Kotrin 3rd Gen...Adventure

[Road Bull]

Hey man,

Hang in there. I know quite a few people that struggle with depression and it's no fun from what I gleam from their experiences. I know it must be frustrating. It is hard to witness as an outsider as there is no magic thing to say to make it better.

I really like those pics and details about your journey. Looked fun man. I need to plan out something like that this year. Just seems that some of the best times of the year to do things like that, are my busiest at work, so I do what I can, and plan on trying to fit more in.

Good luck brother!

 

[Kotrin]

Very cool truck man and its great to see folks doing custom work like that. Keep the camping pics coming. Oregon looks awesome.

Thank you. I've read you're thread a lot and some of the ideas i hope to use.

 

[Kotrin]

Hey man,

Hang in there. I know quite a few people that struggle with depression and it's no fun from what I gleam from their experiences. I know it must be frustrating. It is hard to witness as an outsider as there is no magic thing to say to make it better.

I really like those pics and details about your journey. Looked fun man. I need to plan out something like that this year. Just seems that some of the best times of the year to do things like that, are my busiest at work, so I do what I can, and plan on trying to fit more in.


Good luck brother!

Thank you. I know the feeling with work and fun. Take it from me, take the time and enjoy. Don't not take the time and be screwed like me.

 

[Kotrin]

Planned Changes

So due to the warmer weather we have decided to go to Ouray, CO. May as well as we feel its easier for me and only 200 more miles difference. From my understanding a fair amount of the trails don't require everything. I do know that some of the trails are quite technical and such but I've always wanted to go here while I can.

So some predecessor to some of the changes. My dad dragged me out of the house a few weeks ago to Barnyard Boyz event down in Reedsport, OR. On the way home, his rear wheel of the dodge towing the toyhauler went flying down highway 38 not 20 minutes past Reedsport. It was the back rear driver side tire, now 1300.00 in towing, 1700 in parts and they don't arrive till MONDAY. Hoping to throw it all together Monday, do test runs on the axle, recheck and etc and HOPE we got EVERYTHING we ordered correct and doesn't need some random part the dealer says is 5 days. So long story short its delayed-pushed our trips out. Currently looking to be in Ouray, CO on 9/15-16th(most likely the 16th, lots of driving on me...sigh. I do alright with the driving when I can get out every few hours, but whew, luckily my 4runner needs fuel every 200-250 miles! . So will be there for 7 days and heading home on Saturday Morning of the 23rd and driving till home by Sunday.

On a different note I got out of the house again and went up to my snow wheeling area's outside of Detroit and why I hate fires, the fire roads they are creating are blazing new trails due to it. I'm currently looking at October/November (once 100% fires have been contained/out). If anyone wants to come I will update upon closer monitoring. Lots of easy and fun trails (before the fires, why I wanna get up here afterwards to see what all got destroyed ).

 

[aidanyota]

I'm sorry to hear about all that you had to go through :/. Anyways, dope build! What wheels are those? I've looked all over your thread and maybe I missed it but I couldn't find it anywhere!

 

[Scramble]

It's been awhile since I've posted but things have been extremely difficult. I've been by far the most depressed I have ever been since my injury. I have struggled a lot and I won't lie, between pain and getting worse, money (lack there of) and needing stuff for things...well you can imagine. I actually reached a point of no return. My son, having him since June 25th, has helped some but it is always on my mind. I also have manic depression from my mother's side and this has compounded exponentially on top of everything.

So I feel terrible about not making the trip with everyone and have also had to push out my Ouray Trip in September. My dad has retired as of a week ago to try and assist me. He is taking me out to Utah (Moab) and wants to also take me to KOH and Rubicon next year. I feel that my remaining 50% of movement will be gone but unfortunately still fighting courts about disability and such

This winter will be interesting the closer we get to my court date the more scared, depressed and everything gets. So sick to my stomach just thinking about it now really sad

Hang in there man & keep your chin up! I have a feeling your court date will go fine!

