Northeast Expedition's 2016 TRDPro build

[adamseattle]

The Toytec Lifts' 2" ultimate FJ Cruiser/TRDPro 4Runner lift arrived today. Time to deliver the springs to my local custom powdercoater to get stripped and sprayed flag red to match the front springs.

Have you installed the TRD Pro Toytec kit yet? I have a TRD Pro and was curious to see if anyone else has installed it/has input on it. Would be great to see before and after photos!

 

[NEExpo]

Have you installed the TRD Pro Toytec kit yet? I have a TRD Pro and was curious to see if anyone else has installed it/has input on it. Would be great to see before and after photos!

I installed it last week. Just haven't had a chance to post up photos yet. I'll get around to it tomorrow :thumb:

 

[Highwaystreets]

Really really awesome build and beautiful pictures!! Keep up the good work!

 

[simonsay]

Have you installed the TRD Pro Toytec kit yet? I have a TRD Pro and was curious to see if anyone else has installed it/has input on it. Would be great to see before and after photos!

There's an entire thread for this kit. Search "TRD Pro lift question"

 

[NEExpo]

So I've been slacking on posting up recent updates on my build. Here's what's been going on in the last week or so.

Last Thursday I finally got around to installing the Toytec Lifts' Ultimate FJ Cruiser/TRD Pro 4Runner 2" lift. The lift tested my patience haha. I'm so use to both spacers going on the top of the strut and the kit wasn't fitting. Luckily I have Scott over at Toytec on speed dial and was able to get ahold of him for help. I forgot I could have looked at the TRD Pro lift question thread; I guess I was just in panic mode haha. The larger spacer goes at the bottom and the smaller spacer goes at the top (see photos). The lift definitely looks bigger than 2" (see comparison photo). I'm measuring 37" from the ground to the middle of the front fender flare and 39" from the ground to the middle of the rear fender flare. I still have the 265s on there for now until my tax return hits my checking account.
















Last Friday I did a little bit of flexing on a boat ramp dock to see what the outcome would be after the lift. Not bad for reusing the stock rear shocks.








This past Saturday I decided to test out the suspension on a small hill climb that's rutted out pretty bad. The hill looks flat in the video but it's actually about 20-25 degree incline with "open diff ruts" along it making for a good test of the suspension and crawling functions. I used 4Lo, rear diff lock, and multi terrain select turned on and set to mogul. You can see the video here: Small Hill Climb

After leaving that area, I stumbled upon a Russian Orthodox Church. I love the design, style and colors of these churches. Had to get a photo with it.



On this past Sunday, I went over a buddy's house to use his garage to relocate my rear diff breather and rear locker breather. I extended the breathers into the cab of the 4Runner. Ran the hose up to where the tail light wiring is (see photos). I used a polyethylene muffler for the breather and tied in the rear diff hose and rear locker hose together to just use one breather. Did this with my FJ Cruiser and never had an issue after 110,000 miles. I also left some extra hose to allow for flexing.

 

[NEExpo]

After extending the rear breathers, I installed some LEDs into my license plate lights and vanity lights. I removed the Philips festoon LED bulb from my dome light and installed a LED board I found that I had left over from the FJ. This board is so much better than the Philips bulb.
















On Monday, I received shipment of the Demello Offroad 2010-2016 hybrid rock sliders. I'll get around to installing those in a week or so.

 

[rpontbriand]

Are those the standard 17 inch Nitto Grapplers? I ask as I plan on getting a Toytec lift and was a bit worried that my Grapplers may look over whelmed with a lift. Looks good IMO.

 

[Boyds4Runner]

Last Thursday I finally got around to installing the Toytec Lifts' Ultimate FJ Cruiser/TRD Pro 4Runner 2" lift. The lift tested my patience haha. I'm so use to both spacers going on the top of the strut and the kit wasn't fitting. Luckily I have Scott over at Toytec on speed dial and was able to get ahold of him for help. I forgot I could have looked at the TRD Pro lift question thread; I guess I was just in panic mode haha. The larger spacer goes at the bottom and the smaller spacer goes at the top (see photos). The lift definitely looks bigger than 2" (see comparison photo). I'm measuring 37" from the ground to the middle of the front fender flare and 39" from the ground to the middle of the rear fender flare. I still have the 265s on there for now until my tax return hits my checking account.

