LawnDart's Build Thread

[LawnDart]

Ill be first in line if you want to sell you 4Runner without the rebuild. I would love to do that!! Otherwise I am going to spend a TON of money to make mine like yours. I already have everything on a spreadsheet looking for the best prices etc!!!

Jeremiah

PM me if you're serious.

 

[007Tacoma]

First time in my life I can say I woke up in a ditch.

I will say this about mexico, don't drink the water. That said I think between the ice, and the produce that is grown in the local water, everyone on the trip had very soft daily movements...if you catch my drift.

Everyone had the runs. Basically.

Well that sounds like sh...poop.

 

[Justcozz]

YES, come on over to the dark side that is the Raptor family!

I have a Gen-1 that I drive like a rental car and a 2016 TEP. I'd burn the TEP in a ditch if I didn't have a need for the smaller vehicle. I'm waiting until the 2018's are out before I get a Gen-2 Raptor, but I am definitely seeing one in my future.

I drove to Alaska this spring in a buddies FJ and then drove his T4R around up there while we explored. The entire trip my GF and I were commenting how much more comfortable and capable it would have been in the Raptor. You just can't beat the comfort factor and the amazing capability that comes in the stock vehicle. With some minor mods you can really do crazy stuff.

I do love your build and also love the fact that you actually use it. I cry a little bit when I can't get people to go out with me because they don't drive their princess vehicles off-road. Your build is awesome and works well for the "overlanding" scene.

 

[LawnDart]

**** yea, come on over to the dark side that is the Raptor family!

I have a Gen-1 that I drive like a rental car and a 2016 TEP. I'd burn the TEP in a ditch if I didn't have a need for the smaller vehicle. I'm waiting until the 2018's are out before I get a Gen-2 Raptor, but I am definitely seeing one in my future.

I drove to Alaska this spring in a buddies FJ and then drove his T4R around up there while we explored. The entire trip my GF and I were commenting how much more comfortable and capable it would have been in the Raptor. You just can't beat the comfort factor and the amazing capability that comes in the stock vehicle. With some minor mods you can really do crazy stuff.

I think there's a misconception that I've said that a 4Runner can't do Baja, or that it'll get its ass kicked.

Not true at all, I saw a few 4Runners there in Baja. I think Baja at a slower pace is not going to do a lick of damage (unless you hit something or pick up a flat, etc). What gets you is speed, that's where the amount of damage, and how fast you accrue it will come into play.

When you have a performance offroad vehicle in front of you, and behind you, all forcing you into a speed that's pretty extreme, you either get out of their way or keep up with the pace of play.

Lots of hard lessons about how well the 4Runner does at those speeds off road. The more I reflect the more I think we came away pretty good all things considered, but the more I appreciate simpler rigs that come factory stock with great suspension and power.

Do I think a stock 4Runner can do Baja? oh god yes.

Do I think a stock 4Runner can do Trail of Missions keeping up with the group? eh...yes but you'll really really beat the truck up and struggle.

I think you'll damage any truck, and I wish I had had the time to get under the raptors to see what damage they took as well. I can only say what damage I took in the process. But speed is a damage multiplier for sure.

 

[wadle5]

Frankly despite the size, the Raptor is likely a better daily driver.

Daily in the city or? Do you mean it rides better, gets better mpg? Just wondering, because if you do to a raptor what you did to the 4runner do you think it will make a better DD?

YES, come on over to the dark side that is the Raptor family!

I have a Gen-1 that I drive like a rental car and a 2016 TEP. I'd burn the TEP in a ditch if I didn't have a need for the smaller vehicle. The entire trip my GF and I were commenting how much more comfortable and capable it would have been in the Raptor. You just can't beat the comfort factor and the amazing capability that comes in the stock vehicle. With some minor mods you can really do crazy stuff.

