MandAtaco (Manda4Runner-?) Build Thread
- Thread starter MandAtaco
- Start date
MandAtaco
Member
When I first built the rack, I used .065 3/4" tube. I really should have used larger tube, or some heavier tube. I also should have built it with a little more space between the rack and the roof of the truck. I was trying to get it as LOW Profile as I could. When I loaded it up, it would flex and actually hit the top of the roof.
What I ended up doing was pulling the rack off and adding some additional 3/4" bars in .120 thickness across the span. I also added some 3/16" spacers under the mounting feet to space the rack up a bit. Between the two additions, I was able to make the rack so it didn't flex so much and hit the roof.
I recently sold mine and my wife's atv's. Before I sold them, I pulled the the Koplin 4 gallon fuel can and mounts off. While I had the rack off, I added some tabs, and drilled and tapped some tube so that I could run the Koplin mount up on the roof. With the cans I have now, I have the possibility to run a total of 17 extra gallons of fuel on the truck, 10 on the bumper, and 7 up on the roof. My normal configuration for longer trips will probably be 5 on the bumper (along with 5 gallons of water) and 4 on the roof.
I also went ahead and added another tab for an NMO mount. I use this for either an external for my Baofeng dual band, or I've got an adapter that allows me to run it for my Midland CB if I absolutely have to run a CB.
Lastly, I added a amber dust light. These are super handy in the desert, I've literally lost people in front of me cause the dust gets so thick. The amber cuts through the dust and hopefully will keep people from rear ending me!
What I ended up doing was pulling the rack off and adding some additional 3/4" bars in .120 thickness across the span. I also added some 3/16" spacers under the mounting feet to space the rack up a bit. Between the two additions, I was able to make the rack so it didn't flex so much and hit the roof.
I recently sold mine and my wife's atv's. Before I sold them, I pulled the the Koplin 4 gallon fuel can and mounts off. While I had the rack off, I added some tabs, and drilled and tapped some tube so that I could run the Koplin mount up on the roof. With the cans I have now, I have the possibility to run a total of 17 extra gallons of fuel on the truck, 10 on the bumper, and 7 up on the roof. My normal configuration for longer trips will probably be 5 on the bumper (along with 5 gallons of water) and 4 on the roof.
I also went ahead and added another tab for an NMO mount. I use this for either an external for my Baofeng dual band, or I've got an adapter that allows me to run it for my Midland CB if I absolutely have to run a CB.
Lastly, I added a amber dust light. These are super handy in the desert, I've literally lost people in front of me cause the dust gets so thick. The amber cuts through the dust and hopefully will keep people from rear ending me!
MandAtaco
Member
Not everything has been easy, LOL. I wrote before how I replaced the CAT with a Walker unit, and wasn't super impressed with the build quality of it, actually it really sucked! When I installed it, I also used Walker brand exhaust gaskets. What I discovered was that they equally suck! Both the front, and the rear all started leaking, I could hear it ticking in the cab. So I went down to my local AutoZone and picked up some replacement FelPro gaskets to replace them with. Figured it shouldn't be to big a deal since I had just recently had it all apart. Man was I wrong.
Two of the bolts on the crossover pipe broke, I welded nuts on to the remaining studs to try to get the stud out and only managed to break the stud off even with the crossover pipe flange. I tried drilling them out, but ended up breaking a drill bit. Finally I just took a plasma cutter to it. After I blew out the broken stud, I was able to clean the hole up with a drill bit. Now I just use zinc nuts and bolts on the flange, instead of the stud and nut. If I ever break one of those, I can just get another bolt and nut.
Needless to say I wont use any more Walker stuff.
Two of the bolts on the crossover pipe broke, I welded nuts on to the remaining studs to try to get the stud out and only managed to break the stud off even with the crossover pipe flange. I tried drilling them out, but ended up breaking a drill bit. Finally I just took a plasma cutter to it. After I blew out the broken stud, I was able to clean the hole up with a drill bit. Now I just use zinc nuts and bolts on the flange, instead of the stud and nut. If I ever break one of those, I can just get another bolt and nut.
Needless to say I wont use any more Walker stuff.
MandAtaco
Member
Picked up a set of sliders a few weeks ago...
Some assembly required.
I used square 2x2" .120 for the outriggers and the main tube, 1.75" .120 round for the hoop. The frame supports are .25" thick, 4" wide strap to spread the load out on the frame. Few build pics....
My little guy helping me bend some tube! My kid is awesome!
Pretty happy with how they turned out, I haven't had time to beat on them yet but Know for sure they will lift the truck up.
Some assembly required.
I used square 2x2" .120 for the outriggers and the main tube, 1.75" .120 round for the hoop. The frame supports are .25" thick, 4" wide strap to spread the load out on the frame. Few build pics....
My little guy helping me bend some tube! My kid is awesome!
Pretty happy with how they turned out, I haven't had time to beat on them yet but Know for sure they will lift the truck up.
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4Runnin2000
New member
Just went through your whole build thread myself. Very nice rig. I'm sub'd for sure.
MandAtaco
Member
Thanks for all the responses guys! Haven't had to much time lately to get out and have much fun with her. We did take my wife's 04 and the pop-up out to Death Valley a few weeks ago for the super bloom. That was a lot of fun but to much wind! LOL
Our OverlandNV crew is getting ready for a big trip next week. It's been in the planning stages for a while now! We are going to attempt to cross the Pony Express from the Utah Boarder to California border on as much dirt as possible. Some of the trail is highway now, but from mapping it out we are still looking at about 300ish miles on dirt! should be fun!
In preparation for that, I pulled the truck in to change the oil and give it a once over last weekend. I found that my original radiator was starting to leak around the transmission cooler fitting. Nothing hitting the ground, but I guess with 202K miles it was time.
So I ordered a new Denso from Amazon, packaging kinda sucked but it showed up in good shape anyway. Everything fit perfectly, all the installation points aligned right up. Old one looked like it had a nest built between it and the A/C condenser at some point in its life. Should get more air flow now!
Since I had to drain all the coolant out of the system anyway, I went ahead and installed the heat exchanger for my Hot Water shower system. It had been sitting in a box since I pulled it out of my Tacoma last year. The mount I built for it back then bolted right up to the 4Runner firewall. It was a little tighter install compared to the Tacoma. The Tacoma had a 1' body lift so the motor sat lower in the engine bay. The 4Runner also has rear heat, so there are extra coolant lines that are in the way. But it fit with a little line adjustment.
I have had a couple questions about how the shower works, so I made a video of how it was set up if anyone is interested.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LKmkqenpE5o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Our OverlandNV crew is getting ready for a big trip next week. It's been in the planning stages for a while now! We are going to attempt to cross the Pony Express from the Utah Boarder to California border on as much dirt as possible. Some of the trail is highway now, but from mapping it out we are still looking at about 300ish miles on dirt! should be fun!
In preparation for that, I pulled the truck in to change the oil and give it a once over last weekend. I found that my original radiator was starting to leak around the transmission cooler fitting. Nothing hitting the ground, but I guess with 202K miles it was time.
So I ordered a new Denso from Amazon, packaging kinda sucked but it showed up in good shape anyway. Everything fit perfectly, all the installation points aligned right up. Old one looked like it had a nest built between it and the A/C condenser at some point in its life. Should get more air flow now!
Since I had to drain all the coolant out of the system anyway, I went ahead and installed the heat exchanger for my Hot Water shower system. It had been sitting in a box since I pulled it out of my Tacoma last year. The mount I built for it back then bolted right up to the 4Runner firewall. It was a little tighter install compared to the Tacoma. The Tacoma had a 1' body lift so the motor sat lower in the engine bay. The 4Runner also has rear heat, so there are extra coolant lines that are in the way. But it fit with a little line adjustment.
I have had a couple questions about how the shower works, so I made a video of how it was set up if anyone is interested.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LKmkqenpE5o" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
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MStudt
official vendor
Have you had this since new, or were you one of the few people who have been able to find a used one? I've been looking for a used one of these for a couple years, and haven't had any luck.
MandAtaco
Member
I've had it probably 9 or 10 years, I bought it new when you could still get them. I looked for a second heat exchanger for a while but finally gave up. Wish they still made them, it was a really good set up!
BigRogers
New member
[MENTION=96608]MandAtaco[/MENTION] - Great write up and fab work man! I am about to make the plunge on the 861's to be paired up with the Icon 2.5's and CDC i have on the rear end. The 891's aren't cutting it any longer.
Overall how are you liking the ride since the swap? Notice a difference with the Panhard drop bracket? I had been leaning towards an adjustable bar, but depending on your review i may change my mind.
Kind of crazy how similar our rigs are.......
Overall how are you liking the ride since the swap? Notice a difference with the Panhard drop bracket? I had been leaning towards an adjustable bar, but depending on your review i may change my mind.
Kind of crazy how similar our rigs are.......
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MandAtaco
Member
Hey [MENTION=64290]BigRogers[/MENTION], I love the 861's. Like I said previously, I tried the 891's and had no luck at all, they were level on my truck before the rear bumper and box. Once the bumper was put on, you could forget it. I did one trip on them and spent the entire time on the bump stops.
The 861's ride great, gave me just a little rake, and hold a load phenomenally! I just got back from a week long trip across Nevada on the Pony Express trail (write up coming soon). I was fully loaded, 2 kids, all our gear, 10 gallons of water, 14 gallons of extra fuel, cooler, chainsaw, etc etc. The 861's held the weight perfectly, didn't squat down, and rode great the whole way! I'd highly recommend them to anyone who actually plans to use their 4Runner with any weight in the back.
Everyone has their opinions about drop vs extended track bar. The drop has honestly worked out really well for me. I added some reinforcement to the ToyTec bracket and it's held up well to some pretty good abuse. I went this way ultimately, because I didn't want to deal with the drive shaft/gas tank interference issues people have with just an extended track bar. Ride wise, it feels fine to me, I don't have a front sway bar so any "tippy" feeling I get is probably more from that.
Your rig looks nice man! Real jealous the 4.88's. These trucks need higher number gears!
