dwmckeehen
New member
dwmckeehen's custom sleeper platform and general build thread
Hi all,
You have heard it before, I have been lurking for months, getting ideas and using this site to help diagnose and repair our rig for months now. After getting some serious work done recently, I want to show what you folks have motivated us to do so far.
This picture is of our 2000 4runner Limited right after we bought it in 2013 with 148000 miles on her.
Here is what she looks like today. (Finally got around to getting the running boards removed).
The first mod we did was to build and install a custom storage / sleeping platform. My minimum requirements for the design is that it could be easily removed when needed, the back section with the drawers could stay in the truck with the back seats up, and the sleeping platform could work with the back seats down or with the back seats completely removed so we could use the space for storage during longer trips. It also had to fit the two of us AND two dogs!
Click here to see more information on building this sleeper platform
Our rig during one of the rides at the NW Overland Rally 2015 in Plain, WA. Boy did we get some ideas on that trip!
Our first major modification after the Rally was to get an ARB front bull bar installed, and to replace the worn suspension system with Old Man Emu 881s and 906s with matching Nitrocharger Sport Shocks.
Thanks to Mule Expedition Outfitters located in Issaquah for the great advice and installation.
Starting to look good!
The next thing we did was give her some new feet....265/75-16 BFG All Terrain T/A KO2s. Immediately after purchasing these, I got busy replacing the stabilizer bar bushings and links, the inner and outer tie rods and the lower ball joints. I bought all OEM parts, and did the work myself, thanks to the great write-ups on this forum. Once we got the alignment done after my work, we hit some roads. WOW! What a difference! I am LOVING what we have done so far!
Time for an update...
In December 2015, my water pump went belly-up. I had the rig towed to my local mechanic, and had him replace the timing belt, tensioner and crankshaft seals, even though the timing belt still had awhile to go. In addition, I had the mechanic install a large transmission oil cooler to prevent the pink milkshake issue.
Now, here is where it got tricky. I told him of our future winch plans. The winch I wanted is the Comeup SealGen2 9.5rs winch, which is larger than the Warn winches that fit in the ARB bumper. The mechanic was concerned about putting the transmission oil cooler in front of the condenser, because of the room the winch would take up. So, he ordered a large (10" H x 15 7/8 L") Hayden high performance transmission oil cooler, moved the radiator back just slightly, and sandwiched the transmission oil cooler between the condenser and radiator. This saved room for the ComeUp winch in the front. I posted about this, and got conflicting opinions on the intelligence of this move, but in the end I am glad I did it. The general consensus from many on this site, other mechanics and the folks I talked to at Hayden is that while the cooler won't operate at peak efficiency, it will still improve temps over the stock set up, and there is no chance of ending up with a ruined tranny due to the pink milkshake issue.
Next up, installation of the dual battery system and the winch. Both installed by the awesome folks at Mule Expedition Outfitters.
Dual battery system....Custom battery tray made by Mule Expedition Outfitters. 2 brand new Odyssey Deep Cycle Dual Purpose Batteries. Blue Sea Charging Relay System. Victron Dual Battery Monitor.
The short and sweet of it is that when I start the rig, the charging relay system charges the starting battery first, then switches to charging the auxiliary battery. When the engine is not running, the relay isolates the batteries, which means that future electronic devices running off the auxiliary battery will not run the starting battery down. I can monitor all sorts of data about both batteries with the battery monitor, mounted underneath the radio. This system was installed, because we will be purchasing an ARB refrigerator and lighting soon, which we can run without worry when we camp. We will soon be also purchasing a 90 watt solar power system. Recharging electronics, running lights and the refrigerator will be no problem.
We chose the Comeup SealGen2 9.5rs for several reasons. I wanted a synthetic line, this winch comes with a good system to keep the drum from overheating and damaging the line. It comes with a remote, and can run completely submerged in water. It is rated as high as any Warn winch we could have purchased, and it will serve us well.
Soon to come - Tundra brake upgrade.
