Explore_More Build Thread (3rd Gen)

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ExploreMore4Runner

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Hi! I’m Matt.
Self admitted lurker for years now. Hoping that creating this thread will help inspire and invigorate the next steps of the build. Also hoping to share some innovative ideas that have been rattling around for awhile.

Both adventure and work have bounced me across the Pacific Northwest and Colorado. And this 4Runner has been a major part of the story. Really looking forward to exploring more of the PNW now that I am back in the Seattle area permanently. Using the name as a constant reminder to myself to get out more and explore new areas of the Pacific NorthWest.

‘New’ To Me Stage - The Origin Story:
This 4Runner has had a long history, having passed hands among some well known personalities of the Denver 4x4 scene...
Luckily for me, My work duties allowed me to use this great little rig on the trail all over Colorado when I was with the Stay The Trail program (check it out!). Work took me on the most popular trails around the year to assist with trail maintenance and preservation.

Current Build Spec Sheet:

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OE Gear
Factory E-Locker
Tundra S13WE - Brake Upgade - Slotted/Drilled

Suspension
Old Man Emu Kit
Prado 90 Diesel Heavy Coils- 2882
Sport Struts - 90004
Rear Coils - 2890
Rear Nitrocharger Shocks (to be updated to Sport soon)
Icon Dynamics - Uniball Upper Control Arms

Protection
ARB Winch Bumper - 1st Gen Tacoma Model - 3423020
Winch - Warn XD9000 w/Spydura Rope
All Pro Rock Rails

Lighting & Power
Headlights - The Retrofit Source - FX-R Kit
ARB Intensity LEDs - AR32S, AR32F
Odyssey Battery - 35-PC1400T

Tires
Hankook Dynapro ATM 265/75/16 (Current)
Nitto Terra Grapplers A/T (Previous)

Planned
Blue Sea Fuse Block
ARB Outback Solutions Drawer
ARB Fridge Slide
Sleeping Platform
Rear seat platform (for dog)
ARB Roofrack
ARB Compressor
‘Big Three' Wiring Upgrade
 
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:welcome:Hey Matt, Joe here. Welcome to the forum. Thanks for you help with everything, let us know when you want to hit an adventure!
 
GSPRunner said:
:welcome:Hey Matt, Joe here. Welcome to the forum. Thanks for you help with everything, let us know when you want to hit an adventure!
Click to expand...

Thanks! Really appreciate everyone's friendly welcome. Certainly need to catch up with all the other Seattle 3rd Gens soon! Still have Gallagher Head Lake Wa to check off.
 
repo said:
Nice. Are those bushwacker fender flares?
Click to expand...

Stock Limited trim flares that I hit with some black plastidip. The Colorado sun had faded the top of each fender and I couldn't take it any longer. Painted the flares and the side cladding all black. Still holding up really well almost a year later!
 
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Catching up...

The past 3 years brought about a handful of improvements to the the rig. Time to catch up on the projects I have managed to pull off since then!

When I purchased the truck, it was relatively stock. One of the previous owners had installed an Old Man Emu suspension, consisting of an obscure Heavy Load Diesel Prado 90 front coil and some special high angle CV boots. Rode a little stiff, but the additional height was very helpful on the rocky trails of Colorado.

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ARB BUMPER
The biggest addition and my first priority was to get the ARB Deluxe Bull Bar for the Tacoma (3423020). The added protection and the ability to mount a winch and lights are the most basic needs in a bumper. On the protection front, there is no other system that can compare.

For this truck, when the winch was added I trimmed the front surface of the frame horns off and welded in a thicker steel cap (with a drilled & tapped hole) along with a horizontal bolt to replicate the Tacoma frame. The vertical one was there already, using the factory bolts, including the one that positions the recovery point. This put the fasteners in 2 different axis and prevents the bumper from tilting or moving under heavy winch loads or in the case of large impact. Different year 3rd Gen 4Runners have different frame horn patterns, which creates the need for the custom fitment. That need for custom fab work, must be why they don’t list it on their application chart. I unfortunately didn’t get any pictures of the modification process though. Still kicking myself about that one!

After adding the bumper and winch, the suspension on the truck was able to soak up the additional weight without issue. Actually made it ride better on the street.

*Had a Superwinch 9.5k, but I really didn’t like the fitment and where the handle ended up after clocking the motor. It didn’t last long.

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LIGHTS
With the bumper on, driving lights were the obvious next piece of the puzzle. My first set were some IPF Rally Sport lights. Great basic halogen lights with some really nice metal housings and a good beam pattern. I was later gifted a set of IPF 900 HIDs. The larger size fit the bumper nicely and the HID power was hard to beat. The warm up time was a little annoying. That may have been because the lights were fairly old at the point they were given to me, so the ballasts had seen some running time.

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****

The Warn XD9000 winch was a later addition after finding one for a good price and pedaling the Superwinch on Craigslist. Luckily I haven’t actually needed to use it! Very easy fit into the bumper. However, I had to modify they ends of the 4Runner’s frame horns to reinforce them for the additional winching loads.

SLIDERS
After moving back to Washington, I installed a pair of All-Pro sliders for some added protection. The trails out here are so much narrower and full of trees than what I dealt with in CO that I wanted to make sure that the body stayed as straight as possible. Really liked the kick out design to protect the wide flares.

The sliders are a great fit. The kick out will ensure that I can pivot off obstacles as needed and makes for an easy location to access the roof from. They were delivered bare steel. I used self etching primer spray as a base coat, then hit it with spray-on bed liner. The paint has held up really well and I like that I can go back and touch up any spots as they scuff from thrown gravel and trail abuse.

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Have to thank my buddy Tim for the assistance welding them on.

HID RETROFIT HEADLIGHTS

My other big project has been the retrofit headlights. It was a big & needed upgrade since the light output from stock headlights is just atrocious. Thought about upgrading the H4 bulb, but after seeing some other retrofits being done to current generation Tacomas I wanted to give it a shot. Bought a new set of the 98+ headlights (specifically for the clear front glass), popped them in the oven to soften up the epoxy glue, pulled them apart and cut a hole in the back of the brand new lights! From there, I roughed up the reflector with sand paper, coated it in primer, then a several very light passes with a flat black spray paint. Did the same with the projector covers, creating the all black look. I fitted up the HID bulb projector and wiring using some really long machine screws. If I could do it again, I would leave the reflectors alone and keep the stock reflector look and spend MUCH more time in the placement of the projector into the housing.

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All in all, this may be one of the best upgrades I have done. It gets dark up here in the PNW early in the winter and I spend so much time driving to and from work in the dark, this helps immensely. Got all the gear through The Retrofit Source. The FX-R Kit had everything for this project (included projectors, bulbs, ballasts).

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NEWER LIGHTS
Since then, I have upgraded to the ARB Intensity AR32 set, which ARE AMAZING. Yes, the price tag is a shock at first. The dollar per lumen is the best out there. Nothing like flipping them on out on a back road and seeing everything for days!!

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Bump N Run said:
Awesome! I was thinking about painting the inside of my wheels black and leaving the lip polished. Similar to yours.
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Actually planning on switching wheels to some 17" Stealth Customer Series F5s in Bronze. Just have to work out my tire choice... Likely to sell these American Racing wheels. Little bit of brake dust corrosion on 2 (if anyone is interested...)
 
Nice ride! Love the overland camping centric builds.

That projector retrofit job looks almost the same as the one I just finished. Looks so much more natural on a black 4runner like yours, though.
 
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