How to Build the Ultimate Winter Vehicle (3rd Gen) for $10,000

[BoomerBob]

Looks like a good article on building a nice 3rd gen T4R for winter use for $10k or so and why to use a 3rd gen as your platform.

How to Build the Ultimate Winter Vehicle for $10,000 | Outside Online

Safety, reliability, and capability, all in one (relatively affordable) truck

Driving in winter conditions isn't just dangerous; it can also do lots of damage to your vehicle. So I set out to build a truck capable of tackling this seasons unique challenges, on a budget low enough that I don't have to worry about rust, dents, and a filthy interior covered in muddy dogs detritus.

Do you need a dedicated vehicle for winter? Of course not. You can just put studless winter tires on whatever you drive already in order to achieve the ability to drive safely in low temperatures and on snow and ice. And you can always take some of the lessons below and use them to convert whatever you're driving into a more winter-ready machine. For that, skip the part about the truck and move on to the tires.

Note: I had to look up the word "detritus". It means dead organic matter if you too didn't know what it meant.

 

[3bears]

fun sunday read

 

[Sarki]

Thanks for posting the link.
Throw some wood in the stove, pour your favorite beverage and read a cool article on making the ultimate 3rd gen winter rig......perfect Sunday for me!

 

[brillo_76]

Decent article. Some of us have a dedicated winter vehicle and and 2nd one for a spare dedicated winter vehicle.

I say the Front Bumper he used would be a good choice when your bumpers rotted out in the rust belts. I never was impressed with the Toyota truck bumpers anyways. They even havent had a decent rear one since the early 80s.

However, I like that ARB bumper. I do need to do headlight upgrades and been looking into a solution for them. The 1996 through 2000 lights are not very bright.

I just need to finish a few body and frame repairs first. It seems I get a little carried away in my projects..

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[BoomerBob]

I just need to finish a few body and frame repairs first. It seems I get a little carried away in my projects..

I always have more projects than money to fund them. We do what we can I guess. :hat:

 

[19963.4lsr5]

A set of copper dedicated snows with studs is what I ran on my 94 Cummins. With a row of cement blocks at the tail gate I could do most things in 2wd. I am really thinking about dedicated studded snow tires for the Toy. My Ram was unstoppable up to around 28-32” of snow. And freezing rain was no biggy as long as you kept it around 25-30mph.

I have to drive 31 miles to work in all conditions. All rural driving. They were 235/85 16’s.


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[sleepydad]

holly $1000 ARB lights?

he left out seat heaters, winter beaters have seat heaters.

 

[brillo_76]

A set of copper dedicated snows with studs is what I ran on my 94 Cummins. With a row of cement blocks at the tail gate I could do most things in 2wd. I am really thinking about dedicated studded snow tires for the Toy. My Ram was unstoppable up to around 28-32” of snow. And freezing rain was no biggy as long as you kept it around 25-30mph.

I have to drive 31 miles to work in all conditions. All rural driving. They were 235/85 16’s.


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I used ran studded tires on my Camry. I have not yet ran studded tires on any 4 runner. I mostly run around in 2WD in winter with the copper winter tires. Once I a while I have to pull the lever. However, we mostly miss the big snow storms do to my location. We are far enough south the lake effect misses us and we are 2 hours from the mountains so just far enough away the we dont get that snow.

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[brillo_76]

holly $1000 ARB lights?



he left out seat heaters, winter beaters have seat heaters.

Yes I am planning on installing seat heaters in my runners. . I have those on our 2007 van they are the best

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[BoomerBob]

However, I like that ARB bumper. I do need to do headlight upgrades and been looking into a solution for them. The 1996 through 2000 lights are not very bright.

The funny thing is I looked up the ARB front bumper for 3rd gen's and none were listed. I'm sure one is made because I see others with them. I'm not going to be getting one because I don't need one but it would be nice to find the right one in case I do build a 4wd T4R.

I'm wondering if one for a Tacoma fits; if there's one for those.

 

[Mark_BC]

He forgot fluid filming the underside, and inside the frame and rocker panels. I'm currently doing that to my white 2000 Limited that I'll use this winter for adventure or getting to work if it snows.