 

[Kotrin]

I'm sorry to hear about all that you had to go through :/. Anyways, dope build! What wheels are those? I've looked all over your thread and maybe I missed it but I couldn't find it anywhere!

Fuel Boost D534 if my memory recalls correctly. I have since destoryed the 'center caps' on wheeling but otherwise they do good for me so far. They looked SO sweet on my 5th gen 4Runner but I took them for my current ride so I wouldn't lose everything.

 

[Kotrin]

So the Colorado Trip turned into a very sad disappointment. Forced to go home after two days due to some issues(Problems with my current limitations I have to be with someone, just encase), but my two days was so not long enough. Planning to go again but unfortunately on the way home it took 4 days versus 2 due to the Toy Hauler blew two tires, the truck towing blew a tire, massive vibration which ended up being a bubbling inbetweeen tread. So 4 extra days to return and 1200.00 extra to get home....

But one thing very neat was a lighting/hail/snow storm on top of Kendall Mountain.

Due to not spending as much time in Colorado, my dad has started to help me fix/rebuilding my entire rear bumper/swing away setup. I hate when you start a project and as it goes you discover more problems and requrements to fix extending the build even more



I'll try to take pictures as we completely re-build the entire rear.

Oh and ontop of the other failures on the way home from Colorado we broke the ring gear again in my dad's Toyota. Figured out now what that sound was and we have a spare e-locker third member laying around . The problem i'm seeing is it will not work with out a new ring and pinion different than the normal 5.29's we run cause the setup of a e-locker doesn't use the same. The problem with going to the e-locker ring and pinion is the pinion is weaker now verus what we currently run. It's a 1984 Toyota pickup ring and pinion, the pinion has less teeth versus the e-locker which creates another weak point. Not sure if this is true or not, but I've almost convinced my dad to just sell the 3rd member now.

 

[Kotrin]

Rear Bumper Re-build

I am very happy that my Dad and I have close hobbies. I also am VERY grateful beyond words for his assistance on helping cause I could NEVER do this ever with out sacks of cash I don't have. So we spent 5 hours today, grinding, layout, test fitting and removing items in prep for next weeks 5 days of morning work. I don't think i'll have it ready to paint by the end of next week. After unloading 200lbs off the roof, the rake is just out of control. My plans are to incorporate the tire carrier underneath into my swing away. It's currently going to sit about 6-10" from the ground and allow me to use it for lifting the tire ONTO the carrier. Still adjusting the little bit but it all goes well...

Too much rake??

Carnage??

Finished All Welding, clean-up & painting tomorrow

Done and installed

 

[Kotrin]

Suspension Changes

After the recent trip to Colorado and the journey over, I've reached out and decided to change my suspension setup. I'm going to be making the move to Stage 5 Icon. Yes it will cost me about 5k (due to having to have someone else install it), it's still not set in stone and also still 6 months or more away. Here are the reason's why;

- First all controllable dampening for every situation. A smoother ride to assist me over longer periods of vehicle time
- Second (and kind of a repeat of the first) my front part of the vehicle is heavy, plate bumper/winch and it doesn't have much give. According to what I read this is a problem with my setup and lift, even though I got the upgraded coils from Toytec. According to ICON the setup I'm looking at will help fix this, true?? Not sure but I gotta try something.
- Third, Higher volume shocks 2.5 offer better than the current Toytec ultimate i'm running now.

I"ve spent a ton of time, as I spend most afternoon & evening in bed. All my research shows that I either go to King (which is 6-10K) or try ICON for awhile first. My reading shows the guys I spoke to at ICON was correct, the Stage 5 should be a 75% better ride than current.

I'll keep ya posted, grantedt this is still a long ways off. Just trying to keep everything documented as I'll forget in just a few days.

