fatbacks Build and Adventure Thread

[fatbacks]

Well, figured I had better get this started. Here is my build and adventure thread. In all actuality, it will probably be more of an adventure thread considering my list of mods is pretty minimal.

New 4Runner owner and I am totally stoked about the new rig. A bit of a change after almost a decade of driving a 1 ton diesel truck. Originally planned on rolling it stock, but there has been some project creep after 1500 miles on it and reading various threads on here. Not getting crazy with mods, but I do want to do a few things. The thread will probably be more about exploring the State of Alaska than building the rig.

4Runner:
2015 Trail Premium, Magnetic Gray, KDSS

Completed Mods:
-TRD Matte Black Wheels
-275/70/17 BFG AT KO tires
-Weathetech Mats
-265/70/17 Cooper studded winter tires

Future Mods:
-Engine block heater and battery blanket
-Bilstein 5100 in front to level out (can't find them in stock anywhere)
-Roof Rack of some sort (Gobi or Baja - Haven't decided yet)
-Gobi Rear Ladder
-Attach my Lightforce 170 Striker lights somehow (not sure I want to throw a heavy bumper on there and would prefer a light bar)

Wish list:
-Roof top tent

Here she is shortly after I picked it up at the dealer in Seattle:

Saved a few bucks by heading to Seattle to pick it up which gave a perfect excuse to go for a good adventure getting the rig home to Alaska. I'll put up some photos of the trip in a bit.

 

[Mistaken]

Damn that looks good!

In for pics of the trip. :guitar2:

 

[Whiplash Willy]

If you are going to put Bilstien 5100s up front, you should get them in the rear as well.

 

[fatbacks]

Taking Delivery.... Seattle to Anchorage

We are having the absolute worst winter in Alaska this year. I am currently looking at green grass outside my office window. Haven't been out snow machining or skiing once this year. That said, I decided to look in Seattle as well when shopping for the new truck. Ended up finding the exact setup I wanted in Seattle vs waiting for 6-12 weeks here in Alaska. Figured it would be a good opportunity to fit in a fun trip while waiting for snow.

Anyhow, long story short, I got on a plane after New Years, picked up the rig in Bellevue, WA, drove to Bellingham, WA, got on a ferry, sailed the Inside Passage to Haines, AK, drove through British Columbia and the Yukon to Alaska and ended up in Anchorage. Overall, super fun trip and I would highly recommend. I want to do it again (in the summer) and take more time.

WARNING: No offroad photos and hope you understand.... offloading is a bit limited this time of year.

Loading the 4Runner into the belly of the ship:

All tucked in tight and ready for the trip north (scared me how close they put all the cars):

Alaska Marine Highway ship in Ketchikan, AK during a layover:

Snowy first day on the ship. Limited visibility passing by Bella Bella, BC:

Cleared up after leaving Ketchikan, AK and was a really beautiful sunset:

Last day on the boat, ran into some gnarly weather. Cold north winds blowing down Lynn Canal. Heavy freezing spray. Felt good to be on a big boat:

Off the boat in Haines at 1 pm. Only 400 miles to go before stopping for the day:

Crappy iPhone photo once I passed into Canada and crossing White Pass. Icy, 40 mph winds and temps dropping into single digits:

Got dark and cold after that. Truck feels sluggish at this temp and gas mileage goes way down (15.5 MPG according to computer):

When I arrived at the cabin in Tok, AK the northern lights were awesome. This is the best photo I could get because I could only stay outside for 20 minutes or so at -42°F and fiddling with camera buttons makes the fingers cold! Don't have my engine block heater installed yet, so I had to get up every few hours to start the car for 20 minutes.

Next day broke cold and clear. Was a great drive between Tok and Glennallen because the ice isn't too slippery when the temps are that cold. Sunrise wasn't until about 10 am and the sun stays really low on the horizon this time of year.

