gaterose build thread

[gaterose]

The new headlight lenses look great! I really like the way it sits now too. The wheel spacers are perfect.

Thanks! I'm ready for your wheels to be on now...

 

[gaterose]

Very nice:bigok: Sweet photography on some of those out west shots too

Thanks, it was pretty easy to find good shots; I took almost 2,000 altogether, including about 100 of the 4runner. It was just so nice out there and where I was (Mineral County) was 95% public land so I could go pretty much anywhere.

Thanks for all the help too! I haven't asked you for help personally but I definitiely used your threads for the lift, sway bar bushings, aux tranny cooler, tick reduction, & vsc off.

 

[gaterose]

Great job with your 4Runner. You got me rekindling some old ideas on whats next with my 4Runner- am just being patient for the finances to get here or roll on in the money. The wife saw your BFG'f BIG FRACKIN GUNS BABY and she wants them again but on our 4Runner. SHe said when she drove the Gran Cherokee with BFG's on Nothing ever stopped her so she wants to upgrade. Man I got the best wife- one who is into this sport- yes,my husbad go get the BFG tires Big Papi. Next she want to get exhaust ssaid she likes quiet but what good WOLF if you dont hear him ROAR! So now exhaust is next
then....
side rock rails - since I trashed our in Rausch creek
Under body protection- again trashed in rausch creek
More lights- exterior/interior
GPS-dvdplayer
DIRE need for a lift
BFG's

Great looking truck you got. That's good to hear about the tires, you're getting good traction, looks, and durability, with almost no road excess noise. Seems worth it to me, those tires are next on my list.

Thanks! I really like the BFGs so far but I knew I would, I have always liked BFGs. They are a slight bit louder since the nipples have worn off but it still isn't enough to bother me, I don't think they're any (or not much) louder than my brothers silent armors (my 2nd choice) and I think they look better (so does he and they definitely get better traction when needed.

And Aquabear, if you're looking for exhaust I must recommend the borla turbo muffler, I saved about $800 buying just the muffler and not the system. It isn't tuned like the system but I think it sounds great, I only really notice it when I'm doing small driving like backing out of the driveway or driving a few hundred feet. On the interstate and around town it isn't too noticeable. I kept my stock muffler just in case it was too loud and ricey but I have yet to go get it welded back on so I have to say I must like the Borla.

 

[CaliDreamer]

Hey Gaterose,.. Just a quick question: What backup cam did you go with and how do you like it? I'm just looking to add a cam and can't find much T4R specific info.

Thanks!

 

[gaterose]

Hey Gaterose,.. Just a quick question: What backup cam did you go with and how do you like it? I'm just looking to add a cam and can't find much T4R specific info.

Thanks!

I have an alpine HCE-107d, I like it so far. I don't think there is very much difference between it and other models though. I like alpine and have an alpine HU so I bought the alpine camera with direct input (although the HU would've accepted any brand camera I just would've used a different connector). I don't think it is necessarily a better camera than any of the others though.

I haven't gotten completely used to using it and still turn my head around and use my mirrors most of the time instead. It has a wide angle so I can see most of the bumper (as you can see in the pic) and it is GREAT when hooking up or backing up a trailer.

 

[Autbond]

Alpine stuff is the best! IMO, their headunits are a little overpriced but speakers wise they are great! I have had my 2 Alpine Type R 12's for over 3 years and they are still great!

 

[gaterose]

Alpine stuff is the best! IMO, their headunits are a little overpriced but speakers wise they are great! I have had my 2 Alpine Type R 12's for over 3 years and they are still great!

I personally think they're worth it, or were in the past anyway; I have heard they are having trouble keeping up with Kenwood with navs (obviously the garmin unit is the bee's knees). I think it's because of their focus on speakers, which weren't that great 6 or 7 years ago. My 1st Type R (10") came apart where the rubber meets the cone after a few months.

BUT I got my $550 HU for $200 from woot.com (new, not refurbished, kinda hard to pass that up for all the features it & expandability it has); it is my 4th "green face," as my old man refers to them (though they switched to silver and blue now), in 10 years. I have loved every one and only upgraded because of newer features and my friends still have 2 of my old ones (in excellent working condition in daily driven vehicles).

I have also had 3 alpine amps and they were awesome although 2 were ruined by mud/water.

 

[ki_soarer]

dude, I love your runner. I also have a 2wd and I am looking to do some very simmilar mods, just not nearly as many as you have. I dont have the cash for that. lol.

you get bonus points for ALSO having a spare mag in your console. and my GF thinks im the only guy that does that. lol.

 

[gaterose]

dude, I love your runner. I also have a 2wd and I am looking to do some very simmilar mods, just not nearly as many as you have. I dont have the cash for that. lol.

you get bonus points for ALSO having a spare mag in your console. and my GF thinks im the only guy that does that. lol.

Thanks! I love it too Haha, I don't really have the cash for it either, I have put 10 years worth of mods into my old Z, so I was able to buy most of the mods for the 4runner with what I sold some of that stuff for.

Nice, I just carry a P22 in the 4Runner, because I like how much easier it to conceal than my .45.. It might take both mags to knock an attacker down haha... Besides what else are you gonna do with the spare mag, keep it in a closet/drawer at home?

