this, but why did you go with a different dimension spare? was it for the reduced width? I am looking at tires, and am interested in the 255/80 ST Maxx.

Thanks!

The 285/60R17 is too wide to fit the spare rim. So most people go with a smaller WIDTH spare. It is basically a "skinnier" tire and almost the same height.

Exactly! I didn't believe it at first as it looked like a larger diameter tire would not fit based on fixed measurements, but there is enough wiggle room for the taller but narrower 33-inch tall tire to fit and also clear the tow hitch. The couple tenths of an inch diameter difference and narrower width is not going to cause any issues if you had to use the spare for some distance before repairing/replacing the damaged larger tire.

 

[2nd91turbo]

Wow, excellent taste in mods man. I'm new here and this thread makes me want to go out and spend money.

Just bought a 2015 SR5 4X4 for my "wife" for Christmas. Haha, it's as much a gift for me as it is for her.

Anyway, just wanted to say nice job man. Any idea if those N-fab bars will fit a 2015? I assume they will. Probably will pick up a set soon.

 

[NoDak]

Wow, excellent taste in mods man. I'm new here and this thread makes me want to go out and spend money.

Just bought a 2015 SR5 4X4 for my "wife" for Christmas. Haha, it's as much a gift for me as it is for her.

Anyway, just wanted to say nice job man. Any idea if those N-fab bars will fit a 2015? I assume they will. Probably will pick up a set soon.

whatever you see on a 2014 model xxx will fit a 2015 model xxx, nothing hasn't changed between the years.

 

[xfhfhfh]

Welcome! Subbed for your build

 

[2nd91turbo]

whatever you see on a 2014 model xxx will fit a 2015 model xxx, nothing hasn't changed between the years.

Awesome. Pretty much what I thought. Thanks!

 

[Desert Dawg]

Wow, excellent taste in mods man. I'm new here and this thread makes me want to go out and spend money.

Just bought a 2015 SR5 4X4 for my "wife" for Christmas. Haha, it's as much a gift for me as it is for her.

Anyway, just wanted to say nice job man. Any idea if those N-fab bars will fit a 2015? I assume they will. Probably will pick up a set soon.

Thanks man and congrats on the new SR5! I see NoDak has you covered on the n-Fab question!

Enjoy!

 

[ShannyBananny]

Great looking rig! I have the same rims on mine and am about ready to put N-Fab steps on it. Couldn't believe it when I saw your rig on here because it looks so much like how I envision mine looking.

Trying to convince myself that it's OK to spend money on a Gobi rack when it's only going to see pavement for a while because I can't quite bring myself to take my pretty new rig offroad. Also trying to figure out where I'm going to put a light bar. Still researching.

 

[Doc_Fry]

Well bud, thanks to you I ended up ordering the Gobi Stealth. I did get them to modify the rack to work with the Desert Runners. i am going to pick that up as well.

I plan on adding amwork light and some rear lights to the rack as well. Thanks for helping me out in making mymdecisin. Your pictures definitely help as i could see the rack from multiple angles and let my Boss (wife) have the final approval.
I will start a thread when I start to get things installed.


Steve

 

[Desert Dawg]

Great looking rig! I have the same rims on mine and am about ready to put N-Fab steps on it. Couldn't believe it when I saw your rig on here because it looks so much like how I envision mine looking.

Trying to convince myself that it's OK to spend money on a Gobi rack when it's only going to see pavement for a while because I can't quite bring myself to take my pretty new rig offroad. Also trying to figure out where I'm going to put a light bar. Still researching.

Thanks man! Looking forward to seeing what you come up with. If you ever do think you'll go off road, I highly recommend the light bar!

Well bud, thanks to you I ended up ordering the Gobi Stealth. I did get them to modify the rack to work with the Desert Runners. i am going to pick that up as well.

I plan on adding amwork light and some rear lights to the rack as well. Thanks for helping me out in making mymdecisin. Your pictures definitely help as i could see the rack from multiple angles and let my Boss (wife) have the final approval.
I will start a thread when I start to get things installed.


Steve

Hey Steve...cool! I'll be curious about what you decide to do with the rear lights too as I have just begun thinking about it myself. I'll be looking for your build thread!

 

[Doc_Fry]

Thanks man! Looking forward to seeing what you come up with. If you ever do think you'll go off road, I highly recommend the light bar!






Hey Steve...cool! I'll be curious about what you decide to do with the rear lights too as I have just begun thinking about it myself. I'll be looking for your build thread!

