EatonKyleH's Build Thread

[EatonKyleH]

Although I don't have what I would consider much done to my 4Runner yet, I am rather new to the off-road world and figured putting together a build thread would be a great way to get some input, suggestions, and just share one of my hobbies. So here it goes!

Bought her in April of 2013 and things are moving quickly. It was a trade in and about to head off for auction I was glad to intercept her and be the one and only "bidder". Always wanted one and since my wife and I recently moved into the country a bit we wanted a bad weather commuter/trail vehicle as we both are avid backpackers.

It has had one owner and spent its entire life in Colorado. Full service records and left entirely stock radio and all.

And now my petty contribution!


Currently:
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/131523454@N04/28216856071/in/dateposted-public/" title="done"><img src="https://c8.staticflickr.com/9/8624/28216856071_ab9e2c24c2_b.jpg" width="800" height="533" alt="done"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


2000 SR5 4WD 5-speed w/E-locker 220k.


Engine:
--3.4L V6 (5VZ-FE)
--2nd/4th gen TRD Supercharger (black)
--TRD dynamic belt tensioner
--Airaid Intake Tube
--Denso IK22 Spark plugs
--TRD oil fill cap

Transmission
--5-Speed Manual (R150F)
--Marlin Crawler short shifter
--4x Innovations transmission mount
--Marlin Crawler stainless braided clutch line

T-case
Front:
--Toyota RF1A reduction housing
--Trail Gear Tacoma Dual case adapters
--Marlin Crawler 23spline (total spline) input gear

Rear:
--Stock t-case

--RADesigns Triple sticks
--Front Range Off Road Tacoma crossmember
--Custom drive shafts by Northern Colorado Driveline

Tires/Wheels:
--285/75R16 Goodyear Duratrac - Load Range E (x5)
--FN Wheels Five Star 16x8 3.52" BS (x5)

Suspension:
Front:
--Toytec BOSS Coilovers #600 springs (silver)
--SPC/Light Racing UCAs
--Toytec Diff Drop
--Front Sway Bar Removed

Rear:
--OME 861 Coils
--Bilstein 5100 (4th gen/FJ) extended travel shocks
--Toytec Adjustable UCAs
--Daystar progressive bump stops
--Toytec Panhard drop bracket
--Front sway bar links in the rear

Exterior:
--Shrockworks front bumper
--Shrockworks rear bumper w/ swing out tire carrier and jerry can holder
--Shrockworks sliders
--AVS in channel vent visors

Armor:
--Budbuilt front skid
--Budbuilt belly pan
--Budbuilt diff skid
--Lotus RCAMS
--Lil' Skip's fuel tank skid
--Rear lower control arm skids

Lights:
--PIAA 510 (set of 2) in bumper fog lamps
--PIAA Night Tech headlight bulbs


Recovery:
--Warn M8000s winch with synthetic line
--Wireless Winch controller/remote
--Shrockworks aluminum fairlead
--Factor 55 ProLink
--Smittybilt D-ring receiver
--48" Hi-Lift X-treme jack

Interior:
--Weathertech floor mats front and rear (black)
--Matching OEM grab handle added above drivers door

Audio/In dash:
--Pioneer Appradio3
--Innovate Motorsports Boost Gauge
--Innovate Motorsports Wideband
--Uniden PRO520XL CB radio


Expo Stuff
--ARB 50qt Fridge/Freezer
--Dual Batteries (Optima red top and yellow top)
--National Luna dual battery monitor/controller
--Custom rear drawer system
--Onboard electric water system (by www.livingoverland.com)


Misc:
--Sonoran Steel polyurethane body mounts
--Relocated Washer fluid reservoir out of wheel well (w/ Mishimoto MMRT-CA)




I didn't take any pictures of it clean when I bought it.... to busy driving it!



It had some rather new General Grabber HTS tires and originally I was thinking "Oh I'll drive these until they are worn out THEN upgrade" but being a Goodyear dealer that idea didn't last long. Also my sister in law has a 97 4Runner that had bald tires on it. I sold her the tires and installed/aligned it for her. Scored some points for being the good brother in-law with the wife and more importantly GOT WHAT I WANTED! Some 265/75R16 Goodyear Duratracs.


Soon after the tires went on and after consulting this forum for countless hours I decided upon a lift. OME 881s on 90004s in the front and OME 890s with 60028 shocks with in the rear.


Then took off those pesky running boards and went exploring again!


Again came back to this forum and thought... hmm those roof baskets are pretty cool and I do carry a lot or camping gear often. Wanted something low profile and fairly long being as I don't have a sunroof. so I picked up the Rola Vortex with extension. Went exploring again and really liked throwing stuff into the basket while I set up our sleeping pads in the back.

 

[831 wheeler]

nice runner wish my was lifted. looking good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[EatonKyleH]

nice runner wish my was lifted. looking good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thank you!

 

[shootmymime]

oh baby i have some ideas this summer!

