mrvandelay's Build Thread

[mrvandelay]

mrvandelay's 2010 Toyota 4Runner, Trail Edition

Suspension & Tires

• Radflo Coilovers (2.0" Body, 600lb Coil)
• OME 2889 Medium Duty 3" Rear Coil
• Bilstein 5100 Rear Shocks
• Light Racing Upper Control Arms
• Total Chaos Cam Tabs/Gussets
• SpiderTrax 1.25" Wheel Spacers (F/R)
• PearlJ10 Extended HD Rear Sway Bar Links
• 17x7.5 Tundra Wheels (SEM Charcoal Metallic)
• Goodyear DuraTrac 285/70/R17 (LR D)

Exterior & Accessories

• PlastiDipped Emblems
• 30%/20% Window Tint
• BudBuilt Bump Out Sliders (Reg)
• Body Mount Chop

Recovery

• BudBuilt Hidden Winch Mount
• Warn M8000-S Winch
• 42" Hi-Lift w/ Lotus Development Slider Adapter
• Slee Hi-Lift Mount on Yakima Mighty Mounts

As of 12/22/2012:

As of 11/9/2012:

As of 9/8/2012:

Planned!

• 650lbs Eibach Front Coils
• Gobi Stealth Roof Rack w/ Ladder+HiLift Mount
• BudBuilt Skid Plates
• LCA Armor
• Rigid 4x6" SR Hybrid LED Lights
• Vinyl Wrapped Hood, Matte Black
• Vinyl Wrapped Roof, Matte Black

 

[mrvandelay]

I'm a bit late starting this, so I'll post the in-between pics as best as I can.

About 8 months before I got my TE I adopted a Boxer/Lab mix - he was 40lbs and 7mos. old. He fit in my IS250 pretty well. Then he gained 50lbs and grew to the point he didn't fit in the backseat.

Time to go SUV shopping.

I decided on a T4R as my family has always been Toyota/Lexus fans, and I loved my IS. Also, the rear window is perfect for dogs! I spent 2 months looking for a TE in the color, price, mileage combo I wanted. I ended up driving 8 hours from FL to NC to buy my 2010 TE in Black. No KDSS, No NAV.

Day I picked it up (bad framing, sorry!)

Here's the first trip in the TE with my dog to Cohutta Wilderness in North GA.

My big guy sleeping en route:

I started with the 3" Spacer Lift/2" Rear Coil lift from Toytec. I added Light Racing UCAs and Goodyear Duratrac 285/70/17 (D). SpiderTrax 1.25" Spacers were also installed.

I had all of this done by a local 4x4 shop (story to follow...) at the same time.

Tires delivered!

Here's a pic after installation

Unfortunately, 2 days after I had the tires installed, this happened:

It was plugged, but I never trusted it. It's been replaced with another duratrac and the plugged tire is now my spare.

 

[mrvandelay]

I used PlastiDip to black out the front/rear emblems.

Rear:
(partial blackout)

(full blackout + warning K9 decal)

Front Pics to come in later posts.

 

[mrvandelay]

Total Chaos Cam Tabs/Gussets

After the spacer installation, it appears the 4x4 shop that did the work must have demolished a cam tab on the drivers side (rear tab). I wasn't able to properly align it. Here are some bad pics of it.

Here's what it should look like (front tab)

I decided the best course of action would be to beef up all the cam tabs and gussets. I used a kit from Total Chaos that welds onto the frame to help prevent the truck from coming out of alignment so easily.

TOTAL CHAOS FABRICATION

I'll snap some pics of the new tabs/gussets this evening (weather pending)

I also have some other mods that need documenting.

 

[phillyd2]

Were the Spacers required?

 

[mrvandelay]

Were the Spacers required?

I've heard they aren't - I got them for aesthetic reasons. My wheels are now even/slightly wider than the fenders.

They are definitely the cause of some body mount rubbing I still have, though.

 

[FactoryRide]

Looks good man! I'd love to see some pictures of the cam tabs and gussets you got.