 

[Kotrin]

Needed to get out of the house so headed out to Olallie Lake with my son (some reason he's got today off but didn't have Columbus Day...)
I wanted to go out yesterday, but oh well. Freezing level is 4500 today, 11,600 tomorrow

 

[cblock406]

Just read through your whole thread. Very motivational and very cool rig! Sounds like you have a great family and support and one hell of a good attitude!

 

[Kotrin]

Just read through your whole thread. Very motivational and very cool rig! Sounds like you have a great family and support and one hell of a good attitude!

Thank you. It sounds better than it is, but my support is my Father, 110%. My mom is similiar to my case now and has had a stroke and such. My Dad's side & Mom side of the family doesn't help my mom out, doesn't understand both of our conditions, the same on my dad's. I understand it now after going through this for the last 2+ years but my father struggled very hard with it till I moved in with him due to more difficulties. I am very proud of the relationship I have with him, the same hobbies, couldn't ask for anything more. I wish that I had more friends who....just more. I can count on one hand the amount of friends I have in real life. Sad i know..

Thank you again [MENTION=117128]cblock406[/MENTION] . Appreciate it very much <3

 

[Kotrin]

Another Outing...Next in 4-5 weeks

My dad, my one friend who talks to me, haha...went out for the ONE day of snow before it all melts tomorrow. If anyone else is ever interested in my outings, they take about a day, we try to leave around 7-8am and try to get back by 5-6pm at the latest. The trip today was 40 mile loop in complete NEW snow. Broke trail through it all and I feel my Dad's hot knifing my tires helped tremendously. <3

 

[BrianSD_42]

Your trail adventures look awesome. Definitely jealous of the snow wheeling opportunities you have up there in PNW.

 

[Kotrin]

Your trail adventures look awesome. Definitely jealous of the snow wheeling opportunities you have up there in PNW.

I'm hoping as time goes on I can get down to California and hit up some of your trails If you ever get (to Oregon Border) let me know and I would love to wheel with anyone

 

[electroCrunch]

Just made it through your thread. Thanks for sharing your amazing 4Runner & travel pics, as well as your inspiring story.

I'm born and raised in Oregon myself, but find myself now in the desert. I definitely want to move back someday. Such a beautiful state.

Best of luck to you! Subscribed for future updates.

 

[Kotrin]

Memory sucks..to help remember things..

So I've been doing some more reading and research on what I want to do. I've gone back and forth with options from ECGS to a different way for compensation on Road(Freeway). I really don't want to do gears causes going to a lower ratio isn't a lot of benefit for my thought process. So here is my thoughts:

Gears will help me from 4:10's to a 4:88 which only gives about a 15% change. I am not changing enough of tire size and for what I do, the benefit isn't enough. Now I was doing some thinking while trying to decide my route/plan for future. I am even closer to joining the super charge club after wanting the power for trips to Moab, Ouray and other area's. I wouldn't do everything everyone else did besides just the SC & 7th Injector kit. The original super charger's that came standard didn't have extra equipment with any failures so why the extra things. Maybe I won't get the full benefit but enough to asisst it.

I also think that I would benefit from the extra power in the sand if things go the way I want. So the extra gears & lockers, the SC is a better benefit to me.

Plus I do enjoy working on my vehicle and it would be cool to know I still have the ability to do it myself(for the most part). I also think it would help some longterm (kid benefit from the extra HP ).

 

[CHUCK1318]

Beautiful truck man! I love everything about it.

Also, I'm 29 and have had back issues since 25 due to a bad car accident and bad spine genetics (dad has been in a wheelchair and pretty much bed ridden for 12 years now)


The fact that you didn't let any of your injuries keep you away from your hobbies and working on your truck is awesome and so inspiring to me man!

Can't wait to see where you go with your truck and where it takes you!

 

[Kotrin]

No traction on the off-road section of the forums besides a few views. Going to go do some more exploring/snow/mud...adventuring tomorrow. Leaving Salem around 830'ish am. I have an extra seat as my son's at his mom's this weekend. If interested let me know.

Also completely understand if your not