Please help me figure out what to do next.

[psraff]

Hey Everyone....
I've been looking over my 4Runner lately and I've felt I've neglected it. Over the Winter, I've remodeled my Mud Room. It was never finished when I bought the house and it was time.

Also, I've been working on my Daughters Jeep. Making it safer, warmer, and cosmetic improvements as well.

So..... Because of the drop in the price of Oil, work has really dried up here in Alaska. My re-gearing project is put on hold... I've been thinking of the Snorkel because that would be a functional improvement. Also, someday I MIGHT put 35" tires on after I re-gear so I could plan for that and put on the correct BL to help in that department.

I do have a Roll Bar almost in my grasp (as soon as the owner gets off the couch and pulls it off) so I was going to do that and build an elevated storage platform on it as I've seen others do. Also, I'll be installing flashlight mounts and fire extinguitiers.

Now that it's spring, I can get my windshield fixed and I need to replace my glass in both head lights (both have holes in them from rocks).

I'm at 191.000 miles so it's time for the timing belt change project.

I would love to get an air compressor installed.

I want a platform built for storage, but I still have to put garbage cans in the back for dump runs almost every week, so that will be held off. Once I do build my storage platform, I have a 3000 watt inverter to fit in there somewhere.
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So let me ask you.... What would you work on if you were in my shoes? This is an explorer, camping, expedition use 4Runner. 3.4L Auto.

Give me advice and ask questions. I'm more then happy to get info from you guys and ladies!

(also, for some reason, when I look at so many of the other 4Runners on here, mine just doesn't look at sexy as theirs. Is that just because I look at mine every day? At a distance I stand back and love how it looks. But when I'm on here, I see ones that are dang near jaw dropping...) Maybe that's my problem dating also... mmmm something to think about....

 

[Raintrees]

put a number on the things you can do.. then roll some dice!

 

[HunterM]

I'd go with the timing belt. It's most important on your list IMO.

 

[Lug1]

Inspect the timing belt. Cost's closest to $0. No timing belt - no engine (best case scenario), remember that.

 

[psraff]

Absolutely! Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to skip maintaining it so I can add extras to it. I'm looking at Timing Belt Kits now. I should still have a link for that kit everyone gets off of eBay (and I saw that same person selling on Amazon in the past). I need to do a bit of research on it again. If I remember right, there are two kits. Regarding an oil cooler or not.

Since camping \ travel season is coming upon us I want to have this done in the next month or so. I have my kids Jeep and a company truck so it's ok if my 4Runner is in my shop for a week while I do it on my off time.

Also, I'll search on how to inspect the timing belt. I'm sure just removing the cover, but I'll have to look to see how much tension should be on it and such...

 

[HunterM]

Get you a Haynes repair manual. You'll use it more than you think. As for everything else, I don't see why things couldn't get done in a month especially when you have spare vehicles

 

[psraff]

Get you a Haynes repair manual. You'll use it more than you think. As for everything else, I don't see why things couldn't get done in a month especially when you have spare vehicles

Have one.... personally I hate it. This site and Google are 10x better, though I do still try to use it.

Biggest issue is managing my money. I was all ready to drop several grand on Gears, but now I'm on a tight budget. So I mostly put there out here for ideas from others and maybe come up with something I haven't thought of yet.

Like I've thought of a CB, but up here they aren't used that much so I'm not sure if it would be worth it. And I hate being out in the middle of no where without emergency comms. So that is on the back burner until I can verify if it's worth it or not. I want to talk to the Troopers\ SAR and get their opinion on it.

 

[csp]

IMO, if you need others to suggest modifications you don't really need any of them, especially if you're on a budget. Save the money for unforeseen expenses that always happen in life. Given you're old enough to have a daughter that drives, no doubt you've experienced this in life at one time or another.

Drive it and determine yourself what's needed.

Sorry, I just don't understand making mods with money burning a hole in your pocket, especially if there isn't much there.

 

[psraff]

IMO, if you need others to suggest modifications you don't really need any of them, especially if you're on a budget. Save the money for unforeseen expenses that always happen in life. Given you're old enough to have a daughter that drives, no doubt you've experienced this in life at one time or another.

Drive it and determine yourself what's needed.

Sorry, I just don't understand making mods with money burning a hole in your pocket, especially if there isn't much there.

Because I need a Hobby. Even with work slowing down up here and yes, following my budget I need to keep myself busy. If I don't I will fall into some pretty bad depression. My Hobbies are My Home, Yard, Shop, and the 4Runner. And that's not just to maintain them. I need to make them better and something to be proud of. So all I was asking for were ideas \ opinions (maybe ones that I haven't thought of already) on what I can look into to, to improve my 4Runner even more. I can still spend money here and there, that's not an issue. I just can't spend $2-3K on large projects.

Hope that doesn't come off sounding like I'm a dick. Not my intention. Just trying to get others opinions because I've learned to respect quite a few people on here.

 

[csp]

Isn't four wheeling a hobby? Go four wheeling!!

 

[psraff]

Isn't four wheeling a hobby? Go four wheeling!!

That's this summer. Right now, we're swamped with work due to a Turn Around at the Refinery coming up. After that (May) is when I'm afraid our work is really going to dry up. So to sum that up... Slow winter (worked on the Jeep and my House), right now work is picking up, so I'm taking care of the maintenance side of things (Timing Belt). After that, is the cheap but productive projects.

Plus, now it would be MUDDING!!! I'm not much into that. And I'm not talking 6 to 10".. I'm talking feet! And that rips up the ground way too much. For example, getting back to my brother in laws moose camp.... We had to winch the 4 Wheelers down hill to get through it. This ground here holds so much organic material in it, that we can literally have swamp like ground on the side of ravines \ hills. I do have a trip planned up a few mountain roads as soon as I can. I need a few truck loads of rock for a wall I'm planning inside my house.

 

[7echo]

Seems like for dump runs and getting the rocks you could use a trailer. With a trailer you could do the shelf and roll bar in the back of the t4r. Could use the trailer for camping trips as well.

Do the timing belt, as HunterM mentioned. Then do some fun mods.

 

[psraff]

Seems like for dump runs and getting the rocks you could use a trailer. With a trailer you could do the shelf and roll bar in the back of the t4r. Could use the trailer for camping trips as well.

Do the timing belt, as HunterM mentioned. Then do some fun mods.

Would love a trailer! Been looking for one for several years and nothing appears to fit my need. I don't need a snowmachine trailer with tires the size of wheel barrel tires, or a trailer made out of a full size '70s truck box. The few that really caught my eye were gone the second they were posted for sale.

Now that I have a welder, I can look for some that could use a bit more work so my options are larger then before. So yes, my eyes are open to trailers.

I was looking through my bookmarks for the links for the Timing Belt kit and I've lost them. So I'll be doing that tonight.

 

[Unner]

Has your TB ever been done? I'd suggest doing it and everything associated if not, tensioner, idler, etc. My first time doing a timing belt ever was on my truck. Took me a full day working all day basically. I replaced everything but cam seals, including the radiator. Total for parts was right at $500 for everything OEM quality.

Your truck is beautiful by the way also. You're lucky to be in such a pretty place of the country too. I know what you mean about always wanting to do something to the truck. I was gonna say get out and enjoy it, but if those plans are for later this year that's cool too. As far as smaller mods that won't break the bank some recent ones I've done are rear lower control arm skids, BAMF front control arm skids (to be installed this weekend), extended rear bump stops, super bump bumpstops up front, big three wiring, aux. fuse block install, new speakers, sound deadening, and I also plan on trying to rig up some limb risers this weekend. Just a couple thoughts.

 

[psraff]

Has your TB ever been done? I'd suggest doing it and everything associated if not, tensioner, idler, etc. My first time doing a timing belt ever was on my truck. Took me a full day working all day basically. I replaced everything but cam seals, including the radiator. Total for parts was right at $500 for everything OEM quality.

Your truck is beautiful by the way also. You're lucky to be in such a pretty place of the country too. I know what you mean about always wanting to do something to the truck. I was gonna say get out and enjoy it, but if those plans are for later this year that's cool too. As far as smaller mods that won't break the bank some recent ones I've done are rear lower control arm skids, BAMF front control arm skids (to be installed this weekend), extended rear bump stops, super bump bumpstops up front, big three wiring, aux. fuse block install, new speakers, sound deadening, and I also plan on trying to rig up some limb risers this weekend. Just a couple thoughts.

Timing Belt was done at 100K I was told. Once I confirm that I do have an Oil Cooler, I'm getting another kit ordered because I'm getting close to 192K.

As for the rear bump stops, I just read on another thread you made some extras... Still have a set? If so, I'll take a set off your hands (I'm assuming it's the new bump stops as well)

Your skids are a good idea. That was an area of concern I always had.

I do have an Aux. Fuse Block installed already. And I've totally forgot about the Big 3 upgrade. Thanks for the reminder on that one.

I've thought about the riser idea many times (along with grill covers over the head lights to eliminate rock chips). But since I have a bumper with only a center hoop, I'm not sure how to proceed. Still thinking about that one.

 

[Unner]

Timing Belt was done at 100K I was told. Once I confirm that I do have an Oil Cooler, I'm getting another kit ordered because I'm getting close to 192K.

As for the rear bump stops, I just read on another thread you made some extras... Still have a set? If so, I'll take a set off your hands (I'm assuming it's the new bump stops as well)

Your skids are a good idea. That was an area of concern I always had.

I do have an Aux. Fuse Block installed already. And I've totally forgot about the Big 3 upgrade. Thanks for the reminder on that one.

I've thought about the riser idea many times (along with grill covers over the head lights to eliminate rock chips). But since I have a bumper with only a center hoop, I'm not sure how to proceed. Still thinking about that one.

I do still have two extra sets, I'll PM you about them.

I was talking to a guy the other day who told me I should get the rear LCA skids because he regretted not having them on his. After looking at his mount I ordered mine the next day...

Big 3 is easy and fun to do. I don't have anything more than a center stinger too. I plan to make brackets that will come out between the hood and fender and run mine to there from the rack. I'll see how it comes out and let you know.