Liquidmantis's modest [boring] build thread

Digging your build as it is more relatable compared to others, look forward to what else you have in store.

Thanks! I get my Gobi installed tomorrow and should get my ARB awning mounted afterwards. I'm waiting for my Raingler nets for the Gobi, hopefully they'll make it before my Christmas trip but I'm not counting on it at this point. That's going to be it for a little while. Lift then bumper and winch combo are my medium term upgrades. Still undecided on what bumper I want to go with though.
 
Okay! Got the Gobi installed and awning mounted. I have to figure out how to make the axe/shovel mount work for me. My D handle shovel isn't going to work.

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I ordered a Warn Zeon Platinum 10-S winch right at the end of the year to get the rebate promotion, which lead to ordering a SouthernStyle Offroad slimline bumper. I missed their Christmas sale unfortunately, but at least got the "T4R" code 10% discount. Of course that is going to be a fair amount of added weight to the nose so I talked to Slee about planning installation of the BP-51 lift to counter the weight and get my belly up. Hopefully I'll have the bumper by the end of the month and then I'll go have the lift installed.

Happy New Year!
 
I ordered a Warn Zeon Platinum 10-S winch right at the end of the year to get the rebate promotion, which lead to ordering a SouthernStyle Offroad slimline bumper. I missed their Christmas sale unfortunately, but at least got the "T4R" code 10% discount. Of course that is going to be a fair amount of added weight to the nose so I talked to Slee about planning installation of the BP-51 lift to counter the weight and get my belly up. Hopefully I'll have the bumper by the end of the month and then I'll go have the lift installed.

Happy New Year!

Thanks for sharing the code, may make a decision easier!
 
I ordered a Warn Zeon Platinum 10-S winch right at the end of the year to get the rebate promotion, which lead to ordering a SouthernStyle Offroad slimline bumper. I missed their Christmas sale unfortunately, but at least got the "T4R" code 10% discount. Of course that is going to be a fair amount of added weight to the nose so I talked to Slee about planning installation of the BP-51 lift to counter the weight and get my belly up. Hopefully I'll have the bumper by the end of the month and then I'll go have the lift installed.

Happy New Year!

If you need help on the bumper let me know, are you going to just buy the FJ version of the bp-51's? I can't remember if those require some fab and finesse since they weren't exactly designed for out trucks. I'm trying to put off a bumper since I'm so happy with where things are now overall, a winch would be nice though.

Happy new year!
 
I ordered a Warn Zeon Platinum 10-S winch right at the end of the year to get the rebate promotion, which lead to ordering a SouthernStyle Offroad slimline bumper. I missed their Christmas sale unfortunately, but at least got the "T4R" code 10% discount. Of course that is going to be a fair amount of added weight to the nose so I talked to Slee about planning installation of the BP-51 lift to counter the weight and get my belly up. Hopefully I'll have the bumper by the end of the month and then I'll go have the lift installed.

Happy New Year!
This build isn't modest anymore (or boring)!
 
If you need help on the bumper let me know, are you going to just buy the FJ version of the bp-51's? I can't remember if those require some fab and finesse since they weren't exactly designed for out trucks. I'm trying to put off a bumper since I'm so happy with where things are now overall, a winch would be nice though.

Happy new year!

Thanks for the offer! Wrestling 150# of winch and bumper into place may very well require some extra hands.

I've been doing a lot of reading on the BP-51's and the 4Runner specific kit has been one to two ARB months away for 18 months now. But, supposedly dealers are going to have part numbers later this month or first of February. I'll keep an ear out for any news but if they aren't out I'll go with the FJ kit that people have been successfully using. Slee says they just modify the reservoir brackets.

Man, I can't tell you how much time I've put into the bumper decision. I really want to get a winch mounted for my own peace of mind and self-reliance. I've been swinging back and forth between a minimal hidden mount just for winch and better recovery points and a full plate bumper. So far I've been holding off and seeing if the stock bumper and approach angle is a limitation. It hasn't been yet, and with the lift it will improve, so for now the slimline bumper seems like a great moderate approach. I keep the OEM look that I like and butch it up a bit with the bumper while adding a bit more protection that the hidden mount would not have provided. I figure I'll try this for now; if I end up damaging the stock fascia I'll go full plate at some point in the future.
 
Okay, I haven't posted anything here in a while. Since we last talked I started a cargo plate mod, flooded the floor pan of my truck while doing a mud crossing in Red River, mounted an on-board battery charger, and today I finally put the finishing touches on my cargo plate.

Here's the cargo plate after painting with bed liner and inserting t-nuts.
LemB0Zh.png


Installed with the tie downs in the "standard" configuration.
IH4Ba9C.png


And with my EDC load.
o589Z2V.png

.

Looks great! What are your final measurements for the plate? I'm about to make my own cargo plate similar to yours so any advise is appreciated!
It looks like you used the factory tie down points to anchor the front of the plate... did you need longer bolts for this? and if so what size/thread? I plan to use a rivnut for the hatch-side anchor points since the 15' SR5s dont have the rear points like the TE.

Thanks!
 
Looks great! What are your final measurements for the plate? I'm about to make my own cargo plate similar to yours so any advise is appreciated!
It looks like you used the factory tie down points to anchor the front of the plate... did you need longer bolts for this? and if so what size/thread? I plan to use a rivnut for the hatch-side anchor points since the 15' SR5s dont have the rear points like the TE.

Thanks!

Thanks! While not as sexy as a Goose Gear set up, this plate is extremely functional and has been amazingly useful. We just got back from our Christmas trip to Texas and the plate still makes me smile every time I'm loading up.

I'll get you measurements later; unfortunately, my work notes were on the work piece and are now painted over. :D It's a straight rectangular cut, although I did some custom contouring. First I put a 1/4" roundover on the bottom of the sides and back to soften the edges that sit on the plastic. Afterward, I used an RO sander to slightly taper the bottom of the last ~8" toward the rear. The plastic trim bevels very slightly and this prevents putting too much pressure on it. I rounded the top of the back edge as a comfort relief as well. On all the plastic contact areas I used black Gorilla duct tape to protect against scuffing.

I used the factory d-ring mounts behind the seat. There's a metal bracket that bolts to the floorpan and it's near enough to co-planer with the ledge provided by the plastic trim. I did need longer bolts in order to re-use the OEM d-rings and go all the way through the plywood though. I didn't have the OEM nuts in the rear either and needed to use rivnuts. I referenced the rails underneath by the spot welds and put the rivnuts within that saddle for maximum strength.
 
Thanks! While not as sexy as a Goose Gear set up, this plate is extremely functional and has been amazingly useful. We just got back from our Christmas trip to Texas and the plate still makes me smile every time I'm loading up.

I'll get you measurements later; unfortunately, my work notes were on the work piece and are now painted over. :D It's a straight rectangular cut, although I did some custom contouring. First I put a 1/4" roundover on the bottom of the sides and back to soften the edges that sit on the plastic. Afterward, I used an RO sander to slightly taper the bottom of the last ~8" toward the rear. The plastic trim bevels very slightly and this prevents putting too much pressure on it. I rounded the top of the back edge as a comfort relief as well. On all the plastic contact areas I used black Gorilla duct tape to protect against scuffing.

I used the factory d-ring mounts behind the seat. There's a metal bracket that bolts to the floorpan and it's near enough to co-planer with the ledge provided by the plastic trim. I did need longer bolts in order to re-use the OEM d-rings and go all the way through the plywood though. I didn't have the OEM nuts in the rear either and needed to use rivnuts. I referenced the rails underneath by the spot welds and put the rivnuts within that saddle for maximum strength.

Thanks! The GG system would definitely be nice, but i just don't see my self spending $500 on something that will go un-seen since i'm going to mount drawers on it anyways.

So your plate is "floating" over the cargo floor and just resting on the OEM D-ring metal brackets (front) and the rear plastic trim? Do you feel that its strong enough to support weight or would you add some wood blocking in between the span?
 
Thanks! The GG system would definitely be nice, but i just don't see my self spending $500 on something that will go un-seen since i'm going to mount drawers on it anyways.

So your plate is "floating" over the cargo floor and just resting on the OEM D-ring metal brackets (front) and the rear plastic trim? Do you feel that its strong enough to support weight or would you add some wood blocking in between the span?

Okay, so those dimensions are 41 7/8" front-to-rear, and 41 3/8" side-to-side.

