Dot_Tom's '17 MGM TRD OR Progress page

[dot_tom]

Some friends and I went up to Maggie Valley, NC Sunday for some snowboarding. They ended up getting 20"+ and the conditions were some of the best I have ever seen there.



Loaded up the Yakima skybox and the 4Runner with 3 people and all of our gear. The 4.56's matched to the 285s were welcomed while cruising up the mountain. This thing had zero issues and it was nice to have the lower gearing when going down the hill. I averaged 12.5 mpg but plenty of smiles were had



The Nitto RG's did great in the snow. I was worried about them in the beginning. I am used to the KO2's with their snow rating. The RG's didn't disappoint.

My friend Thomas took a pic of his Tacoma. Wish I had taken some better photos of my rig but I was just enjoying the snow and the time with my friends.

 

[sn_85]

Loaded up the Yakima skybox and the 4Runner with 3 people and all of our gear. The 4.56's matched to the 285s were welcomed while cruising up the mountain. This thing had zero issues and it was nice to have the lower gearing when going down the hill. I averaged 12.5 mpg but plenty of smiles were had

What's your MPG with normal daily driving?

 

[dot_tom]

What's your MPG with normal daily driving?

I'd say this thing gets 14 mpg with mixed driving. Tough to measure since it's not my daily. When I drive it, I enjoy it. The 4.56's with 285/70 brings it back to life. But you pay for it at the pump.

That being said I was able to get almost 18 mpg on a road trip. I babied it and kept it under 70 mph. Wasn't worth the effort, haha

 

[Angelo]

Your Runner is one of my touchstones as I move forward with changing things around on my MGM. It's interesting how the side shot posted above in front of the mansion looks like much less rear lift than the shot in the 'rents driveway. I'm sure it's just the angle.

I went with the T13 (1.5") rather than the stock 1" that would have come in the kit with my Eibach setup, and with the fronts going to 2.75" with the Eibachs I'm definitely glad I did... but that side (mansion) shot has me thinking maybe I should've bit the bullet and gone to a 2" SAW or even the T12.

As someone who has recently done quite a bit of back and forth with your suspension and the KDSS, I'd love any words of wisdom you might have about how you tackle yours. Keep up the updates please.

 

[trd671]

Following

 

[BigD91]

Beautiful rig! :bravo:

 

[dot_tom]

Beautiful rig! :bravo:

Thanks!

 

[dot_tom]

Your Runner is one of my touchstones as I move forward with changing things around on my MGM. It's interesting how the side shot posted above in front of the mansion looks like much less rear lift than the shot in the 'rents driveway. I'm sure it's just the angle.

I went with the T13 (1.5") rather than the stock 1" that would have come in the kit with my Eibach setup, and with the fronts going to 2.75" with the Eibachs I'm definitely glad I did... but that side (mansion) shot has me thinking maybe I should've bit the bullet and gone to a 2" SAW or even the T12.

As someone who has recently done quite a bit of back and forth with your suspension and the KDSS, I'd love any words of wisdom you might have about how you tackle yours. Keep up the updates please.

I would suggest getting 2 OME rear spacers. The yellow ones. Toss those in on top of the rear springs to get a little more bump since you are 2.75" in the front. I know the T13 rear coils vary in height. Some people see 1" others closer to 1.5". The yellow spacers from OME seem to make a good difference and I use them to fine tune things.

The recent pick at my parents' place is on an incline. It's a good bit so its tough to compare to the mansion pic. The springs had time to settle in the mansion pic as well. The "rents" pic have less than 500 miles on the new T1 and T13 rear springs.

 

[Angelo]

I would suggest getting 2 OME rear spacers.

I will look into that for sure. From the pics it looks like you do the installs yourself- what do you do to the KDSS to ease installation / prevent lean?

 

[dot_tom]

I will look into that for sure. From the pics it looks like you do the installs yourself- what do you do to the KDSS to ease installation / prevent lean?

Yes, I do all my own work. Alignments are about the only things I do not do myself but I am capable of doing the alignment if I have access to the machine.

