Dirtco's 1999 4Runner Build

[Dirtco]

There is a network of trails that I have been meaning to explore for quite a while now. I started last year at the beginning of the valley and have been working my way down, but most of the good stuff has been closed due to private property owners.

Next on the list was to hit the main trail network in the middle of that area. It crosses over the Gore Mountain range and most of the area borders wilderness, because of this it is fairly remote and again a lot of the trails that show up on maps/GPS have been shut down. It’s also on the proposed expanded wilderness list so if that goes through most of these trails I drove will be closed.

Early on in the day, hitting the first dead end of many. The 4Runner is still nice and clean…



From there I turned around and back tracked to a short cut that would take me back to another main trail. It doesn’t look like this gate has been closed in a while!



Checking out a side road spur that lead to a camping spot, still a little bit of snow.

 

[Dirtco]

I proceeded to take another trail that would follow the ridge, right at tree line. There was still a good size cornice hanging out and refusing to melt away.





Again, this road ended at a hiking trail. So I turned around and made my way back to the main trail and headed down the other side of the valley.

Cool little cabin



Proceeding down yet another side trail



Aspen trees



Everything I looked at showed that this trail looped around to the other area I wanted to check out, but a couple miles in I was greeted by a road closed sign and another hiking trailhead.



I turned around and worked my way back to the main trail. The trails were pretty muddy, and it was starting to show on the 4Runner.

 

[Dirtco]

By this time I was just wandering around, I had a goal of where I wanted to go but that didn’t turn out like I had thought. I checked out a couple side trails that were super overgrown but were blocked by down trees.





I started heading back, but saw a side trail that looked promising so I detoured… I worked my way through the mud, and around a couple small lakes before I started to climb another large ridge. About half way up a large snowdrift stopped me.





I checked out one more side trail on the way down, it was super over grown and had not seen much traffic. But, it was getting late so I decided to turn around and start backtracking home.

Sunset



Moon

 

[the great him]

man i am so jealous of your backcountry... it looks so remote and unscathed, so virgin and desolate... i figure i could easily spend an entire summer out there and still want more time exploring. if only i had the time and the money to do so...

so did you ever figure out whats going on with your front end? maybe a seal is leaking on the locker or a broken air line?

 

[slowpoke99]

Awesome pics! Looked like a good time. It's nice to get away from the city and get lost up in the mountains somewhere. Your runner looks good man! Keep it comin. :cheers:

 

[Dirtco]

man i am so jealous of your backcountry... it looks so remote and unscathed, so virgin and desolate... i figure i could easily spend an entire summer out there and still want more time exploring. if only i had the time and the money to do so...

so did you ever figure out whats going on with your front end? maybe a seal is leaking on the locker or a broken air line?

That's pretty much the best description available. I really wish I could spend more time out in the woods exploring the lesser traveled areas. I always think that once I explore an area that I can check it off the list and move on. But it's always the opposite, and I end up finding another side trail, or coming up with more questions than answers. It's become a game to get home and compare Google Earth and topo maps with what I have found, just to see the difference.

I really don't know what happened with the front locker. I turned on the compressor (heard it run for a second) and engaged the front locker, I then drove into the creek. I started driving up a large boulder and thought I heard a pop (about the time I was dragging the front bumper and skid plate), I looked out the window and the driver side tire was not turning, I then looked down at the switches for the ARB and they were both still lit up. It was right then that the whole idea of crossing French Creek solo sounded like a very bad idea (even if I have done it before), so I turned around and got out of the creek.

I tested the locker out the next weekend and it worked fine. I didn't hear air leaking, so the lines and seals seem fine. At this point the only thing I can think of is maybe a loose electrical connection on the switch or harness, or maybe the truck doesn't like French Creek . I'm going to keep an eye on it and see if it acts up again.

 

[the great him]

That's pretty much the best description available. I really wish I could spend more time out in the woods exploring the lesser traveled areas. I always think that once I explore an area that I can check it off the list and move on. But it's always the opposite, and I end up finding another side trail, or coming up with more questions than answers. It's become a game to get home and compare Google Earth and topo maps with what I have found, just to see the difference.

I really don't know what happened with the front locker. I turned on the compressor (heard it run for a second) and engaged the front locker, I then drove into the creek. I started driving up a large boulder and thought I heard a pop (about the time I was dragging the front bumper and skid plate), I looked out the window and the driver side tire was not turning, I then looked down at the switches for the ARB and they were both still lit up. It was right then that the whole idea of crossing French Creek solo sounded like a very bad idea (even if I have done it before), so I turned around and got out of the creek.