 

[Cali4Runnea]

Looking good! Nice looking 3rd gen, so far looking clean and classy, I like it.

 

[EatonKyleH]

oh baby i have some ideas this summer!

haha I'm always open to suggestions. This forum has been great for ideas!

 

[EatonKyleH]

Looking good! Nice looking 3rd gen, so far looking clean and classy, I like it.

Thank you very much and likewise on your 4th gen!

 

[Cali4Runnea]

Thank you very much and likewise on your 4th gen!

Thank you!

 

[TCMach]

[MENTION=94888]EatonKyleH[/MENTION] I saw you threw your name down for FoCo on the "i'm stuck" thread. When I get back up in mid August we are going to go hit some trails and your welcome to join in!

More importantly your truck is looking real good! Loving the rack and its going to look awesome with those sliders. Keep it up!

 

[EatonKyleH]

[MENTION=94888]EatonKyleH[/MENTION] I saw you threw your name down for FoCo on the "i'm stuck" thread. When I get back up in mid August we are going to go hit some trails and your welcome to join in!

More importantly your truck is looking real good! Loving the rack and its going to look awesome with those sliders. Keep it up!

Thank you for the compliment man it means a lot! I'd love to meet up when you are back in town. I've run sevenmile, moody hill/crystal mountain, and a bunch or stuff south of here. Been all alone everytime so far and ill admit I'd feel a lot better with a group lol also would more importantly be a good time. Hit me up anytime I'm always around and never work weekends.

 

[TCMach]

Thank you for the compliment man it means a lot! I'd love to meet up when you are back in town. I've run sevenmile, moody hill/crystal mountain, and a bunch or stuff south of here. Been all alone everytime so far and ill admit I'd feel a lot better with a group lol also would more importantly be a good time. Hit me up anytime I'm always around and never work weekends.

You've done pretty much the same trails we have. Except we never finished the crystal mountain side. We ran moody up to the quarry and ran out of daylight. I've run alone most of the time too and a good group is way more fun! Ill be sure to shoot you a PM when we decide to go. I would guess the weekend of August 24-25 would be a probable date.

 

[EatonKyleH]

You've done pretty much the same trails we have. Except we never finished the crystal mountain side. We ran moody up to the quarry and ran out of daylight. I've run alone most of the time too and a good group is way more fun! Ill be sure to shoot you a PM when we decide to go. I would guess the weekend of August 24-25 would be a probable date.

Sounds good, look forward to meeting you dudes. Just wanted to let you know I will be in steamboat springs from august 23-26th don't let me hold you up by any means but if any other weekend August or September works ill be there!

 

[EatonKyleH]

Well figured I'd post a little update with a bunch of little odds and ends I've been working on while waiting for my sliders. I'm actually using Shrockworks long turn around time to pace my build and spend gradually. When I receive the sliders I plan to place an order for the front bumper and when I receive that I plan to place an order for their rear (I just like their stuff OK!). All in the meantime I'll be working on odds and ends, skid plates, possibly supercharging and the Tundra brake upgrade after some new wheels. It's gonna be long road but one I'll get to fully enjoy every phase it goes through as to feel the pros and cons of each change and possibly change my plans as I'm constantly looking for new ideas.

ANYWAY!

I've been focusing on my roof basket a bit. I modified the factory Rola mounts to sit around and atop the factory crossbars instead of entirely on top. This dropped the whole basket a little over an inch and the factory crossbars sit in-between the bars of the basket. The top of the crossbars are exactly flush with the top of the baskets tubes which I like for securing heavy objects to the crossbars instead of just basket tubes.



I then bought some Yakima axe and shovel mounts not knowing if I'd have any way to fit them. Turns out they fit perfectly if you turn them and hold your tongue the right way. They fit and look awesome honestly like they were designed for it although they are technically upside down. Loosen it up and slide the axe or shovel out of the brackets toward the rear or take the front plate of the mount off. They work great and have no noise or looseness. (Someday I'll repaint the factory roof rails)



Then I got around to mounting my Hi-Lift. I used the Hi-Lift TM-700 tube mounts. These push the jack out just enough to clear my rack and axe entirely while I can still access the axe mounts and easily remove the axe without removing the jack or vise versa.



This last week I was in the Bridger-Teton Wilderness (Wyoming) following my in laws in their class C motorhome. One of their tires threw a tread and I changed it after carrying their wheel and tire strapped on top of my basket along with everything else across half the state. The mounts and everything held perfectly even under that extreme load. :cowboy:

 

[paddlenbike]

Looking good! I know how hard the 5-speed, e-locker models are to find.

 

[EatonKyleH]

And then there was gear.

I am a gear nerd and an avid backpacker. I often found myself wanting to go hiking while driving trails and being that I usually travel alone and to remote areas I always had this fear of getting stuck or broken down requiring me to hike out with next to nothing. This thankfully has never happened and now never will.

The sleeping platforms/storage areas I've seen here were inspiring and I thought about building one for awhile but I use my rear seat too much and I need to haul things that would require removing it too often.