I do not have the KDSS but I have done a few installs on KDSS rigs. Not fun dealing with that system. Maybe another hour or so added to the install. There are a couple of really good write-ups on this forum showing some tips and tricks on KDSS install. I have linked one thread I used to research below.

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/154230-how-lift-installation-kdss-equipped-vehicles.html

For the lean, you will want to add more height to the passenger side to trick the system into leveling the vehicle properly. Non-KDSS suspension requires added height to the driver side.

Dobinsons Suspension has great KDSS coils designed to offset height.

 

[dot_tom]

OEM TRD PRO grille VS Chinese TRD PRO grille

I have the OEM TRD PRO grille and installed it a couple of weeks ago. A friend picked up the cheap Chinese replica and brought it over for me to install. I have also seen the TSO grille in person. Here is my feedback.

- Chinese grille is a bit wavier from the mold. In the sunlight, you can tell it's not as smooth as OEM.
- The letters look better than the TSO letters. The edges are softer than the OEM letters and seem to be slightly smaller than the OEM letters. Color is a good match, maybe a little darker than OEM.
- The gaps are better than TSO. The gap is slightly bigger than the OEM gap but not really noticeable if you do a good job splitting the gaps on each side.
- The stick-on letters were easy. Just lightly stick them, step back, make slight adjustments and you're good to go.
- The upper honey cone grill piece is perfect to the OEM one. Color, shape, and mounting holes were perfect.
- There has seemed to be some fading issues from the TSO grille so I painted the Chinese grille with SEM Trim Black which replicates the finish of the OEM pro grille perfect and won't fade.

Here are some pictures of the OEM vs the Chinese. In the pictures, you'd never know. I own the OEM version and I'll argue my money was well spent on the superior quality parts, haha. Seriously though, this kit is much better than TSO and so cheap!

OEM

China

You be the judge. Spend your money how you wish

 

[dot_tom]

I think a few weeks ago I mentioned that I was rear-ended. The 4R needs a new rear bumper and then paint. I finally received the check/money to get things fixed. While waiting I reached out to a few rear bumper manufacturers to see about lead times. I love the CBI rear bumper and I like the Hefty Fab rear bumper. Hefty is 5 months out and CBI was 10+ weeks. I'm not a fan of extended lead times for such expensive products. After what Pelfry did to the community we should all take a stand and not buy into this business model. Part of why I bought RSG sliders a second time was because they build the rock sliders in batches and ship them quick. I received my first set of sliders the same week I ordered them. This second set took about 2 weeks due to the holidays. 21 week wait for my Gobi was the last time I played the hurry up and wait game.

So this got me thinking about building a custom rear bumper setup. I work in the metals industry and could pick up the material from work. But then I came across Coastal Offroad and their new high clearance rear bumper. This might be enough to motivate me to install a 220v outlet in my new garage and fire up my welder to build this thing. Ship time is 5-10 days. I can get on board with that.

Does anyone have experience building their own bumpers or Coastal Offroad?

 

[bigair96]

Does anyone have experience building their own bumpers or Coastal Offroad?

I am pretty sure someone posted about their experience with this bumper just a few days ago. A pretty good write up of their experience.

 

[honda250xtitan]

I think a few weeks ago I mentioned that I was rear-ended. The 4R needs a new rear bumper and then paint. I finally received the check/money to get things fixed. While waiting I reached out to a few rear bumper manufacturers to see about lead times. I love the CBI rear bumper and I like the Hefty Fab rear bumper. Hefty is 5 months out and CBI was 10+ weeks. I'm not a fan of extended lead times for such expensive products. After what Pelfry did to the community we should all take a stand and not buy into this business model. Part of why I bought RSG sliders a second time was because they build the rock sliders in batches and ship them quick. I received my first set of sliders the same week I ordered them. This second set took about 2 weeks due to the holidays. 21 week wait for my Gobi was the last time I played the hurry up and wait game.

So this got me thinking about building a custom rear bumper setup. I work in the metals industry and could pick up the material from work. But then I came across Coastal Offroad and their new high clearance rear bumper. This might be enough to motivate me to install a 220v outlet in my new garage and fire up my welder to build this thing. Ship time is 5-10 days. I can get on board with that.

