Dirtco's 1999 4Runner Build

[JBurt]

I learned something new about add today.

So right now if you broke the passenger cv, you'd out the drivers cv on the passenger side, then the modified knee on the drivers?

Way better than walking home. What about a similarly modified inner to jeep the dog from being exposed?

 

[Dirtco]

I learned something new about add today.

So right now if you broke the passenger cv, you'd out the drivers cv on the passenger side, then the modified knee on the drivers?

Way better than walking home. What about a similarly modified inner to jeep the dog from being exposed?

Auto correct? :suspicious:

I carry a spare CV at all times in the 4Runner, and another in the trailer. The modified outer joint is for when things get real bad and I need to completely isolate the front differential.

 

[JBurt]

Smart. Autocorrect for sure. That would be a hit the fan scenario for sure.

 

[mark21742]

Good info guys! Id rather lay under the truck for a while than have to walk home lol

 

[jason in tn]

I don't trailer my 4Runner anywhere, I drive it to the trail or destination, and on longer trips it's towing the camping trailer. Because of that I have to take certain precautions to make sure I can get home. I've always been concerned about blowing up a front differential and having to drive home on it. The front wheel bearings are held together by the CV joints, so you can't just pull the CV's and driveshaft. For that reason I carry an outer CV joint to keep the wheel bearings happy, but it was heavy and bulky. So I cut the outer cage off and made a plug out of it.

I've contemplated this same thing but wasn't sure it would work, it's definitely on the list now.

 

[Roc Doc]

Wow Dirtco I admire your tenacity. I get it, the snow wheeling is a big thing for you, (and I wish I had the same opportunities), but I think those 36's are very much at the edge of the limits for your drivetrain, especially the front R&P.

Like you, I've been there with the dedicated rockcrawler, but have swung back to my roots with a rig that can be driven long distances in comfort, and then back home. Driving experience has a lot to do with that.

Anyway awesome attention to detail, and great fab work. Any idea how much she weighs? My last Toy was a linked FZJ80 and she was near 6k...which led me to the 3rd gen 4rn.



I'm not sure LT is the answer to your problems, FWIW.

 

[TRD 2.0]

Hi Jeremiah,
Where did you get the toggle latch that you used for your tire carrier? Looks like it's pretty heavy duty cast aluminum.

The truck's looking good by the way.

 

[Dirtco]

Wow Dirtco I admire your tenacity. I get it, the snow wheeling is a big thing for you, (and I wish I had the same opportunities), but I think those 36's are very much at the edge of the limits for your drivetrain, especially the front R&P.

Like you, I've been there with the dedicated rockcrawler, but have swung back to my roots with a rig that can be driven long distances in comfort, and then back home. Driving experience has a lot to do with that.

Anyway awesome attention to detail, and great fab work. Any idea how much she weighs? My last Toy was a linked FZJ80 and she was near 6k...which led me to the 3rd gen 4rn.

I'm not sure LT is the answer to your problems, FWIW.

Thanks Roc Doc! Yes, the 36's are pushing my luck, but I love them and feel that they balance out my rig (for what I use it for). They are awesome in the snow, and they really hook up in the rocks (especially after I grooved them). The 4Runner even rides better on easy dirt roads due to the extra sidewall height. I did sacrifice some street manners going to such a large aggressive tire, but it's not that bad. I wouldn't want to commute to work on a daily basis; but driving to the trail, around town, and on longer wheeling/camping trips it's fine.

I don't know what it weighs, but I bet it's heavy compared to most of the other 4Runners around here. I would like to weigh it, and the trailer this summer.

As much as I love the idea of long travel, I think I've talked myself out of it for this rig. It honestly just works the way it is, and high speed desert style driving with such a heavy tire/wheel package will take it's toll on the drivetrain and suspension. Although, I'll probably look at getting some high quality coilovers and shocks down the road when funds allow.

 

[Dirtco]

Hi Jeremiah,
Where did you get the toggle latch that you used for your tire carrier? Looks like it's pretty heavy duty cast aluminum.

The truck's looking good by the way.

Thanks! This post has a link to the latch.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/95322-dirtcos-1999-4runner-build-66.html#post1495124

 

[Roc Doc]

As much as I love the idea of long travel, I think I've talked myself out of it for this rig. It honestly just works the way it is, and high speed desert style driving with such a heavy tire/wheel package will take it's toll on the drivetrain and suspension. Although, I'll probably look at getting some high quality coilovers and shocks down the road when funds allow.

I agree. Build it light and fast and then LT makes sense, but if you're building an expo rig it's not going to be light. I think Patio Burrito has the right idea in how his suspension is set up. The other thing is do you want to listen to the bypasses clicking all the time? I know that would be annoying to me.

Well let me know when you're ready, I've got a pretty good collection of Eibach springs for 2" CO's if you want to experiment.

