Kingofthehill's Build and Maintenance log, Project "Faux Pro"

[kingofthehill]

RCI Skid Plates

I received my RCI skid plate and filler plate today. I bought it from Toytecs' online store and used the 5% discount code they have listed in the dealers section found here.

Took about 20 minutes to install. It was real simple. I decided to leave it bare, I might paint it gunmetal in the future but I like the bare aluminum look.

 

[kingofthehill]

Beamtech LED headlights

A while back I bought beamtech LED low beams and High beams for my 4runner. I like them so far. I have about 10 or so hours of night time driving with them istalled. Brightness I don't think they are any brighter than the halogens but color wise they look great. These are some of the whitest LEDs I have seen. No blue tint to them at all.

Low Beams:

High Beams:

Eventually I plan to install 06 headlights. When I do that Ill move the 9006 low beam LEDs to my foglights and probally do a HID kit for the H11 high beams.

 

[kingofthehill]

Front Window Tint

I got my front windows tinted today at a local tint shop. They used llumar 30% tint. It looks like it matches the factory tint very well. I think the tint shop did an excellent job.

Before:

After:

 

[mjotrainbrain]

I got my front windows tinted today at a local tint shop. They used llumar 30% tint. It looks like it matches the factory tint very well. I think the tint shop did an excellent job.

Before:

After:

Looks really good!

 

[tv4184]

Did you ever think about maybe doing a clear heat block tint to the windshield? My friends wife's GS350 has it. Supposedly helps UV protect the inside a bit. I was considering getting it done but my windscreen has a crack in it so I have to take care of that first.

 

[kingofthehill]

Looks really good!

Thanks!

Did you ever think about maybe doing a clear heat block tint to the windshield? My friends wife's GS350 has it. Supposedly helps UV protect the inside a bit. I was considering getting it done but my windscreen has a crack in it so I have to take care of that first.

I didn't even know they did that until today. The guys at the tint shop talked to me about it. I didn't have time to do it today, I think I may do it eventually though. How does your friends wife like it?

 

[tv4184]

I didn't even know they did that until today. The guys at the tint shop talked to me about it. I didn't have time to do it today, I think I may do it eventually though. How does your friends wife like it?

It's not really noticable as far as heat build up is concerned but it helps whenever you're actively driving and cooling the car. I plan on having the clear ceramic added to my rear windows and windscreen, while doing 30% to the front windows. My civic has 25% or 20% all around and the IS300 is like a fish bowl always baking me. The metal shift knob in the black IS300 and leather seats are not a great combination. Need to get that thing done soon too. Its much more tolerable in the 4runner with the cloth interior and what not.

 

[kingofthehill]

Arkansas Camping

Im wanting to go camping up in Arkansas and I am looking for a few leads on good placed to wheel near White Rock Mountain campground. I started a thread here if anyone knows of some good trails.

 

[kingofthehill]

1/4" spacers and maintenance

I installed 1/4" spacers today on the front. I also added some small 2mm thick washers to my drivers side to shim it up to correct my drivers side lean.

Before (with current t1/T12 combo):
FL 35 3/4" FR 36"
RL 38 1/2" RR 38 1/2"

After installing my 1/4" spacers my Lift numbers are:

FL 36 3/8" FR 36 5/8"
RL 38 1/2" RR 38 1/2"

I like it I just hope I dont have any California lean when driving while loaded down.

Also did my oil change and tire rotation. I did 9,889 miles on this oil change. I am sending in a sample to blackstone to make sure that it isn't too many miles. I also installed a positive battery terminal cover from a 5th gen 4runner, I think it make my engine compartment look a little better.

 

[kingofthehill]

I got my alignment done today at Firestone. They did a lot better than Christian Brothers did on my previous alignment. They couldn't even get more than a degree of castor.

 

[waypoint]

I also installed a TRD shift knob. It looks so much better than the stock one did.

Did you have to re-tap the shifter knob threads, or did it screw onto the factory shifter as-is? I agree, looks much better than the factory piece.

 

[tv4184]

How much did the positive terminal run you?

 

[kingofthehill]

Did you have to re-tap the shifter knob threads, or did it screw onto the factory shifter as-is? I agree, looks much better than the factory piece.

Thanks. Nope, it threaded right on.

How much did the positive terminal run you?

I bought it back in January so the price has changed slightly. I bought it from McGeorge Toyota online store (they tend to be a little cheaper on most things than TRD Sparks). It cost me $10.17 and the part number was: 82821-60270.

 

[kingofthehill]

Offroading and camping in the Ozarks

I took my 4runner on its first real offroad trip in the Ozarks last weekend. Had a great time. Kinda got a little annoyed with the amount of trails that were closed, but listed as open on the US forestry website. We camped at White Rock Mountain campground. It was a pretty nice campsite. Here is my review of the place. The purpose of this trip was to find out more about camping and offroading in the Ozark national forest. I want to try and get into overlanding so I was doing a trial run.

I found one really cool trail near the campground. It was called Alexander MNT RD. It started out easy then started getting very rocky while descending into a creek valley. I plan to put up some pictures later this week from my trip.

What I learned from the trip:

As my 4runner sets it is very capable. I don't think I need much more in improvements or lift at this point. I do need a better system for packing camping gear. We had to bring a second vehicle to get all our gear to the campsite, it would be nice to have only had one vehicle.

As for my next upgrades I think I need a roof rack and more offroadable tires. For tires I am leaning towards 255/75R17 since they should fit in the spare tire location. Im looking at getting either Goodyear duratrac's or BFG KO2's. I think I also might invest in a military trailer in the future and making it a camping trailer. That way all my camping gear is in one place and can easily be left at the campsite.

 

[kingofthehill]

Ozarks Sept. 2018 Pictures

Heres a couple from around the campsite.

This was on a forest service road just north of the entrance to white rock mountain.

Trying to turn around on a tight trail that had a downed log up ahead that I couldn't get past.

 

[waypoint]

Thanks. Nope, it threaded right on.

Thanks for posting, mine arrived on Monday and went on easily. Much nicer than the worn factory knob!

 

[kingofthehill]

Thanks for posting, mine arrived on Monday and went on easily. Much nicer than the worn factory knob!

No problem. It really does improve the looks of the interior!

 

[kingofthehill]

I did the maplight mod right after I got my 4runner in 2017. I have kept putting off properly finishing it until today. The issue I had was that I couldn't turn off the mod, so I always would have the maplight on when the doors are open. This sucks when you need to leave the doors open in the evening while camping for quick access. Or when leaving the rear hatch open. Every bug would swarm to the maplight. I found a switch on ebay I like and finally added it. I can turn my maplight mod off if I need to. Unfortunately I damaged the stock panel that the switch is in and had to use a donor.

 

[Whytey]

I did the maplight mod right after I got my 4runner in 2017. I have kept putting off properly finishing it until today. The issue I had was that I couldn't turn off the mod, so I always would have the maplight on when the doors are open. This sucks when you need to leave the doors open in the evening while camping for quick access. Or when leaving the rear hatch open. Every bug would swarm to the maplight. I found a switch on ebay I like and finally added it. I can turn my maplight mod off if I need to. Unfortunately I damaged the stock panel that the switch is in and had to use a donor.

Might have the do this one too. It is annoying that you can't turn them off so this is a nice clean solution. Nice work

 

[kingofthehill]

Might have the do this one too. It is annoying that you can't turn them off so this is a nice clean solution. Nice work

Thanks! It took a while to find a switch I like. I ended up settling on one I found on ebay.