Those are about the same numbers I got for the Toytec lift and I even opted for the SAW 1 and 1/2" rear springs instead of the Toytec 2" super flex. The spring rates were different (12% for SAW and 10% for Toytec) so that may be why I am still getting 2" lift for the rear.

On this past Sunday, I went over a buddy's house to use his garage to relocate my rear diff breather and rear locker breather. I extended the breathers into the cab of the 4Runner. Ran the hose up to where the tail light wiring is (see photos). I used a polyethylene muffler for the breather and tied in the rear diff hose and rear locker hose together to just use one breather. Did this with my FJ Cruiser and never had an issue after 110,000 miles. I also left some extra hose to allow for flexing.

Nice job on the diff. breather! I sent mine forward to under the front hood and had to use a giant brass joint to turn the two tubes into one. It's zip-tied on the driver frame rail just under the driver footwell and to this day I am looking for a better idea.

I like what you did by just putting the "T" right where the E-lock breather tube was mounted. I may have to redo my diff breather runs.

 

[NEExpo]

Are those the standard 17 inch Nitto Grapplers? I ask as I plan on getting a Toytec lift and was a bit worried that my Grapplers may look over whelmed with a lift. Looks good IMO.

Yep, stock 265/70/17 Nitto Terra Grapplers. I don't think it looks bad either but I'm definitely going with 285s :thumb:

Those are about the same numbers I got for the Toytec lift and I even opted for the SAW 1 and 1/2" rear springs instead of the Toytec 2" super flex. The spring rates were different (12% for SAW and 10% for Toytec) so that may be why I am still getting 2" lift for the rear.



Nice job on the diff. breather! I sent mine forward to under the front hood and had to use a giant brass joint to turn the two tubes into one. It's zip-tied on the driver frame rail just under the driver footwell and to this day I am looking for a better idea.

I like what you did by just putting the "T" right where the E-lock breather tube was mounted. I may have to redo my diff breather runs.

Thanks! The T I used was a 1/4 x 1/4 x 1/8. It came in an assortment pack from auto zone. Here's a photo of what the T looked like.

 

[rpontbriand]

Yep, stock 265/70/17 Nitto Terra Grapplers. I don't think it looks bad either but I'm definitely going with 285s :thumb:

Agreed. Would love 285's as well but I just got wife clearance on the lift. Stating that we also "need" new tires that soon would kill it all. Will need to drive a nail in the side of one of my tires to drive the "need" home after a few months with the lift

 

[NEExpo]

Yep, stock 265/70/17 Nitto Terra Grapplers. I don't think it looks bad either but I'm definitely going with 285s :thumb:

Agreed. Would love 285's as well but I just got wife clearance on the lift. Stating that we also "need" new tires that soon would kill it all. Will need to drive a nail in the side of one of my tires to drive the "need" home after a few months with the lift

Hahahahaha! That's great!!!! She will say "oh you only need 1, not 4". So here's what you do, go buy a valve stem core removal tool, remove all the cores on all 4 valve stems before you go to bed, when you wake up for work walk out and act shocked that someone had "slashed" your tires. Pretend to get pissed and upset. She will try to get ya to call the cops; reassure her that the cops aren't gonna catch the person who did it and it's just a waste. Then order your 285s :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: hahahahaha!

 

[rpontbriand]

Hahahahaha! That's great!!!! She will say "oh you only need 1, not 4". So here's what you do, go buy a valve stem core removal tool, remove all the cores on all 4 valve stems before you go to bed, when you wake up for work walk out and act shocked that someone had "slashed" your tires. Pretend to get pissed and upset. She will try to get ya to call the cops; reassure her that the cops aren't gonna catch the person who did it and it's just a waste. Then order your 285s :thumb: :thumb: :thumb: hahahahaha!