My wife and I have slept in it many times using our 2 Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Sleeping pads and 2 North Face Cat's Meow bags which fit perfectly side by side between the wheel wells like one big mattress. I'm 6 foot even and 155 pounds my wife is 5 foot 2 inches and 110 pounds. We really like all the headroom this provides for sitting and the ease at which we can set it up without sacrificing seats, or cargo space.



So I was trying to figure out how I would organize and carry the gear I wanted in the back but be able to remove it in less than a minute. I had an old gun case in the basement that I pulled out and played with because of a wild hair one day. To my surprise it fit perfectly between the wheel wells. I put Velcro on the bottom side to secure it to the carpet and allow for easy removal. I can pull it out extremely easily and throw it up on my roof basket when sleeping in the back or running errands. It is entirely waterproof, lockable with factory key and additional padlocks, crush proof.

Enter the Pelican 1700 case





What's in the case you ask? The gear nerd side of me is just dying to tell you!:nerd:

1 - Big Agnes Fly Creek UL 2 tent
2 - Big Agnes Insulated Air Core sleeping pads
1 - REI Flash UL Daypack
2 - 3 Liter Platypus Hoser water bladders w/quick disconnects for purifier
1 - Katadyn Hiker Pro water purifier/filter
1 - Q Industries MV50 Air Compressor
1 - Jetboil Flash System and butane can
1 - First Aid Kit (heavily supplemented)
2 - Headlamps (Black Diamond Storm and Spot)
1 - Glock 19 Gen 4 w/15 round factory mag
2 - Set of GSI stackable bowls
Fire starting gear including....magnesium w/shaver and striker, lighter, waterproof case w/ matches, Coghlan's Fire Paste. (inside bowls)
1 - Sea to Summit insulated mug
1 - Mini roll of black duct tape
4 - Assorted freeze dried foods
1 - Roll of light duty rope
1 - Sunscreen, toothpaste, and sea to summit wilderness wash (gotta stay clean for the ladies)
1 - LaRue Tactical Beverage Entry Tool Dillo LT205 (can't be getting stuck without your favorite bottle opener)

probably missing something but you get the idea.

It's all extremely light as backpacking gear should be in my humble opinion.
Sounds like a lot... doesn't weigh like it.

Then sometimes I throw our packs in there with the rear hangers of the packs around the rear head rest rods. This keeps them from going anywhere. The sleeping bags are in their compression sacks (uncompressed during storage) in each pack. Good place to store our gear and be ready for anything. Still a ton of room in the back as everything is right up next to the rear seats.



1 - Osprey Aether 70 Liter
1 - Osprey Sirrus 36 Liter Packs
2 - North Face Cat's Meow Sleeping bags 20degree


Oh ya.... and here is where I put my straps the cover still fits over like normal.



1 - ARB snatch strap
1 - ARB tree saver strap

 

[EatonKyleH]

Looking good! I know how hard the 5-speed, e-locker models are to find.

Thank you! I was actually looking at your build this morning lol. Super tasteful and well thought out/executed. Where did you purchase your supercharger kit from if you don't mind me asking? I too have never owned nor care to ever own an automatic good to see another 5-speed e-locker unit being put to GOOD USE!

 

[paddlenbike]

Thank you! I was actually looking at your build this morning lol. Super tasteful and well thought out/executed. Where did you purchase your supercharger kit from if you don't mind me asking? I too have never owned nor care to ever own an automatic good to see another 5-speed e-locker unit being put to GOOD USE!

Thanks! I can't imagine trying to find another one...the automatics just don't drive the same.

I actually just emailed all the supercharger info to a friend so I have it right here. Vandergriff Toyota Scion in Arlington, Texas gave me the best price. The price I see everywhere online is $2,695 and I paid $2,550. Part number PTR29-89020. If you're at high elevation you might be able to skip the $895 URD 7th injector kit, but mine needed it.

All of that is quite a chunk of change but beyond initial cost, there isn't really a downside. The biggest selling point for me is I want to buy a small travel trailer in the future for long-distance travel and cringed at the thought of having to buy a separate tow rig. Selling the 4Runner isn't an option, it's part of my wife and my lifestyle. So for the cost of sales tax on a newer vehicle I got V8 power with V6 economy and supercharged V6 fun! At altitude it makes more power and torque than many of the V8s. I'm also planning to keep the 4runner forever, so it's not a lost investment in my mind.

 

[snivilous]

Do you live near Boulder?

 

[Hepar]

Great looking build!

 

[white_n_slow]

Great starting point and nice work so far!

My wife and I rock the Big Agnes air pads in the back of the 4runner too. Most comfortable setup I've had (except the FJ60, which had a little more elbow room).

Seeing how well that case sits back there, I might consider one of those for a tool box.

1 - LaRue Tactical Beverage Entry Tool Dillo LT205 (can't be getting stuck without your favorite bottle opener)

lol