Kurtis T4R Build Thread
- Thread starter Kurtis
- Start date
Kurtis
New member
Plain and simple. My wife is awesome. She is really good about my addiction to trucks, cars, modifying, and shop time. She enjoys it too. I couldn't ask for a better person to be my wife. Coming up on 4 years this November!
cj80cruiser
Senior Member
When are you getting home to put these on???? :jump:
Kurtis
New member
I'm heading home on the 28th of June. I'll make a stop in Oregon to visit family over night but I am on a mission to get home. I have a couple weeks of leave to get the truck and the new house up to par. They should be on the truck the 1st week of July.
downpour11
New member
Those look great! Can't wait to see em on your truck. I'm sure you're going to love them. :cheers:
Kurtis
New member
Gears and front ARB is on order. 5.29's
I wanted to share a little about why I picked the wheels/tires/gears that I did.
35" Pitbull Rocker:
It took me about a year to decide what tires I wanted in 35s. I originally started with KM2s, Good Year MTRS and maybe Pitbulls as a possibility. Here's the list of must haves:
At least a true 35" tire.
Good in deep snow.
Decent road manners
I heard KM2s don't do as well in the snow as some other tires. This for me is a deal breaker because I LOVE to snow wheel. It is my favorite. MTRs are not known for their road manners in the 35" size. I don't daily drive my '97 4Runner but I do drive it to the trail and around in the mountains. I needed the tire to be stable. I had 38" Super Swampers TSLs on my '94 Toyota Pickup, they were Bias Ply, they were awful on the road. I've seen Pitbulls in action in 6 feet of snow or so and they were awesome. I've heard great things about the Rockers so I decided to give them a try.
17" Rock Monster Double Beadlock Wheels:
I wanted a double beadlock because, again, I LOVE to snow wheel. These are also DOT compliant wheels and by Washington State standards, are legal. The company that makes them is the same company that makes the Military HMMWV beadlock wheels, Hutchinsons. They are very well known for their quality.
Bought assembled diffs?
I could have ordered the Locker, Ring and Pinion, and Master Install Kit and did the work myself but it would only be a few 100 bucks more to have EastCoastGearSupply do it and get a warranty with it. <---- Big selling point for me.
Why 5.29s instead of 4.88s?
If I ever decide to go to a larger tire then I won't have to re-gear. IF I decide I am tired of the IFS and want to SAS it then I won't have to re-gear the rear axle. The lower gears will also help when wheeling in general. Yes, I will probably get poor gas mileage. But again, what do you expect from a mid-sized SUV on 35s? I am not building it for the gas mileage.
ARB Air Locker:
It's no secret that the spider gears in the 7.5" diff are not all that resilient. So even if I never use the locker it is still an upgrade. I do plan on using the locker, I will break CV Axles. I also got authorization from COMNAVHOUSEPAC to let me start putting money aside for RCVs.
I want to push the limits of the IFS in this rig. I know a SAS is the strongest and you get the most flex but I'd like to keep the handling of the IFS. So a SAS is not in the plans right now. Maybe in a few years or more. I expect to break stuff in the mean time. You play those games, you win those prizes.
I wanted to share a little about why I picked the wheels/tires/gears that I did.
35" Pitbull Rocker:
It took me about a year to decide what tires I wanted in 35s. I originally started with KM2s, Good Year MTRS and maybe Pitbulls as a possibility. Here's the list of must haves:
At least a true 35" tire.
Good in deep snow.
Decent road manners
I heard KM2s don't do as well in the snow as some other tires. This for me is a deal breaker because I LOVE to snow wheel. It is my favorite. MTRs are not known for their road manners in the 35" size. I don't daily drive my '97 4Runner but I do drive it to the trail and around in the mountains. I needed the tire to be stable. I had 38" Super Swampers TSLs on my '94 Toyota Pickup, they were Bias Ply, they were awful on the road. I've seen Pitbulls in action in 6 feet of snow or so and they were awesome. I've heard great things about the Rockers so I decided to give them a try.