So the 4runner may be better for everyday driving since its not the size of a small dump truck? You say the Raptor is more capable/comfortable in what aspect? Sure its bigger, more leg room, etc, but with that size you do start limiting what trails you could fit on and where you can go?
Some would say with some minor mods on a 4runner it can do some crazy stuff. People just have different ideas of crazy. Is a Raptor out of the box more suited for Baja, absolutely. If you spend most of your time there is makes sense, but if you wanted to get into some rock climbing, mud, fire trails you would think a 4runner may suit those needs better? Not knocking the Raptor had a gen 1 for a while. Once the cool factor wears off you realize what it is in daily driving. Large...i mean LARGE, and my first car was a lifted Yukon XL that was a former Union Pacific Railway vehicle. Ride like craps down roads and parking lots unless you are going over 50 mph...oh and mpg(which clearly isn't a conern with this thread and the 4runners current condition). Buddy did an offroad event with his gen 1 it did the whole fast thing great, but the minute you put that behemoth in the mud or a tight trail it becomes a problem. Ended up blowing out his rear differential actually on level b road in some mud that most 4runners and stock jeeps didn't have a problem with.

Again not knocking the Raptor. Just seeing where Lawndart has gone with his vehicle I don't know if he could fit/get the Raptor to those same spots(but he could definitely carry more gear). If you plan on spending more time in the dessert then absolutely it makes sense it was purpose built for just that one element.

Compromise...just put 3 LEDs in your grill?

 

[Justcozz]

I have yet to take the 4 runner on something the raptor won't get through. There have been tons of Raptor runs through the tight trails and passes in CO. Everyone has to do Austin Powers turns but the trucks still make it.

I live in the southeast and we have plenty of tight trails, mud, and rocks. I'm out offroad at least one weekend a month, sometimes more depending on work. The Raptor gets a bad rap for being extremely wide and tall but when you look at a decently modified 4 runner you aren't really giving up much of that space. That being said, I'm not afraid of pinstriping. Neither one is a great rock crawler but I'd tip my hat to the 4 runner if built appropriately for rock crawling due to the shorter wheelbase. The length of a crew cab truck will always work against you for anything other than high-speed desert stuff. That's just the reality of any vehicle that's not a Jeep though.

The biggest capability increase for the Raptor is the suspension, even in stock form. When you're already sitting on 35's, with a bunch of articulation, from the factory you can easily roll over things smaller vehicle have to crawl through.

I'm not trashing the 4 runners here but the two vehicles are apples and oranges. I don't live in a city so in every respect the Raptor wins for me. When I drive to cities with tiny parking spaces or parking garages, I prefer a small car. If I'm cruising on the highway the bigger far more comfortable car wins. I think Lawndarts biggest problem with a Raptor would be his parking garage. I'm not sure of his ceiling height but that's my biggest parking problem with the truck. I do have a roof rack on my Raptor though, which is a pain in the ass to fit in places.

 

[massoverland]

Whenever I see new posts here, I expect it to be a goodbye from lawndart saying he has just picked up a raptor and is moving to the next phase of his 4 wheeling.

Alas, not.

 

[RUNTHAT]

Whenever I see new posts here, I expect it to be a goodbye from lawndart saying he has just picked up a raptor and is moving to the next phase of his 4 wheeling.

Alas, not.

I hope he sticks around. His presence keeps the Raptor haters and 4R hyperbolists in check :typing:

 

[shearn]

[MENTION=124732]LawnDart[/MENTION]

Did I see you coming through Bend yesterday around 830 am?

If not, there's a near clone out there.

 

[LawnDart]

[MENTION=124732]LawnDart[/MENTION]

Did I see you coming through Bend yesterday around 830 am?

If not, there's a near clone out there.

That was me. Spent the week in Bend for my birthday.

 

[SlickTRD]

I have yet to take the 4 runner on something the raptor won't get through. There have been tons of Raptor runs through the tight trails and passes in CO. Everyone has to do Austin Powers turns but the trucks still make it.

I live in the southeast and we have plenty of tight trails, mud, and rocks. I'm out offroad at least one weekend a month, sometimes more depending on work. The Raptor gets a bad rap for being extremely wide and tall but when you look at a decently modified 4 runner you aren't really giving up much of that space. That being said, I'm not afraid of pinstriping. Neither one is a great rock crawler but I'd tip my hat to the 4 runner if built appropriately for rock crawling due to the shorter wheelbase. The length of a crew cab truck will always work against you for anything other than high-speed desert stuff. That's just the reality of any vehicle that's not a Jeep though.

