MT Runner Build Thread

[MT Runner]

My 4Runner is certainly nothing compared to some on here, but I’ve done enough over the years I figured it was time to put together a build thread. Really just as much for me to keep track of it all and have it in one place as it is to share with everyone else.

I’m going to be editing and adding to this over the next couple days as I get some stuff together, so bear with me that it’s in no way complete.

As it stands today

How it was the day I got it, back in Nov. 2012.

I bought it with 101k and just broke 211k on our trip last week. The plan has always been to see at least 300k in it.

 

[MT Runner]

List of Mods

Exterior/Lighting:
Blacked out headlights w/ Silverstar Ultra lights in low/hi/fogs.
06-09 taillight swap
Lightforce Striker lights on custom light bar
No name LED cube lights on CBI ditch light brackets
Black Grill
Custom SR5 mountain logo on back quarters
Debadged “Toyota” from back hatch but kept “4Runner”.
EGR in-channel window visors
Thule cargo box in the summer for fishing poles and other fun stuff

Interior:
Pioneer double din head unit w/apple CarPlay and Maestro
Viper remote start
Pro Clip phone mount
Smokers kit for added power outlets
TRD shift knob
Trailer brake controller
Weathertech floor liners and cargo liner
Custom cargo box built over driver side rear wheel
Orangeboxx Molle storage panel on driver side rear window
Noico sound deadening material on all 4 doors and rear hatch, and cargo area.
Scangauge II
Marathon seat covers for front seats

Suspension/Wheels/Tires:
Originally went with Bilstein 5100 and FJ spring route. Had that for about 75k and decided I wanted a bit more.

I now have a full Dobinson setup (went with red instead of their standard teal)
302 Coils with 221 struts on front
505 Coils with 705 Shocks on rear
JBA upper control arms
255/75R17 BFG KO2’s currently. Plan on going with a 255/80R17 this spring when I need to replace these.
Level 8 MKS wheels in gunmetal
Rad Rubber engine splash guards
Energy front sway bar bushings
RCI aluminum front skid and transmission skid w/ bumper filler plate

Engine/Drivetrain:
AFE stage 2 SI intake
URD equal length headers
Custom catback system
URD MAF calibrator
Auxiliary trans cooler
Class 3 hitch in place of the standard V6 light duty hitch
Mobile 1 75W90 gear oil in diffs and transfer case
Speedohealer spliced into speedometer to adjust for bigger tire size

 

[MT Runner]

Future Planned mods

Replace the LED cube lights with something a little better and smaller on the ditch light brackets.

RCI aluminum skids- installed engine and trans skid along with filler plate. Will get one or two more as money allows.

Apex recovery points

RCI or White Knuckle sliders

255/80R17’s for the next tire setup
Regear to 4.30 or possibly 4.56 when I move up to 33’s

Rear bumper is starting to chip and peel and fenders are really fading, so I’m considering LineX or something similar on rear bumper, fender flares, and plastic trim along bottom of the doors

LFD crossbars for a little beefier roof rack setup without going full blown aftermarket rack

Would love a Demello front bumper at some point but if I’m being honest with myself it’s probably the lowest on the priority list.

 

[MT Runner]

The third summer I had the 4Runner, this happened:

I’ll have to find my thread on this, I posted about it at the time.

Edit: here is the link:
I don't think the doors are meant to go this way...

Long story short, we dealt with a crazy dude, spent more time than I care to think about in court and dealing with this. In the end we had the 4Runner fixed and enough money to get a new raft.

Luckily the repair has had no recurring issues and we haven’t had any problems since.

 

[MT Runner]

A few shots of the rear cargo box I built with the help of [MENTION=212467]Zeke588[/MENTION]

This box has turned out to be super convenient. We always have our back seat folded down for our 2 dogs. The only problem with that is that it left basically no room to put random stuff.

I’m able to fit the following in the box:
Viair 88P compressor
ARB tire deflator
Collapsible shovel
Battery charger/jump starter
Jumper cables
Flashlight
Random bungee cords and ratchet straps
Pair of Vortex binoculars
And I’m probably missing a couple small things

All stuff that is nice to have in the vehicle at all times, but didn’t really have a place before the box was built.

 

[montijo505]

The second summer I had the 4Runner, this happened:

I’ll have to find my thread on this, I posted about it at the time.
Long story short, we dealt with a crazy dude, spent more time than I care to think about in court and dealing with this. In the end we had the 4Runner fixed and enough money to get a new raft.

Luckily the repair has had no recurring issues and we haven’t had any problems since.

Wow that’s crazy. Glad it worked out in the end.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MT Runner]

General Maintenance:

So far the 4Runner has been as advertised for reliability.
I’ve had a few general wear and tear/ higher mileage items that have needed to be replaced and fixed, but no major issues.

I’m kind of a nerd when it comes to records and keeping track of things. I’ve used the Fuelly app since the day I bought the 4Runner, so I have logged every single mile I’ve driven with it. MPG’s and all service records are in there so I can see exactly what I’ve done and when.

It seems I’ve lucked out on the head gasket issue that plagues the early 4.0’s. I would imagine I would have already had it pop up by now if it was going to happen.

I had a few things that needed to be done this spring after I passed 205k.

The radiator had formed a small seeping leak, so that was replaced. Getting 14 years and 200k+ miles out of the radiator was about as expected.
The crankshaft seal had a small leak that was leaving about a nickel sized oil spot each night, so I had that fixed.
One of the front axle shaft seals had a small leak, so that was fixed.

This past fall there were a couple things that needed attention.

