jpeaslee's T4R3

[Unner]

I thought I'd take advantage of getting off work a little early today and give the runner a quick bath and ended up snagging a few pics as well.


I've been exploring some of the local WMAs and random roads around here. Being on the Tennessee river, there are quite a few places with a great view.

I went up to Jackson, TN last weekend to snag a set of 5 255/75/17 BFG Mud Terrain KM(1) with less than 300 miles. $425 for the set. I was really wanting to run 255/80s, but being able to snag these for this price, and having the ability to snag a few as a spare and a set for my m416 that I'm working on building just made sense. Got my Sequoia wheels painted up and ready for the new rubber saturday. Now if only the new oem lugs I ordered will show up tomorrow like they're supposed to. I wish I knew where my original ones were.

Heading down to Stoney Lonesome sunday with my cousin, so we'll see how they compare to the Grabber AT2s.

Same tires I run. Got mine for cheap off a Jeeper too, but I had to drive to Marietta for mine. Had mine for 25k with no issues. Next discount $100 off $400 sale I'm gonna spring for the 255/80's in the cooper ST MAXX most likely.

I knew exactly where you took those pics, been there many times. Unfortunately that's about as much offroading as you can get around here. I spend a good bit of time down there at the Wheeler WMA. Some pics over the years from down there.

From the other side of the river, if you go across the river bridge on 65, take the priceville exit, it's only a few miles from there to get in. You can drive under the river bridge also on the WMA roads.

Other side also.



North side of the river now.



Same place as your pic above, at the curve right before the river. After we get a lot of rain there can be some pretty deep puddles out there, but I think they might have leveled that part of the roads over there. The river gets high sometimes and can make for some fun water crossings.

Snow made it awesome out there.





Sorry about the long post in your thread, just wanted to share haha

 

[jpeaslee]

I went down to Stoney Lonesome down in Cullman Co., AL yesterday for a day trip. For the morning half, he rode his Honda CRF250 and scouted ahead of me a little bit. At that point we were sticking to the main trail and those marked “easiest”. Some of them were impassible just due to being completely rutted out. Apparently they don’t do much to repair trails as they get ridden, turn into ruts that suddenly drop 5 feet without a way around. It would have been extremely frustrating if I didn’t have him on that leg of the trip. After lunch, he joined me IN the 4runner and helped marshal on the more technical “Advanced” trails we took in the afternoon. A few times, we found ourselves accidentally in the “Extreme” trails. I am absolutely blown away with the capability of my rig, which really isn’t all that far from stock. I was also pretty amazed at how well the Grabbers did. The only time where I felt like I missed some traction was in a straight up mud pit/pond. Everything else I had all the traction I needed. It’s making me second guess putting the BFG M/Ts that will be going on it this afternoon.

I did wind up a little over my head (almost literally) on one of the trails. It was a STEEP downhill (I couldn’t really capture it in the pics) with some big rock ledges that I had to cross at a bit of an angle. The rocks had some of that real fine moon sand (as I call it at least) that was extremely slippery/unpredictable. My cousin and I actually used a trick that we learned at expo, wrapping a tow strap around the B pillar, and then using a couple trees as an anchor, to keep it from rolling over.

We traced our trails, and I’m happy to share the GPX file if anyone is interested in it. It’ll be very useful for future ventures there.

Here’s a few pics from the day:

 

[jpeaslee]

Same tires I run. Got mine for cheap off a Jeeper too, but I had to drive to Marietta for mine. Had mine for 25k with no issues. Next discount $100 off $400 sale I'm gonna spring for the 255/80's in the cooper ST MAXX most likely.

I knew exactly where you took those pics, been there many times. Unfortunately that's about as much offroading as you can get around here. I spend a good bit of time down there at the Wheeler WMA. Some pics over the years from down there.

From the other side of the river, if you go across the river bridge on 65, take the priceville exit, it's only a few miles from there to get in. You can drive under the river bridge also on the WMA roads.

Sorry about the long post in your thread, just wanted to share haha

I had to drive up to Jackson, TN for mine. That's probably about the same drive as Marrietta, just the opposite direction, haha.

It's funny how different my perspective is on places to wheel around here. I feel like they're all over the place, but I'm used to South GA, which literally has nothing but swamps unless you get about 4 hours away, whereas there a several places within 2 hours drive of me here. Definitely a bit of a difference between Stoney and Wheeler though...

I'm definitely planning on checking out the other side of Wheeler one of these weekends coming up. When are you heading back to bama?

I mounted up BFG Mts. I'm already missing the stance and width of the tires (aesthetically, not functionally). We'll see how long I last before I end up jumming to 285 or 295 75/16s.

 

[jpeaslee]

As I mentioned previously, I mounted up some 255/75r17 BFG KMs (true 32") on some Sequoia 17" split 5s. They rode remarkably quiet (quieter than my Grabber AT2s even), but ended up selling them and my Grabbers on Level 8s to [MENTION=143546]YotaKyle[/MENTION]. On my ride, I just didn't love the stance. For a DD the Grabbers were a little grippier on pavement and in the rain. I think they look a lot better on a rig with a stock bumper.

