EatonKyleH's Build Thread

[the great him]

Thanks a lot man! Didn't you get a Safari LTD steering rack? Just curious what your opinions were on it if so because I'm in the market for a rack and tossing this or OEM around.

I'm actually trying to make it up to the north west to check out Washington and Oregon for some backpacking hopefully next spring. Colorado is beautiful though and offers an overwhelming amount of trails and good times. Let me know if you make it out!

No kidding man, sharing hobbies and interests with the wife makes everything way better and results in more time spent together and just a better relationship all the way around. I'm glad to hear you've met your match!

let me know if and when you get out this way. there are some awesome places to go backpacking around here! if im not in afganistan or my way to... by the time you get out here i could show you a few places to wheel and some of the sights.

as far as the rack goes i honestly dont know yet, as next weekend i should be installing it. but i would get it over the OEM on all day long. from my understanding it uses all brass bushings as apposed to they nylon bushings that the factory ones use. toyota does not sell replacement bushings(not the outer bushings) so when they fail you have to get a new rack. at $545 the Safari LTD rack is a much better rack -they are both aisin racks btw. i think the OEM rack is fine for stock normal hwy driving, but lift and put big tires on and then add some old forest service roads and you are gonna tear that rack up.

 

[Fishwerks]

Man those turned out sweeeeeet!!! Thank you so much! We had a great time meeting, wheeling, and hanging out with all of you guys and will hopefully do some more or each in the future.

We had a great time too! We will definitely go again sometime soon. [MENTION=82211]TCMach[/MENTION] really wants to run Spring Creek, down near Idaho Springs.

 

[EatonKyleH]

We had a great time too! We will definitely go again sometime soon. [MENTION=82211]TCMach[/MENTION] really wants to run Spring Creek, down near Idaho Springs.

Sounds good to me man. PM me or have Tyler let me know as plans develop!
Hope all is well.

P.S. After seeing the chutes all I can think about is my need to conquer them.

 

[cdrewferd]

Awesome pics. If you guys run Spring Creek shoot me a PM and I'll try to make it too. Would be nice to wheel with fellow 4Runners instead of a bunch of Jeeps.

 

[EatonKyleH]

Awesome pics. If you guys run Spring Creek shoot me a PM and I'll try to make it too. Would be nice to wheel with fellow 4Runners instead of a bunch of Jeeps.

Thanks! I'll definitely keep you up to date with whatever the plans become be it with a group or even just myself.

 

[EatonKyleH]

Well I've been planning to purchase a lil' skips gas tank skid plate but I felt the need to see how the stock one held up first.

That happened this weekend. Time to pony up.





Of course I didn't hit my bud built skids which I was bummed about in a way. However I almost came down on my rocker panels which would have really bummed me out considering my sliders are sitting in the garage waiting to be installed lol. whew!

 

[TCMach]

Well I've been planning to purchase a lil' skips gas tank skid plate but I felt the need to see how the stock one held up first.
Of course I didn't hit my bud built skids which I was bummed about in a way. However I almost came down on my rocker panels which would have really bummed me out considering my sliders are sitting in the garage waiting to be installed lol. whew!

Get ready to be even more bummed then. Since I put that Any7 gas tank skid on I haven't hit it either with the better clearance. Even on the spot you banged yours up I didn't hit. I imagine the Lil' Skips will be similar.

If we do Spring Creek I need to get my coilovers bumped up, I wonder who could help me with that... :shrug:

 

[EatonKyleH]

Get ready to be even more bummed then. Since I put that Any7 gas tank skid on I haven't hit it either with the better clearance. Even on the spot you banged yours up I didn't hit. I imagine the Lil' Skips will be similar.

If we do Spring Creek I need to get my coilovers bumped up, I wonder who could help me with that... :shrug:

Haha I know a guy. take them off sometime and swing by the shop I'm sure we can work something out or if you don't mind if I do them after 5pm I'll give you the "after hours" discount. You are also welcome to borrow my spring compressor too but let me know either way I'm sure we can get it done.

I'm interested to see how the lil' skips fits with my diff skid. Maybe that is all I will end up hitting with it lol.

 

[SV_Dude]

Looks like a good time! I need to go hit some trails but without any lift I need to armor my runner up first. My miller 140 just came in so ill start building my armor this weekend then ill be more comfortable to play.

 

[EatonKyleH]

Looks like a good time! I need to go hit some trails but without any lift I need to armor my runner up first. My miller 140 just came in so ill start building my armor this weekend then ill be more comfortable to play.

Awesome man, I'd like to see how your armor turns out! I'll probably wind up in the Colorado Springs area soon (family lives there) and haven't wheeled down there yet. Hope to run some trails with you guys someday soon.