I tested the locker out the next weekend and it worked fine. I didn't hear air leaking, so the lines and seals seem fine. At this point the only thing I can think of is maybe a loose electrical connection on the switch or harness, or maybe the truck doesn't like French Creek . I'm going to keep an eye on it and see if it acts up again.

i know exactly what you mean by its becoming a game... i do the same thing finding spur roads or trails and wondering where that goes... i always find it frustrating that i end up running out of time and day light, and real adult life with responsibilities gets in the way of my fun and adventures... it seams the more i explore the more i have to explore.

that is odd... have you tried climbing anything else similar to the obstacle in the creek sense then to see if you can replicate the issue? maybe go back with a second rig and give it another go... knowing how capable these rigs are with just a rear locker i can only imagine what the conditions were like for you to think better of it because of the [seamed] lack of the front locker... i know when i had my first ARB in the back of my runner, it was point and go basically. the major reason for buying a front locker this time around is the stronger spider gears and diff unit. i will probably use the locker once maybe twice a year, and realistically could probably get by without it i am 100% honest. but when you have friends who work at ARB its hard to say no lol.

if i ever get out to the mile high state im gonna look you up, im sure your exploring jaunts are much more epic than you let on, and lets be honest pictures are worth 1000 words (minimum) and only paint 1/3 the whole experience

 

[4Running Daily]

That's pretty much the best description available. I really wish I could spend more time out in the woods exploring the lesser traveled areas. I always think that once I explore an area that I can check it off the list and move on. But it's always the opposite, and I end up finding another side trail, or coming up with more questions than answers. It's become a game to get home and compare Google Earth and topo maps with what I have found, just to see the difference.



I really don't know what happened with the front locker. I turned on the compressor (heard it run for a second) and engaged the front locker, I then drove into the creek. I started driving up a large boulder and thought I heard a pop (about the time I was dragging the front bumper and skid plate), I looked out the window and the driver side tire was not turning, I then looked down at the switches for the ARB and they were both still lit up. It was right then that the whole idea of crossing French Creek solo sounded like a very bad idea (even if I have done it before), so I turned around and got out of the creek.



I tested the locker out the next weekend and it worked fine. I didn't hear air leaking, so the lines and seals seem fine. At this point the only thing I can think of is maybe a loose electrical connection on the switch or harness, or maybe the truck doesn't like French Creek . I'm going to keep an eye on it and see if it acts up again.

I had a similar situation happen to me with my air locker. It started just as you described and then slowly got worst and worst. It ended up being my pressure valve on the air compressor it self.

Worth looking into if you problem continues.

Truck looks great!

 

[Rockdawg84]

I headed up towards Ptarmigan Pass; the lower section starts in a riverbed and usually has water flowing through it. This time the water level was very high, and the entire lower section was in water. The stream crossings were a good 30-35” deep!

So what your saying is you just got your tires wet. LOL arty:

 

[Fishwerks]

Great photos as always. It is still possible to get away from people in this great state, but it's getting more difficult.

 

[YotaDan]

Great pics!! Your Rig is looking good!

 

[Dirtco]

i know exactly what you mean by its becoming a game... i do the same thing finding spur roads or trails and wondering where that goes... i always find it frustrating that i end up running out of time and day light, and real adult life with responsibilities gets in the way of my fun and adventures... it seams the more i explore the more i have to explore.

that is odd... have you tried climbing anything else similar to the obstacle in the creek sense then to see if you can replicate the issue? maybe go back with a second rig and give it another go... knowing how capable these rigs are with just a rear locker i can only imagine what the conditions were like for you to think better of it because of the [seamed] lack of the front locker... i know when i had my first ARB in the back of my runner, it was point and go basically. the major reason for buying a front locker this time around is the stronger spider gears and diff unit. i will probably use the locker once maybe twice a year, and realistically could probably get by without it i am 100% honest. but when you have friends who work at ARB its hard to say no lol.

if i ever get out to the mile high state im gonna look you up, im sure your exploring jaunts are much more epic than you let on, and lets be honest pictures are worth 1000 words (minimum) and only paint 1/3 the whole experience

Yeah, I took it up another closer trail (SOB Hill) and got on it pretty good with the front locker engaged, it worked fine that day. No issues.

It's possible to get through the Creek without a front locker, but it takes some patience and careful spotting. I didn't want to get in a bad spot being solo, so I spotted my line and locked up the truck for a one shot deal, if possible.

