JustSomeName's Golden State RUNNER Build Thread

[JustSomeName]

I ordered one of the CBI ditch light brackets and it came today, decided I'd install it after work.

But unlike most of you all, I will be using it as my CB Antenna Mount, I don't really want anymore lights at the moment, but who knows, I may change my mind down the line and add lights to it (and reroute my CB antenna wire for a 3rd time).

install was pretty straightforward, although I probably made it more difficult for myself than it should've been and it took me about an hour (note to self: get high AFTER working on your car, not before...)

I also cut half of the windshield trim so I could attach it back on, it looked kinda weird leaving it completely off

The stud for the cb antenna was actually not long enough because of how much thicker the cbi mount is compared to my old one so I'll have to go out to a hardware store tomorrow to get an extended stud.

 

[Lewis&Clark]

I ordered one of the CBI ditch light brackets and it came today, decided I'd install it after work.

But unlike most of you all, I will be using it as my CB Antenna Mount, I don't really want anymore lights at the moment, but who knows, I may change my mind down the line and add lights to it (and reroute my CB antenna wire for a 3rd time).

install was pretty straightforward, although I probably made it more difficult for myself than it should've been and it took me about an hour (note to self: get high AFTER working on your car, not before...)

I also cut half of the windshield trim so I could attach it back on, it looked kinda weird leaving it completely off

The stud for the cb antenna was actually not long enough because of how much thicker the cbi mount is compared to my old one so I'll have to go out to a hardware store tomorrow to get an extended stud.

Out of curiosity, where in the cabin did you mount the actual CB radio itself? I'm looking to add a CB to my truck soon, but I haven't found a spot I actually like for mounting them.

 

[JustSomeName]

Out of curiosity, where in the cabin did you mount the actual CB radio itself? I'm looking to add a CB to my truck soon, but I haven't found a spot I actually like for mounting them.

look on the first page of this build thread, there's a post 3/4 down the page about what CB I got and how/where I mounted it in the cabin

 

[cgv69]

Good looking rig!

When I got it, it was bone stock a base model SR5, didn't even have the OEM spoiler, cargo cover, or the JBL sound system. In hindsight, I think I would've waited it out and found one with at least a spoiler and/or JBL sound system

Funny, when I was looking around, one of the selling points of the one I bought was that it didn't have the rear spoiler. I think 4runners look so much better without them but to each their own.

 

[Lewis&Clark]

Upgraded to LED interior lights, got them in hyper white. $20 bucks shipped from EBay, best twenty bucks I spent on my car!

It came with four door lights, two map lights, two sun visors lights, one dome light, and one cargo light

I'd really like brighter lights on the interior of my 08 LTD. I'm wondering though--because mods are a new thing to me--did you only have to replace the bulbs? Or did it require rewiring, new brackets, or anything else?

Happen to recall what brand and model LEDs you got, so I can go hunting for a good $20 deal?

Lastly...the pictures look almost obnoxiously bright. But I figure that's mostly lens flare/reflection with the camera. When you have a single light on -- say, a passenger vanity light or something -- is it so bright it annoys others in the car, or is still more or less just a personal light but a bit brighter than the OEM bulbs?


dt

 

[Lewis&Clark]

Next was a CB Radio. I didn't want a big ass head unit taking up space in the interior and was looking for a model that was an all in one, head unit, mic, and speaker all in one piece. I decided on the Cobra 75WXST. Since I don't always have it on, I tucked the 75WXST's receiver underneath the center console and easily plug/unplug the CB Radio as necessary. While unplugged, I keep the CB's head unit in the glove box.

Wicked cool! I didn't realize you could get a CB like that where the whole thing is inside the handset. I have a full size handheld CB radio right now, and a weak external antenna I attach it to. They were both very cheap on Amazon that i bought in an emergency on a former deployment (Reserves). They're horrible and can't reach more than a few hundred yards or so. I want to get a CB radio head unit, but can't find a spot to put it that won't annoy me over how much cabin/dash/underdash space it consumes. This looks like a really awesome option, particularly with the connector hidden underneath and the ability to remove the hand unit when not in use (most of the time for me).

Do you get pretty decent range with the 75WXST and your antenna?


dt

 

[JustSomeName]

Wicked cool! I didn't realize you could get a CB like that where the whole thing is inside the handset. I have a full size handheld CB radio right now, and a weak external antenna I attach it to. They were both very cheap on Amazon that i bought in an emergency on a former deployment (Reserves). They're horrible and can't reach more than a few hundred yards or so. I want to get a CB radio head unit, but can't find a spot to put it that won't annoy me over how much cabin/dash/underdash space it consumes. This looks like a really awesome option, particularly with the connector hidden underneath and the ability to remove the hand unit when not in use (most of the time for me).

Do you get pretty decent range with the 75WXST and your antenna?


dt

ehhhh, if I could do it all over again, I'd probably jump straight to a HAM radio. They are SO much more clear and have a much longer distance than CBs. CB radios have shitty range and not clear at all, but most off road crews require it as a minimum for communication.

