MTgirl's build and adventure log

[ToyotaDoodz]

. . . . Also found out at that point that I had a bent wheel. Not my fault! And how in the hell do you bend a wheel?!?! I know it happens on trails but I was led to believe this rig never saw more than a gravel road before I got it. . . .

Sliding sideways on ice or gravel into a curb or other "on pavement" shenanigans come to mind. I wouldn't assume it was an off road injury that caused it.

 

[MTgirl]

Sliding sideways on ice or gravel into a curb or other "on pavement" shenanigans come to mind. I wouldn't assume it was an off road injury that caused it.

Possible. Except it was the inside rim that was bent!
I hit and fell off of many rocks and logs with my truck and had no more than a couple scratches. Either the 4Runner wheels are wimpy or the previous owner did something very bad.

 

[Kotrin]

Previous owner did something. I've done some insane off roading. I've hit some rocks on inside and outside with no issues. Sorry your experiencing this. ..

But good excuse to upgrade ;-)

 

[ToyotaDoodz]

Possible. Except it was the inside rim that was bent!
I hit and fell off of many rocks and logs with my truck and had no more than a couple scratches. Either the 4Runner wheels are wimpy or the previous owner did something very bad.

I've had three 4Runners and wheeled them all in some pretty harsh stuff and never harmed a wheel beyond a surface scratch, but then I'm not a Baja racer type either. Have you crawled underneath and looked around to see if there are any scrapes or armor scratches from the previous owner? That might tell the story.

They might have been driving while almost flat and done the damage.

 

[Jetboy]

Possible. Except it was the inside rim that was bent!
I hit and fell off of many rocks and logs with my truck and had no more than a couple scratches. Either the 4Runner wheels are wimpy or the previous owner did something very bad.

Generally aluminum wheels don't bend. They break. Did you see some type of obvious trauma to the inside of the wheel? Pics?

I used to work at a tire shop very close to you in high school... tire-rama at the mall. Sounds like something a tire shop tech who wasn't paying attention might have done by torquing it on incorrectly or mounting improperly on an old school bench type tire machine.

 

[MTgirl]

Previous owner did something. I've done some insane off roading. I've hit some rocks on inside and outside with no issues. Sorry your experiencing this. ..

But good excuse to upgrade ;-)

I do want to do wheels at some point, just don't have the funds right now.
I know of several folks who have bent wheels but they were in some crazy situations - I can't see damage happening from "normal" driving.

I've had three 4Runners and wheeled them all in some pretty harsh stuff and never harmed a wheel beyond a surface scratch, but then I'm not a Baja racer type either. Have you crawled underneath and looked around to see if there are any scrapes or armor scratches from the previous owner? That might tell the story.

They might have been driving while almost flat and done the damage.

Never thought about the flat tire scenario.... I guess that could be a possibility. But there's no rash on the outer edge of the wheel so maybe not.
I've crawled around and checked things out - at first I thought the shakes were from a suspension issue - everything checks out. Just makes me nervous not knowing for sure what happened. I'm out in some pretty remote places a lot during the summer so I'm pretty careful about keeping everything in tip top shape. Although I'd likely have all of my camping gear with me to survive I still don't want to break down in the middle of nowhere!

Generally aluminum wheels don't bend. They break. Did you see some type of obvious trauma to the inside of the wheel? Pics?

I used to work at a tire shop very close to you in high school... tire-rama at the mall. Sounds like something a tire shop tech who wasn't paying attention might have done by torquing it on incorrectly or mounting improperly on an old school bench type tire machine.

No trauma other than normal scuffs from mounting, its like part of the outer rim was pushed in.
I like the Big O here - the manager there camps and offroads too so we usually end up just BS'ing while the guys work on my rig. They've always treated me great, would hate to think that they caused the damage

 

[MTgirl]

Got the RTT on today! In the middle of a rainstorm!

Took forever and the rain didn't help. I have limited tools (I'm a girl, give me a break) and was bottoming out on my 1" deep socket and the 2.5" deep socket wouldn't fit between the rail and the roof when I was trying to tighten the nuts down! So that left me with an open ended wrench...1/4 turn at a time....

 

[blizz86]

Got the RTT on today! In the middle of a rainstorm!

Took forever and the rain didn't help. I have limited tools (I'm a girl, give me a break) and was bottoming out on my 1" deep socket and the 2.5" deep socket wouldn't fit between the rail and the roof when I was trying to tighten the nuts down! So that left me with an open ended wrench...1/4 turn at a time....

ratcheting wrenches

 

[MTgirl]

ratcheting wrenches

yup...i'll be shopping for some tomorrow!

 

[GSPRunner]

You went silent on Tacoma World and the back roads of Yellowstone trip. You still thinking about this?

 

[Doc_Fry]

Pictures or it did not happen! That is what makes your thread awesome the pictures but the lack of the. Recently is dissapointing. What gives? Everything ok?

 

[MTgirl]

You went silent on Tacoma World and the back roads of Yellowstone trip. You still thinking about this?

