(finally) The Sotovo Build Thread

[Sotovo]

Well I've finally hit the 8-Month mark of me owning my 4Runner, and I can safely say I haven't enjoyed driving anything else better. I absolutely love her and now it's time she receives the attention she deserves. After living a boring and bone-stock life (other than the brush guard and tail light guards) sing 1998, the mods will begin, thus the beginning of my official build thread.

Here she is the day I bought her.

All I've done so far is remove the running boards.

A few mods in the near future-

1. Painting/Bedlining the bumpers, fenders and side-cladding. What do you guys think? Have you seen any of these done?

2. BFG K02's - what size for stock suspension and 16inch wheels?

3. Roof Rack? Do they add that much weight? What Brand?

I want to do much more, but I do have to save cash and use it wisely, so slow and steady will win the race here.

 

[absalom]

1.) Do you plan on selling this in the next 10 years? Be honest with yourself. Bedliner is an absolute PITA to remove. Perhaps plasti-dip the aforementioned pieces to see what you think before committing. I personally don't hate the two-tone look FWIW, and would love to see one get built up.

2.) I'd recommend 265/70/16 Duratracs in load range C ... you could run the same size in KO2, but IIRC, they're only available in very stiff load range E, so ride quality will suffer.

3.) They not only add weight in the worst spot, up high, but they also add a fair amount of drag. I noticed a 2-3 mpg with my last 3rd gen just from adding a roof rack. How often are you surpassing the cavernous 77 cu ft interior volume? I'd rather a small trailer than a roof rack. At least I could detach the trailer when I get to where I want to wheel.

If you haven't already, be sure to make you replace your old lower ball joints with new, OEM lower ball joints. Nothing will wreck your budget quicker than having a tired LBJ fail on you while driving.

 

[Kmurt]

I might be an odd one out, but I personally like the white with silver cladding. That would have been my first choice if I didn't already own my imperial jade mica.

 

[D Farms]

1.) Do you plan on selling this in the next 10 years? Be honest with yourself. Bedliner is an absolute PITA to remove. Perhaps plasti-dip the aforementioned pieces to see what you think before committing. I personally don't hate the two-tone look FWIW, and would love to see one get built up.

2.) I'd recommend 265/70/16 Duratracs in load range C ... you could run the same size in KO2, but IIRC, they're only available in very stiff load range E, so ride quality will suffer.

3.) They not only add weight in the worst spot, up high, but they also add a fair amount of drag. I noticed a 2-3 mpg with my last 3rd gen just from adding a roof rack. How often are you surpassing the cavernous 77 cu ft interior volume? I'd rather a small trailer than a roof rack. At least I could detach the trailer when I get to where I want to wheel.

If you haven't already, be sure to make you replace your old lower ball joints with new, OEM lower ball joints. Nothing will wreck your budget quicker than having a tired LBJ fail on you while driving.

they do come in a c load for certain smaller sizes.

 

[Sotovo]

they do come in a c load for certain smaller sizes.

That's what I thought too...but I've even heard people say the the E load is still smooth and comfortable?

 

[Sotovo]

I might be an odd one out, but I personally like the white with silver cladding. That would have been my first choice if I didn't already own my imperial jade mica.

No you're not odd at all! Im just trying to give it a unique look. I want to kind of Man it Up a little. Give it a utility look. But I do like the current colors.

 

[D Farms]

I have 35s in the e rating and they are about the same on the road as my old michelin street tires, the rubber is pretty soft on them, so even though they have 10 plies, they are still smooth.

 

[Sotovo]

I picked up my BF Goodrich KO2's in 265/75/16s today, super stoked!! I was in such a rush to make a dinner appointment I had absolutely no time to stop and take a picture or go drive any more than the ride back to my house to get dressed, so pictures will come tomorrow but I can honestly say, it made he truck look so much better! The truck sits taller and looks way more aggressive, pics and opinion about how they ride soon!

 

[RedRunner_87]

No you're not odd at all! Im just trying to give it a unique look. I want to kind of Man it Up a little. Give it a utility look. But I do like the current colors.

I am going to do the same thing on my White/Silver 96 Limited. Mainly because the PO put a giant scratch on the passenger side front fender and the driver side front fender is sun faded. Figured White/Black with Black rims would look pretty cool. I am going to Plasti-Dip it though, easier to apply and touch up than truck liner.

