MeBe4running
New member
I recall him saying something about it preventing scratches during a tight part of the trail he was on that day..... but maybe I'm just blowing smoke out my A** again.
Factoryride's Second Attempt Thread
- Thread starter FactoryRide
- Start date
I recall him saying something about it preventing scratches during a tight part of the trail he was on that day..... but maybe I'm just blowing smoke out my A** again.
FactoryRide
New member
MeBe your spot on with that. It was more of a cheap insurance to protect the truck from scratches on some of the tighter trails. Tape is in most of the areas where it was likely to scratch it, but not the whole side.
Hellamatic
New member
VHT Nightshades for the tail lights? How long ago did you do them? They holding up ok?
I ask because I bought a can of it today - still debating whether I should paint them or just have them wrapped.
I ask because I bought a can of it today - still debating whether I should paint them or just have them wrapped.
FactoryRide
New member
VHT is what I used. It's been right at a year since I did them the second time around. So far they are holding up great! Gotta wax them every so often to keep the deep color tone and shine to them.
Make sure you TAKE YOUR TIME with it. I kinda rushed through them the first time around they turned out like crap. Read over as many different threads and DIYs as possible. Clear coat on them is one of the most important pieces in my opinion. Make sure you find a paint suitable for plastic and has a UV protectant if possible. I think the krylon fusion clear is what I used. DO NOT use an enamel clear like I made the mistake of the first time. Makes it a pain in the arse to sand back off if you ever need to. I spent about 3-4 days sanding down the enamel clear and black with a drill and head light restore kit.
Hawaiian4runner
New member
I like the look of your blacked out taillights. Does the brake light still shine through? Legal? Did you only paint the red part? Thanks.
Vegas
New member
Factory this thread is great... I just bought 4 cans of plasti-dip today to do my rims to see if I like them black on black before I have them powder coated black... I starting thinking about having them powder coated dark gray, but not sure might be an expense way to change my silver trails rims a couple of shades to darker silver...kind of like when they look dirty...... Been hoping someone with a black TE would have the trail rims done dark gray/gun metal so I could decided...
Back to your build ....Loving the hood, the rack, all of it well done sir
Back to your build ....Loving the hood, the rack, all of it well done sir
FactoryRide
New member
Thanks man. Yes, the brake light still shines through. Actually at the rear of the light, I basically did an offset of the lines of the light and taped that off and sprayed. Once I had enough VHT on them, I pulled the tape off and proceeded with clear coat. I would have done all black, but living in Marietta with school, the cops are pretty strict on the law. Law technically says no modifications to the tail lights at all but it's kind of an open interpretation of it. The lights have to be easily seen from 300 yards away in day light. Which is no problem for these. Yeah, I only painted the red upper half of the light. I liked the smoked inside of the TE tail lamps, plus with tinted windows, seeing at night already sucked so I didn't want to make it any worse.
FactoryRide
New member
Thanks Vegas! I have thought about powder coat but now that I'm wheeling it just seems like something that could get messed up and piss me off real good. The plastidip is easy to fix if it chips, but has held up very wheel so far.
I do eventually plan to change wheels, but the only way that will be soon will be if Stealth Custom Series wheels selects me for their sponsorship they are offering. Either way, I'll most likely end up with their wheels in matte gunmetal.
They posted this 5th gen with the with them somewhere, I can't remember where, but I really like the look of the silver with the stealth 6's.
Hawkdog had some FJ wheels powdercoated a dark grey I believe. here's his thread: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/65189-boom-goes-dynamite-3.html
Thanks, the hood will most likely be getting changed up a bit. I'm thinking about pulling off the vinyl and plasti-dipping the hood while I'm back on break. I just had a buddy dip his entire Chrysler Crossfire a few weeks ago and it turned out great. Got a few more changes coming up pretty soon hopefully so keep checking back.
Vegas
New member
Factory thanks for sending me to hawkdogs thread! I don't know how I missed it... I was always curious why no one used the fj rims before on here I figured maybe something to do with the back spacing.... Finally I see what a black TE looks like with gunmetal rims... I like the black on black look but really digging the dark grey....
Ok sorry no more high jacking this sweet build thread!
Ok sorry no more high jacking this sweet build thread!
Attachments
FactoryRide
New member
Haha no worries man. Were all here to help everyone out. That's what makes the 4runner community so great!
FactoryRide
New member
Thanks buddyluke! Yeah for sure. We'll either have to get another Atlanta meet up or wheel go wheeling or something. Some good places to just go drive around is up around bull mountain. That has been majority of my trail riding other then up on the forest service roads around Tellico. Nothing out there that you
wouldn't be able to do.
Check out Expedition Portal. Sign in and go into the Southeast region and there will be some more great places to check out.
Also check out Georgia Overland: Georgia Overland Most if not all of the legal forest service roads in Georgia.
FactoryRide
New member
A few days ago I posted my light bar and lights up for sale. This was in preparation to get a winch and hidden winch mount, and that was more for peace of mind while I’m out exploring around North GA, TN, NC areas. I do about half of my wheeling by myself, and I didn’t want to find myself in a situation where I was stuck and no one to help give me a yank.