Replaced the thermostat and thermostat housing.
Replaced front driver side wheel bearing.

Replaced the Alternator and serpentine belt at 170k

Replaced all 4 brake rotors at 161k

Replaced passenger side CV axle at 152k

Changed to NGK iridium spark plugs at 128k

Literally every other dollar I’ve spent on the 4Runner has been oil changes, tires, and aftermarket parts that haven’t been “necessary”.

Overall I feel like I haven’t had to do much for my first 100k+ miles with it, here’s to hoping the next 100k is close to as smooth.

 

[hinmo24t]

can we get the story on the crash - seems wild

i really like your truck. i noticed the 255 75 KO2...very nice. i like that tire size a lot and will run it forever on my truck (truth be told the craziest 4 wheeling, est coast looking wheeling, i have ever seen with a 4th gen minimally modded had that size tires and got through everything!! might try to find it again)...mine has gone thru a lot with this setup too. the weight is great with the size and a v6, im getting 18.5 mpg with OME lift, sliders, tire carrier, etc.

i think newer jeep wranglers (some, not sure the year or models) switched to the AT 255 75 over the BFG muds...i want to keep an eye on craigslist for those
to hit the classifieds.

 

[MT Runner]

Our summer weekends are generally spent hauling one of these two things somewhere around south central Montana.

This is the reason for the aux trans cooler, class 3 hitch, brake controller and scangauge.

 

[MT Runner]

can we get the story on the crash - seems wild

i really like your truck. i noticed the 255 75 KO2...very nice. i like that tire size a lot and will run it forever on my truck (truth be told the craziest 4 wheeling, est coast looking wheeling, i have ever seen with a 4th gen minimally modded had that size tires and got through everything!! might try to find it again)...mine has gone thru a lot with this setup too. the weight is great with the size and a v6, im getting 18.5 mpg with OME lift, sliders, tire carrier, etc.

Here is a link to my thread about it.

I don't think the doors are meant to go this way...

 

[MT Runner]

the weight is great with the size and a v6, im getting 18.5 mpg with OME lift, sliders, tire carrier, etc.
.

I agree, that is one of the things I really like about this size too.

I’ve kept track of every mile I’ve driven in this thing and I’m at 18.2 MPG’s over 110k miles so far.

BUT that is including all of the towing that I do. I get about 15-16 MPG’s when I tow my raft and all the way down to 9-12 MPG’s when I tow the camper, depending on if I hit a headwind or not. So all of those tanks of lower MPG’s kind of skew that 18.2. I’m sure if I took those tanks out, I’d be in the 19+ range.

 

[mrmle03]

Nice rigggg.

How do you like the dobinsons set up, for on and off road? I will probably be going this route as well. Will be going for a 3/2 lift.

 

[MT Runner]

Nice rigggg.

How do you like the dobinsons set up, for on and off road? I will probably be going this route as well. Will be going for a 3/2 lift.

Thanks.

I’ve liked it a lot. I don’t wheel it hard, basically explore some forest service roads and the occasional outing to get after a little more but I don’t go crazy by any means. It’s been great for that, and on road is good too, it’s been so long since I’ve had stock suspension and I had Bilsteins before these it’s hard to directly compare, all I know is I like the way it rides now for sure.

 

[hinmo24t]

nice rig and good living. see any grizzlies out that way? until the last 5-10 years (been surfing here longer and up until now too) the craziest thing we had in MA was coyotes/coywolves...now 20' great white sharks are abundant, bit a boogies border in half last year.

 

[MT Runner]

nice rig and good living. see any grizzlies out that way? until the last 5-10 years (been surfing here longer and up until now too) the craziest thing we had in MA was coyotes/coywolves...now 20' great white sharks are abundant, bit a boogies border in half last year.

Yea quite a few anymore actually.

We just went on an 8 day camping trip two weeks ago south of Ennis, MT, which is about 4 hours away from where we live, and had a black bear walk right through our camp and we saw a grizzly probably about 4 miles from camp, down a forest service road. It’s pretty common to see them around for sure.

 

[Rocky Runner]

Nice build. Can't wait to see where this one goes. Also excited to see more of the water life in a thread for once too.

 

[MT Runner]

Nice build. Can't wait to see where this one goes. Also excited to see more of the water life in a thread for once too.

Thanks!
Nice rig you have there too. That Demello single hoop and the rack you have are a couple of things that I’d love to have at some point too. Maybe some day...

I know I’m not the only one with a raft here, but sure don’t see much about them on here, that’s for sure.

I’ll have to share a few more pics of the rafting trips

 

[MT Runner]

Not necessarily directly 4Runner related, more what we use the 4Runner to go do.
Here are some pics of some of the rafting adventures.

Smith River here in Montana, only River in the state that a permit is required. And that permit is tough to get. We’ve been fortunate enough to get on during peak season the last couple of years. 60 miles over 4 days of beauty and solitude. Only one put in and one take out in those 60 miles. Have to bring everything you need on the raft, hence the loaded down setups.

 

[Tanaman]

That looks like a hell of a float! My buddy just went 3 weeks ago and floated the Smith with some other friends. Said it was an absolute blast. I’m in Livingston and will definitely have to see if I can score a permit someday.

 

[MT Runner]

A few more 4Runner pictures, since I currently have more of the raft than the Runner.

Closeup of the Level 8 MK6’s, Dobinson coil and JBA setup

Under the Roosevelt Arch at the entrance of Yellowstone

On top of Hellroaring Plateau in the Beartooth Mountains at about 10,000’

Madison River, south of Ennis, MT

In the Gravelly Mountains facing the Madison mountains