I'll probably install a HAM sometime down the line, but am in no rush

also, to answer your quest, the 75wxst is a good entry level CB, there are much better ones out there. it seems like the models where the receiver and the mic are separate are much better in terms of clarity and communication range. I saw on youtube that you can increase the range on these 75wxst's by opening it up and modifying it, but it makes the unit run hotter than usual, which could potentially cause other complications.

i just got it for the convenience, so just gotta ask yourself whether you value convenience more or clarity/range more.

 

[JustSomeName]

I'd really like brighter lights on the interior of my 08 LTD. I'm wondering though--because mods are a new thing to me--did you only have to replace the bulbs? Or did it require rewiring, new brackets, or anything else?

Happen to recall what brand and model LEDs you got, so I can go hunting for a good $20 deal?

Lastly...the pictures look almost obnoxiously bright. But I figure that's mostly lens flare/reflection with the camera. When you have a single light on -- say, a passenger vanity light or something -- is it so bright it annoys others in the car, or is still more or less just a personal light but a bit brighter than the OEM bulbs?


dt

it was a kit like this
10 x White LED Lights Interior Package Toyota 4Runner | eBay

alot of people sell them on ebay (amazon also sells them) and they seem like they're all the same, just who you wanna buy from and what color the LEDs are (white, blue, yellow, etc, etc). be warned that this set does not include the vanity lights for the visors or license plate light, had to get those separately, but i just found out the bulb size and got them separately on ebay for about a dollar a piece

they're just bulbs, so it's literally plug and play. just pop off the light caps, pull out the stock light and plug in the new LED one

theyre MUCH brighter than stock, not sure if they bother other drivers since im always in my own car and cant see another car's perspective unless i have an out of body experience or something...

what I can say is when i unlock my car and the cabin/cargo lights come on, the light shines through the tinted rear windows much more than the stock ones

 

[JustSomeName]

Good looking rig!

Funny, when I was looking around, one of the selling points of the one I bought was that it didn't have the rear spoiler. I think 4runners look so much better without them but to each their own.

Thank you for the kind words! The spoiler doesn't do much but I heard it adds 10hp to my car:thumb3:

 

[Lewis&Clark]

ehhhh, if I could do it all over again, I'd probably jump straight to a HAM radio. They are SO much more clear and have a much longer distance than CBs. CB radios have shitty range and not clear at all, but most off road crews require it as a minimum for communication.

I'll probably install a HAM sometime down the line, but am in no rush

also, to answer your quest, the 75wxst is a good entry level CB, there are much better ones out there. it seems like the models where the receiver and the mic are separate are much better in terms of clarity and communication range. I saw on youtube that you can increase the range on these 75wxst's by opening it up and modifying it, but it makes the unit run hotter than usual, which could potentially cause other complications.

i just got it for the convenience, so just gotta ask yourself whether you value convenience more or clarity/range more.

Technically though, even if you had a ham radio you couldn't talk with anyone on CB, right? Different frequencies entirely, but even if they were the same, ham operators have to be licensed, no?

 

[JustSomeName]

Rented a cabin with some friends in South Lake Tahoe this weekend. There wasn't much snow on the roads, but there was snow off the roads!

all of us parked at the house

the 4 4runners at the trail head (99 SR5, 03 Limited, my 08 SR5, and 13 TE), not pictured is our friend's 97 Tacoma

The trail is 30-40 miles but we only went 3 miles in, the snow was getting too deep and we kept getting stuck

Stuck!

 

[JustSomeName]

Technically though, even if you had a ham radio you couldn't talk with anyone on CB, right? Different frequencies entirely, but even if they were the same, ham operators have to be licensed, no?

Very true, but the crew I would go offroading with, it seems like they all had both HAM and CB but they hardly ever used the CB and the vast majority of the time, they would be on their HAMs. So I probably will transition over to HAM, it is so much better in terms of clarity and range.

And yes, HAM operators require a license, but its only 15 bucks for a 5 year license and not that hard to get.

 

[ebg18t]

Very true, but the crew I would go offroading with, it seems like they all had both HAM and CB but they hardly ever used the CB and the vast majority of the time, they would be on their HAMs. So I probably will transition over to HAM, it is so much better in terms of clarity and range.



And yes, HAM operators require a license, but its only 15 bucks for a 5 year license and not that hard to get.

Same here. Most the groups I have run multi day trips with are all using 2M. A lot of groups still use CB as many people are concerned about the Tech Exam and the every price to a 2M radio compared to Wal-Mart pricing on CB's. But in reality with the introduction of all the Chinese HAM radios people can get a dual handheld radio for $50.

 

[JustSomeName]

Picked up a Smokers Kit (Part #74110-35010-B0) off ebay for cheap. like everyone else, wanted to have dual outlets while keeping the look OEM, that and its a smoking car, it just made sense to get one and im loving it so far!

arrived and installed, all in one day. really easy install, took about 10 minutes.

