Inv4drZm's Build Thread
- Thread starter Inv4drZm
- Start date
BrunoKnoxville
New member
It has taken me 4 days - FOUR. DAYS. - to read through this thread. UH-MAZING. Kudos, seriously. Like others have said, thank you so much for your attention to detail, explanations, and pictures. It's all so invaluable. Also, thanks for not being a d*ck. Too many people on interweb forums are jerks to people for being newbies or asking questions that were answered 20 pages back. You come across as genuine and truly helpful, thank you so much for that.
I am just getting started in my build - Bilstiens with Toytec & Icon (aka Eibach) springs with 285/70/17s and ditch lights (because #lightbarsbeforelockers, obviously). I do a lot of overlanding, very little legit 4-wheeling, but a rear locker is def in the not-too-distant future. I'm so grateful that you posted alllllll those pics of Moab, I'm HOPING to get out there in 2021... but that's a long drive from East TN, so who knows. I offroad/overland/camp/explore with my girlfriend and 3 dogs (all 50+ lbs), so I built a trailer for all of our crap and RTT. I hope to bring that all with me/us to Moab. But again, we shall see.
Thanks again for cataloging you build and adventures. Maybe one day I'll be able to help or inspire you!
I am just getting started in my build - Bilstiens with Toytec & Icon (aka Eibach) springs with 285/70/17s and ditch lights (because #lightbarsbeforelockers, obviously). I do a lot of overlanding, very little legit 4-wheeling, but a rear locker is def in the not-too-distant future. I'm so grateful that you posted alllllll those pics of Moab, I'm HOPING to get out there in 2021... but that's a long drive from East TN, so who knows. I offroad/overland/camp/explore with my girlfriend and 3 dogs (all 50+ lbs), so I built a trailer for all of our crap and RTT. I hope to bring that all with me/us to Moab. But again, we shall see.
Thanks again for cataloging you build and adventures. Maybe one day I'll be able to help or inspire you!
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BrunoKnoxville
New member
Also, I'd LOVE to get my hands on these files...
Inv4drZm
Senior Member
Thanks! I've been meaning to add links to the first post for quicker reading. Maybe someday.
Looks like I need to step up my camping game, nice trailer!
Moab is a really cool place, and way different wheeling and scenery than Colorado or California. Definitely worth the drive.
Inv4drZm
Senior Member
Getting ready for our next trip, trying to flatten the skid plates a little but while I was under there I noticed some clips were broken on the fan shroud, 2 that attach some hoses on the passenger side.
Plus the fan shroud isn't clipped in all the way on the driver's side. Not sure when this happened, I don't think I removed the shroud for the body lift. Just another thing to fix later.
I painted this before the Moab/Rubicon trip:
Notice I took this picture with the top mount perfectly perpendicular to the camera to show how bent it is.
My secret technique to flattening skid plates when one tire isn't enough weight:
I'm thinking a full skid redesign is in my future. I was able to slide my inner CV joint boots down and reclamp, and so I removed my diff drop to give my diff some room between my bent skid plate.
Plus the fan shroud isn't clipped in all the way on the driver's side. Not sure when this happened, I don't think I removed the shroud for the body lift. Just another thing to fix later.
I painted this before the Moab/Rubicon trip:
Notice I took this picture with the top mount perfectly perpendicular to the camera to show how bent it is.
My secret technique to flattening skid plates when one tire isn't enough weight:
I'm thinking a full skid redesign is in my future. I was able to slide my inner CV joint boots down and reclamp, and so I removed my diff drop to give my diff some room between my bent skid plate.
Inv4drZm
Senior Member
Blanca Peak Labor Day 2020
Made it off work early Friday and headed to Colorado. Met up with some friends we met on the Rubicon.
Setting up camp the first day:
The first tricky obstacle:
I got a little high-centered, front tires in the air, resting on my fuel tank:
Setting up camp near the top:
Starting the next day finishing the climb to the top:
Heard my engine fan ticking against the air intake tube, noticed it was no longer assembled properly. 3 screws holding the filter to the box fell out and let the clamped tube slip off the filter. Reclamped the tube onto the filter and it stayed the rest of the trip albeit a little wiggly.
Made it as far as we could drive.
Headed back down:
Noticed a cracked taillight while airing back up. Maybe from slamming my bumper down on a ledge and it flexed up enough to contact it.