 

[ajordan1975]

very very sick rig! I look forward to seeing it in person. I just picked up a 3rd gen for my wife and I see a direction I want to take it.....

 

[Dirtco]

A couple weeks ago [MENTION=63986]Volcom[/MENTION] came up for a little snow wheeling! Snow wheeling is tricky because the weather plays such a large roll in the conditions. Aaron lives down in Pueblo, so he can’t just swing by when the conditions are perfect, but we always make the best of whats out there and have a good time!

We had a couple storms roll through prior to Aaron showing up, so I knew the snow would be deep. We made quick time up the trail and into the trees were the snow got deep, almost immediately we came across a down tree, luckily I brought my chain saw. A little further down the trail there is a steep hill you have to climb, this proved to be a challenge with how deep the snow was. Aaron was breaking trail, but in the process he slid into the deep snow on the side of the trail.

I got around him and attempted to start a new track, but I eventually fell into his ruts and got stuck. (These are Aaron’s photo’s, I was busy with the GoPro)



That’s some deep snow! Those are 40” tires and the snow is almost up to his soft top, and he’s not touching ground!

 

[Dirtco]

I decided to try and winch up the hill, since Aaron had come so far to go wheeling and I didn't want the day to end so soon. The trail levels off once you get up that hill, so I figured we might be able to make some good progress once we were on top. That turned out to be a bad idea; I was still fighting the rut on the passenger side, and about 10 feet into the pull I heard something pop in the front end.

Once I got it home I tore into it to find what had broke, upon further inspection I found that I had broke the inner star/race on the passenger side outer Lotus CV joint. While some people would be upset about the break, I'm quite the opposite. It's never fun to break parts, but I'm amazed at how well these have held up to the new tires and wheeling I've been doing. I have not taken it easy on them, those of you that have wheeled with me can attest to that. I had a spare Lotus axle, so i swapped that in and I put a stock CV in the 4Runner as a spare. I will order another replacement from [MENTION=11013]glenyoshida[/MENTION] when funds allow, and I will continue to run the Lotus axles.

FYI, Every Lotus CV that I have broke has been with the steering at full lock, and front locker engaged. Pretty much the worst thing you can do to a CV joint. I try to avoid that situation as much as possible, but that happens quite a bit when your deep snow wheeling.

 

[Roc Doc]

FYI, Every Lotus CV that I have broke has been with the steering at full lock, and front locker engaged. Pretty much the worst thing you can do to a CV joint. I try to avoid that situation as much as possible, but that happens quite a bit when your deep snow wheeling.

From what material is the star made? The Longfields/RCV's are 300m and that seems to be the strongest.

Oh, and damn(!), that's some deep snow!

 

[Dirtco]

From what material is the star made? The Longfields/RCV's are 300m and that seems to be the strongest.

Oh, and damn(!), that's some deep snow!

It's chromoly, Glen would have to chime in with the exact specifics. When Glen set out to build these Lotus CV axles he wanted to make something stronger than stock, but still affordable. I feel they have a good balance between being stronger than stock (upgrading the weak outer joint) but not being so strong that the breaking point moves to the ring and pinion or intermediate shaft. It's still possible to break those parts, but so far I've kept my breakage to the outer joint that is very easy to repair (knock on wood!). That's why I'm not running the "unbreakable" RCV axles. With my set up, breaking an upgraded CV joint once every year or two is reasonable, and is the cost of wheeling such a modified rig. I feel that your average 3rd Gen owner would be hard pressed to break one. The last I heard, there was only a couple people who had broke one (myself included).

 

[Dirtco]

One more thing, for anybody running the Timbren/Wheeler's Off-road Bumpstops; they have to be removed to get the CV axle in and out. Mine use a 8mm allen socket, which I did not carry in the 4Runner pervious to this repair. I also put a generous amount of anti-seize on the bolts to keep them from rusting solid.

 

[WarpzoneQc]

nice 4runner i wish mine was only half of that how much did you buy the front bumper?

 

[4runner_dreamer]

Sometimes I wish that I could take a pill, forget everything that i just saw, and go through this thread again and again in amazement of what you've done to your truck and then-some.

Very impressive, Jeremiah. Keep it up!

 

[truedef]

I just read this entire thread all 114 pages, wonderful build!

I wish I got a 4wd now. sweet rig!

 

[Dirtco]

nice 4runner i wish mine was only half of that how much did you buy the front bumper?

Thanks man, I actually built the front bumper (It's covered towards the beginning of the thread).

Sometimes I wish that I could take a pill, forget everything that i just saw, and go through this thread again and again in amazement of what you've done to your truck and then-some.

Very impressive, Jeremiah. Keep it up!

Thank you Nate! I still have an on-going list of things I would like to add or change; I have a feeling this thread will be around for a while.