Hi all,
You have heard it before, I have been lurking for months, getting ideas and using this site to help diagnose and repair our rig for months now. After getting some serious work done recently, I want to show what you folks have motivated us to do so far.
This picture is of our 2000 4runner Limited right after we bought it in 2013 with 148000 miles on her.
Here is what she looks like today. (Finally got around to getting the running boards removed).
The first mod we did was to build and install a custom storage / sleeping platform. My minimum requirements for the design is that it could be easily removed when needed, the back section with the drawers could stay in the truck with the back seats up, and the sleeping platform could work with the back seats down or with the back seats completely removed so we could use the space for storage during longer trips. It also had to fit the two of us AND two dogs!
Click here to see more information on building this sleeper platform
Our rig during one of the rides at the NW Overland Rally 2015 in Plain, WA. Boy did we get some ideas on that trip!
Our first major modification after the Rally was to get an ARB front bull bar installed, and to replace the worn suspension system with Old Man Emu 881s and 906s with matching Nitrocharger Sport Shocks.
Thanks to Mule Expedition Outfitters located in Issaquah for the great advice and installation.
Starting to look good!
The next thing we did was give her some new feet....265/75-16 BFG All Terrain T/A KO2s. Immediately after purchasing these, I got busy replacing the stabilizer bar bushings and links, the inner and outer tie rods and the lower ball joints. I bought all OEM parts, and did the work myself, thanks to the great write-ups on this forum. Once we got the alignment done after my work, we hit some roads. WOW! What a difference! I am LOVING what we have done so far!
Time for an update...
In December 2015, my water pump went belly-up. I had the rig towed to my local mechanic, and had him replace the timing belt, tensioner and crankshaft seals, even though the timing belt still had awhile to go. In addition, I had the mechanic install a large transmission oil cooler to prevent the pink milkshake issue.
Now, here is where it got tricky. I told him of our future winch plans. The winch I wanted is the Comeup SealGen2 9.5rs winch, which is larger than the Warn winches that fit in the ARB bumper. The mechanic was concerned about putting the transmission oil cooler in front of the condenser, because of the room the winch would take up. So, he ordered a large (10" H x 15 7/8 L") Hayden high performance transmission oil cooler, moved the radiator back just slightly, and sandwiched the transmission oil cooler between the condenser and radiator. This saved room for the ComeUp winch in the front. I posted about this, and got conflicting opinions on the intelligence of this move, but in the end I am glad I did it. The general consensus from many on this site, other mechanics and the folks I talked to at Hayden is that while the cooler won't operate at peak efficiency, it will still improve temps over the stock set up, and there is no chance of ending up with a ruined tranny due to the pink milkshake issue.
Next up, installation of the dual battery system and the winch. Both installed by the awesome folks at Mule Expedition Outfitters.
Dual battery system....Custom battery tray made by Mule Expedition Outfitters. 2 brand new Odyssey Deep Cycle Dual Purpose Batteries. Blue Sea Charging Relay System. Victron Dual Battery Monitor.
The short and sweet of it is that when I start the rig, the charging relay system charges the starting battery first, then switches to charging the auxiliary battery. When the engine is not running, the relay isolates the batteries, which means that future electronic devices running off the auxiliary battery will not run the starting battery down. I can monitor all sorts of data about both batteries with the battery monitor, mounted underneath the radio. This system was installed, because we will be purchasing an ARB refrigerator and lighting soon, which we can run without worry when we camp. We will soon be also purchasing a 90 watt solar power system. Recharging electronics, running lights and the refrigerator will be no problem.
We chose the Comeup SealGen2 9.5rs for several reasons. I wanted a synthetic line, this winch comes with a good system to keep the drum from overheating and damaging the line. It comes with a remote, and can run completely submerged in water. It is rated as high as any Warn winch we could have purchased, and it will serve us well.
Soon to come - Tundra brake upgrade.
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reminds me of how mind looked when I got it.