Here’s a crappy cell phone picture right after I took the light bar off. I’ll get some more pictures later. Truck looks very naked without the lights after having them mounted for a year.
Here’s a crappy cell phone picture right after I took the light bar off. I’ll get some more pictures later. Truck looks very naked without the lights after having them mounted for a year.
Hawaiian4runner
New member
Thanks dude. Think I'll give it a shot this weekend. Cops here are pretty strict but I'm an old guy and they mostly harass the kids and I drive like grandpa most of the time. Before I got the runner I used to drive like a maniac. Don't know why but the runner totally changed my driving style. Keep up the good work and keep us posted.
FactoryRide
New member
Thanks man, will do! Post up some pictures of your tails when you get em done!
FactoryRide
New member
I was able to snap a few pictures today. They’re nothing special, and were taken just prior to it getting dark. Here’s the front without the light bar. I’m still getting used to this look.
More to come later!
Now for a few more of my most recent updates. I was looking around on the internet at some of the local offroad club’s website’s, and figured it was time to get a fire extinguisher. Most of the clubs require you to have one on your rig, and it was something that I had not even thought of. I shopped around looking for one, and eventually found one that would suit my needs at Auto Zone. I pretty much copied Okki’s idea for where to mount this at. Only exception is I did not feel the need to rip the whole car apart and mount to the metal behind the panels. I didn’t think the fire extinguisher weighed enough to worry about it.
Thanks for the idea Okki!!
Back to my storage solution! Prior to the overland rally I just carried most of my recovery gear in duffel bag just thrown in the back. Then while at the Rally, I got to check out some seriously sweet set ups amongst the people there, so I decided I needed to do some thinking (If you can’t already tell, the Overland Rally has been pretty influential on my build).
So after I got back home I decided it was time to rip out the subs after only having them installed for about a month and put that space to better use. All of the audio gear is up for sale and anyone can PM if interested. I kicked around the idea of build some drawers for a while but decided I wanted something a little easier to remove. I ended up picking up a large Rubbermaid Action Packer. They’re a little pricey but their quality was pretty good. I ended up drilling a few holes to accommodate some things. First I needed a way to be able to tie it down. A guy I met up at the Rally mentioned in his class, “If your’re not willing to drop it on your face, then tie it down.” That made a lot of sense in my book so I found me some loops that I could add on.
Next, I figured I would throw on some quickfists that I had lying around. I thought these came out great.
Eventually I plan to use a roll on liner to cover the whole box to add a little more rigidity to it, but for now this works!
More to come later!
Now for a few more of my most recent updates. I was looking around on the internet at some of the local offroad club’s website’s, and figured it was time to get a fire extinguisher. Most of the clubs require you to have one on your rig, and it was something that I had not even thought of. I shopped around looking for one, and eventually found one that would suit my needs at Auto Zone. I pretty much copied Okki’s idea for where to mount this at. Only exception is I did not feel the need to rip the whole car apart and mount to the metal behind the panels. I didn’t think the fire extinguisher weighed enough to worry about it.
Thanks for the idea Okki!!
Back to my storage solution! Prior to the overland rally I just carried most of my recovery gear in duffel bag just thrown in the back. Then while at the Rally, I got to check out some seriously sweet set ups amongst the people there, so I decided I needed to do some thinking (If you can’t already tell, the Overland Rally has been pretty influential on my build).
So after I got back home I decided it was time to rip out the subs after only having them installed for about a month and put that space to better use. All of the audio gear is up for sale and anyone can PM if interested. I kicked around the idea of build some drawers for a while but decided I wanted something a little easier to remove. I ended up picking up a large Rubbermaid Action Packer. They’re a little pricey but their quality was pretty good. I ended up drilling a few holes to accommodate some things. First I needed a way to be able to tie it down. A guy I met up at the Rally mentioned in his class, “If your’re not willing to drop it on your face, then tie it down.” That made a lot of sense in my book so I found me some loops that I could add on.
Next, I figured I would throw on some quickfists that I had lying around. I thought these came out great.
Eventually I plan to use a roll on liner to cover the whole box to add a little more rigidity to it, but for now this works!
FactoryRide
New member
Quick little teaser update. I've got a project going on out in the garage. Should be done in the next day or two.
Also have a cobra 75 and 4ft firestick I just picked up. No mount just yet. Got a hunting trip up to Lake Reelfoot a week from Tuesday, and if I have any money left over I'll be shopping around for a hatch mount bracket.
Also have a cobra 75 and 4ft firestick I just picked up. No mount just yet. Got a hunting trip up to Lake Reelfoot a week from Tuesday, and if I have any money left over I'll be shopping around for a hatch mount bracket.
Ducmonsta
New member
Quick little teaser update. I've got a project going on out in the garage. Should be done in the next day or two.
Also have a cobra 75 and 4ft firestick I just picked up. No mount just yet. Got a hunting trip up to Lake Reelfoot a week from Tuesday, and if I have any money left over I'll be shopping around for a hatch mount bracket.
Ooo... Ooo.... Pick me! I know! I know!
FactoryRide
New member
Yes you do!! I ended up being able to pick up some steel for $5 down the street at a little mom and pop steel yard. I'm so excited to get it finished up and mounted!!