Thaks bud, i have some great ideas for the rear, extra brake light, orange light, Spot/Reverse, turn/flasher all integrated into a unit, i need to find someone who can water jet a metal plate/aluminum, coatings? perhaps making a housing. I need to also figure out all the lighting that I would need as stated above to build not the unit. Maybe we could work something out and have someone cut it for a discount as there could be more than one being made? With all the options for surface mounting led for emergency vehicles sourcing inexpensive good lights should not be too dificult and being in the rear you dont need the throw that the front has more of a spot, also the wiring would need to be figured out, yet if i can keep the housing low profile enough and the wiring all internal to the unit some type of waterproof connector could be used to surface mount for removal etc of the unit. Also, some type of anti theft mounting solution? I looked at the Bari Nuts from expedition exchange and they look like a good solution. In the end cost, usuability, durability, looks, anti-theft, how complicated etc are all going to play into it. Would love to eventually have others throw ideas into the mix. I know I played with the idea before with a member on the fj forum and he had someting built I wil try to dig up the older post, was too much at the time and had other mods that I never did get around to it. This time I plan on doing it different.

Edit: found something similar, guy sold his rig and pulled down the pics I was speaking of, moses was the rig, got custom switch plates and the such from him. but alot more low profile than this. This gets the idea across though.

 

[harkco]

So when are we going to see that new Slimline bumper installed? Did you get the issues resolved after it was damaged during shipping?

 

[robertcrav]

Great looking build! ....

My brother and I were looking at new 5th Gens yesterday and my wheels are turning and I may wind up selling my Bronco Prerunner in order to get a new Trail....

I noticed in your trip report that you averaged 16mpg on your long road trip and then were a bit disappointed on power at elevation...do you think both could be improved if you had regeared to compensate for the bigger tires and more drag?

 

[HammerHead]

These pics should be in a Toyota brochure

I only had to use low range a couple of times to keep the slow momentum when the trail got fairly steep with lots of rock and only a few places had deep mud due to some runoff spilling over.









Elwood Pass was breathtaking and the pictures don’t do it justice, but it was so cool to be at over 11,600 ft. and nobody else around!

 

[Desert Dawg]

Thaks bud, i have some great ideas for the rear, extra brake light, orange light, Spot/Reverse, turn/flasher all integrated into a unit, i need to find someone who can water jet a metal plate/aluminum, coatings? perhaps making a housing. I need to also figure out all the lighting that I would need as stated above to build not the unit. Maybe we could work something out and have someone cut it for a discount as there could be more than one being made? With all the options for surface mounting led for emergency vehicles sourcing inexpensive good lights should not be too dificult and being in the rear you dont need the throw that the front has more of a spot, also the wiring would need to be figured out, yet if i can keep the housing low profile enough and the wiring all internal to the unit some type of waterproof connector could be used to surface mount for removal etc of the unit. Also, some type of anti theft mounting solution? I looked at the Bari Nuts from expedition exchange and they look like a good solution. In the end cost, usuability, durability, looks, anti-theft, how complicated etc are all going to play into it. Would love to eventually have others throw ideas into the mix. I know I played with the idea before with a member on the fj forum and he had someting built I wil try to dig up the older post, was too much at the time and had other mods that I never did get around to it. This time I plan on doing it different.

Edit: found something similar, guy sold his rig and pulled down the pics I was speaking of, moses was the rig, got custom switch plates and the such from him. but alot more low profile than this. This gets the idea across though.

Yeah, that roof rack arrangement is quite extreme but I like the concept!

So when are we going to see that new Slimline bumper installed? Did you get the issues resolved after it was damaged during shipping?

I have been traveling a lot lately and haven't been able to take the Slimline to some powder coating shops for the repair quotes yet. I can't wait too much longer.

 

[Desert Dawg]

Great looking build! ....

My brother and I were looking at new 5th Gens yesterday and my wheels are turning and I may wind up selling my Bronco Prerunner in order to get a new Trail....

I noticed in your trip report that you averaged 16mpg on your long road trip and then were a bit disappointed on power at elevation...do you think both could be improved if you had regeared to compensate for the bigger tires and more drag?

Thanks robertcrav! What year is your Bronco; might want to keep that one? I have regrets selling my restored '73.

Yeah, I have thought about maybe changing the gearing too at some point down the road as it would help some. But the 16 mpg was more a function of a lot of hill and mountain driving; the 4.0L (and tranny programming) really doesn't like sustained high speed driving uphill (some of these mountain runs are many miles long uphill and even going back down to lower elevations require a lot smaller up/down transitions so you never quite get the downhill efficiency benefit if you’re trying to hold speed).

I really wasn't complaining too much about the mileage; 16-mpg in a lifted vehicle doing 75-85 mph or a tad more and a lot of WOT uphill passing isn't horrible (compared to my other lifted trucks I ran). Regarding the lackluster uphill passing performance and available power, my complaint was more of a comparison against what I am used too with my other trucks with larger displacement or turbo engines; like I said, the 4runner is actually quite adequate but I am sort of a performance nut too and always want more power...lol

 

[Desert Dawg]

These pics should be in a Toyota brochure

Thanks for the compliment, mountain trailing is one of my favorite things to do and always great for some scenic shots! I do need to learn to take some better quality shots but usually I am just trying to steal a moment.