Dirtco's 1999 4Runner Build
- Thread starter Dirtco
- Start date
LINY4Runner
New member
congrats on winning January 4ROTM! It's well deserved!
white_n_slow
Senior Member
Great build!
I've got a question for you, since this obviously isn't your first rodeo. Were the bumpers on your old trucks welded to the frame as well? Have you ever had any issues with your bumpers being welded to the truck? Have you ever had a big enough impact that you needed to straighten out or repair a bumper?
I just wanted to get your take on it, since I'll be building mine soon and making it permanent would simplify the build quite a lot, but I can also see punching myself in the face sawing the whole front end of the truck off after a fender bender.
I've got a question for you, since this obviously isn't your first rodeo. Were the bumpers on your old trucks welded to the frame as well? Have you ever had any issues with your bumpers being welded to the truck? Have you ever had a big enough impact that you needed to straighten out or repair a bumper?
I just wanted to get your take on it, since I'll be building mine soon and making it permanent would simplify the build quite a lot, but I can also see punching myself in the face sawing the whole front end of the truck off after a fender bender.
poleclimber63
Member
Wow!
Congrats on two fronts! Your daughter is beautiful! Enjoy this stage--- time flies! My oldest turns 20 today... he stayed out with his friends last night and didn't make it home... My other two boys are 14 and 17. The 17yr old is Graduating from High School this year and is planning on taking Computer Programming in College. It seems like yesterday since I carried him on my back in a baby carrier and hiked the coast trail, on one of our many camping trips! You're a lucky man!
Also, your 4Runner is a work of frickin' art! All entrants for January were fantastic, awesome examples of what talented 4Runner enthusiasts can do. Winning January is well deserved! You're going to be busy in the near future but I'll be following your build to see what comes next!
Congrats on two fronts! Your daughter is beautiful! Enjoy this stage--- time flies! My oldest turns 20 today... he stayed out with his friends last night and didn't make it home... My other two boys are 14 and 17. The 17yr old is Graduating from High School this year and is planning on taking Computer Programming in College. It seems like yesterday since I carried him on my back in a baby carrier and hiked the coast trail, on one of our many camping trips! You're a lucky man!
Also, your 4Runner is a work of frickin' art! All entrants for January were fantastic, awesome examples of what talented 4Runner enthusiasts can do. Winning January is well deserved! You're going to be busy in the near future but I'll be following your build to see what comes next!
Dirtco
New member
Thank you Addison! I was a little concerned when I first started this project (mainly sticking with the IFS) but the 4Runner has exceeded my expectations as a daily driver and a weekend wheeler. It really works better than I ever thought it would, even my friends on 40’s are impressed with how capable (and comfortable) the rig is!
I have to admit, it is pretty cool to my rig on the side of the screen every time I get on the site!
Trailer of the month, I like it!
Thanks man!
Haha, two votes for trailer of the month!
Dirtco
New member
Thank you guys, I really appreciate it!
Nick, I have a couple ideas for the lights. I’m still debating, and planning, so I guess we’ll see in the near future… :naughty:
Dirtco
New member
Thanks!
All of my bumpers have been welded directly to the frame and I’ve never had an issue. Even with a bolt on heavy-duty bumper, a hard hit is going to transmit the energy through the path of least resistance (aka the frame). Either way, it’s going to take a hard hit to damage the bumper or the frame. On the old green truck I did hit the bumper hard enough to crush one of the supports, I just left it but it would not of been that hard to cut that tube out and weld in a new one. Whether the bumper is bolted on, or welded on, it’s going to protect the 4Runner a lot more than the POS stock bumper, that thing is useless.
Dirtco
New member
Thank you! Very true, time fly’s and it’s amazing how fast they grow!
I am very busy but there will always be time here and there to work on the 4Runner, tweak things around, and use it for what I built it for. There will be a steady amount of updates, but they will slow down a little. The trailer really needs the most work before summer gets here, so the 4Runner will be on the back burner for a few months as I get the trailer ready for wheeling/camping season.
) but it was still a fun trip, and a good time!
Dirtco
New member
Thanks!
No news is good news, and the Lotus axles are holding up great!
I didn't take it easy on the 4Runner in Moab; I ran Kane Creek (in the dark), Hell's Revenge (including Hell's Gate), Moab Rim, and the Trifecta (Poison Spider/Golden Spike/Gold Bar Rim). I ran almost all of the hard lines (had to keep up with my friends on 40's
), 10 psi in the 35's, front locker engaged much of the time on the harder stuff, super grippy slick rock everywhere, and I seriously almost rolled the 4Runner twice!Would have I broke the stock CV's under these conditions? Maybe, it's really hard to say and I don't know. But, the Lotus axles held up great and I didn't have to worry about it. I camped, I wheeled, and I had a good time! I did not spend my vacation fixing broken parts, or jamming up the trail.
I'm a mechanic and I spend a good 50+ hours a week at work, plus the time I spend working on my own projects. When I go on a wheeling / camping trip I want to do just that, then drink some beer, and have a good time around the fire. I do not want spend my vacation working on my junk and replacing CV's. The Lotus axles held up great and I was able to enjoy my trip!
crazydubman
New member
Hey what size is your CO2 tank? Looking at a setup now and just trying to get a size comparison. Is that a 20lb?
Dirtco
New member
Thank you! I really appreciate the compliment.
Oh, by the way I love your seats! They look awesome and I bet they are very comfortable.
Thanks man!
Dirtco
New member
Thanks! The Sonoran Steel panhard bar does not have heim joints, it uses a rubber or urethane bushing. Here is the best picture I could find.
Dirtco
New member
Yes, it's a 20lb tank. I just swap them out at the local welding shop, it's a lot easier than finding someone to fill my own tank and only costs around $15.00.
Dirtco
New member
Not a big update, but one nonetheless.
I was never very happy with the cheap aux. back up lights that I installed. They worked, but the light color didn’t match the rock lights and I’ve been waiting for a bulb to burn out or break from vibration. I had a pair of the flood pattern Rigid Industries SRM lights just setting in my tool box (after I swapped them for the diffused pattern when I was dialing in my rock lights). I figured what the hell, and installed them as a replacement. It’s a LOT less of a draw on the electrical system, much brighter light, and longer lasting.
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I was never very happy with the cheap aux. back up lights that I installed. They worked, but the light color didn’t match the rock lights and I’ve been waiting for a bulb to burn out or break from vibration. I had a pair of the flood pattern Rigid Industries SRM lights just setting in my tool box (after I swapped them for the diffused pattern when I was dialing in my rock lights). I figured what the hell, and installed them as a replacement. It’s a LOT less of a draw on the electrical system, much brighter light, and longer lasting.
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