Made it off work early Friday and headed to Colorado. Met up with some friends we met on the Rubicon.
Setting up camp the first day:
The first tricky obstacle:
I got a little high-centered, front tires in the air, resting on my fuel tank:
Setting up camp near the top:
Starting the next day finishing the climb to the top:
Heard my engine fan ticking against the air intake tube, noticed it was no longer assembled properly. 3 screws holding the filter to the box fell out and let the clamped tube slip off the filter. Reclamped the tube onto the filter and it stayed the rest of the trip albeit a little wiggly.
Made it as far as we could drive.
Headed back down:
Noticed a cracked taillight while airing back up. Maybe from slamming my bumper down on a ledge and it flexed up enough to contact it.
Inv4drZm
Senior Member
Yeah for some reason sometime between welding the bumper and bolting it on and off a few times the top tube moved a little in relation to the body. It does rub the sides of the hatch a little too. I've welded a crossmember tube across the rear frame to try and stiffen it up, and I think it helped a little, but next step is to probably sandwich a 1/4" or 3/8" spacer plate between the bumper and frame rails to space the bumper down.
I've heard 3rd gen 4runner guys swapped the rear body mount bushings for poly and that decreases rear flex for them, I have the bushings somewhere in my garage just haven't had the time to see if they can be adapted to my truck.
4RunnerAquasport
Senior Member
All I can see when I look at that truck is a prerunner bumper, front to back cage w some LT goodies and a bunch of COs and Bypasses. All of it about 3ft in the air at full droop. I got the whoop-itis bad....
Inv4drZm
Senior Member
Like this truck? It would make for a pretty easy pre-runner build.
But I still want to throw another solid axle under it and run 40-42s.
Next step for the Tundra is to find a short bed from an access cab truck. I recently sold the double cab bed I found for about what I bought it for, if ya'll remember it didn't quite fit due to the curve of the cab. I don't want to spend the $1,200 salvage yards are asking for beds.
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4RunnerAquasport
Senior Member
Actually I've never seen too many Tundra crawlers. An Ultra 4 version would be really cool, but they're propably too wide for that kind of build.
Inv4drZm
Senior Member
Its about the same width as my 4Runner as far as I can tell. It just has too long of a wheelbase at 128" vs 110" for the 4Runner to be decent on 35" tires for Ultra4 stock class. Converting to a short bed should be around 110" range but I think chopping the frame means I can't run it in the stock class and I don't think it will compete well with LS powered buggies.
Inv4drZm
Senior Member
Our buddy Ken is doing a great job with his videos. Here's his latest one about our Blanca Peak Labor Day outing.
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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/lKJ6zpfMxM4" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Inv4drZm
Senior Member
Ken's awesome with creating the videos. He wants to solid axle swap his truck soon too, so he can do even harder obstacles. We'll be trying to keep up with him.
Inv4drZm
Senior Member
Busy weekend, drove to Kansas City to see the parents and then to St. Louis to pick up a brand new ride for my brother. I noticed I barely made it to KC on an almost full tank of gas in my 4Runner. Usually it only takes about half a tank. Filled up when it was below E so I expected around 21 gallons to full but it only fit 17.8 gallons. So either my tank capacity is reduced to around 19 gallons somehow (gas tank dents or maybe blocked baffles by dents) or the sender is damaged or crooked (also by dents). Or a combination of the two. My 4Runner is in the most disrepaired state I've ever seen it in. Two busted tail lights, headlights yellowing already, gas tank issues, skid plates are needing replaced, sliders are bent upward so you can barely shut the rear doors, right fender flare is barely clipped on due to tire rubbing woops in Moab. etc. etc.
On to the pics, our driveway is getting full...
Nice ride, huh? 2020 Supra.
Bought lowering shackles for the rear of the Tundra. Looks a little better now, lowered 2" in the rear.
On to the pics, our driveway is getting full...
Nice ride, huh? 2020 Supra.
Bought lowering shackles for the rear of the Tundra. Looks a little better now, lowered 2" in the rear.
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superman3043
Senior Member
I've never put anywhere near 21 gallons in mine. 18 max. Usually 17 and change.
Inv4drZm
Senior Member
Even when below E/empty? Usually I can get in the 19's with it on E or a hair below E.
This time I was at least 1/8" below E and only filled with 17.8 gallons.