Mt Sanford (16,237 ft) on the left and Mt Drum (12,011 ft) on the right:

Hard to get a good photo of a dark car with dark wheels when the sun stays this low:

The last leg of this trip offered great views of the Chugach and Talkeetna Mountains:

And last photo I took, about 40 miles before hitting civilization... following an older 4Runner down the highway:

Overall a great trip. Love the new car and love the wild and open country I got to sail/drive through. Next time I want to take more photos and take a lot more time to explore side roads.

 

[fatbacks]

If you are going to put Bilstien 5100s up front, you should get them in the rear as well.

Yeah, I want to do something with the rear suspension and will probably get 5100s on all 4 corners. I tow a jet boat in the summer and snow mobiles in the winter. I had Ride Rite airbags on my truck and want to look into something similar for the 4Runner.

 

[Mistaken]

Dude. Gorgeous photos. I would love to make the trip up from Seattle. Trying to convince my wife of that instead of a sandy beach somewhere... :boxing:

 

[growler]

awesome pics and the truck looks great. quick question. I am new to 4x4 and about to take delivery of an SR5 soon. I'm still not totally confident about when to put it in 4hi.....were you running in 4hi on those roads with the thin layer of snow?

 

[Sunriser]

Amazing pictures. Amazing.

Did I say those were amazing?

Thanks for sharing.

 

[stripernut]

Very nice. What a cool road trip. Literally and figuratively.

 

[gm350reratliff]

WOW! Awesome pics! What a great start to a build. I would love to do that trip someday. That is some serious cold weather. I would get that block heater, battery blanket and a Compustar remote start ASAP. Every vehicle I've owned that I've driven in weather like that has always suffered bad MPG but my 4th and 5th gen seem less affected by the cold than the others.

Awesome pics though!

 

[Jhalko]

Now THAT is breaking it in right! Awesome pics, great looking truck!

 

[Jim82]

Anyhow, long story short, I got on a plane after New Years, picked up the rig in Bellevue, WA, drove to Bellingham, WA, got on a ferry, sailed the Inside Passage to Haines, AK, drove through British Columbia and the Yukon to Alaska and ended up in Anchorage. Overall, super fun trip and I would highly recommend. I want to do it again (in the summer) and take more time.

How much was the ferry from Bellingham to Haines? If you don't mind my inquiring.

 

[skimr]

Wow. What a trip - airplane, boat, truck. Awesome! Where are the pics of you on the zipline? Northern lights are on my bucket list. You be lucky.

 

[PNTRDPROO]

Awesome pics and great looking truck

 

[Oeconomia]

Subbed!

 

[itsdchz]

Very nice build so far, and great documentation of bringing her home!

 

[Jayhawk5G]

Looks great!

I was wondering if the TRD Pro wheels would look strange on magnetic grey, but they look awesome!

 

[Land_Shark]

Dude. Gorgeous photos. I would love to make the trip up from Seattle. Trying to convince my wife of that instead of a sandy beach somewhere... :boxing:

HAHAHA ^ This is me - always trying to convince my wife to go on the mountainous, snowy adventure when she wants to go to the beach. Good to know I'm not the only one.


Awesome adventure you went on OP. Looking forward to more pics and where you take the build.

 

[fatbacks]

When to use 4hi

awesome pics and the truck looks great. quick question. I am new to 4x4 and about to take delivery of an SR5 soon. I'm still not totally confident about when to put it in 4hi.....were you running in 4hi on those roads with the thin layer of snow?

For this trip I was in 4hi 90% of the time. I am more conservative on Alaska roads because there are lots of hills and curves. I don't want the back end to slide out at 60 mph. Whenever I am pulling into a parking lot or planning on cranking the steering wheel I shift out to 2hi to avoid binding of the drive train.

With my old truck I drove in 4hi most of the winter for almost 10 years and had no problems with 140,000 miles on it. Perhaps someone else can weigh in here with problems encountered with long term 4hi use in a 4Runner.

 

[fatbacks]

How much was the ferry from Bellingham to Haines? If you don't mind my inquiring.

about $900. You can get a berth for $300. If you pay for your car, the driver rides free during the winter.