 

[MikesToy]

Thanks for sharing.

 

[DonnyB]

Part # for the lighted driving light switches

What's the part number for those lighted fog switches? I'd like to do the same, those switches look clean and factory-like. Was the relocation of the Downhill Assist simple? I like your light bar too!

 

[gaterose]

What's the part number for those lighted fog switches? I'd like to do the same, those switches look clean and factory-like. Was the relocation of the Downhill Assist simple? I like your light bar too!

Thanks for compliment about the light bar, I think it looks better than most alternatives besides a bumper.

The p/n is PT297-35070-AS. They are pretty expensive though, there are also some Tacoma switches that don't have a power on LED that are cheaper. I don't have DAC so I couldn't tell you about relocating the button.

 

[gaterose]

Some weak poser shots I took today with the new wheels & Skipshooter 5' CB whip. I was in a hurry and couldn't find a good spot to flex it any better. It was also raining.

I finally got my wheel emblems & mounted them, I also color-matched the silver bumper to the rest of the body so there isn't anymore silver/chrome anywhere. I'm not a very good painter, luckily one of my friends offered to do it with 2 cans of Duplicolor OEM Natural White (056) and 1 can of duplicolor OEM clear per bumper (6 small cans, about $50 altogether). It's a lot of paint but it came out as smooth and clean as the rest of the body and looks factory I think, I really can't believe it came from a rattle can.

 

[kylebacc]

Dude that thing is lookin' SICK these days! You really need my taillights. I just spoke to my buddy and we're gonna try to see if we can get 'um out sometime this week. IF we can, they're yours come Thanksgiving.

 

[gaterose]

I've made a few changes since updating this page and I have a bunch of new pictures so i figured I'd update the thread

I got bored over the holidays and had some plywood & vinyl laying around so I decided to build a cargo drawer system. I needed somewhere to keep some tools, dog leashes, and other stuff. I completely removed the factory carpet, padding, and double decker system and replaced the padding with moisture proof padding and placed the drawer directly on top of that bolted to 4 threaded inserts with rubber washers to minimize squeaking. The sub box is bolted to 2 threaded inserts and can't be removed without taking out the whole drawer

. The drawer and sub box are angled to match the angle of the seats to get the most out of that space and the storage space lid is cut at an angle and hinged so that it can be easily accessed by folding the driver's side rear seat forward or from the rear of the 4runner without folding the seat down.

The JL 8w1 in the factory location sounded good but just wasn't deep enough. I built a small box for a JL 12W1 from 3/4" MDF and designed it to bolt down and be covered in the cargo drawer system. It worked great on my recent trip to CO in which it had luggage, skis, boots, animals, and sleds thrown on top of it without distorting sound or rattling.

It's not quite finished as I'm waiting on some live well type latches to hold the drawers closed before I carpet the drawers.

 

[gaterose]

My friend and I took another trip to my other friends' place (Wolf Creek Ranch Ski Lodge) on Wolf Creek pass in South Fork, CO to go skiing at Wolf Creek Ski Area (Pagosa Springs, CO) and do a little site-seeing.

I took these pictures and figured everyone likes pictures. I have about 500 more but I limited these to only ones with my 4runner. I took the rack off to save a little gas on the 3,000 mile trip. We drove straight through, 22 hrs, (from Birmingham, AL) both ways.

These pictures are around South Fork, Creede, & Pagosa Springs, CO
South Fork, CO
Palisade

Beaver Creek

Creede, CO
Pool Table Mountain

Bachelor's Loop Mining Trail

Pagosa Springs, CO
Looking west at the Continental Divide from the Wolf Creek Pass Summit

Near Fall Creek

First time the 4R has been covered in snow, after just 3 hours at the ski area

 

[gaterose]

The day before we left we decided to take a ride up the Million Dollar Highway from Durango through Silverton and Ouray, then back southwest through Telluride which turned out to be a 10 hour drive from and back to my friends' place in South Fork. It was definitely worth the time though, it was the most spectacular highway drive I've been on.

Ouray, CO
From downtown Ouray, looking back at the Red Mountain Pass

Telluride, CO
Looking Southwest to the mountains behind Telluride

Colorado Avenue, Telluride Mine

Overlook ascending Lizard Head Pass from the North

Overlook near Mountain Village

 

[gaterose]

On our way back east we decided to stop by the Great Sand Dunes and on the way noticed Como Lake Road and decided to see how far we could climb up in the 2WD. I remembered reading a thread a while back and knew I wouldn't be able to get near the top.

We got close to around 9,200 ft. (I think?) and turned back when the boulders started getting large, we had a 22 hr drive directly after leaving and didn't want to get stuck or break something and lose a day. Plus I already knew there was no chance of getting to the top and didn't want to get into any tight spots where I'd have to do some damage to turn around.

Right off the highway at Como Lake Road

A few rocks but not too bad...

Where we stopped due to time/drivetrain constraints

Even my blue heeler Jo enjoyed the view across the San Luis Valley

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

I like the color which is even more of a motivator to make me finish getting rid of all my chrome.

 

[8086bruce]

Wow great pics! Thanks for posting them!:cheers: