Jake's '99 Limited "Build" Thread
- Thread starter Team_Jake
- Start date
Team_Jake
Member
Fixed my cruise control on Saturday.
I honestly cannot tell you what was wrong with it. I tore apart the dash and the center console and did some continuity testing on the clutch release wires. I traced the wires back to where I spliced into the wiring harness on top of the transmission, and found continuity. A little confused, I decided to do a test drive with everything still torn apart, and suddenly the cruise control works! I'm not sure if it was just a loose wire that somehow decided to connect when I tore everything apart, or user error in operating the cruise control, but it works now.
I've tried it a few times since and it works just as it should in a 5-speed.
I honestly cannot tell you what was wrong with it. I tore apart the dash and the center console and did some continuity testing on the clutch release wires. I traced the wires back to where I spliced into the wiring harness on top of the transmission, and found continuity. A little confused, I decided to do a test drive with everything still torn apart, and suddenly the cruise control works! I'm not sure if it was just a loose wire that somehow decided to connect when I tore everything apart, or user error in operating the cruise control, but it works now.
I've tried it a few times since and it works just as it should in a 5-speed.
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Team_Jake
Member
During my Sea of Cortes trip last year one of the roads knocked out my alignment and caused my front tires to toe out. I didn't realize this until I had gotten back to San Diego, and found the inside edge of both of my front tires were nearly bald. Shortly after I got an alignment and swapped them to the rear.
Now with the swing-out I needed a new wheel and tire. I decided to get two new tires on the rear and move the better of my bad tires to the spare and discard the other. I picked up a new wheel from VTX, got two new tires from Discount Tire, and got everything mounted. She's starting to look complete!
Now with the swing-out I needed a new wheel and tire. I decided to get two new tires on the rear and move the better of my bad tires to the spare and discard the other. I picked up a new wheel from VTX, got two new tires from Discount Tire, and got everything mounted. She's starting to look complete!
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octanejunkie
Elite Member
How stable/noisy is it driving around with the spare up high back there, does the spare rock around and make new knocks and noises?
Team_Jake
Member
I just had the spare installed yesterday, so I've only driven ~30 miles with it on. From that short drive, I did not observe any stability issues or rattling of any kind, it seems very stout and flex is minimal.
fourfive
Senior Member
Damn dude that bumper looks great. Nice design! I like the angles you have on it, looks a lot better then vertical lines.
It was made by Nguyen Works, and if you haven't heard of them before, go check out "nguyen_works" on Instagram. These are the most low profile, minimalist, and high clearance bumpers I've ever seen. I was going to make my own but honestly the way they make theirs is nearly identical to how I would make mine so it only made sense to just order one through them.
I'm liking that look. Direct bolt on? How close is the horizontal crossbar on the tire carrier to the hatch? I like how it flows with the body lines & low profile but doesn't look like there's a lot of space between the edge of the bumper & the hatch, or is it just the picture?
Team_Jake
Member
Thank you!
Mine is not direct bolt-on, but that's because of the fuel tank cross-member I added on the back. The standard Nguyen Works bumpers are direct bolt-on I believe.
The rear bumper is definitely as low profile and tight to the body as it can be. The lower horizontal bar on the swing-out gets very close to the hatch, I would say a little less than 1" at the closest point (but I haven't measured).
mesooohoppy
New member
those welds on that rear bumper do not look good for a fabrication company. im sure they're structurally sound for hanging off the back of a 4runner, but they just dont look confidence inspiring.
i tried to work with nguyen works on getting a better tire swing out as i like their bumper, but their swing out leaves much to be desired (IMO). they couldnt even get me good pictures of their current swing out.
i tried to work with nguyen works on getting a better tire swing out as i like their bumper, but their swing out leaves much to be desired (IMO). they couldnt even get me good pictures of their current swing out.
Team_Jake
Member
I will admit those particular welds are the worst on the entire bumper. Every other weld I would call good to excellent, those you pointed out are mediocre at best. Structurally they are fine and it's in an area you almost never see, but I do think they could've done better. (It may be noteworthy that these are crappy cell phone photos taken of the inside of the tire carrier of something that I painted and didn't give much attention to. I could've cleaned up and sanded things down a little better there but this area is almost never seen so I didn't really care.)
I'm not sure what could be done differently to make the swing-out better, it's made with a 4x Innovations hinge and the latching mechanism is easy and secure. It seems plenty stout for my needs, but I'm not planning to carry a bunch on weight on the swing-out, maybe I'll add a hi-lift later on but that is it. If there are any particular photos you want to see of the swing-out I'd be happy to get those for you.
mesooohoppy
New member
ive written nguyen asking for better photos, but i dont think im going to get any as this is the 3rd time ive asked.
i still dont understand how this actually swings out as the pictures you took make it look like its welded to the bumper itself (why im asking for better pictures from nguyen).
one thing i did notice was that hinge. i have not had good luck with those 'pull' style hinges over years of use. the plastic gets super brittle and is always the first thing to go (or i drop something on it and it turns into a shiv and i stab myself with it). i really dig the latches found on the coastal bumpers; same with their actual swing out, theirs utilizes heims and i cant tell what this utilizes but im assuming its a bushing, or possibly a sealed bearing? a bearing would be better than a bushing. i also like that coastal uses larger square extrusion, so you dont need as much of it and it looks more 'scaled' to the rest of the bumper.
again, i really like that bumper, i just think the swing out carriers could be a little more refined; although its really hard for me to tell because i cant get decent pics from nguyen, im just going off of entire rear end shots.
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Team_Jake
Member
I took a video on how the swing-out operates. If you want any other shots I'd be happy to show you, let me know...
