Do-boy's brodozer. "Rory the Runner"

[Do-boy]

Rory Currently:

Trips:
March 14-15, 2015: Foley Lake camping, Airplane Creek FSR post #16
April 2-3, 2015: Lookout Ridge, off Bench FSR post #19


Work Completed:

January 2015, 310km
replaced #1 o2 sensor
drawer system

February 2015, 315km
starter contacts
battery terminal

March 2015
spark plugs - use OEM!
1" rear spacer
quickfist shovel mount
Timing belt, water pump, bearings, tensioner, front oil seals, acc. belts, new rad, oil and red coolant change

 

[Do-boy]

Hi y'all,

First off, thank you for the wealth of knowledge. I spent hours a day, reading people's build threads and getting to know the 3rd gen pretty well before purchasing my own at the beginning of this year. I don't think i'll ever be able to achieve the calibre of some of the builds here, but here is my journal.

A little about me. I'm 29 years old and have never owned an SUV before. Not sure why it never clicked before considering all the camping and snowboarding I enjoy. Stuff with motors is what i really like. I don't make a whole lot of money, but i'm willing to make a whole lot of mistakes doing things myself.

left one is mine

 

[Do-boy]

The first project was installing my board rack. I made a wind fairing out of an old skateboard, shelf racks, zipties, and duct tape. It makes a huge difference in noise above 80kph and i hope it helps on the MPG.

 

[Joelev]

I dig it. DIY++

 

[Unner]

That's pretty creative using a skateboard as a wind fairing. Welcome and good luck with you 4Runner!

 

[shootmymime]

I don't think i'll ever be able to achieve the calibre of some of the builds here, but here is my journal.

I was thinking that one time as well, but 3 years will make you change. ill be watching! opcorn:

ps. Sexy fun 240sx! i had a buddy who had one. great drifters. i feel like i spent more time sideways on city streets in his car then going the normal direction.

 

[Do-boy]

I dig it. DIY++

It's the only way!

That's pretty creative using a skateboard as a wind fairing. Welcome and good luck with you 4Runner!

I can't take credit for the idea, saw it online somewhere. But, thanks!

I was thinking that one time as well, but 3 years will make you change. ill be watching! opcorn:

ps. Sexy fun 240sx! i had a buddy who had one. great drifters. i feel like i spent more time sideways on city streets in his car then going the normal direction.

haha i secretly hope that's the case! I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I don't usually half ass things that I love.

I'm a toyota guy through and through. Owned 6 ae86 and te72's, plus a cressida and the other car right now is an IS300. But my biggest regret was selling the 240sx. It was the perfect drift car. Fully caged, turbo, coils, bucket. Not being able to drive in the middle of the road because the crown scraping the frame got tiresome though. No tire rub though, believe it or not.

 

[Do-boy]

Trying to keep the DIY train rolling.

I dove into creating my skateboard bearing drawer / sleeping platform. This truck is all about adventuring. My fiance and I like to leave for camping after work on Saturday and come back Sundays. Those real quick one-nighters will be made alot easier with everything packed away neatly and a "tent" to fall asleep in, without night time setup. I'm very stoked. So much inspiration on this site. Thank you.

Things I really love:

- one big drawer. Maybe my mind will change once I'm actually using it on trips, but i went with one drawer to eliminate the dead space in the middle of two drawers, and honestly, less work. After seeing the drawer built, i love it. Lawn chairs can fit in there easily.
- I went with 3/4" wood for the top. My goal was to have a smooth interior drawer so things wouldn't snag when you stuff the drawer. So i didn't want any supports running across. If i went any thinner, i'm sure there would be an uncomfortable amount of flex.

Things that i will improve on for the next setup:

- using 3/4" square stock for sliders instead of 1". I tried to maximize storage area to every half inch. After looking at a bunch of washers and bolts, i'm confident with a bit of recessing and proper bolt selection, there could be less wasted slider area.
- using 1x8 instead of 2x8 for the verticals. Originally, i wanted to make sure there was enough strength for the bearings. But with washers, I'd be pretty confident with thinner wood

I've got to seal it all now, carpet wrap, add D-ring tie downs, and a nice flush mounted paddle latch is in the mail.

 

[Do-boy]

The drawer and sleeper setup is complete! I can't wait to test it out next weekend with a quick camping trip. Recovery gear will live in the cubby behind the rear seats. Lots of storage under the platform. I will sew some pockets for the top corners of the sleeper for flashlight/phone/etc. storage when its bed time.

 

[Scotty_h]

Yep, that's the car/sleeper mod right there...

Nice clean work.

 

[aeroneer1]

It's the only way!