Pictures don't do much justice, here's my buddy's rig on 40's.

 

[Dirtco]

I had a similar situation happen to me with my air locker. It started just as you described and then slowly got worst and worst. It ended up being my pressure valve on the air compressor it self.

Worth looking into if you problem continues.

Truck looks great!

Thanks for the suggestion! I thought about the same thing, and it's on my list of things to check if the problem becomes a reoccurring issue.

 

[Dirtco]

So what your saying is you just got your tires wet. LOL arty:

Haha, pretty much! It was over the tires and up over the edge of the cladding on the side of truck.

 

[Dirtco]

Great photos as always. It is still possible to get away from people in this great state, but it's getting more difficult.

Thanks! Your right, I've noticed that the trails that used to be somewhat secluded are now packed with people. I've been going deeper into the less used and more remote areas to get away from the traffic, but I still run into more people than I plan.

 

[BigFishAllDay]

Looks like good times, J. I'm glad to see you getting out. Time to yourself gets alot more precious once a little one shows up, doesn't it?

I've been considering the option of attending the jamboree rather than doing Blanca this year. What do you think? It would be cool to meet up again and run some trails.

 

[NateMob]

[MENTION=67615]Dirtco[/MENTION] could you give your thoughts on your new front bumpstop setup now that you have a few miles in the dirt on them? Looks like fun man, keep it up and thanks for sharing.

 

[Dirtco]

Looks like good times, J. I'm glad to see you getting out. Time to yourself gets alot more precious once a little one shows up, doesn't it?

I've been considering the option of attending the jamboree rather than doing Blanca this year. What do you think? It would be cool to meet up again and run some trails.

It sure does Nick! But it's totally worth it.

That would be cool, it's a fun event! It's up to you, it would be fun to run some trails and hangout. I know that [MENTION=94888]EatonKyleH[/MENTION] is also going too. If you do plan on going make sure you pre-register, I believe the deadline is Aug 8th and there is no on-site registration. I can send you an email with more specific trip info if your interested.

 

[the great him]

[MENTION=67615]Dirtco[/MENTION] could you give your thoughts on your new front bumpstop setup now that you have a few miles in the dirt on them? Looks like fun man, keep it up and thanks for sharing.

this^^^ as i too am interested in this... as well as the bumpstop you got. i was looking at the page you linked, but it was a generic page and gave no specific bumpstop and im not sure on how to read their chart... is the load the coil spring rating or the load of the vehicle itself, and if its the vehicle itself is that rating what the load is combined or over the specific axle of application?

 

[Dirtco]

[MENTION=67615]Dirtco[/MENTION] could you give your thoughts on your new front bumpstop setup now that you have a few miles in the dirt on them? Looks like fun man, keep it up and thanks for sharing.

this^^^ as i too am interested in this... as well as the bumpstop you got. i was looking at the page you linked, but it was a generic page and gave no specific bumpstop and im not sure on how to read their chart... is the load the coil spring rating or the load of the vehicle itself, and if its the vehicle itself is that rating what the load is combined or over the specific axle of application?

I've only run them on a few trails (no rock crawling), but here is what I think and have noticed.

So far I'm happy with them. First, the install was super easy and fast. On the trail (easy to moderate) they do make a difference. I wish I would have done a before and after to measure the difference, but I didn't think about it at the time. They add a more progressive feel to the suspension before bottoming out, and I have noticed that I can keep a slightly faster pace through sections that I used to slow down and "brace" myself for. They really shine in expedition/exploring type driving conditions and make a good match to the rear progressive bump stops I have.

Having said that, they won't make your truck into a long travel high speed race truck. When I was testing them out I kept increasing my speed until I hit a section of trail too fast and stuffed the hell out of the front and rear suspension, my fault of course and lesson learned! I also feel they might restrict a small amount of up travel while low speed rock crawling.

They are an awesome progressive rate bump stop, but a bit expensive for what they are. If your pinching pennies I would spend my money on other more important things first, but if the major work is done (like my rig) and your looking to fine tune some stuff, these are a great addition. All in all I'm glad I bought them.

I bought mine through Wheeler's Off-Road, here is the link:

Timbren Front Suspension Enhancement Kit

[MENTION=60147]the kid[/MENTION] : They are vehicle specific, but the application that Wheeler's Off-Road sells does not match what you would find on Timbren's website for a 4Runner. I was a little confused at first, but after getting them and installing them I now understand why. Being that Wheeler's did the R&D of finding the right application to make for a smooth ride I wouldn't feel right listing the exact application or part number.