So I finally got around to taking pictures of my mods. Quick background:
- 04 4Runner
- 85K
- completely stock till now
Warranty is long gone and I figured it was time to make it more of a truck and less of a mall crawler.
First step was Daystar 2.5/1.5 lift. This was the new version (all top-out). I could not find anyone in south Texas who would touch a spacer lift with XREAS if you had to use a portable spring compressor. Everyone wanted to take off the struts and put them on a wall mount compressor. Of course no one wanted to mess with disconnecting/reconnecting the XREAS lines. Daystar's new design allow for installation without any compression. Planet Pickup in San Antonio agreed to install using this kit. I think this is the ideal spacer lift for the truck. Wouldn't want to go any higher with spacers, and anything less wouldn't be worth it.
Next, BFG 265/70/17 tires. I was really going back and forth between this size and trying to stuff 285s in there. Glad I stuck with the 32" tires. Leaves enough fender gap to look correct, no trimming, and absolutely no rubbing under any conditions. Had to go old school white letters out.
Last, the lights. I purchased a pair of KC Slimlites to mount on the front bumper. Used the same basic concept found here
Instead of having the mounts come out by the fogs, I made longer brackets that come up to the top of the bumper, then out. This install was a PITA. Getting the bolts in, fabricating the mounts, painting, etc. took me most of a weekend (wife was not happy). I was trying to avoid drilling into the bumper, but after getting everything mounted, there was too much vibration when driving, so I had to add an additional bolt directly under the hood on each mounting bracket to really make it solid. I wired everything up to a factory toyota fog light switch next to the diff lock. Goal was to try and keep everything looking as stock as possible. The KC's really light up the night (100W bulbs). Definitely can't use these on the highway.
Now that lift and bigger tires were on, you could easily see the skidplate. You can't see it in the pics, but I followed someone's advise and prettied up my skidplate (was beat-up from various offroading without lift). I primed it, then spray painted with truckbed liner. Looks almost new (except for the big dent). Stuff seems pretty tough. We'll see how it holds up.
And Finally.... Pics:
- 04 4Runner
- 85K
- completely stock till now
Warranty is long gone and I figured it was time to make it more of a truck and less of a mall crawler.
First step was Daystar 2.5/1.5 lift. This was the new version (all top-out). I could not find anyone in south Texas who would touch a spacer lift with XREAS if you had to use a portable spring compressor. Everyone wanted to take off the struts and put them on a wall mount compressor. Of course no one wanted to mess with disconnecting/reconnecting the XREAS lines. Daystar's new design allow for installation without any compression. Planet Pickup in San Antonio agreed to install using this kit. I think this is the ideal spacer lift for the truck. Wouldn't want to go any higher with spacers, and anything less wouldn't be worth it.
Next, BFG 265/70/17 tires. I was really going back and forth between this size and trying to stuff 285s in there. Glad I stuck with the 32" tires. Leaves enough fender gap to look correct, no trimming, and absolutely no rubbing under any conditions. Had to go old school white letters out.
Last, the lights. I purchased a pair of KC Slimlites to mount on the front bumper. Used the same basic concept found here
Instead of having the mounts come out by the fogs, I made longer brackets that come up to the top of the bumper, then out. This install was a PITA. Getting the bolts in, fabricating the mounts, painting, etc. took me most of a weekend (wife was not happy). I was trying to avoid drilling into the bumper, but after getting everything mounted, there was too much vibration when driving, so I had to add an additional bolt directly under the hood on each mounting bracket to really make it solid. I wired everything up to a factory toyota fog light switch next to the diff lock. Goal was to try and keep everything looking as stock as possible. The KC's really light up the night (100W bulbs). Definitely can't use these on the highway.
Now that lift and bigger tires were on, you could easily see the skidplate. You can't see it in the pics, but I followed someone's advise and prettied up my skidplate (was beat-up from various offroading without lift). I primed it, then spray painted with truckbed liner. Looks almost new (except for the big dent). Stuff seems pretty tough. We'll see how it holds up.
And Finally.... Pics:
