LawnDart's Build Thread

[Jhalko]

So awesome!!

Seeing how you switched from the Rigid D2 Amber lights to the BD Amber Squadrons, what are your thoughts on them? More light than the amber D2s? Are the still usable for everyday driving (foggy/rainy conditions) without blinding other drivers?

I'm on the fence whether i should get the Amber D2 driving lights to install in my factory fog location, or if i should go with the BD Squadron Sport Amber driving lights...

Did you go with the Squadron Sports or Pro? and are yours the driving or fog pattern?

Sorry for all the questions, but your the only person i've found that has used both lights so you probably have a good idea how they compare. Thanks!

I have the rigid amber D2's up front, too bright for on highway, it'll just piss people off if you run them. I only use them in snow, the downside is that they can get covered in ice sometimes so I question the usefulness given the cost and limited times I use them. I still have factory fogs though as well, so plenty of options.

 

[LawnDart]

I have the rigid amber D2's up front, too bright for on highway, it'll just piss people off if you run them. I only use them in snow, the downside is that they can get covered in ice sometimes so I question the usefulness given the cost and limited times I use them. I still have factory fogs though as well, so plenty of options.

They look great for sure, but they're too bright and not at all DOT approved.

A friend is a Portland cop and he said that while he wouldn't write me a ticket, he knew other officers and OHP that would if they spotted me with them on. For actual fog or snow, fine, turn them on, but they're too bright for being DRL fogs.

 

[greatape]

Yep when really moving all bumpers will have some wobble.

Got my second fire extinguisher plate installed. I also grabbed a second fire extinguisher, an ABC (dry chemical). I moved the Halon to the passenger seat, and the ABC sits under the driver. I can reach over and get the halon in an emergency and visa versa if a passenger needed the ABC. Pretty happy with how this design is working out.

Looks like a cool setup but does it work when you want to slide the passenger seat forward and lay the back seats down?

 

[nb rob]

I have the rigid amber D2's up front, too bright for on highway, it'll just piss people off if you run them. I only use them in snow, the downside is that they can get covered in ice sometimes so I question the usefulness given the cost and limited times I use them. I still have factory fogs though as well, so plenty of options.

Hey thanks Jhalko. That's good feedback, and something I've never read on here before.

 

[Shred_Head]

I believe they're the Squadron Sports. The light output is far better than the rigids. Their amber filter however is more yellow than amber. The Rigid Ambers we're NOT driving friendly and I got flashed a lot when driving with them on.

I do NOT use my BD fogs unless there's actually fog. So they're BRIGHT.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for the feedback, that definitely helps a lot! I guess I won't be using them as a DRL like I had planned, but good to know the BD are the brighter of the two and probably more effective for actual foggy conditions.

I'm currently running the DOT/SAE Rigids with amber lens covers, but the covers block out most of the light when i actually need to use them for fog/rain/snow.

 

[LawnDart]

Thanks for the feedback, that definitely helps a lot! I guess I won't be using them as a DRL like I had planned, but good to know the BD are the brighter of the two and probably more effective for actual foggy conditions.

I'm currently running the DOT/SAE Rigids with amber lens covers, but the covers block out most of the light when i actually need to use them for fog/rain/snow.

What I like about the BD lights is that they're designed to use covers, so it doesn't affect the throw or pattern of the light.

Speaking of which, BD sent me their newly announced Wide/Driving combo lenses for the ONX6 (my top light bar). Basically before the ambers we're just "wide" so you'd get YELLOW on the outsides for wide/close range stuff, and the two center white spots would be long range.

Example:

The new lenses however make the amber/yellow into a wide/medium, so they basically blend far better into the white center spot. I'm not entirely sure I like it, but it's far more effective the more I use it:

I could see the original pattern being maybe a little more effective on tight trail runs, while the new pattern is better at higher speed desert driving where distance is more critical:

 

[Ray Dunakin]

Where did you get the halon extinguisher? I thought they stopped selling those.

 

[LawnDart]

Where did you get the halon extinguisher? I thought they stopped selling those.

You can get them at a 4Wheel Parts store if you special order them.

 

[jrandom]

Where did you get the halon extinguisher? I thought they stopped selling those.

Afaik you can't get Halon anymore, or at least they don't refill if you do, they wouldn't refill mine a bunch of years ago. New tech is called Halotron and is susposed to be more atmospheric friendly than Halon. That is the two cents that I know on the subject, for what it's worth.

 

[munkel]

Looks like a cool setup but does it work when you want to slide the passenger seat forward and lay the back seats down?

I'm 6 feet tall and have one on the drivers side, I can put the rear seat down with my seat in the normal position.

