My 4Runner Project

[jrob]

Hello
I have finally done enough things to my 4Runner to warrant a build thread I suppose. I've pulled a ton of info from this forum and others, so this will be my effort to share a little of my own experiences and ideas. It's mostly finished now so it's going to be more of a history of things I have done. Some of it may be a bit repetitive, as I typically just post in the "what have you done" thread, but I figured with the most recent wave of mods, my truck warrants it's own thread. If nothing else just for my personal log. Post #2 and 3 will have the recent stuff.
This should start though, with a farewell to the '87 that the 5th gen replaced. Sold it to a buddy, that had the motor replaced and it is back on the road.

I found a 2010 Trail edition in Colorado Springs, with 30k on the clock in Mag Grey with Nav and backup camera. The dealer had just installed a 3" toytec ultimate and said they would pick me up from the Denver Airport...on my way home from Offshore. So I picked it up in Oct. '13

This was just fine for the winter, other than the tires, so I rolled with it until the following spring. Where I added a Shrockworks bumper and sliders on group buy
At that point I also splurged on some Vision X light cannons to put on the bumper.

Oh and somewhere in there came the Duratracs in 285/70 17, not really sure when though.
That summer I pretty much just went for it, and completed what I will call phase 1 because it wasn't until recently that I really did much else to the truck
I picked up a used Gobi stealth off the forums with an ARB awning attached and prewired for lights. Also, splurged and got an ARB simpson III Roof Tent that had only been slept in a couple times. Final addition to this round was a Zero Dark Lighting 40" curved bar which is still kickin it strong as ever almost 2 years later.

 

[jrob]

In that form we took it on many trips all over Colorado and Utah. I was temporarily staying in Denver with my girlfriend during my off time and all my Tools are in Houston. So I was somewhat limited on what I could really get into.
But we just moved down to Houston a couple months ago and having been reunited with my tools I entered into a second wave of mods to include:

Dual Battery
Fuse relay box constructed a year prior
Switch panel for lights
Spoiler mounted rear lights
Whynter fridge, with dedicated 10g circuit from Aux batt.
Interior LEDs
Warn winch off an old truck that wasn't being used.

I started with the extremely useful thread in the 12v section on expo
How to make a cheap isolated dual-battery setup for $50 - Expedition Portal

I had already made my own bussman fuse relay box, which is super easy if you have even the slightest DC inclinations.
I had also purchased a Cole Hersee intelligent solenoid, which I supplemented with wire and fuses from West Marine. (there happens to be one across the street from my house)
Coupled with my Wiring diagram that I drew up, I was ready to go.

Anyway, first up was the Dual batt. I used factory holes and bolts to mount everything under the hood. I placed my Disconnect on the passenger side just behind the air box, and the Fuse/Relay box just below that. I even found some sweet terminal mounted fuses at West Marine, a little expensive, but super clean install and reduce the need for another length of wire and connectors.

For the aux battery mount, I used the Budbuilt battery tray. I think it was north of $100 but it bolts right in using existing holes and hardware, relocates the power steering reservoir, and is very well made. Bomber product for sure.

So with the Dual batteries all good to go, and the Auxiliary box in place, I set to running wires to the back of the truck. Now this is where my photo documentation skills failed me. I installed my fuse/relay box on the passenger side of the truck intentionally. Reason being, there is a firewall penetrator right there, and it is a straight shot back to the passenger side of the cargo bay, where the existing outlets are, and where I intended to mount the fridge. Just made sense. So I only had to run one cable from the auxiliary box across the firewall to the drivers side for the switch wires, and one power wire for the light bar, since it's wires run down the driver side weather stripping. To the back I ran 4 12g wires and 1 duplex 10g. I only needed one 10g circuit and the 10g duplex is cheap. I also picked up a spare 12v outlet from west marine for the fridge circuit and installed it in the factory outlet panel.

I removed the spoiler, for some reason expecting the back side of it to be hollow...not the case. So out came the dremel. I cut access holes, initially just to backup the nuts for the mounting bolts, but then It occurred to me that it would be better to notch the spoiler and slip the bracket through from inside for a much more solid mount. Admittedly this took a little gusto, as you kind of have to get it right.

From here I moved onto the switch panel, of which I don't really have very many pictures, but it really isn't anything special. I totally ripped off the mounting spot from 10 other build threads. Primary difference is I only have the need for 3 switches right now. In the future I may have a 6 switch panel there if the need arises. Switches are from OTRATTW who have limitless options for graphics and labels.

 

[jrob]

From here I moved onto the winch install.

At this point I would like to make a brief interlude with a side story as it involves the origin of the winch.
When I was a kid my father had a '79 Chevy short bed pickup. It was silver and had a fleet side bed, but he called it Old Yeller, because in it's original form it had been Yellow, and a step side. He sold it in 2001 or 2 and immediately regretted it. He loved that truck and always talked about how much he wished he never sold it.
One day I was driving through Montrose, Co and I saw this sitting on the side of the road for sale.

Being that I owe everything in the world to my father, I couldn't pass the opportunity up. '79 step side with 75k original miles, fresh crate motor for a great price. It does however have about a 3-4 inch lift, with 35s, 4.56 gears and detroit lockers front and rear. Oh yea, and a warn 12k winch. Now My father has never had any interest in such things and has always expressed his feelings that tall trucks and big tires are "stupid". Fortunately I know how to turn a wrench and plan on returning it to stock for him as soon as we have the time.
For those interested in how it played out, we parked it on the side of the road with a For Sale sign on it that was basically just a happy birthday note to him and drove by. He of course noticed it and said "Hey look!!! That's just like old yeller and it's for sale, turn around quick!"
Tears ensued.
At any rate being that I bought him a truck, and he didn't want or need the winch anyway, he gave it to me. So the way I see it, I bought a really expensive winch that came with an awesome truck that was admittedly difficult to hand the keys over. That thing is so badass and fun to drive.
One more next to the runner.

On to the winch install. I pulled the winch off Old Yeller. They had tac welded the bolts heads so I used the dremel to break the tacs, then just got new bolts. I have read that it isn't possible to mount a winch in the Shrockworks bumper without removing it, but I found it much easier to simply remove the grill and a couple brackets behind the grill, and drop the winch in from the top. Piece of cake really. The biggest obstacle was a low pressure power steering line which for some inexplicable reason takes the strangest route through the bumper area. A little persuading of the tubing this way and that, and the winch fits right in, no problem.
So again to correct some of the misinformation on this forum; Not only is it possible but extremely easy to install a winch in a Shrockworks bumper without removing it.

This shows the clearance between the hood latch mounting bracket, the nefarious power steering line, and the winch. Not an abundance of room to spare, but it does fit and the control module for this winch does not separate. One with a removable control module would be a breeze.

Next time you're sad, just plastidip some shackles

All done!

Loaded up and ready to go.

Just utilizing the factory cargo tray for now, but it's pretty flimsy.
All the work in this post occurred over the course of 3 days working solo. I think I could have been done quicker but I took my time with the tedious stuff as I wanted it to be dialed.

A well earned beer at the end of this phase of the project.

At the end of all this we left out of Houston on a 10 day road trip back home to Colorado. That really is entirely another thread but here are some teasers.

Not sure when I will start the next phase of the build since winter is coming up and we tend to focus on skiing. But I'm not done yet. Phase 3 will be a full cargo system in the back, Camburg upper control arms in the front, Air compressor, and maybe some 4.56 gearing. The gears were at the forefront in Colorado with all the mountain driving, but now that we are down here in the flat lands of Texas, they have been back burnered. I would actually go as far as to say the truck is almost "quick" down here.

Till next time,

Cheers!

 

[ST1FLER]

if the pictures were showing im sure this would be an epic thread from what I read lol

 

[jrob]

if the pictures were showing im sure this would be an epic thread from what I read lol

Oh, that sucks. Hmm, is anyone else having trouble seeing them? I embeded them from my google photos.
They load fine for me.
Definitely need the Photos for context haha.

 

[mdogg]

I only see 5 pictures so far. Might be some kind of privacy controls on them?

 

[Rickycplo]

Oh, that sucks. Hmm, is anyone else having trouble seeing them? I embeded them from my google photos.
They load fine for me.
Definitely need the Photos for context haha.

I only see Pics in the first post as well. Looks awesome!

 

[4Running303]

yeah only a few pics in the first thread...sounds great though. Thanks for the dual battery link...may do that in my teardrop trailer.

 

[DesertCanyons]

Yes, no

Yes, no photos after the first post.
Every picture tells a story, don't it.

 

[jrob]

Ok I think I figured it out, the 5 pictures that everyone could see were from FB so I transferred some and imbeded from there. Hopefully that works.

Let me know if there are pics in the second post now and Ill fix the rest tomorrow.

 

[Foques]

images for the images that do not work are hosted by google..
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/ESnPkXwZ3NTmO1Ct0GfsFigdqjJAGcmnkfLa2M1nBViPXIw2JFKbmVKts6ZNRpJuZQIY6vu_Jgpu3BEAaXSWPot4HrXzeY1VWBvRRR4l-jTw_kPY93iJoeJrJb9AppNFvKbLjJHvDTg6m9YPVxqXLnFDJeg5ArP_oAoiFEt9IJPI2XovLqj08Yj0HiVvZyzyn8Q6AMrpfq4cnCaut8ASGB_PeQ4gAzvq0Mv1QmGdruHrTWzqmWS43nDM1pwtIvo2mfTBfyeS5q5xee63589QHv4pBoJdVnZ3A2IiCSwlKOPRe0HnpIowOuhvOnhVdgu0p9spH3OKG9wCUBsnRxh8VpR1qrgg-Kcha8aCBH995wa0O-HSHk5XPfUD4T-F5qtFtwN_qDacAGR5e7CKBuObFmfuS3l4F3KeuBalLnYOzTMYNMbNyIE8qvw-n2Z8-UNRx8CYJyNoYmfuKIUh1LXps-Snv0EPR43wIBJSC40aal5pUtc4_0pZyAXxivGEah6b8jFsQMjyT8mMF5xvLLJ91sAm8jSZX1SSkVkZB_jWbL0=w1659-h933-no

you can't share those links.

 

[jrob]

Ok that should be all the pictures fixed.

Thanks for checking it out.

 

[Jhalko]

Ok that should be all the pictures fixed.

Thanks for checking it out.

Pics working, great stuff for sure. Let me know if you make it back up to Denver or summit county area again, I'll buy you a beer.

 

[blkhwk]

Great looking 4Rnr!

Texas is boring for wheeling. When I get time off I head west. I love road tripping to Colorado.

 

[ST1FLER]

GTG nice rig

 

[NickCE11]

Nice looking 4Runner! Great ideas for a build too!

 

[1engineer]

Very nice! Make sure you include this in my updated build thread listing of bild threads. It will be stickied soon.

 

[jrob]

Pics working, great stuff for sure. Let me know if you make it back up to Denver or summit county area again, I'll buy you a beer.

I'm sure we will be back up there eventually. The girl has a ton of friends up there. I'll hit you up for sure.

Great looking 4Rnr!

Texas is boring for wheeling. When I get time off I head west. I love road tripping to Colorado.

Yea, ATX is pretty cool though, I try to get up that way often. We were just up in pace bend a few weeks ago, so nice. Still never been out to Big Bend, hoping to go, maybe this winter sometime.

 

[blkhwk]

I'm sure we will be back up there eventually. The girl has a ton of friends up there. I'll hit you up for sure.

Yea, ATX is pretty cool though, I try to get up that way often. We were just up in pace bend a few weeks ago, so nice. Still never been out to Big Bend, hoping to go, maybe this winter sometime.

Next time you're in ATX give me a shout. I'll show you around and grab a beer or ten. :beer:

Just got back from Big Bend this past weekend. First time there and it was amazing. We went in my wife's car but there are a bunch of dirt roads that lead to primitive camp spots. I'm planning another trip in late November early December. Hit me up if you'd like to join.

 

[jrob]

Colorado Trip '15

[MENTION=120939]blkhwk[/MENTION] thanks man that sounds fun, but unfortunately I think I will stil be in India. I don't actually know when I get to come home at this point...



I thought I would share some photos from Our trip home.

We got a super late start out of Houston due to some last minute stuff my office sprung on me. Rolled out around 1530 and drove all night, making it to Bloomfield at about 0630 before tapping out and catching a couple hours at Angel Peak Overlook. I must have driven past this a thousand times and gone "hmm wonder what's over there?"
Woke up to this:

We rolled into Durango about 0930 and grabbed some CJ's burritos obviously, and took them to the girls folks house to eat. If you're ever in Durango, go there and get one and you will see. They are the breakfast burrito by which all other breakfast burritos are measured.

What do you do after a 16 hour, 1200 mile overnight roadtrip?
Hike into a picturesque canyon and go climbing. Clearly.

Little bro. I remember giving him his first pair of rock shoes 5 years ago and now he climbs 5.13. It's not fair.

After a solid 9.5 hours of much needed sleep that night we woke up and bid farewell to the '87. (see first post)
Then it was off to the high country for a proposed route of highway to the base of Engineer pass outside Ouray, then up poughkeepsie, over corkscrew to blackbear and chill in T-ride with some homies.
Well....The highway was closed after Ironton and I just really wanted to climb poukeepsie. Such a lame touristy thing to say, but the I simply hadn't run it in any vehicle yet, only moto, and it was literally the only piece of realestate in the sanjuans I haven't driven over yet. So we headed up corkscrew only to blow a tire at the summit after hitting a rock ledge a little too hot...No pics as I was busy changing the tire and trying to make it back to Dgo before our new Discount Tire closed because they had 1 285 Duratrac in stock. Of course I don't have a full sized spare...
But here is a lovely shot of my copilot getting some sunshine while I aired down at the base of corkscrew

T-ride plans shot to hell, we did what anyone would do. Caught up with old friends in Dtown, got rowdy at the schoolhouse and stayed an extra night at the cabin.

The house my dad built and I grew up in.

Fully rested and not hungover at all, we set out our eyes on Black bear to go see aforementioned homies.

Taking the sporty line up to the summit.

Nothing better for a hangover than a 9.5% double IPA at 12,8

Not flexing. Just saying.

Upon arrival we met up with homies for lunch at Smugglers, then ventured onward to the Grand Junction where additional homies were awaiting our arrival to go check out an experimental camp spot in the dessert. Not glamorous, but worth noting that it is only 10 minutes outside of town, and offers a good spot to have a fire, check some stars and worth note if you are in the "overlanding" frame of mind. And it is an absolute moto paradise.

On a tight time frame at this point we rallied to Denver for a wedding. The wedding was actually the entire point of this trip, but in case you haven't noticed I have the coolest girlfriend in the world, and she was stoked to go offroading, climbing and camping along the way.