I picked up my BF Goodrich KO2's in 265/75/16s today, super stoked!! I was in such a rush to make a dinner appointment I had absolutely no time to stop and take a picture or go drive any more than the ride back to my house to get dressed, so pictures will come tomorrow but I can honestly say, it made he truck look so much better! The truck sits taller and looks way more aggressive, pics and opinion about how they ride soon!

[MENTION=114056]Sotovo[/MENTION] can you post pictures? I am thinking of that exact same set up. Are you going to take the Limited Step's off? Insta-lift

 

[Sotovo]

I am going to do the same thing on my White/Silver 96 Limited. Mainly because the PO put a giant scratch on the passenger side front fender and the driver side front fender is sun faded. Figured White/Black with Black rims would look pretty cool. I am going to Plasti-Dip it though, easier to apply and touch up than truck liner.


[MENTION=114056]Sotovo[/MENTION] can you post pictures? I am thinking of that exact same set up. Are you going to take the Limited Step's off? Insta-lift

I've actually decided to plasti-dip mine as well! But I'll be doing the anthracite plastidip on my wheels! And yes I will post pics tomorrow! My Steps were removed right after I bought the truck. i need to get better updated pictures! I will start that tomorrow.

 

[RedRunner_87]

I've actually decided to plasti-dip mine as well! But I'll be doing the anthracite plastidip on my wheels! And yes I will post pics tomorrow! My Steps were removed right after I bought the truck. i need to get better updated pictures! I will start that tomorrow.

I was debating on what color to do my wheels and I am just going to do flat black. I want the TRD FJ wheels down the road, figure this would work for now.

 

[yota_addict]

I've had the ko2s for about a month now and like them a lot. I had duratracs on my Tacoma and loved them for a while but they got loud after a while and i found them a bit squirrely at times. I had a sidewall failure right aggressive tread pattern that looked like it just cracked perfectly at the tread line. The tread on duratracs is also probably closer to mud tread than at tread as far as tread spacing. I loved the look and first year or so of my duratracs but am back to bfgs!

I was thinking about plasti dipping fender flares because paint faded and pealed but only because my rig is black anyway!

 

[papabeach]

Look forward to the build! I went with Line-X on my bumpers and very much like it and get many compliments but to each there own.

 

[Sotovo]

I was debating on what color to do my wheels and I am just going to do flat black. I want the TRD FJ wheels down the road, figure this would work for now.

Im sure it will look great! I would love to see it when you're done.
And those wheels are awesome.

 

[Sotovo]

I was debating on what color to do my wheels and I am just going to do flat black. I want the TRD FJ wheels down the road, figure this would work for now.

I've had the ko2s for about a month now and like them a lot. I had duratracs on my Tacoma and loved them for a while but they got loud after a while and i found them a bit squirrely at times. I had a sidewall failure right aggressive tread pattern that looked like it just cracked perfectly at the tread line. The tread on duratracs is also probably closer to mud tread than at tread as far as tread spacing. I loved the look and first year or so of my duratracs but am back to bfgs!

I was thinking about plasti dipping fender flares because paint faded and pealed but only because my rig is black anyway!

That's great to hear! I really love them and am experimenting at what PSI to run them for the most comfort, what did you run yours at?

 

[Sotovo]

Look forward to the build! I went with Line-X on my bumpers and very much like it and get many compliments but to each there own.

Hmm... I am not familiar with what Line-X is? Im curious now!

 

[Sotovo]

Hello all and happy 4th of July!!

finally some pictures with the new tires!

Again they are 265/75/16..no rubbing, they fit and IMO look great in this size!

These were just some quick iPhone pics, Im going to do an actual photoshoot on my trip to Wyoming this summer!

Best of all, I got my rake back! Before I swapped the tires, it looked like i had some slight rear sag. But it was just from my crappy mismatched tires I had on from the dealership.

White letters out of course!

Really enhanced the look.

A few different angles.

What do you guys think?

 

[RedRunner_87]

That looks really good [MENTION=114056]Sotovo[/MENTION]! Looks way better with the KO2's on it. I definitely think I am going go that route then.

 

[RedRunner_87]

Hmm... I am not familiar with what Line-X is? Im curious now!

Line-X is bed liner.

 

[Sotovo]

That looks really good [MENTION=114056]Sotovo[/MENTION]! Looks way better with the KO2's on it. I definitely think I am going go that route then.

Thank you so much!! You wont be going wrong!