I ended up going back with the exact same Level 8 Mk6 16x8 0 Offset wrapped with 285/75r16 Goodyear Duratracs (33.1"). No doubt I took a hit on my performance (4.10 gears) and about a 2mpg hit on the highway. I haven't taken them off road yet, but i'm excited to see how they'll perform, though for an AT, the Grabbers set the bar pretty high. With my TRD/5100 lift on the front (1st perch) I am getting a lot of rubbing if I turn and brake or turn and reverse.

All this leads to what's finally coming [hopefully] this coming weekend.
1. Either some used Icon 2.5 coilovers or Eibach springs on my current 5100s
2. LBJs
3. OTREs
4. Toytec Diff Drop Kit
5. LC 7.5/7.75 Wraps
6. Tokico Black shocks
7. Sonoran Steel Adjustable Panhard
8. Rack bushings (if I have time)

My Stubbs Sliders came in a week or two ago. I need to get them cleaned up and painted so I can hopefully get them welded on the following weekend.

I also finally got my M416 towed up here (it's completely disassembled). I need to get the tub cleaned up and painted. I'm picking up a compressor tomorrow so I can start working on the derustification in the evenings after work. I'm pretty excited as 33s, a full 3-4" lift, and sliders are something that I've been wanting since I got my rig (though it's only been a little over a year that I've had it...)

 

[jpeaslee]

Also on my way down to GA to bring my trailer back, I was towing my bigger trailer and my grandma (well, she was in the passenger seat) and slowly started to get a weird intermittent vibration. Turns out on of my lug studs had broken off on the front drivers side, and the other 5 were EXTREMELY loose, like there was at least 1/4" gap between the hub and the back side of my wheel. I could rock it even with the truck on the ground. I got lucky on that one that it wasn't worse.

WTF. I've always torqued to 84 ft/lb. Probably driven 2k miles since I put them on and hadn't had an issue then all of the sudden this??!?!

 

[YotaKyle]

As I mentioned previously, I mounted up some 255/75r17 BFG KMs (true 32") on some Sequoia 17" split 5s. They rode remarkably quiet (quieter than my Grabber AT2s even), but ended up selling them and my Grabbers on Level 8s to [MENTION=143546]YotaKyle[/MENTION]. On my ride, I just didn't love the stance. For a DD the Grabbers were a little grippier on pavement and in the rain. I think they look a lot better on a rig with a stock bumper.

I ended up going back with the exact same Level 8 Mk6 16x8 0 Offset wrapped with 285/75r16 Goodyear Duratracs (33.1"). No doubt I took a hit on my performance (4.10 gears) and about a 2mpg hit on the highway. I haven't taken them off road yet, but i'm excited to see how they'll perform, though for an AT, the Grabbers set the bar pretty high. With my TRD/5100 lift on the front (1st perch) I am getting a lot of rubbing if I turn and brake or turn and reverse.

All this leads to what's finally coming [hopefully] this coming weekend.
1. Either some used Icon 2.5 coilovers or Eibach springs on my current 5100s
2. LBJs
3. OTREs
4. Toytec Diff Drop Kit
5. LC 7.5/7.75 Wraps
6. Tokico Black shocks
7. Sonoran Steel Adjustable Panhard
8. Rack bushings (if I have time)

My Stubbs Sliders came in a week or two ago. I need to get them cleaned up and painted so I can hopefully get them welded on the following weekend.

I also finally got my M416 towed up here (it's completely disassembled). I need to get the tub cleaned up and painted. I'm picking up a compressor tomorrow so I can start working on the derustification in the evenings after work. I'm pretty excited as 33s, a full 3-4" lift, and sliders are something that I've been wanting since I got my rig (though it's only been a little over a year that I've had it...)

Those general grabbers are remarkably quite and I love them myself [MENTION=118797]jpeaslee[/MENTION] oh and im currently replacing the LBJs myself while doing the control arm swap. Also have some ITRE'S on the way! Along with the new style rack guide to go with my new rack and pinion bushings I recently installed. We just need us our on shop to work in near here haha

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[jpeaslee]

Those general grabbers are remarkably quite and I love them myself [MENTION=118797]jpeaslee[/MENTION] oh and im currently replacing the LBJs myself while doing the control arm swap. Also have some ITRE'S on the way! Along with the new style rack guide to go with my new rack and pinion bushings I recently installed. We just need us our on shop to work in near here haha

I'd give my left nut for a garage and a lift. Seriously, can anyone make that happen?

 

[YotaKyle]

You ever been to dry creek in waterloo?? [MENTION=118797]jpeaslee[/MENTION]

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[jpeaslee]

You ever been to dry creek in waterloo?? [MENTION=118797]jpeaslee[/MENTION]

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I stopped by on my way back from Jackson TN. I got a little ways in and realized I really wasn't prepared for it (no maps or anything) and I was solo and had to go to work the next day. I've been dying to go back. West Tenn Offroad does occasional rides there, which would be great to learn the trails. Apparently you have to be careful or you can very quickly end up deep into private property.

