Red-Runner getting built

[red-runner]

New Shoes!

Just got some new shoes. General Grabber AT2 285/75r16

Little rubbing at full lock, so I guess I'll need to do some pounding. I think it looks sharp.

Gonna post up my Coopers for sale (San Diego area) in case anyone is interested. They only have about 3,000 miles on them. They wheeled just fine. I wanted a bigger tire though, so I stepped up to the 285s after regearing. Seemed like the thing to do...

 

[BrianSD_42]

How was that Coral Canyon run? Looks pretty dry.

Did you go on any of the technical trails? Some of them are pretty rough on the undercarriage and paint job. I suffered some major flare scratches out there last time. Great times (and it was raining) but intense.

 

[red-runner]

How was that Coral Canyon run? Looks pretty dry.

Did you go on any of the technical trails? Some of them are pretty rough on the undercarriage and paint job. I suffered some major flare scratches out there last time. Great times (and it was raining) but intense.

Did not hit up the more technical stuff, since we were carrying young kids who had never been off-roading before. Also pretty much no way my 2wd pre-runner is making any of the black diamond stuff without a pull. That said, we were wheeling for 3-4 hours. Was a great day.

Looking forward to gunslinger and the offshoots next time. Don't think I'm really ready for sidewinder or bronco peak. I'm still learning how to drive.

 

[BrianSD_42]

I didn't realize you were only 2wd.

 

[red-runner]

I didn't realize you were only 2wd.

Sorry. The 4Runner is 4 wheel drive and locked (rear). We were out there with friends, and one of them was driving my little pre-runner. It's a 1994 Yota long-travel pickup. The pre-runner is great for hard pack and bumpy stuff, but is not made to crawl anything technical. 4Runner should be able to go just about anywhere I'm capable of driving...and then some.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Awesome. Hopefully we can go out wheeling sometime.

 

[red-runner]

Awesome. Hopefully we can go out wheeling sometime.

First desert run is planned for 9/25-9/28. Head out to Ocotillo Wells. We plan to spend many weekends out there this year.

In other news...

I spent the evening smashing stuff under my fenders with a 4lb mallet. Did a quick test drive, lock to lock, hit up the local dirt field, and I have no more rubbing. I'm sure when the tires get really stuffed there may be some rub left, but so far, so good.

 

[BoarderDave]

Being that everything is red, I would've figured you'd of run the red General lettering on the outside.
Either way... they look like great tires! Rig is looking real good. Nice buy. :bigok:

 

[red-runner]

Being that everything is red, I would've figured you'd of run the red General lettering on the outside.
Either way... they look like great tires! Rig is looking real good. Nice buy. :bigok:

Yeah, I thought about getting the red letters, but they are very heavy, and cost a bit more. I like the AT2s just fine, and they'll do what I need them to do. Those red letters would have looked awesome though.

 

[red-runner]

Exhaust - FINALLY

...and the last mechanical upgrade before the desert season begins. Finally got an exhaust installed. I went with a Wicked Flow (recommended by Valley Muffler in El Cajon), and I think it sounds great. The guys at Valley Muffler were also very good, fast, knew their stuff, and came more than 50% less expensive than the 4wheel shops I got quotes from.

Check it out (I'll get a drive by video when my wife gets home):

 

[red-runner]

Comms installed

This was a big week for the Red-runner: I got regeared (technically last week), stepped up to 33" tires, got exhaust, and I finally got the comms installed today. I'm also very happy to say that I was able to sell my Cooper tires to a forum member in less than two days, and hopefully it was a good deal for both of us.

CB radio installed in the center console. It's a Cobra c-75-wx-st. Antenna is run to the rear and mounted on the swing-out. Tuned SWR to pretty consistent 1.5 -- surprised it's going that well on the rear, but that's what I got. Antenna is a 3-foot loaded Firestik, model FL-3. Tapped power from the cigarrette lighter adapter, and the remote box is in the cup-holder space on the back of the center console. The mic just sits in the center console, unless I'm using it. Console shuts fine with the handheld hanging out.

Race radio (Vertex VX-2200) mounted to the back-side of the center console. Just stow the mic in the map pocket of passenger seat. Easy to see, control, etc. Power is run directly to the battery for constant, clean power (don't forget to turn it off!) Antenna is a 1/2 wave whip mounted through a hole in the roof for a good ground plane, but this is also the bad.