There just didn't seem to be a lot of solid interest - more "I wish I could but I can't" Just kinda gave up on the idea. With my luck 10 people will start asking another month from now.

Pictures or it did not happen! That is what makes your thread awesome the pictures but the lack of the. Recently is dissapointing. What gives? Everything ok?

I've been out and about a little bit, not a lot with the wheel troubles, but just haven't had much time or patience to work on my photos. I stare at a computer screen for 9 hours a day at work, last thing I want to do when I get home is stare at a computer screen.

 

[ToyotaDoodz]

.... I stare at a computer screen for 9 hours a day at work, last thing I want to do when I get home is stare at a computer screen.

Yeah, but it's "different" stuff at home, or it's "supposed" to be. :biggrin1:

 

[Doc_Fry]

There just didn't seem to be a lot of solid interest - more "I wish I could but I can't" Just kinda gave up on the idea. With my luck 10 people will start asking another month from now.

I've been out and about a little bit, not a lot with the wheel troubles, but just haven't had much time or patience to work on my photos. I stare at a computer screen for 9 hours a day at work, last thing I want to do when I get home is stare at a computer screen.

Unfortunately the way we have to communicate these days is through the computer. But getting aay and sharing these adventures with other especially when they cannot or are physically unable to is what make them extra special. I wish I was able to explore more, and take photos while doing so. It is so very difficult for me to these days. Ended up getting a boat but that is a different kind of adventure. Take care and look forward to seeing something in the future.

 

[mmartin4]

Awesome thread so far. Have really enjoyed the pics too! I'm in North New Jersey so not many opportunities like that near here that I'm aware of. You have however inspired me to start my own build thread with a new-to-me 3rd gen that I just bought! It's kinda nice to see someone who can't update every 2 days with another $3k mod lol. I'll be starting up the build thread soon enough. :-D

 

[MTgirl]

Runner made a friend today....thought he was going to climb in the back and come home with me!

Was just watching them and knew if I kept quiet they'd come closer....just didn't expect them to come that close! They were pretty relaxed the whole time, maybe they saw my "I brake for moose" bumper sticker and knew I was a good human.
Across the river...

Closer....

 

[Kotrin]

Unfortunately the way we have to communicate these days is through the computer. But getting aay and sharing these adventures with other especially when they cannot or are physically unable to is what make them extra special. I wish I was able to explore more, and take photos while doing so. It is so very difficult for me to these days. Ended up getting a boat but that is a different kind of adventure. Take care and look forward to seeing something in the future.

This touched especially close to me as I had one of my episodes today. I know its a matter of time before I will not physically be able to move my legs/body due to my condition, but I power through to my best ability and explore when I can. This is one of the reason's I've built the rig I currently have, and went to an automatic to top it off.

We all have our good days and our bad days. Its how we approach both that make us who we are.

 

[MTgirl]

Awesome thread so far. Have really enjoyed the pics too! I'm in North New Jersey so not many opportunities like that near here that I'm aware of. You have however inspired me to start my own build thread with a new-to-me 3rd gen that I just bought! It's kinda nice to see someone who can't update every 2 days with another $3k mod lol. I'll be starting up the build thread soon enough. :-D

All that matters is that it will get you where you want to go!

Would I like to do more to my rig? Yes. Do I have the means for expensive mods? Yes. Do I want to drain my savings for armor and lights and whatever else I can tack onto the Runner? no. As long as I can safely get to where I want to go camping and such then my Runner is fine as is. I will do a few more mods just for peace of mind - like getting sliders and a lift for more clearance and insurance against body damage. But all of that can wait. As I learned with my truck if there's something I want to add to my vehicle then there's probably 50 other people that want to do the same thing. And somebody is bound to approach a company about doing a group buy discount so I'm content to sit back, fill my piggy bank, and wait for a good deal to come our way.

This touched especially close to me as I had one of my episodes today. I know its a matter of time before I will not physically be able to move my legs/body due to my condition, but I power through to my best ability and explore when I can. This is one of the reason's I've built the rig I currently have, and went to an automatic to top it off.

We all have our good days and our bad days. Its how we approach both that make us who we are.

All the more reason to get out and explore now - never know what's in store for us tomorrow or the next day...

 

[3wbdriver]

I'd have loved to have met you during my trip in April, but I never figured out what part of Montana you were in. I drove through there on I-90 enroute to Yellowstone, and stopped at the Crow Agency and Little Big Horn to meet [MENTION=117129]wanderMT[/MENTION]. That's a beautiful state you live in. :thumb3:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/193390-last-hurrah.html

 

[MTgirl]

I'd have loved to have met you during my trip in April, but I never figured out what part of Montana you were in. I drove through there on I-90 enroute to Yellowstone, and stopped at the Crow Agency and Little Big Horn to meet [MENTION=117129]wanderMT[/MENTION]. That's a beautiful state you live in. :thumb3:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/193390-last-hurrah.html

If I would have known you were coming out this way I definitely could have given you a quick tour of the area - not that much was open around that time. And you didn't miss me by much - I live in the Bozeman area, guessing you went into Yellowstone @ Gardiner? I was camping down there the 18th and 19th of April.