17" Rock Monster Double Beadlock Wheels:
I wanted a double beadlock because, again, I LOVE to snow wheel. These are also DOT compliant wheels and by Washington State standards, are legal. The company that makes them is the same company that makes the Military HMMWV beadlock wheels, Hutchinsons. They are very well known for their quality.
Bought assembled diffs?
I could have ordered the Locker, Ring and Pinion, and Master Install Kit and did the work myself but it would only be a few 100 bucks more to have EastCoastGearSupply do it and get a warranty with it. <---- Big selling point for me.
Why 5.29s instead of 4.88s?
If I ever decide to go to a larger tire then I won't have to re-gear. IF I decide I am tired of the IFS and want to SAS it then I won't have to re-gear the rear axle. The lower gears will also help when wheeling in general. Yes, I will probably get poor gas mileage. But again, what do you expect from a mid-sized SUV on 35s? I am not building it for the gas mileage.
ARB Air Locker:
It's no secret that the spider gears in the 7.5" diff are not all that resilient. So even if I never use the locker it is still an upgrade. I do plan on using the locker, I will break CV Axles. I also got authorization from COMNAVHOUSEPAC to let me start putting money aside for RCVs.
I want to push the limits of the IFS in this rig. I know a SAS is the strongest and you get the most flex but I'd like to keep the handling of the IFS. So a SAS is not in the plans right now. Maybe in a few years or more. I expect to break stuff in the mean time. You play those games, you win those prizes.
Kurtis
New member
haha no. I bet your doctor slaps you for that.
PaperweightNate
New member
Nice rig. Im down in Olympia. Lets get a meet and greet going!
Kurtis
New member
Once I get back in town and get my poop in a group I'd really like to do that. I don't know what my long range schedule is just yet so I'll have to play it by ear. We have too many folks in Washington to not be doing meet and greets!
Kurtis
New member
I apologize in advance for the cell phone pictures.
Well, I've been busy in the shop. Wheels and tires are put together, but still need to be balanced. 35s are on. New diffs are installed. 5.29, E-locker rear, and ARB up front. I tested everything last night and it seems to work great. I still have to start the break in procedure for the gears but I can't do that until I can actually turn the wheels.
There is tons of rubbing. I'm going to start cutting today but it is going to take me a few days to do this right.
Good UCA clearance with 1.25" Spidertrax Spacers. Wheels are 4.5" backspacing.
The tires stick out a few inches. I don't want to be hassled by law enforcement. I bought a set of Limited flares with the door cladding a few months ago in preparation for this. I plan on painted them with bed liner.
Once I get my clearance issues solved I will be sure to get some new pictures.
Well, I've been busy in the shop. Wheels and tires are put together, but still need to be balanced. 35s are on. New diffs are installed. 5.29, E-locker rear, and ARB up front. I tested everything last night and it seems to work great. I still have to start the break in procedure for the gears but I can't do that until I can actually turn the wheels.
There is tons of rubbing. I'm going to start cutting today but it is going to take me a few days to do this right.
Good UCA clearance with 1.25" Spidertrax Spacers. Wheels are 4.5" backspacing.
The tires stick out a few inches. I don't want to be hassled by law enforcement. I bought a set of Limited flares with the door cladding a few months ago in preparation for this. I plan on painted them with bed liner.
Once I get my clearance issues solved I will be sure to get some new pictures.
downpour11
New member
:trophy::trophy::trophy::trophy::trophy::trophy:
Simply badass sir :thumb3:
Simply badass sir :thumb3:
Kurtis
New member
They are actually caps that came with the wheels. I didn't want to leave them off and open to the elements. I am hoping it will protect them a little. They they take a couple good whacks with a rubber mallet to get them seated. I am not looking forward to the day I have to pull these wheels apart.
I cut the bumper for clearance. And started on the fenders. But for now I'm off to enjoy some 4th of July festivities. I'll start up again tomorrow. I have lots of time off right now so it all shop time!
Happy Independence Days ladies and gentlemen!
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