J Hoss' "Zeus" build thread.

[J Hoss]

On Dec 1, 2014 my 2013 Trail was t-boned and ultimately landed on its left side. I was fortunate not to have my GF, or our 1year old son with me and walked away with only minor bruising on my arm.

[Previous build here]

Fast forward to Dec 27th. I located and flew to Charlotte, NC and picked up my new baby (despite receiving a call from their insurance days earlier that my '13 Trail was "repairable").

Decided to start a separate thread for a separate vehicle, but here goes attempt #2, with my 2015 Trail Premium [w/ KDSS].

1342 Miles & 7 states for this break in, 2 states worth of blinding rain through 'Bama & Mississippi at night...and now Zeus is back in TX

 

[J Hoss]

Got some Madico 20% Charcoal (again) all around yesterday, and gave it the first bath yesterday to wash off the initial trip.:bathbaby:

 

[Landy]

Congrats on your new 4Runner! I'm also in Austin. Lucky for me I just had to go to Bryan to get my Non-KDSS TEP. Let me know if you want to get together sometime to do some mods or talk 4WD. Cheers!

 

[J Hoss]

Garage time! Emblems first, bumpers next!

 

[fattire]

Sub'd. Figure you'll need the garage at some point.

Curious...is that paint or dip? I started with dip to see if I liked the look. I'm slowly starting to paint things now. Even got some duplicilor for the blizzard pearl; works great if you want to color match things.

 

[PNTRDPROO]

Very nice so far, love that color

 

[bimrunner]

Love the name and glad you got a new one!

 

[wfo9]

[MENTION=113614]Landy[/MENTION]

You should come wheel with us. [MENTION=809]fattire[/MENTION] and I go quite often.

 

[J Hoss]

Congrats on your new 4Runner! I'm also in Austin. Lucky for me I just had to go to Bryan to get my Non-KDSS TEP. Let me know if you want to get together sometime to do some mods or talk 4WD. Cheers!

Thanks Landy! I wavered a bit but decided to go KDSS once more--then my salesman (and my mostly on road) usage sold me again. There's a couple of awesome local groups that operate on Facebook (and our own, admittedly less trafficked forum). PM me your email, and I'll send you an invite(s). Cheers to you as well! :cheers:

 

[J Hoss]

Sub'd. Figure you'll need the garage at some point.

Curious...is that paint or dip? I started with dip to see if I liked the look. I'm slowly starting to paint things now. Even got some duplicilor for the blizzard pearl; works great if you want to color match things.

Hey J!


I'll definitely be back Its plasti-dip, I had ~ half a can left and it got me through a solid 3 coats on the F&R and the lower front bumper. Then I found myself at wally world at 9pm last night grabbing 2 more cans. I got through 2 coats on the front (lower bumper) and put a light first coat on the rear.

I'm just shaking off the very tail end of the flu and just had the mod itch, so this should tide me over until I can get my wheels/tires/lift/sliders off the '13. Thinking I'll just sell it with the lift on and order a new Boss Kit now that I heard about the Heart of Texas discount.

Also received some good guidance over the weekend from a friend who has a state farm practice so I'm hoping they'll total it still. Should be able to get a thorough estimate before this week is out.

 

[Landy]

[MENTION=113614]Landy[/MENTION]

You should come wheel with us. [MENTION=809]fattire[/MENTION] and I go quite often.

[MENTION=106176]wfo9[/MENTION]

Thanks I definitely will! I have sliders but nothing else yet. Once I recover from the purchase a bit more I'll be doing lift, wheels and tires, and skids. Don't think I'll try to tackle Hidden Falls until then, haha.

Thanks Landy! I wavered a bit but decided to go KDSS once more--then my salesman (and my mostly on road) usage sold me again. There's a couple of awesome local groups that operate on Facebook (and our own, admittedly less trafficked forum). PM me your email, and I'll send you an invite(s). Cheers to you as well! :cheers:

I have nothing bad to say about KDSS. In fact, I've never driven a KDSS equipped 4Runner, so I literally have no idea what I'm missing. I just wanted to keep it simpler. I figured if I never needed it on my FJ then I'm good without it on the 4Runner. PM inbound with my email!

 

[fattire]

LOL! I just picture you hopped up on flu meds and plastidip fumes in the garage.

wfo9 (sweet fully locked and referred 5th gen) have been wheeling together quite a bit lately. Can't wait to have another one join us. I think the Jeep guys get a little intimidated when they see a group of 'Yotas out at HF. We passed one guy this weekend that was really surprised we were going up what he just came down (Carnage Canyon above Dino Falls).

 

[Zeusmotorworks]

Don't know what is funnier, that Zeus is my real nick name (6'1" 260lb ape), or that I'm in Austin as well. Nice looking truck. We don't take the Wife's 2014 TEP to Hidden Falls, but do take my FJ. Hope to see you out there.

 

[J Hoss]

[MENTION=809]fattire[/MENTION] That's EXACTLY how it went I'll make the first trip after Im lifted w/ tires. Trying to beat the old record of 3041 miles on the first off road trip.

 

[J Hoss]

[MENTION=77958]Zeusmotorworks[/MENTION] small world, I had a lady friend give it to me, I'm only 5'11 180 give or take...so it's more fitting for the 4R. gotta come flex the electronic wizardry once or twice in that TEP. Pm your email and I'll link you up with our local group also!

 

[J Hoss]

Didn't do the best taping job apparently after all (damn you, flu) so I have couple of small touch ups on the front bumper to do but still very please with the output! 1 more step towards sinisterness

 

[wfo9]

[MENTION=106176]wfo9[/MENTION]

Thanks I definitely will! I have sliders but nothing else yet. Once I recover from the purchase a bit more I'll be doing lift, wheels and tires, and skids. Don't think I'll try to tackle Hidden Falls until then, haha.

Bring it out. We will keep it mild for you, then you can jump in with one of us to hit the more sketchy stuff. We really do keep it mild. Although, here is a few quick pics from Sunday (going up Jodys revenge. I think that is about the only level 5 trail we ever do. The ratings don't seem to be very accurate out there....

I don't even know why I like wheeling. It's just fun to make this big beast dance and surprise people.

I think Jeff said it best. The jeep guys wondering why a soccer mom SUV is climbing up stuff they just struggled coming down, LOL.

 

[transworldmoto]

Good job taking those pics. This is why I love having tripods with built in levels in the heads!

 

[fattire]

Good job taking those pics. This is why I love having tripods with built in levels in the heads!

This is one of the rare spots out there where you can actually get a good picture that really shows the pitch of a given obstacle. So many of them are straight up or down the trail which just don't do them justice IMHO.

 

[balistikboy]

Thinking I'll just sell it with the lift on and order a new Boss Kit now that I heard about the Heart of Texas discount.

What's the Heart of Texas discount? Think I'm eligible as I'm a Texas resident but live out of state currently (military)? I'm looking at the Boss lift and any discount can help.

And GREAT build so far! Looking forward to seeing all you end up doing to your new Zeus.