In a moment of complete lunacy, I put the hole too close to the sunroof, which now only opens half-way. This will be fixed, but at least the radio works really well. I'm not too depressed, since I rarely use the sunroof. I've already hooked up with a buddy to help me get it fixed (waterproof and color matched) and relocated. :ybrick: :ybrick: :ybrick:

Some pictures of the process:

 

[red-runner]

Fixed some rubbing

Passed my Ham test last weekend. My call sign is KK6OZI.

In other news, I had to relocate the reservoirs on the front. 285s were rubbing the hoses pretty badly. There would have been a hole soon, if I didn't do something about it. Planning a trip to the desert this weekend, so didn't solve permanently -- moved down to frame/bumper mount, which is also inboard a bit.

Net result is that the hoses are safe. The approach angle suffered though, because the brackets that were available put the resis at an angle. Will see if someone has (or can fab) a better mount. Should be fine for the desert, but I'll need to take it easy on the crawling.

Check it out:

Hoses are safe

Resis are vulnerable

Should be fine for Ocotillo Wells this weekend.

 

[NateMob]

Oh man those wouldnt last a day there on my truck. Are there any rules to mounting them with the hose facing up vs. down or anything? I would try and utilize the space above the skid along that crossmember spanning the framerails. Protected and they would look pretty cool tucked up in there.

 

[red-runner]

I would try and utilize the space above the skid along that crossmember spanning the framerails. Protected and they would look pretty cool tucked up in there.

That's exactly where I'm looking. I had an idea I can accomplish tonight though, so I'm gonna give it a try. If it works out, then I'll feel much better about this trip. Otherwise, I think you are right - hiding them behind steel plate is best bet.

 

[red-runner]

OK - pushed the resis back, swapped brackets left to right, and spun them around. Gave me an upward angle that keeps them tucked a little better. Still not ideal, but way better than they were.

Now I'm rubbing slightly at absolute full lock, but it's on the steel fittings instead of on the hose. I did several u-turns in the street, and I have to completely lock the wheel to make them rub. Again, not ideal, but it doesn't seem like I can smash the tire into the fittings hard enough to bend or break.

I will probably end up hiding the resis under the skid like Nate mentioned, but that will take a bit more work than I can do this week, and I may need a 90º fitting to get them in there.

Here's what I came up with (apologies for iPhone pictures at night):

If you look closely, you can see a tiny area on the fitting (just before it bends) where it's a little shinier than the rest. That's the area that touches at full crank.

Driver's side doesn't rub:

I think I'll wheel it like this, and if it's not working out, I'll mess with it some more in the desert. I'll be with some mechanics, so they probably want to mess with it anyway. I think it's gonna be fine for this trip though.

 

[NateMob]

Right on Jeremy, i think that looks a lot safer! Have fun for the rest of us this weekend and take photos.

 

[red-runner]

Right on Jeremy, i think that looks a lot safer! Have fun for the rest of us this weekend and take photos.

Roger that. We'll be reppin' Yotas old and new. I'll be with a 2015 Taco, my 1994 pre runner, and the red-runner. It's gonna be hot, but we're gonna pretend the season has started.

 

[BoarderDave]

Side question for you.. how are you liking the General Grabber's so far?
They are number 1 on my list of tires right now for my eventual tire replacement on my Runner.. Just curious what you think of them so far.
Thanks. :yo:

 

[BrianSD_42]

Looks good man. I have those same 285s and love them. Best AT tire / $$$ in my opinion.

As far as the rubbing, did you trim the plastic away in the fender? As well as remove the offending bolts?

I ended up trimming away a lot of the plastic shield, then filling the gap with foam, then trimming the foam with a razor (BC its wild) then painting it black. This has held up great.

 

[thor999]

I installed the swaybar discos. Looks like I won't need them. Drove around with them disconnected, and I liked it so much, I think I'll just remove them altogether.

Unreal how much my suspension has been suffering with the swaybar connected. You'd think I'd understand this, since I have a long-travel truck also...

Anyway, this truck is getting dialed in. Can't wait for desert season to begin.

I might be interested in those sway bar discos if the price is right...