Mike's (Redswan) 2005 4x4 sport edition

[Redswan]

I have to drive 6 hours just to get to Pismo now...saddening
Any plans on a full exhaust or something? Or do you prefer stock quiet?

That is a little sad, but at least you are close to the coast. You should try to come on that DV trip in DEC. It would be cool to meet you.

I am thinking about an exhaust, but I hate loud exhausts. I waited so long to do one on my old S/C 4Runner. I started with TRD headers and had new piping laid and a muffler. I hated how loud it was. I am a little leery of doing that again, but the exhaust pipes are covered in mud that has corroded them a little. I cleaned them up. So, I suppose it is a matter of time.

When i do end up having to replace it all I will do some headers, y pipe and something quieter like the TRD exhaust.

 

[LTDSC]

I have to drive 6 hours just to get to Pismo now...saddening



Any plans on a full exhaust or something? Or do you prefer stock quiet?

So glad im only 3-4 hours away. Makes it acceptable to shoot there for the weekend. I wish i was closer though. I wish i could have the land Redswan does, so awesome.

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

just do headers and a y pipe. That will give you good performance while bening as quite as possible.

 

[Redswan]

Lake Havasu to Afton Canyon

So we took some time out this weekend to drive to the London Bridge. On the way back we hit the Mojave Preserve. We camped neat Aiken Mine and met up with a friend fro the drive back to Afton Canyon. All in all it was a great trip. The kids were shocked to find out why London Bridge isn't falling down anymore. The camp ing out on the preserve was cold good thing we brought the heater. We even left a new friend at the Frog Shrine.

1. The London Bridge

2. Sunset over the Needles

Orion

3. Early to rise

4. Good to be home

A couple of cave dwellers

5. Mailbox

6. Frog Parking Only All others will be TOAD

7. Passing the time in Baker

8. Zzyzx

9. Heading back in

10.

11. Traveler's Monument

12. River Bridge

13. Got home so fast the dust didn't have time to settle HA!

 

[zopperman]

Cool pics as always and I like the new sig! :hatsoff:

 

[Redswan]

Cool pics as always and I like the new sig! :hatsoff:

Thanks Zak!

 

[ebg18t]

So.. How do the new bumps stops feel? Any different?

 

[Redswan]

So.. How do the new bumps stops feel? Any different?

It is softer, but it is eating the fender liner. I am sure that I need to drop them a little lower. (it is all that great up travel)

The back end kicks like a bronco. Time to do something about that. :laugh:

 

[Redswan]

Great photos as always Mike, one of these days I'm gonna delete my account out of sheer jealousy of your truck and adventures.

you won't do it

 

[kkz]

That is a little sad, but at least you are close to the coast. You should try to come on that DV trip in DEC. It would be cool to meet you.

I am thinking about an exhaust, but I hate loud exhausts. I waited so long to do one on my old S/C 4Runner. I started with TRD headers and had new piping laid and a muffler. I hated how loud it was. I am a little leery of doing that again, but the exhaust pipes are covered in mud that has corroded them a little. I cleaned them up. So, I suppose it is a matter of time.

When i do end up having to replace it all I will do some headers, y pipe and something quieter like the TRD exhaust.

Unfortunately my family has made plans that protrude into the start of your trip. I can possibly see if I can meet towards the end.

just do headers and a y pipe. That will give you good performance while bening as quite as possible.

This man is right. I've got long tube headers with the stock exhaust right now, and my tires are even louder than the exhaust.

It is softer, but it is eating the fender liner. I am sure that I need to drop them a little lower. (it is all that great up travel)

The back end kicks like a bronco. Time to do something about that. :laugh:

Fiberglass fenders? Or you can clear out all that stuff in the wheel wells. Once you get your rear setup in check you should probably get a video and see if your coil towers shift at the speed you're smashing through the desert. If they move you should probably look into those TC coil tower gussets.

 

[Redswan]

Unfortunately my family has made plans that protrude into the start of your trip. I can possibly see if I can meet towards the end.

This man is right. I've got long tube headers with the stock exhaust right now, and my tires are even louder than the exhaust.

Fiberglass fenders? Or you can clear out all that stuff in the wheel wells. Once you get your rear setup in check you should probably get a video and see if your coil towers shift at the speed you're smashing through the desert. If they move you should probably look into those TC coil tower gussets.

I'll look harder at the exhaust, but the suspension is my priority right now. It negotiated the Mojave road very well this weekend, but I need a little less up travel in the front and a little more dampening in the back.

The food in the fridge got trashed in the back this trip soda cans burst, mixed with left over steak and chicken and cookies...yum!

 

[kkz]

I'll look harder at the exhaust, but the suspension is my priority right now. It negotiated the Mojave road very well this weekend, but I need a little less up travel in the front and a little more dampening in the back.

The food in the fridge got trashed in the back this trip soda cans burst, mixed with left over steak and chicken and cookies...yum!

That's what I want to do. I want to sell my nonsense items and just focus on a suspension build.

Did the superbumps allow you to go faster?

 

[Redswan]

That's what I want to do. I want to sell my nonsense items and just focus on a suspension build.

Did the superbumps allow you to go faster?

Yes I think so. Negotiating the woops on Soda lake and getting to Rasor dunes we did a lot faster than before. I didn't slow down in time for a few drops and the front suspension soaked it all up. I'm sure that if I wasn't running 34" tires that the up travel would be fine.

 

[Redswan]

For anyone interested I did some reviews of products on my vehicle. Hopefully It can help someone in making their own mods or deciding on parts.

Front Runner Outfitters Roof Rack


URD Supercharger


Recaro Sport Seats


Overhead Cargo Nets


Icon S2 Suspension


DIY storage Drawers

 

[ebg18t]

Mike - not sure why but a lot of your pictures aren't loading on my Mac or iPad.

 

[Redswan]

Mike - not sure why but a lot of your pictures aren't loading on my Mac or iPad.

I dunno, they are linked youtube videos...

4Runner Modifications Reviews - YouTube

 

[momo.75]

They loaded fine on my iPad. Cool videos!

 

[Redswan]

So I caught a black Friday deal on these puppies!!! For around $500 :shocked: I weighed my options between these and some others and it would have costed about the same. So, I guess we will see how they do on this next trip to DV!

 

[Redswan]

Big Bear Mountain

So, not wanting to waste a weekend lounging around the house we took the kids up to Big Bear today for some sledding and to hit some trails. We stopped at the Mojave River Valley museum in Barstow to give the kids a chance to stretch their legs. It is worth the stop if you are passing through. Despite the 90 mile trip, we had a good time. We found a hill with some snow left on it near Holcomb valley. There we got as many runs in as we could before we continued up the trails up to Crystal canyon. We made it back just in time for a beautiful sunset on the lake.

Pano shot of the Mojave Desert on the way out this morning

Top of the world

Finally found some snow

Time ot do what we came to do.

Sunset on the mountain

Life is shore, get out and live.

-MojaveMike

 

[zopperman]

So, not wanting to waste a weekend lounging around the house we took the kids up to Big Bear today for some sledding and to hit some trails. We stopped at the Mojave River Valley museum in Barstow to give the kids a chance to stretch their legs. It is worth the stop if you are passing through. Despite the 90 mile trip, we had a good time. We found a hill with some snow left on it near Holcomb valley. There we got as many runs in as we could before we continued up the trails up to Crystal canyon. We made it back just in time for a beautiful sunset on the lake.

Pano shot of the Mojave Desert on the way out this morning


Life is shore, get out and live.

-MojaveMike

I really enjoy seeing your pictures, they're awesome.