Inv4drZm's Build Thread

[Inv4drZm]

Badass build man! Any chance you got specs on what you used to attach it to the frame?

Are you talking about the rear swingout arm I used to have? I just welded the 4Xinnovations hinge directly to the rear frame.

So how you liking the swing out delete mod?
Kind of a pain to live with the swing out if you have to access to cargo area daily. The rear window is 80%blocked with a 35 or larger tire.
The weight of the tire is felt in turns with no sway bars.

I just started running with tire in the cargo and like it a lot. Still have the swing out arms on though and plan to use tire carrier on trips. Never have any issues with wobble rattle or anything. Just an inconvenience to have to open.
After 6 years of having the bumper thought I would switch it up a little lol.

Seems like it would be a pain to remove the arms completely if I planned on reinstalling them for trips.

I like it so far and probably won't be going back, its so easy to access the hatch now, it worked very well for my vacation the last couple weeks coupled with my new drawer system. Even with the drawer system and extra storage tote my rear visibility is probably better than with a 37" tire on the arm.

If I don't put a fuel tank under the hatch I might be looking into lowering the floor to lay the tire down lower. Or do the opposite and raise the floor, and mount the tire underneath like factory, would need to relocate the evap stuff though. This would be to gain more rear visibility, sleeping headroom, and lower the CG further so maybe not worth the time after it's all said and done.

I like the subwoofer mod. Looking to do something like that with mine.

:hatsoff:

 

[BlairB]

If I don't put a fuel tank under the hatch I might be looking into lowering the floor to lay the tire down lower. Or do the opposite and raise the floor, and mount the tire underneath like factory, would need to relocate the evap stuff though. This would be to gain more rear visibility, sleeping headroom, and lower the CG further so maybe not worth the time after it's all said and done.

:hatsoff:

Do you have any more details on your second fuel tank??

 

[Inv4drZm]

Do you have any more details on your second fuel tank??

This would be my primary fuel tank for the purpose of increasing ground clearance. Under the hatch, and potentially raising the floor for increased capacity, is probably the best place for a tank. A second option might be to place it where the factory tank is though I'm not sure how much capacity it could hold, I don't want less than 23 gallons. Couple this with something like the Budbuilt Tummy Tuck and raised rear axle shock mounts and I'll have the clearance of around a 42" tire.

Another option is to retrofit an FJ fuel tank which gives more clearance but only holds 19 gallons.

I've been in the research phase of this project for a couple years, trying to learn how the fuel evap system works in an attempt to keep the factory fuel gauge functional and everything happy.

 

[ThorRides]

Finished up the final measurements and modeling today! ... Please excuse the crudity of my truck model.

Any chance you would share your truck model with me? I've got an '05 V8 Limited so it should match yours. I want to design my own bumper. I want something like the Victory4X4 or C4 fab minimalist winch bumper but with a front receiver hitch over the winch.

 

[Toxicity927]

Wow what a build!!!

 

[Inv4drZm]

Any chance you would share your truck model with me? I've got an '05 V8 Limited so it should match yours. I want to design my own bumper. I want something like the Victory4X4 or C4 fab minimalist winch bumper but with a front receiver hitch over the winch.

I'll look for it.

 

[Inv4drZm]

2020 5th Annual Trip Report: 'Skunks on the Run"

Definition of 'Skunk' as used in an offroading context: The white-roofed Toyota FJ Cruiser

Which makes my truck a fat albino skunk.



This year's trip lasted 2 weeks and amounted to 3,500 of the hardest miles we've ever put on our trucks.

Day 1

Drive 12 hrs from KS to Top of the World trail in Moab, Utah and set up camp.



My 4Runner made a friend. First 4Runner I've ever wheeled with actually. He even had his spare inside the truck so we looked very similar.
























360 degree view at the top:














My bed setup:



My brother made a few of these for friends:

 

[Inv4drZm]

TOTW Gang





Day 2

Drove down from Top of the World and met up with another FJ buddy who already broke a CV axle on another trail.







CV fix break:



Off to an easier trail to finish the day. Potash Road.











Potash Road Gang:



Our house:



Day 3:

Finish the Trifecta in 1 day which is the combination of Poison Spider Mesa, Golden Spike and Gold Bar Rim trails. We've done some of these trails before but not in one continuous loop.

Our meeting parking lot, City Market. Looking real thick.

 

[Inv4drZm]

Where Eagles Dare trail, backwards. Yes, I too did this, and no, I wouldn't recommend it LOL. Crazy steep. Backwards is easier than forwards though.













Real tight squeeze:





Golden Crack. Someone stacked a ton of rocks in the center so we did the only reasonable thing and removed all of them:

















Gold Bar Rim 'wall' obstacle which we went down and then up last year. This year boulders were moved into a spot where the 5th gen with 33s and rear locker could easily make it up wheras before everybody needed winched. My brother and I said 'screw the easy line' and went up the vertical face. With some throttle we did it pretty easily, video coming soon.

 

[Inv4drZm]

Day 4

Steel Bender









This obstacle at the end of Steel Bender was pretty nuts. Pics don't do it justice this was a nasty obstacle. There is a point halfway down where the vehicle's weight shifts from driver to passenger and you lift your rear driver's tire and tilt down the hill which definitely looks and feels like you are about to roll. Two FJ's crawled down, and a few less experienced FJ's I hooked my winch to their back bumper and helped descend them down slowly. Me being the winch guy was last and had to grow a pair but I made it down safely too. I'm pretty sure my alignment was messed up after steering into a rock at the bottom making my steering wheel crooked. Since I was pretty sure it was the driver's tire I was able to adjust the driver's tie rod the correct way to straighten the steering wheel in our house's garage. If I didn't know what tire was bumped out of alignment I could adjust the steering wheel straight with tie rods, but it wouldn't guarantee I wouldn't have a ton of toe out or toe in.











Day 5

Drive 12hrs to Truckee, CA.

Yes we finally did the RUBICON.


TO BE CONTINUED

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

Looks like an EPIC trip! All the rigs look very well done too. Not sure which one to be more jealous of lol.

 

[Broke_Runner]

Damn leaving us hanging like that I’m so jealous I only hope one day my rig is like yours

 

[awhitney1]

Thanks for sharing the pics!

 

[JuniorPigeon]

DANG. What am amazing looking trip, big time goals.

 

[ZaibachX]

Awesome build. Keep it up!

 

[ThorRides]

Great trip report! Thanks for all the pics and descriptions. You made it out near me; I love the Sierra's and the Rubicon. I haven't gone far on the Rubicon because I need to add armor (I'm still with stock bumpers and no sliders) but I've hiked it and it is beautiful.

Sent from my SM-T830 using Tapatalk

 

[rich dog]

trucks are looking good! enjoy the sierras!

 

[Inv4drZm]

2020 5th Annual Trip Report: 'Skunks on the Run"

Part II


Day 5

Like I said we drove 12hrs from Utah to Truckee, CA and found our ski lodge rental house.

Day 6

Met up with (most of) our official 'Skunks on the Run' group and did some wheeling around the area, starting with Fordyce (the easy part).



Trailhead:







A broken CV by our trail leader on Driveline Hill:

























Turning around and driving back through the water. Too difficult of obstacles lie ahead.

 

[Inv4drZm]

Day 7

Signal Peak trail


A Lexus guy we met up with on this trail from Colorado, we might be meeting up with him again to do Blanca Peak trail eventually.
(And he was the only one part of the 37" tire club other than my brother and I)





Had to winch her up this really loose rock section after she scouted ahead and had to turn around.









Made our way down the trail to the lake:

 

[Inv4drZm]

Day 8

Start of the RUBICON!!