 

[greatape]

I'm 6 feet tall and have one on the drivers side, I can put the rear seat down with my seat in the normal position.

Good Info..thanks

 

[LawnDart]

Good Info..thanks

That was the rub, there's not a perfect solution to the seat mount. If you look at Land Cruisers the seats sit well above the foot wells, in height. So the seat can travel forward and back, over a fire extinguisher.

The 4Runner seats actually sit much lower. And while we considered a mount that mounted into the seat frame upper portion and traveled with the seat, it would have required the user essentially disassemble their seats to add in a rig that poked out from under the seat. It would have been really annoying to install each one.

There just wasn't a perfect solution but this one ticks a lot of boxes.

 

[greatape]

That was the rub, there's not a perfect solution to the seat mount. If you look at Land Cruisers the seats sit well above the foot wells, in height. So the seat can travel forward and back, over a fire extinguisher.

The 4Runner seats actually sit much lower. And while we considered a mount that mounted into the seat frame upper portion and traveled with the seat, it would have required the user essentially disassemble their seats to add in a rig that poked out from under the seat. It would have been really annoying to install each one.

There just wasn't a perfect solution but this one ticks a lot of boxes.

Copy and agree there are trade-offs sometimes and I very much like the accessibility of this design opposed to my current setup. High on the list for sure...Thanks for all the info especially the info on the challenges of the upper sliding rail mounting option...I was curious about that

 

[LawnDart]

Copy and agree there are trade-offs sometimes and I very much like the accessibility of this design opposed to my current setup. High on the list for sure...Thanks for all the info especially the info on the challenges of the upper sliding rail mounting option...I was curious about that

If I had an actual budget to spend by taking the seats apart we MIGHT have been able to figure something out, but this was NEVER intended as a mass production part. And as vehicles get more and more low profile in terms of how the trim panels go together it is assuredly more difficult to make things like this mount.

In fact while I originally said that you CAN use the original plastic rail covers, I've opted just to leave the rails exposed, since that way I can always revert it back without having to buy new feet.

 

[06HAOLE]

Great build man. You definitely have more suspension than any other 5th Gen owner.

I have an electrical question for you. Did you use the Pelfreybilt (Tacoma) auxiliary fuse panel (automatic)? I didn't see a 4-Runner version on their website. Also which Blue Sea fuse block did you use? Do you have the part #?

Thanks
Matt

 

[KCcarguy]

Freakin' awesome!

 

[LawnDart]

Great build man. You definitely have more suspension than any other 5th Gen owner.

I have an electrical question for you. Did you use the Pelfreybilt (Tacoma) auxiliary fuse panel (automatic)? I didn't see a 4-Runner version on their website. Also which Blue Sea fuse block did you use? Do you have the part #?

Thanks
Matt

Yes, the Tacoma (automatic) is the same fit for the 4Runner.

2005+ Tacoma Fuse Panel For Automatic Transmission | Pelfreybilt

It uses the 285 fuse block. I use a 120a breaker. As well.

 

[Just Loaf It]

Sorry missed this since I was driving down I5. Yep A7R2.

I absolutely love my Pelfreybilt bumper, but I was a tad dismayed when I lost the old school TOYOTA on the valence. So I purchased an OEM Series 70 LC emblem, and constructed a bracket to bolt it into the standard grill.

Brings back a bit of the old school look and the TRD front end while remaining true to the brand:

Hey, love the rig. Pretty sure I go half chub when you post new pictures of it. :eyebrows: Would you mind posting one of the bracket you made for your grille emblem?

 

[PupuleUlua]

Forgot I never posted this, but here's the condensed montage of our Mojave Road trip from April:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7Gqxv0hi9Uc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Got the truck back from the Ceramic Pro on the windows and headlights/mirrors. That stuff is awesome. Pretty incredible.

Also decided we're going to do sound deadening for all 5 doors, and install a Passport radar/laser dector, in February.

New member here, such an inspirational build. Checks everything wanted in an ultimate 4runner build. Keep up the awesome work and mahalo for sharing all your info. Giving me ideas on how to burn my wallet.

 

[LawnDart]

New member here, such an inspirational build. Checks everything wanted in an ultimate 4runner build. Keep up the awesome work and mahalo for sharing all your info. Giving me ideas on how to burn my wallet.

Thank you.

Not much more I really want to do to it. The trailer will be in february I think, to build the XVenture 3 out.

February I'm going to sound deaden the doors, and install a radar/laser detector.

Then April it'll get the rear right/middle seat delete from Goose Gear with a dual battery setup (second battery goes under that storage setup).