 

[brillo_76]

He forgot fluid filming the underside, and inside the frame and rocker panels. I'm currently doing that to my white 2000 Limited that I'll use this winter for adventure or getting to work if it snows.

That does help keep the rust away. I experimented for years and we have to coat the undercarriages inner frames and rockers with something. However, some western states are smart and dont use salt or corrosive liquids to treat the roads. Maybe Colorado is one of those states.



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[brillo_76]

The funny thing is I looked up the ARB front bumper for 3rd gen's and none were listed. I'm sure one is made because I see others with them. I'm not going to be getting one because I don't need one but it would be nice to find the right one in case I do build a 4wd T4R.



I'm wondering if one for a Tacoma fits; if there's one for those.

Well I really dont need one. However, I live in rural western PA so animal damage prevention maybe a plus for me.

I thought of just making hitches for the front of the runners too as that would really stiffen that front zone up. I like to dream about things for a while.

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[UnderFire]

Decent list till the obviously sponsored $1000 lights. Nothing against expensive lights but I seriously doubt they are worth quadruple the price of something like a set of Lightforce 170's, with my old HID 210's the light projected for a solid mile.

Spend 750$ less on lights, spend that 750$ having a truetrac put in the front diff, that might be the difference between making it home or not, the lights definitely won't.

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[UnderFire]

holly $1000 ARB lights?



he left out seat heaters, winter beaters have seat heaters.

I never miss the seat heaters, I find our sack toaster vents on the bottom of the dash are adequate.

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[Doc2012]

copper winter tires.

A set of copper dedicated snows with studs.....

Can you provide more information on these copper tires?

How do they hold up?

Do they turn green after it rains?

How soft are they?

How big are the lugs?

Do they help ground the vehicle?

Are they solid, or do they have a tube in them?

How do they mount on the rims?


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[brillo_76]

I never miss the seat heaters, I find our sack toaster vents on the bottom of the dash are adequate.

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It used to be until I damaged a disc in my back. Then the seat heaters became important too...

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[brillo_76]

Can you provide more information on these copper tires?

How do they hold up?

Do they turn green after it rains?

How soft are they?

How big are the lugs?

Do they help ground the vehicle?

Are they solid, or do they have a tube in them?

How do they mount on the rims?


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Well I run standard size tires and rims and the studs will make your tires last longer but can be more dangerous when it rains because you are littery riding on the stud tips. They are best suited for freezing rain and thin ice on the roads. So you have to drive differently slightly when studs are in use. They also take longer for a vehicle to stop too.


These are just snow tires that have the ability to have studs put in them when new as you cant put studs in used tires.

The treadlife of these tires probably depends on where you live. Around the roads here being in PA with the potholes and they would last probably 20 to 40k miles max.

Just running them in winter naturally let's you get several seasons out of them depending on how much you drive.


Mine are getting fairly warn and was debating on getting another 4 for this season. I will take a photo of them for you so you can see what I use. Just keep in mind I probably only have 4/32 left on the center of the tire. So they are warn down and actually been on the rig year round for a year or 2.

They are a tubeless tire. Nothing super fancy but they work very good on snow and ice.


Another winter tire would be a blizzak tires I just dont know if they make them in our tire size.

They have a softer rubber on them that grips the snow and ice but they be good for only one winter as that material wears off faster.

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[BoomerBob]

Can you provide more information on these copper tires?

How do they hold up?

Do they turn green after it rains?

How soft are they?

How big are the lugs?

Do they help ground the vehicle?

Are they solid, or do they have a tube in them?

How do they mount on the rims?

Typo. You know they mean 'Cooper' tires. :dancin:

 

[RandyBobandy]

I run hella 700s with an upgraded wiring harness to handle 130 watt bulbs and they are extremely bright, I don’t think I would ever spend $1000 on a set of lights.

I’d also add a locker or limited slip to that list, I have a lunchbox locker that is awesome in the snow and allows me to climb icy hills in 2wd that a lot of vehicles can’t get up even with awd, though tires help too