 

[EatonKyleH]

Put my Shrockworks sliders on last night after work. It was pretty easy but at the same time a little more time consuming than I expected and they sure were heavier than I expected as well. I positioned them, bolted them on (they are bolt on sliders) then welded them which was easy since they were already tight and exactly where I wanted them. They are now bolted, welded, and not going anywhere.

They are very subtle from the side but they do stick out enough for my liking and I love how they swoop up and out instead of sticking straight out. I'm very pleased overall. They took 3 1/2 months from date of order until they arrived on my doorstep but the fit, finish, welds, and overall quality are incredible. Now I'm waiting 4 more months till my bumpers show up! :guitar2:


Cheating.... using my lift arms to position them



close up:


side:

 

[SV_Dude]

Very nice! I like them but I wish the manufacturers made sliders that went from wheel well to wheel well so it made them look full length. As they are they look about 6" short on each side.

 

[OrangeTexan]

Nice! These are pretty much the only bolt on sliders available for the 3rd gen, correct?

 

[EatonKyleH]

Very nice! I like them but I wish the manufacturers made sliders that went from wheel well to wheel well so it made them look full length. As they are they look about 6" short on each side.

Thanks man! Lol you are spot on.... there is 3 inches from the each end of the slider to each end of the pinch weld.
I also kinda wished they would be longer especially since they are a 3rd gen T4R specific product unlike some sliders where you can only chose the closest length. All in all though I still really like them and I like the clean subtle and simple look which I feel compliments where I'm trying to take this project.

Maybe that extra 3 inches on each corner is a blessing in disguise though.... It'll leave plenty of room to trim someday if I put this thing on 40s! :der:

 

[EatonKyleH]

Nice! These are pretty much the only bolt on sliders available for the 3rd gen, correct?

I'm pretty sure they are one of the few if not the only 3rd gen specific slider that is bolt on. Their website however kinda gave me the impression that they bolt right up easily like they use existing holes or some kind of magic and it says only basic hand tools required.

But the reality is you need to position the sliders, mark hole locations, and drill several 1/2 inch holes in the frame. You will need a good drill and good drill bits I used a Unibit/Step bit and an air drill (a decent electric would still work I'm sure). If I didn't have a unibit for this job I probably would have lost my mind changing out small bit, larger one, larger one, and so on all the way up for every hole.

Two personal pet peeves of mine are drilling frames and welding on frames (I was not thrilled about doing both in one night lol). But honestly the flat plates that mount these things to the frame are massive which is partially what led me to my decision to weld them on for the purpose of using them to reinforce the frame and more evenly distribute force applied when jacking on them or taking a hit.

 

[EatonKyleH]

Soooo.....

I'm getting a vasectomy this month.....


but in trade for my vas deferens .....the wife is buying me new wheels!

I'm thinking SCS F5s matte black .... and gotta get a 5th one for that tire carrier that's on the way!

 

[SV_Dude]

Soooo.....

I'm getting a vasectomy this month.....


but in trade for my vas deferens .....the wife is buying me new wheels!

I'm thinking SCS F5s matte black .... and gotta get a 5th one for that tire carrier that's on the way!

Have you been tracking the new design from scs? Their thread is in the general discussion section. They are looking pretty darn sexy!

 

[EatonKyleH]

Have you been tracking the new design from scs? Their thread is in the general discussion section. They are looking pretty darn sexy!

I really like the design... clean and simple like all of their stuff. But honestly I can't get over the non-functioning beadlock ring. Not that I have anything against the whole for looks thing entirely but I just personally would like them more without it or if it was more subtle. Sweet looking wheel though in some really cool colors.

 

[EatonKyleH]

welding on.... the already bolted on sliders lol.



Off to meet up with Gerdo at his place this weekend to pick up a Lil' Skips gas tank skid plate. He has graciously offered to install it and modify it if/as necessary to accommodate my diff skid and sliders at no additional cost. That's some pretty awesome customer service if you ask me and I'm glad to be supporting the local guy.

Almost done with the armor phase of this project it seems!

 

[white_n_slow]

Soooo.....

I'm getting a vasectomy this month.....


but in trade for my vas deferens .....the wife is buying me new wheels!

I'm thinking SCS F5s matte black .... and gotta get a 5th one for that tire carrier that's on the way!

I don't think I got anything in return for my baby-maker

If you ever want to go slightly larger in tire size, but not a full 35", I would consider getting 17" wheels. There are a handful of "in-between" sizes available for 17's that you can't get in a 16.

285/75r17 = 34"
305/70r17 = 34"
295/70r17 = 33.5"