I can't take credit for the idea, saw it online somewhere. But, thanks!



haha i secretly hope that's the case! I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I don't usually half ass things that I love.

I'm a toyota guy through and through. Owned 6 ae86 and te72's, plus a cressida and the other car right now is an IS300. But my biggest regret was selling the 240sx. It was the perfect drift car. Fully caged, turbo, coils, bucket. Not being able to drive in the middle of the road because the crown scraping the frame got tiresome though. No tire rub though, believe it or not.

Used to have a 240 almost exactly like this. My wheels were a bit different but still black. I had it stolen, and cops found it up in the mountains south of Eugene, OR stripped of all the mods, and sitting on it's axles. I got it back and rebuilt it, and ended up sell it a few years ago.

 

[Do-boy]

Used to have a 240 almost exactly like this. My wheels were a bit different but still black. I had it stolen, and cops found it up in the mountains south of Eugene, OR stripped of all the mods, and sitting on it's axles. I got it back and rebuilt it, and ended up sell it a few years ago.

I couldn't imagine getting your car stolen. Thankfully its never really happened to me, besides some noobs busting up the ignition on my cressida and stealing the deck. 18x9.5+12 was so perfect up front on the s13. I should have gotten 10j for the rear.

 

[Hepar]

The sleeper setup looks sweet! Nice and clean. Just my style.

 

[Do-boy]

The sleeper setup looks sweet! Nice and clean. Just my style.

Thanks Man! Do you ever wheel around Mount Baker? Seems like there could be great trails in the area, but there's not much resource, or I don't know where to find it.

 

[Hepar]

Thanks Man! Do you ever wheel around Mount Baker? Seems like there could be great trails in the area, but there's not much resource, or I don't know where to find it.

I don't. I haven't been up to Baker in several years. I need to go back. I love that mountain. Many college "sick" days were spent up there.

 

[Do-boy]

March 14-15, 2015
Foley Lake camping, Airplane Creek FSR

First overnighter of the year! I'm hoping to squeeze in alot this year and just get out there. We set up camp around 8pm after a little bit of exploring and an unplanned water crossing, which was well above the diffs. It's always a good time if there's a camp fire.

The next morning, we planned to hit a few different FSR's. The first one on the list was called Airplane Creek FSR, which takes you to about 5000ft . The climb was pretty aggressive and we were soon above the fog. It's too bad we didn't have a clearer view. About 2/3 up, we came across a challenging washout. I made sure to get out and pick a good line. My offroading noobie mistake was not having my co-pilot spot my line. I got off course and dropped a rear tire off solid ground. It was more precarious that I want to admit. I was too busy scrambling to build a bridge to take a picture that would fully justify my little pickle. Fortunately I packed a shovel (which i forgot at home initially and debated turning around to grab) and we were back on solid ground after almost an hour and a half. That was enough exploring for one day!

Lesson learned: I'm never going alone.

 

[A.Wilson013]

Looks like you slipped off the road and nearly into a clear cut? Scary stuff man... Just a thought, watching you dig there, perhaps you should dig on the up hill side next time ;-)

Glad you made it out safely though! My wife and I are thinking of heading into the great white north in early April... Got any spots you'd like to recommend? Want to get out for a day or two?

 

[Do-boy]

Looks like you slipped off the road and nearly into a clear cut? Scary stuff man... Just a thought, watching you dig there, perhaps you should dig on the up hill side next time ;-)

Glad you made it out safely though! My wife and I are thinking of heading into the great white north in early April... Got any spots you'd like to recommend? Want to get out for a day or two?

Haha good point! Naw i was trying to fill our bridge and had the fiance spot for me. I would really love to take you out, but it'll be next to impossible to get any spare time in April. I could possibly do a coffee meetup or something if you had time to kill. Been following your build and wouldn't mind seeing it in the flesh.

Do you know the locale you'll be staying in? I can definitely give you some pointers and send you pictures of the backroads mapbook

 

[Do-boy]

April 2-3, 2015
Lookout Ridge, Chilliwack off Bench FSR

Again, we were stopped by snow. We didn't reach the trail until about 10pm and it was far more challenging than anticipated. The stock truck with a broken locker and Mall-Terrain tires is still impressing me. It was an action packed trip with some real rock crawling and my friend dropping a tire on a snow covered trail. Camp was set up right on the trail at 2am. I wouldn't plan to do it again under these circumstances, but it was a ball. We were treated to quite the view in the morning and my famous pancake recipe.

Have no fear, Sleeping bag Man is here!

The ladies that put up with our idiocy

 

[Do-boy]

We tackled going up this at night.

Half way up