 

[phillyd2]

I've heard they aren't - I got them for aesthetic reasons. My wheels are now even/slightly wider than the fenders.

They are definitely the cause of some body mount rubbing I still have, though.

I thought I read somewhere that Total Chaos said they are required.

Good looking truck :trophy:

 

[mrvandelay]

I thought I read somewhere that Total Chaos said they are required.

Good looking truck :trophy:

With 285s I can imagine they MIGHT rub the UCA, but I'm not 100% sure.

 

[FatTiresRollin]

looks good

truck looks great...i think i am whipping out the plasti-dip myself this weekend.

 

[Bay33saw]

Good looking pooch.......Truck is good too

 

[mrvandelay]

As requested, a pic of the Total Chaos Cam Tabs/Gussets.

They're worn in - a bit of rust and mud matches them well. Look how beefy the tabs are. It's pinky-finger width rather than a sliver of steel.

 

[mrvandelay]

After hating the ride of stock springs+shocks with spacers, I decided to do it right. (Advice to those who want a lift - save up and do it right the first time!)

I went with a Radflo 2.0" Shock Body with a 600lb coilspring up front. In the rear, I stuck with the Toytec SuperFlex spring and added Bilstein 5100 shocks.

Here's my body mount rub even after 4.5*+ caster. It's on the driver's side only. I'll be getting a body mount chop in the near future as I want to look at going to 34s.

 

[mrvandelay]

I'm a bit nervous about going offroad alone. It's never anything crazy or too remote, but I'd like to be able to get myself out of trouble. I decided to get a winch but I didn't want to throw down for a bumper just yet.

I decided on the BudBuilt Hidden Winch Mount and a Warn M8000-S with a Black Warn Iron Fairlead.

(Pardon the truck, she's a bit dirty right now)

I get compliments on it pretty often - it fits right in. BudBuilt did a great job on the mount! I'm probably going to stick with the stock front bumper for a long time - I like the way it looks stock!

 

[mrvandelay]

Hi-Lifts are something just about every offroader needs. For those who have them, but don't have a nice roof rack just yet, we needed a place to put them. I even bought a 42" version (yuck, need a 60"!) so it would fit in between my wheel wells in the cargo area.

While I'm not ready to get a Gobi just yet, I needed to get the thing out of the cargo area. I spoke to Slee Offroad, and they said their Hi-Lift Mount works with anything Yakima Mighty Mounts fit on! That means I can get a pair of the MM off Amazon for $40 and pick up the mounting hardware from Slee for around $50 and have a nice Hi-Lift mount on my OE Crossbars/Rack.

http://www.sleeoffroad.com/products/products_roofracks_acc.htm

I secured it to the crossbar with a gun lock to deter thieves. It's thin enough to cut if the lock malfunctions but makes it slightly more difficult to just walk off with.

 

[mrvandelay]

In order to have a jack point for the hi-lift, I needed some sliders. I wen't with BudBuilt Regular Bump Outs in Powdercoat Black. Great product and it's already ruined some people's doors who deserve it ;-)

 

[mrvandelay]

Here's a few pictures of how she stands today! A bit dirty, but it's a truck after all.

 

[Ducmonsta]

As requested, a pic of the Total Chaos Cam Tabs/Gussets.

They're worn in - a bit of rust and mud matches them well. Look how beefy the tabs are. It's pinky-finger width rather than a sliver of steel.

This appears to be the rear of your drivers side control arm. If that's the case, this is why you are rubbing. This is 'pulling' the lower control arm towards the back. Since you have adj uppers, the head of this bolt should be located at the 9 o'clock position (as you're facing it). This will 'push' the lower ball joint forward. Then the alignment shop can adjust the uppers to get good caster/camber.

 

[mrvandelay]

The alignment shops couldnt get +4 caster without moving the UCA setting to +4 rather than the middle(SPC logo showing) that does +2.

Think I should move it back to neutral and have them try again?

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

Try another shop. Antman in well the man. You got the LR UCAs for adjustability might as well use it.

Nice build so far.