Hawk Pride is on my short list. I haven't been to any of the other Tennessee trails, but it looks like there are quite a few to choose from.

 

[YotaKyle]

I stopped by on my way back from Jackson TN. I got a little ways in and realized I really wasn't prepared for it (no maps or anything) and I was solo and had to go to work the next day. I've been dying to go back. West Tenn Offroad does occasional rides there, which would be great to learn the trails. Apparently you have to be careful or you can very quickly end up deep into private property.

Hawk Pride is on my short list. I haven't been to any of the other Tennessee trails, but it looks like there are quite a few to choose from.

We'll go sometime. I know all the WMAS and areas real good. Dry creek waterfall is neat. Here's a pic of the taco there

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[kolelt]

Awesome truck man. Digging the front bumper. I have a question. Any idea on where to get those led turn signals that are in your front bumper ?

Also I don think whitsonmetalworks makes the roof racks anymore.

 

[jpeaslee]

Awesome truck man. Digging the front bumper. I have a question. Any idea on where to get those led turn signals that are in your front bumper ?

Also I don think whitsonmetalworks makes the roof racks anymore.

They came with my AO bumper, so i'm not really sure.

And you're correct. Unfortunately he doesn't.

 

[kolelt]

They came with my AO bumper, so i'm not really sure.

And you're correct. Unfortunately he doesn't.

Yup, I'm really pissed that I got it powder coated. And because of the design. The mesh style, it is very very hard to get powder into all the cracks. And there's some rust showing grerrrrr. I wish it was a bolt on mesh so you can powder coat each piece seperatley. If you know what I mean.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Hey man your retrofit looks badass. Are you going to match to color corner lights like I did?

 

[jpeaslee]

Hey man your retrofit looks badass. Are you going to match to color corner lights like I did?

Thanks man. High praise coming from you! I actually did go back and replace the corners with some new ones and painted the inner housings the same color. If you look in the pics after the retrofit ones, you can see them.

Recently one of the halos stopped working and TRS wants me to dismantle them and swap them and see what happens. Seems a bit ridiculous and I'm not doing it. Turn signals still work, just not the DRL/white halo. I've been meaning to tackle it, but my trailer build and suspension/tire swaps have taken priority over the halos.

Icons should finally be here tomorrow after a full week of bouncing back and forth between north and south Alabama. They've been put on a truck for delivery TWICE in Mobile which is 5 hours away. One girl at Customer Service even tried to tell me they they didn't have a local place for the ground shipments only express, so the truck in mobile would be delivering it directly to my house.

After having the front sway bar disconnected, I'm very curious to see how everything will handle with the icons in comparison to the TRD/Billys. I definitely couldn't handle it without the sway bar currently if it was a DD. As a offroad rig it's great without it though!

 

[RockyMtnPhoto]

Love the build! Great looking retrofits.

 

[Unner]

Yup, I'm really pissed that I got it powder coated. And because of the design. The mesh style, it is very very hard to get powder into all the cracks. And there's some rust showing grerrrrr. I wish it was a bolt on mesh so you can powder coat each piece seperatley. If you know what I mean.

I had mine powder coated locally and it is doing the same thing. I don't think painting it would have been any better though...

 

[jpeaslee]

So I got my 7.5/7.75 wraps & Tokico Greens installed, followed by bumping the perch on my bilsteins/TRD to the third perch as well as a SS adjustable panhard, wheelers Offroad extended rear brake lines, and Toytec Diff Drop. My Icon Coilovers w/ 700lb springs ended up coming earlier than expected (though there was a huge mixup with FedEx... FedEx SUCKS, [MENTION=120150]TotalAutomotiveLV[/MENTION] & Icon Vehicle Dynamics are both awesome).

I got the Icons installed last weekend, and then after letting everything settle, I cranked down the coilovers going from having 1/2" of thread showing above the adjustment ring to having 1.25" (max of 1.5" according to Icon). The results are pretty fantastic.

I found out that there are some nice little power line trails behind my aunt and uncles house, so a couple of my cousins and I went for a little test run to test out the icons and see where the limitations were on one of my cousin's Durango (AWD, V6, 3" spacer lift, Duck Commander 265/32" ATs). I'm in the middle of fixing my halos on my projectors, so my grill isn't on, nothing more significant.


I think I'm finally at a point where I'm very happy with how it is functionally.

Mostly small things from here forward.
-Need to get my sliders welded on
-New skids. I'm not sure that I'm going to worry with a gas tank skid for what I'm doing
-Finish my stereo/2nd battery install
-Roof rack

-Finish my trailer build

All of this just got put on a bit of a hold though, as I just had to sink 3 grand into my house back in GA in order to get it rented out. Gotta spend money to make money, but it hurts having it all come out at once unexpectedly.

 

[kolelt]

I had mine powder coated locally and it is doing the same thing. I don't think painting it would have been any better though...

I agree. Sucks though

 

[DFlores]

jpeaslee Awesome pictures. Could you please send me the GPS files for Stony Lonesome? Than you so much I am planing on making a trip out there in the near future. My e-mail is [email protected]

Once again thank you and awesome pictures