Does anyone have experience building their own bumpers or Coastal Offroad?

Pre cut/pre bent DIY puzzle for adults? yes. Do it. I built a front bumper for my 06 titan back in 09, but that was literally cutting bending notching etc, it SUCKED but the end result was worth it. Having the pieces already cut and measured so you just gotta weld it together sounds like a blast.

 

[YellowSnow]

Yes, I do all my own work. Alignments are about the only things I do not do myself but I am capable of doing the alignment if I have access to the machine.

I do not have the KDSS but I have done a few installs on KDSS rigs. Not fun dealing with that system. Maybe another hour or so added to the install. There are a couple of really good write-ups on this forum showing some tips and tricks on KDSS install. I have linked one thread I used to research below.

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/154230-how-lift-installation-kdss-equipped-vehicles.html

For the lean, you will want to add more height to the passenger side to trick the system into leveling the vehicle properly. Non-KDSS suspension requires added height to the driver side.

Dobinsons Suspension has great KDSS coils designed to offset height.

I really enjoyed reading through your build thread! Couple notes and corrections regarding your input on running 5100/Wheelers with KDSS and spacers. I just completed my lift with your same set up (5100/T1-T13) with JBA UCA’s, and had Steve with RPM Garage in Monrovia (they specialize in KDSS 4R’s) do the installation, alignment and have done hundreds of lifts. After installing the lift, they brought the 4R down and took measurements and allowed it to settle and found that I actually needed a spacer (1/4” from wheelers) on the front driver side, not the passenger as you suggested. There is no blanket generalized trick to leveling a KDSS 4R, and
it requires you to tweak a few things here and there. I also didn’t install the OME yellow spacers in the rear and find the rake and lift set up perfect IMO.

 

[FrenchToasty]

I think a few weeks ago I mentioned that I was rear-ended. The 4R needs a new rear bumper and then paint. I finally received the check/money to get things fixed. While waiting I reached out to a few rear bumper manufacturers to see about lead times. I love the CBI rear bumper and I like the Hefty Fab rear bumper. Hefty is 5 months out and CBI was 10+ weeks. I'm not a fan of extended lead times for such expensive products. After what Pelfry did to the community we should all take a stand and not buy into this business model. Part of why I bought RSG sliders a second time was because they build the rock sliders in batches and ship them quick. I received my first set of sliders the same week I ordered them. This second set took about 2 weeks due to the holidays. 21 week wait for my Gobi was the last time I played the hurry up and wait game.

So this got me thinking about building a custom rear bumper setup. I work in the metals industry and could pick up the material from work. But then I came across Coastal Offroad and their new high clearance rear bumper. This might be enough to motivate me to install a 220v outlet in my new garage and fire up my welder to build this thing. Ship time is 5-10 days. I can get on board with that.

Does anyone have experience building their own bumpers or Coastal Offroad?

That’s not a bad price point, I hadn’t seen these bumpers yet.
I built my front hwm in the same fashion; pieces and welded it together with parts from a company. It wasn’t that bad, but not being a fabricator or having access to all those tools made it a little difficult. Ie a decent fab table with fixtures or ability to “jig” the bumper would have been nice. I just had to be patient and move back and forth on welds so it wouldn’t warp the metal to bad. It’s totaly doable, but might take patients and a bit of on the spot adjustment.

 

[dot_tom]

I am pretty sure someone posted about their experience with this bumper just a few days ago. A pretty good write up of their experience.

I must have missed that. I’ve searched but haven’t see a recent post about it.

Link?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[bigair96]

I must have missed that. I’ve searched but haven’t see a recent post about it.

Link?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-...ad-rear-bumper-assembly-install-write-up.html

 

[dot_tom]

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-...ad-rear-bumper-assembly-install-write-up.html

Oh I did see this one. I didn’t notice the post date. But yes, this the one I’m going with. I wish they would make a front bumper also.

 

[dot_tom]

Placed my order for the rear bumper last night! Better blow the dust off the welder and get practicing! Also need to get another 17x9 F5 and 285 Nitto RG for the swing out.

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