I installed the plywood over the stock styrofoam for extra support and sound deadening. If you don't want to do that you could definitely put some ribs, or even glue up another support piece of plywood to stiffen it up. Building up something to rest on the floorpan was more effort than I wanted to put into it. :)
 
Man, I can't tell you how much time I've put into the bumper decision. I really want to get a winch mounted for my own peace of mind and self-reliance. I've been swinging back and forth between a minimal hidden mount just for winch and better recovery points and a full plate bumper. So far I've been holding off and seeing if the stock bumper and approach angle is a limitation. It hasn't been yet, and with the lift it will improve, so for now the slimline bumper seems like a great moderate approach. I keep the OEM look that I like and butch it up a bit with the bumper while adding a bit more protection that the hidden mount would not have provided. I figure I'll try this for now; if I end up damaging the stock fascia I'll go full plate at some point in the future.

I feel your pain... my preference changes day to day.
 
Thanks for the offer! Wrestling 150# of winch and bumper into place may very well require some extra hands.

I've been doing a lot of reading on the BP-51's and the 4Runner specific kit has been one to two ARB months away for 18 months now. But, supposedly dealers are going to have part numbers later this month or first of February. I'll keep an ear out for any news but if they aren't out I'll go with the FJ kit that people have been successfully using. Slee says they just modify the reservoir brackets.

Man, I can't tell you how much time I've put into the bumper decision. I really want to get a winch mounted for my own peace of mind and self-reliance. I've been swinging back and forth between a minimal hidden mount just for winch and better recovery points and a full plate bumper. So far I've been holding off and seeing if the stock bumper and approach angle is a limitation. It hasn't been yet, and with the lift it will improve, so for now the slimline bumper seems like a great moderate approach. I keep the OEM look that I like and butch it up a bit with the bumper while adding a bit more protection that the hidden mount would not have provided. I figure I'll try this for now; if I end up damaging the stock fascia I'll go full plate at some point in the future.

That is also exactly why I am going with SSO hybrid bumper. I will be picking mine up when I drive through Baton Rouge
 
Photo dump time! Catching up on some elements of my build progress.

RCI aluminum skid install:

Pretty new skids:
2016-11-18%2015.10.26_zps6hdzqkyh.jpg~original


"Old" beat skids:
2016-11-18%2016.03.28_zpsntasuyl4.jpg~original


Here you can see the fuel skid was bent up enough to kiss the tank. Unlike how it appears, the tank isn't dented but it was obviously making contact.
2016-11-19%2011.21.36_zpshrojkdlf.jpg~original


2016-11-19%2011.21.59%20HDR_zpsiu7xpr6p.jpg~original


Front skid installed:
2016-11-19%2012.04.01_zpsnz6chy5m.jpg~original


Fuel tank skid:
2016-11-19%2012.04.15%20HDR_zpsohczujof.jpg~original


While doing the work, I found this freeloader that had been hitching a ride. A whole new take on the "4runner burning smell" crisis.
2016-11-19%2011.19.22_zpsnxjgt4li.jpg~original


2016-11-19%2011.20.11_zps7sitmgqw.jpg~original
 
Here are some photos from our Red River trip, although just my phone quick shots. Man, I still need to dump my cards from my cameras and sort photos...

2016-09-11%2015.33.39_zps8alfwssf.jpg~original


2016-09-12%2012.30.45_zpswctdrawb.jpg~original


2016-09-12%2015.52.20%20HDR_zpsirxsbzhf.jpg~original


2016-09-13%2013.38.15_zps2hs5ix9z.jpg~original


2016-09-15%2010.40.15_zpsirggowgw.jpg~original


2016-09-15%2010.42.59_zpsdwv8zj2y.jpg~original


2016-09-15%2010.52.40_zpsskuftavo.jpg~original


2016-09-15%2014.42.32_zpsyvkmwzia.jpg~original
 
Here's my recent Southern Style Offroad hybrid bumper install.

2017-02-04%2014.58.25_zpsi9qcoyis.jpg~original


A 6 relay, 6 constant fuse box, which is an upcoming install project.
2017-02-05%2009.06.58_zpsfjcj9xio.jpg~original


The well-packed SSO bumper:
2017-02-07%2009.45.56%20HDR_zpszoethtw2.jpg~original


Cut done, fascia remounted:
2017-02-07%2011.26.24%20HDR_zpsrtyixmvs.jpg~original


Winch mounted up:
2017-02-07%2011.50.05_zpsrudyktey.jpg~original


2017-02-09%2017.14.22_zpspb5pnbzw.jpg~original


2017-02-09%2017.26.10_zps8qxtz0gp.jpg~original


2017-02-09%2017.26.16_zpsu2njosdc.jpg~original
 

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