<iframe frameborder="0" scrolling="no" width="1280" height="720" src="https://api.smugmug.com/services/embed/9404802677_PHFWs6W?width=1280&height=720&albumId=155076833&albumKey=WzZDQN"></iframe>
mesooohoppy
New member
thank you, that helps tremendously! they have a very similar dual swing out i may spring for.
Team_Jake
Member
Adding a new vehicle to the squad!
This vehicle isn't mine, it is owned by other Jake's girlfriend. She wanted a 4th gen 4Runner (already built, able to keep up in our offroad trips). They drove up to Sacramento last week to look at a 4th gen with long travel and it had a few issues the owner was trying to hide. After walking away from that, I pointed them toward a GX470 in the area just to take a look at, and she ended up buying it!
This GX was built by CAtuned & XploreOffroad and previously owned by XploreOffroad. Here are some of the notable upgrades:
- Icon Stage 3 suspension with Icon UCAs & Delta Joints
- Yukon 4.88 gears
- ARB front
- Detroit Rear
- Coastal Offroad front bumper and skids
- CAtuned sliders
- Heavy duty rear links
- 35" Federal Cougaria's on 17" Raceline Defenders
I think the previous owner was worried that it was just going to end up being a Mall Crawler. While it probably won't be doing the Rubicon like it had in the past, it will be used extensively and taken on some difficult trails, so rest assured!
This vehicle isn't mine, it is owned by other Jake's girlfriend. She wanted a 4th gen 4Runner (already built, able to keep up in our offroad trips). They drove up to Sacramento last week to look at a 4th gen with long travel and it had a few issues the owner was trying to hide. After walking away from that, I pointed them toward a GX470 in the area just to take a look at, and she ended up buying it!
This GX was built by CAtuned & XploreOffroad and previously owned by XploreOffroad. Here are some of the notable upgrades:
- Icon Stage 3 suspension with Icon UCAs & Delta Joints
- Yukon 4.88 gears
- ARB front
- Detroit Rear
- Coastal Offroad front bumper and skids
- CAtuned sliders
- Heavy duty rear links
- 35" Federal Cougaria's on 17" Raceline Defenders
I think the previous owner was worried that it was just going to end up being a Mall Crawler. While it probably won't be doing the Rubicon like it had in the past, it will be used extensively and taken on some difficult trails, so rest assured!
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mesooohoppy
New member
you have more than one GF? oh man, i hope youre holding up fine with them all in quarantine.
Team_Jake
Member
LOL, I guess I should re-phrase, this GX is owned by a friend of mine. Her boyfriend's name is Jake and I have frequently referred to him as Other Jake or the other half of Team Jake and he has helped with a lot of my 4Runner projects.
mesooohoppy
New member
haha, i see makes sense.
Team_Jake
Member
Decided to give the Pinyon Mountain Trail in Anza Borrego State Park a go last weekend, first time doing it. The weather was a relatively cool 85° out there so we figured we'd take advantage. Turned out to be the perfect day to go out there, we didn't see another soul out on the trail.
After a few miles of winding desert dirt roads, we reached the infamous Squeeze. The GX just barely fit, the sliders did their job to keep the body out of the rocks.
The 4Runner did it with relative ease (but still a very tight fit) being a couple of inches narrower than the GX, the sliders didn't even contact anything.
About a 1/4 mile later we reached the rock garden. It was relatively easy but did have a couple obstacles that required a spotter, it was a good challenge.
We reached the top of the ridge shortly after the rock garden, and as they say "what goes up, must come down". And we go down fast, very fast. Heart Attack Hill. There are a couple YouTube videos of people rolling down Heart Attack Hill so with that in the back of our minds it's quite intimidating.
There are two spots both our vehicles 3-wheeled while going down, one at the very top...that got our hearts pumping.
After Heart Attack Hill, the trail offers some fun but easy obstacles.
The trail then tones down quite a bit, and dumps out into the east side of Anza Borrego through Fish Creek Wash where you find yourself surrounded by magnificent cliffs and cool places to explore.
...
Overall this is a fantastic trail I highly recommend. It's not terribly difficult, if you have 33s and sliders you should be able to do it without too much worry.
After a few miles of winding desert dirt roads, we reached the infamous Squeeze. The GX just barely fit, the sliders did their job to keep the body out of the rocks.
The 4Runner did it with relative ease (but still a very tight fit) being a couple of inches narrower than the GX, the sliders didn't even contact anything.
About a 1/4 mile later we reached the rock garden. It was relatively easy but did have a couple obstacles that required a spotter, it was a good challenge.
We reached the top of the ridge shortly after the rock garden, and as they say "what goes up, must come down". And we go down fast, very fast. Heart Attack Hill. There are a couple YouTube videos of people rolling down Heart Attack Hill so with that in the back of our minds it's quite intimidating.
There are two spots both our vehicles 3-wheeled while going down, one at the very top...that got our hearts pumping.
After Heart Attack Hill, the trail offers some fun but easy obstacles.
The trail then tones down quite a bit, and dumps out into the east side of Anza Borrego through Fish Creek Wash where you find yourself surrounded by magnificent cliffs and cool places to explore.
...
Overall this is a fantastic trail I highly recommend. It's not terribly difficult, if you have 33s and sliders you should be able to do it without too much worry.
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Dezert4Runner
Senior Member
I’ve been wanting to do that trail for a while now. I think you caught it just right since the state park opened back up on the 5th. That in conjunction with the heat would explain why you didn’t see anyone out there. I didn’t know it opened until I looked in their website Saturday. Too bad it’s hot from here on out for the next couple months!
Team_Jake
Member
Yeah we were checking the State Park website every day last week looking for updates to the status and were ecstatic when they announced they were opening Friday. With the cool weather it was really the last chance to do the trail for a few months, gonna be too hot from here on out.
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