Dirtco's 1999 4Runner Build
- Thread starter Dirtco
- Start date
fightman80
New member
Nice pics man! Looks like you had a great time! 
Dirtco
New member
Nice pics man! Looks like you had a great time!
Thanks man!
Thanks! Yes, this was the first CV I have broke. I really didn't have a chance, but I still tried.
Here's the video, you can hear the CV pop at 2:18.
Holy Cross - YouTube
Dirtco
New member
you'll get quicker and quicker changing them... lol
Nothing like grenading a cv
Wanna see my balls?
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Last edited:
BigFishAllDay
New member
Your a damned old Honey Badger! Good stuff there Dirtco. I think that trail would be a little bit beyond my comfort level, so I probably would have been riding shotty in your rig (...pending more experience behind the wheel).
I thought it was pretty crazy to see the difference in clearance between your rig and CUbuff's 'Runner going over that ledge. He must be running 40's or better on that rig too.
Way to push the limits though... You never know till you try right?
I thought it was pretty crazy to see the difference in clearance between your rig and CUbuff's 'Runner going over that ledge. He must be running 40's or better on that rig too.
Way to push the limits though... You never know till you try right?
Dirtco
New member
Haha, Thanks man! You probably could have made it up to the creek; a couple years ago you would have been fine all the way to the city, but French Creek just keeps getting harder and more dug out. The FS is actually talking about going up there and removing all the boulders because it's getting so tore up.
Jeff is running new 37's, but his 4Runner sits pretty tall with his SAS (I also think he has a small body lift). He built it years ago when a low center of gravity, links, and "belly height" were pretty much unheard for the normal wheeler. It's hard to SAS a 3rd Gen on leafs and keep it low, but his rig works good.
Your 100% right; there's only one way to find the limit of your rig, and that's to cross the line and risk breaking something. It's not a big deal; it was an easy fix, I had the parts/tools, and even a set of work clothes! All and all, a good trip!
1985taylor1925
Senior Member
Or just think of it as a gift
1985taylor1925
Senior Member
Dirtco are any of the fires affecting your area?
Dirtco
New member
Not yet, there are a couple fires burning in the neighboring counties (Leadville and Eagle) but not here (knock on wood). I live less than a mile from the wilderness border and it's all unlogged beetle kill trees, it's a little scary!
Thanks for checking!
Dirtco
New member
After I run a harder trail and get home, I will spend a few minutes afterwards on a creeper (or throw it on the lift) looking for damage and weak links in the rig. This is my daily driver and it needs to be ready for anything, spending a few minutes looking for loose and damaged parts goes a long ways.
First, I want to say thanks to Gerdo and his gas tank skid plate, Lil' Skip's Offroad . That thing took a beating and didn’t budge! That’s not just little scratches in the picture, it’s deep gouges and it still did not deform or bend. A stock tank skid plate/tank would be trash, even my Budbuilt skid plates deformed and they only got hit a couple times. Awesome product!
First, I want to say thanks to Gerdo and his gas tank skid plate, Lil' Skip's Offroad . That thing took a beating and didn’t budge! That’s not just little scratches in the picture, it’s deep gouges and it still did not deform or bend. A stock tank skid plate/tank would be trash, even my Budbuilt skid plates deformed and they only got hit a couple times. Awesome product!
BigFishAllDay
New member
Work clothes! Genius! On multi-day trips I always have some extra clothes I can use for that sort of thing but I'd never even think about it for a day trip. Note to self!
You really hammered that gas tank skid. That's good advertising right there.
Dirtco
New member
I've broken enough in the past to know it sucks being stuck in flithy, greasy clothes all day. I also carry a few sets of disposable nitrile gloves; between the gloves and clothes I don't have to worry about tracking grease all over the inside of the 4Runner and getting it all over the steering wheel. I wrap my spare CV in an old beach towel, so I have a place to kneel and set my tools without being in the dirt all the time. I can also lay on it, and it pads the CV which keeps the seals from getting beat up from bouncing around on the trail.
After your done; put your stuff away, wipe down with a wet paper towel, change back into your white t-shirt / blue jeans, and forget it ever happened!
Dirtco
New member
While under the 4Runner I noticed that I bent one of the rear shock bushing washers, this collapses the bushing and chafes against the shock itself as it moves through the normal range of suspension travel. This is the third one I have bent up, so I needed to come up with a solution.
I looked through my scrap metal tote and found a small section of 1.25” .120 wall DOM. I cut a ½” section and welded it to the stock washer. Not only is it not going to bend anymore, but it also protects the bolt from getting chewed up, gives the shock a little more room between it and the rocks, and there’s enough material to grind against some rocks for a while without any issue’s.
I looked through my scrap metal tote and found a small section of 1.25” .120 wall DOM. I cut a ½” section and welded it to the stock washer. Not only is it not going to bend anymore, but it also protects the bolt from getting chewed up, gives the shock a little more room between it and the rocks, and there’s enough material to grind against some rocks for a while without any issue’s.
Baja Runner
Member
How do you keep the undercarriage of your truck so clean?!
I too have damaged the damn lower shock mounts/washers. I think I remember seeing a guard made by some company for it that wraps around and connects to the front. Probably easy to make with a few tools!
I too have damaged the damn lower shock mounts/washers. I think I remember seeing a guard made by some company for it that wraps around and connects to the front. Probably easy to make with a few tools!
Dirtco
New member
I just wash it on a normal basis, it's really not that clean.
All-Pro makes some little skid plates for the FJ cruiser, but I don't think they would fit a 3rd Gen (unless your maybe running Icon shocks). They are also pricey for what they are.
https://www.allprooffroad.com/fjtrailarmor/fjskidplates/fj-cruiser-lower-shock-skids
I thought about adding a shield that would protect the lower part of the shock body itself, but I was concerned that if it did get hit the extra leverage would bent or break the lower mount or bolt. So far I have not hit the shock body, it seems the lower bolt sticks out enough to protect it in most situations. The added 1/2" should help to protect it even more, and if I do hit a shock it's not the end of the world.
rickashay
New member
Hey Dirtco, truck is looking great as always and I am liking that lower shock washer mod.... and wow I want a Lil' Skip tank skid, that thing obviously can take your beating so it should be able to what I can try and throw at it! haha
I actually am running those All-Pro skids on my 4Runner right now. They either need to be trimmed down like 1/8" off the rear facing portion, or you do what I did, and bolt them on and let the impact gun suck the bolt up and slightly bend the mounting surface. That probably doesnt make sense but I will snap a pic next time I'm under there. Holy, I never realized they were so expensive, I got them for free so I thought I would try them....
I actually am running those All-Pro skids on my 4Runner right now. They either need to be trimmed down like 1/8" off the rear facing portion, or you do what I did, and bolt them on and let the impact gun suck the bolt up and slightly bend the mounting surface. That probably doesnt make sense but I will snap a pic next time I'm under there. Holy, I never realized they were so expensive, I got them for free so I thought I would try them....
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