Nope. Common garage protocol states you can't replace just 1 tire as the others are worn and the truck won't drive correctly. Seriously, I will just run the 265's for a year or two and replace them. She is cool like that

 

[NEExpo]

Nope. Common garage protocol states you can't replace just 1 tire as the others are worn and the truck won't drive correctly. Seriously, I will just run the 265's for a year or two and replace them. She is cool like that

Lol. Or you can do what I did, find someone looking to buy a set of 265s and sell them off. I have mine sold already for $600. $80 less than new!

 

[NEExpo]

Yesterday was a good day! I received my (5) 285/70/17 Cooper ST Maxx from @discounttire . I got a pretty good deal on them and they were at my house within two days!









After getting the tires, I decided I'm not going to keep the TRD wheels. Being that they are 17x7, I feel they are just a little bit too narrow. I don't know why Toyota didn't go with a 17x7.5 (like before) or a 17x8. Would have been a million times better. I know everyone has mounted 285s on the TRD wheels just fine and that was my original plan, but when you have the money, why not go with something different? I will have the TRD wheels for sale soon. I would like to try to get $200/wheel (local pickup only). $800 for all 4 is still cheaper than ordering them online for $185 and paying almost $100 in shipping. They will have less than 6500 miles and no curb rash on them when they come off.

I ordered the new wheels for the 4Runner today. I went with Stealth Custom Series SR8s and I already ordered the TRD center cap for the wheels as well. The photo below shows exactly how they will look. Such a sexy rim!

 

[Lenster]

Nice Build! Thanks for the photos. I also just couldn't drill into the bumper for the license.

 

[lionchops]

Good looking truck!

 

[NEExpo]

Nice Build! Thanks for the photos. I also just couldn't drill into the bumper for the license.

Thanks! And no problem! Haha I think you're the guy that all my friends call me about. I get text from my friends saying "I see you" or "are you in such and such town?" Hahaha. They always say that the other 4Runner they see has the plate in the grille as well hahaha! Nice looking rig you have!

Good looking truck!

Thanks!

 

[NEExpo]

Last weekend, my buddy CJ and I set out and preran the southern section of the Trans NJ Trail. As of now, I have completed the TNJT 100%. Total length is about 450 miles. Trail starts at High Point, NJ and ends in Cape May, NJ. We started in Mays Landing, NJ and traveled 77 miles south on the trail to the end at Cape May. Through out the trip, the 4Runner began riding like crap and I began hearing a banging/clunking noise in the rear on the passenger side. Upon reaching the Cape May Lighthouse, I got under the 4Runner to inspect it. I found the nut had backed off and the front bolt on the lower trailing arm had slid halfway out. I guess I didn't tighten it up tight enough when I did the lift lol. Luckily I didn't lose the bolt. I slid it back in and then racked my brain to come up with a nut. CJ suggested I use my hitch pin but I knew that was too thick in diameter. Remembering I had an extra hitch pin that has a sleeve that comes off and it reduces down to 1/2"; I got it out and put it through the hole to hold the arm in place. Haha probably one of the craziest trail fixes I've done so far. Worked well and allowed me to make it to Home Depot to get a replacement bolt and nut until a replacement comes in from Toyota. Below are pictures from the trip and the trail fix.

 

[NEExpo]

Earlier this week it snowed so I was able to snap another cool snow photo of Falkor.





Yesterday, I had to make a trip into Camden, NJ and I was able to grab this Philadelphia skyline shot from the parking lot of the Campbell's Stadium.





Today I went and picked up the new hardware to fix the rear lower trailing arm bolt. While I was at the dealer I saw another 4Runner and decided to get a side by side shot of the SR5 and my TRDPro with the 2" lift and stock 265s. Definitely a difference but not too much. You can totally tell if you look at the fender gap between the top of the tire and the bottom of the fender.

 

[Sfjphil]

Just a heads up man, sure you already know the deal with the FJ and stuff. When installing all my suspension and rear links and rear UCAs I was shocked at how loose everything was from the factory, especially the bottom shock bolts front and back. I retightened and used lock tight on all the moving parts. Glad no damage happened!