The biggest capability increase for the Raptor is the suspension, even in stock form. When you're already sitting on 35's, with a bunch of articulation, from the factory you can easily roll over things smaller vehicle have to crawl through.

I'm not trashing the 4 runners here but the two vehicles are apples and oranges. I don't live in a city so in every respect the Raptor wins for me. When I drive to cities with tiny parking spaces or parking garages, I prefer a small car. If I'm cruising on the highway the bigger far more comfortable car wins. I think Lawndarts biggest problem with a Raptor would be his parking garage. I'm not sure of his ceiling height but that's my biggest parking problem with the truck. I do have a roof rack on my Raptor though, which is a pain in the ass to fit in places.

Not disagreeing with you, but besides suspension i think the beefier frame is the biggest improvement. They designed the frame from the ground up to withstand abuse better than the gen 1. They had problems with the gen 1 frames that the new one should not have.

 

[Burtz]

Fantastic build, she is a real beauty. Your a lucky man to be able to "test" various companies gear. God only knows how much money the average Joe blow would have to spend to follow in your footsteps...

 

[LawnDart]

Fantastic build, she is a real beauty. Your a lucky man to be able to "test" various companies gear. God only knows how much money the average Joe blow would have to spend to follow in your footsteps...

I have to fix her up either way, I'm kind of leaning towards doing all the repairs and waiting till 2019 for the V8 Raptor, and either selling or just buying a second vehicle.

But regardless the 4runner has to be fixed up.

 

[jbstrd]

I have to fix her up either way, I'm kind of leaning towards doing all the repairs and waiting till 2019 for the V8 Raptor, and either selling or just buying a second vehicle.

But regardless the 4runner has to be fixed up.

I vote buy a second vehicle. Besides, it's just money, haha.

 

[brtnstrns]

I have to fix her up either way, I'm kind of leaning towards doing all the repairs and waiting till 2019 for the V8 Raptor, and either selling or just buying a second vehicle.

But regardless the 4runner has to be fixed up.

As a Ford enthusiast, where did you see info about a V8 going into the Raptor in 2019? I was under the impression Ford was going all-in with ecoboost wherever they can. I've not paid as much attention since selling my Mach 1 a while ago, but I usually try to keep an eye out for new developments, especially from SVT.

 

[LawnDart]

As a Ford enthusiast, where did you see info about a V8 going into the Raptor in 2019? I was under the impression Ford was going all-in with ecoboost wherever they can. I've not paid as much attention since selling my Mach 1 a while ago, but I usually try to keep an eye out for new developments, especially from SVT.

SVT doesn't exist anymore. It's Ford performance now.

The V8 has been the worst kept secret out there, we know it's coming in the form of the Coyote motor, but they want to get the Gen 2 out there.

Word is that the current V6 will go into a possible Raptor Ranger a year or two after the Ranger is established here in a few years.

 

[brtnstrns]

SVT doesn't exist anymore. It's Ford performance now.

Ah shit, that's right.

The V8 has been the worst kept secret out there, we know it's coming in the form of the Coyote motor, but they want to get the Gen 2 out there.

Word is that the current V6 will go into a possible Raptor Ranger a year or two after the Ranger is established here in a few years.

So it seems like they'll go Coyote based and not try to utilize the 5.2 from the GT350?

Raptor Ranger would be saweet!

Damn PNW cost of living, could still own a V8 if I hadn't moved to a city made for billionaires.

 

[shearn]

That was me. Spent the week in Bend for my birthday.

Well, happy birthday.

Your rig definitely stands out!

 

[LawnDart]

A few more mods to the trailer, installing a Baja Designs RTL-S on the back.

This bar does brake lights, turn signals, yellow chase lights, and reverse.

 

[greatape]

A few more mods to the trailer, installing a Baja Designs RTL-S on the back.

This bar does brake lights, turn signals, yellow chase lights, and reverse.

What platform rack is that? Pioneer?

Did that come from Schutt that way?