 

[oljedi11950]

Really ? That's a cabin ? Looks like a pretty nice cabin !

 

[Lewis&Clark]

it was a kit like this
10 x White LED Lights Interior Package Toyota 4Runner | eBay

alot of people sell them on ebay (amazon also sells them) and they seem like they're all the same, just who you wanna buy from and what color the LEDs are (white, blue, yellow, etc, etc). be warned that this set does not include the vanity lights for the visors or license plate light, had to get those separately, but i just found out the bulb size and got them separately on ebay for about a dollar a piece

they're just bulbs, so it's literally plug and play. just pop off the light caps, pull out the stock light and plug in the new LED one

theyre MUCH brighter than stock, not sure if they bother other drivers since im always in my own car and cant see another car's perspective unless i have an out of body experience or something...

what I can say is when i unlock my car and the cabin/cargo lights come on, the light shines through the tinted rear windows much more than the stock ones

I ordered a set last week and got them a couple days later, but just found the time a moment ago to put them in.

It was dead easy to do. I found the door pocket lights a bit more sensitive than the others. The domes slipped right in, stayed snug, and turned on/off just fine. The door pockets, however, would easily flicker on/off as the bulbs seemed to slip around a bit in the slot. Got them okay, but then as soon as I snapped their light boxes back into the door, the bulb would move. I eventually got them in without slipping and it turns on/off fine now. I'm worried vibrations or bumps in the road might bounce them around enough to move the bulb, but I'll play it be ear. The weird thing was that the sockets and box are just fine--they're no loose connectors or anything.

Other than that, the LEDs are AWESOME! I really love them. They're more than bright enough now, but not so bright it'll be annoying to other passengers.

I ordered the 10x kit and seem to have two leftovers of the flat type LEDs. I do not think I missed anything on the interior...the dome light cabin (1), the driver and passenger map lights (2), the 4 door pockets (4), and the dome light cargo (1). That's 8...so what's up.

The ebay kit I bought said it includes 2 pieces for the dome (cargo/trunk) and 2 pieces for the dome in the cabin ...did I miss a couple bulbs somewhere? I figure the 2 left are just extras, but just curious if I somehow missed something here.


Next up, I think I might buy another kit and replace the bulbs on the running boards.

 

[JustSomeName]

I ordered a set last week and got them a couple days later, but just found the time a moment ago to put them in.

It was dead easy to do. I found the door pocket lights a bit more sensitive than the others. The domes slipped right in, stayed snug, and turned on/off just fine. The door pockets, however, would easily flicker on/off as the bulbs seemed to slip around a bit in the slot. Got them okay, but then as soon as I snapped their light boxes back into the door, the bulb would move. I eventually got them in without slipping and it turns on/off fine now. I'm worried vibrations or bumps in the road might bounce them around enough to move the bulb, but I'll play it be ear. The weird thing was that the sockets and box are just fine--they're no loose connectors or anything.

Other than that, the LEDs are AWESOME! I really love them. They're more than bright enough now, but not so bright it'll be annoying to other passengers.

I ordered the 10x kit and seem to have two leftovers of the flat type LEDs. I do not think I missed anything on the interior...the dome light cabin (1), the driver and passenger map lights (2), the 4 door pockets (4), and the dome light cargo (1). That's 8...so what's up.

The ebay kit I bought said it includes 2 pieces for the dome (cargo/trunk) and 2 pieces for the dome in the cabin ...did I miss a couple bulbs somewhere? I figure the 2 left are just extras, but just curious if I somehow missed something here.


Next up, I think I might buy another kit and replace the bulbs on the running boards.

yup, they are in fact extras, I thought they were for the visors but theyre not, had to get those extras

it may say "two cabin lights" because some 4runners came with this cabin light that had two lights on it (mine came with the single one, as your's probably did too)

 

[Lewis&Clark]

yup, they are in fact extras, I thought they were for the visors but theyre not, had to get those extras

it may say "two cabin lights" because some 4runners came with this cabin light that had two lights on it (mine came with the single one, as your's probably did too)

Makes sense. Mine is also an '08 (Ltd V8); may have been one of the earlier years. I vaguely recall seeing that design on an '03 or '04 when I was scouting around for 4th gens.

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

I wonder if the CBI A-pillar light bracket will work on a 5th Gen. I would love to put two spots up there.

Oh and the HAM license is 10 years. It is worth it. I actually pulled my CB out of my truck since my gang all are licensed.

I will have to keep an eye out for your rig on meets.

 

[JustSomeName]

I wonder if the CBI A-pillar light bracket will work on a 5th Gen. I would love to put two spots up there.

Oh and the HAM license is 10 years. It is worth it. I actually pulled my CB out of my truck since my gang all are licensed.

I will have to keep an eye out for your rig on meets.

who/what group do you go wheeling with? any way I can get in on these meets?