Hi-desert Cheapskate build thread

[Hi-desertT4R]

Splash guards

Made new splash guards out of rubber carpet runner from the Home Depot.
Mine had dry rotted and fallen off long ago.

 

[Hi-desertT4R]

Tire carrier

I set out to build a tire carrier that I could still tow with. I’m not worried about access into the rear hatch. The motor doesn’t work and isn’t a high priority.

I had most of this laying around. I used 2” square tube, a 2-1/2” hitch extension, 3/16 flat stock and a repurposed spare tire mount off my old trailer. I bought M12 1.5 lug nuts and bolts from O’reillys along with an LED lit license plate bracket.

 

[Hi-desertT4R]

Spare tire carrier

Later on I added brackets to mount my Hi-lift. I had another Hi-lift stolen off my 4Runner when I lived in Las Vegas. I’m rural now but don’t trust humans that much. Made two mounting points with locks. Cross drilling 1/2” bolts to fit small padlocks works well. I also used small pieces of leftover UHMW body lift materials to isolate the jack and keep it from rattling.

 

[Hi-desertT4R]

Head unit

Replaced the factory head unit with a Pioneer FH-S700BS. It’s a pretty basic unit that has bluetooth and a usb on the front. At the same time I installed Crux SWRTY-61S to retain steering wheel controls. This thing sucks and rarely works. Kind of a waste.
Now time to add a sub and replace door speakers.

 

[Hi-desertT4R]

Rear diff breather

So there aren’t really any water crossings near me in the desert so I’m not sure why I did this mod but I did anyways. I guess the chance of water crossing after a monsoon or flash flood is there.

I purchased the Toyota union part #90404-51319 off of Amazon, a Dorman diff vent part #924-284, about 5’ of 5/16” fuel line, hose clamps and a few zip ties for this mod. I found out later there’s a kit for this. I zip tied the diff vent to the fuel filler neck in a few places. I didn’t extend it thru the rubber flap inside the gas filler door.

 

[Hi-desertT4R]

Dobinsons adjustable trailing arms

Replaced my lower trailing arms with adjustable from Dobinsons.

 

[Hi-desertT4R]

Dirty

You’ll start to notice that my stuff is only clean when it’s new. I almost never wash my truck. It also has a lot of desert pin striping.

 

[Hi-desertT4R]

Got any current pictures of it?

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

Yes. Added some.

 

[Hi-desertT4R]

Lighting

The lighting has gone through a few changes.

Currently I have Auxbeam FT-1 H11 low beams, Auxbeam FT-1 9005 high beams and Sealight 3000k 9006 fog lights.
I’m researching new H11 low beams as I found out that these H11 LEDs are not legal according to NHTSA. Fog lights are going away once my bumper kit arrives.

I mounted a 32” curved light bar to the top of the crash bar in the lower grille opening.

I bought the 40” light bar new in box from my buddy for forty bucks. I made brackets to mount it to the roof rack.

I bought these cheap GS Power ditch light brackets for a Tacoma off of Amazon along with some cheap Nilight light pods. The fit is decent.

Amazon.com: GS Power Engine Hood Hinge Ditch LED Mount Brackets for Auxiliary Offroad Pod Work Light. Fit Cowl Panel at Windshield Base Compatible with 2005-2015 Toyota Tacoma : Everything Else

 

[Hi-desertT4R]

Shifter

Made this 8 ball shift knob several years ago. Drilled the center and found out it has a metal core. Tapped it match the thread pitch. Had a chrome faucet part that covered the narrowed section of the shift lever.

 

[Hi-desertT4R]

Lighting switches

Moved the DAC button I never used to the dash. Installed these OTTRATW switches in the center. They’re rocker switches and the fold out tray in the center touches the middle one. Will change them out to push button eventually.

 

[Hi-desertT4R]

Hardware

I got a bunch of spare hardware from work van shelf kits. I find these little nut inserts very useful. I drilled holes in the top of the crash bar and inserted these. Made a quick easy way to bolt in the light bar. They’re 1/4” sae. I’d like to get a rivnut tool with metric hardware.

 

[Hi-desertT4R]

Tpms

Got sick of seeing the yellow TPMS light on after about a year. Followed this write-up.

Write-up: How to Disable (Bypass) the TPMS

 

[Hi-desertT4R]

Cargo liner

Made a cargo liner from 40 mil HDPE plastic I got from my boss. This was one of 14 layers used to line haz waste landfills. Light and flexible. Wanted something to cover the entire cargo area and seat backs when they’re folded forward, which they usually are.

 

[Hi-desertT4R]

Tred board

Finders keepers loser weepers. Found this Tred board on the side of the highway. Made some brackets to mount it to the roof rack. I like to use firearm cable locks for tools and shovels. Worked good on this so I don’t regift it.

 

[Hi-desertT4R]

T4R.org stickers

Obligatory T4R.org stickers. Thanks [MENTION=165]momo.75[/MENTION], these are killer.

 

[Upinsmoke]

very clean, I am going to steal some of the items from your build for my 06.

 

[Hi-desertT4R]

Cowl “snorkel” intake

Not really sure why I pulled the trigger on doing this mod. If anything it makes room for a second battery and on board air. Kind of regret it but oh well. Heard about the cowl “snorkel” intake mod that Tacoma guys had done as well as some 4Runner owners.

Used some 3” schedule 40 pvc pipe and my factory intake tube which I cut. Cut the firewall using a hole saw. Had some old door edge molding that I used around the cut, it’s very squeaky.

 

[Hi-desertT4R]

Washer fluid relocate

Washer fluid relocate mock-up. Getting ready to move the washer reservoir once my bumper gets built.

 

[Hi-desertT4R]

Got these cool patches in the mail from Toyota a few years ago. Stuck em to the headliner.