Ripcord's 2002 4Runner Sport Ed.

[tre9er]

Its on the opposite side of the frame rail from the stock mounts. You can tell what angle it needs to be when the lower mount is in, it pushes itself to that be that far forward.

Any reason you welded the extra metal plate onto the frame first? Is it due to the holes in the frame at that location?

 

[4Running Daily]

Any reason you welded the extra metal plate onto the frame first? Is it due to the holes in the frame at that location?

Stronger. A larger weld is holding it in place.

 

[tre9er]

Stronger. A larger weld is holding it in place.

makes sense, larger weld onto older, slightly corroded frame rail, then the mount is welded onto fresh metal.

 

[Brian757]

makes sense, larger weld onto older, slightly corroded frame rail, then the mount is welded onto fresh metal.

Yupp. Their welding plates. You would typically use them on sliders and bumpers for our trucks. It is just to give a larger surface area and better weld.

 

[poleclimber63]

Thanks!

I logged in a few days ago (as I've been busy, busy) to see how the Moab trip went and to my horror, I read of your mis-fortune!! That's almost on the scale of the rear-end in my Chev blowing, as I was pulling my camping trailer off of the ferry on Vancouver Island, on the busiest weekend of the year!! We (wife and 3 kids) ended up spending our entire holiday at ONE campsite instead of the multitude of AWESOME wilderness sites up Island!! It cost me $2600 and had to be shipped from the mainland some distance... My wife refused to ever attempt another long road trip again, with the trailer, without replacing the truck$$$. We sold the trailer 2 years later. I know what you were feeling. I'm distressed to see you go, as your inspiration has been legendary!! I personally want to thank you for the time and effort you've given on this site to all of us. In the end, we all need change and maybe this project has inspired you to move on to something even more amazing (that will be hard!!) Good luck and thanks!! Maybe you'll be back!

 

[4-Ripcord]

I logged in a few days ago (as I've been busy, busy) to see how the Moab trip went and to my horror, I read of your mis-fortune!! That's almost on the scale of the rear-end in my Chev blowing, as I was pulling my camping trailer off of the ferry on Vancouver Island, on the busiest weekend of the year!! We (wife and 3 kids) ended up spending our entire holiday at ONE campsite instead of the multitude of AWESOME wilderness sites up Island!! It cost me $2600 and had to be shipped from the mainland some distance... My wife refused to ever attempt another long road trip again, with the trailer, without replacing the truck$$$. We sold the trailer 2 years later. I know what you were feeling. I'm distressed to see you go, as your inspiration has been legendary!! I personally want to thank you for the time and effort you've given on this site to all of us. In the end, we all need change and maybe this project has inspired you to move on to something even more amazing (that will be hard!!) Good luck and thanks!! Maybe you'll be back!

Thanks man! I am going to miss being a part of the community, ill stay in touch though.


Im just taking a hiatus until the new 3rd gen tacomas come out. I will take a serious look at those when they do. I have missed my first tacoma for a long time.

 

[gaterose]

Beautiful runner man, this is probably my favorite 3rd gen build. I'm gonna miss seeing the sig pic around. Good luck with the sell and new ride!

 

[wheelds]

What type of car did you end up with Ripcord? IS? hopefully youre staying within the Toyota/Lexus family.

 

[4-Ripcord]

Beautiful runner man, this is probably my favorite 3rd gen build. I'm gonna miss seeing the sig pic around. Good luck with the sell and new ride!

Thanks Matt, means a lot coming from you.

What type of car did you end up with Ripcord? IS? hopefully youre staying within the Toyota/Lexus family.

havent sold the runner yet. Its 90% back to stock but in typical Ripcord fashion I have had lots of setbacks. She has been on Jackstands now for 5 weeks and counting..

 

[liv2bike]

Im looking at 1.8T B6 A4s and 1st gen Lexus IS300 5speeds for a nice car. Something quick that gets mid-high 20's on gas and is somewhat luxurious. Will probably throw some wheels and coilovers on it and do a stereo system and intake/exhaust.

I went from a 1.8T B6 A4 Avant to my Runner. Best move I ever made. The Audi was costing me waaaay too much to keep on the road. It was one thing after another man. Car was perfect and I loved it for several years. Then...it all went to hell and the electrical gremlins arrived. I was done with it. I really loved that wagon and I miss it but, just could not afford to keep it running. Just realize if you can't wrench on it yourself, they are very expensive to maintain and so much of it is proprietary. I did what I could but I could not do everything. Sorry about your Runner, it was one of my favorites.

 

[wheelds]

I went from a 1.8T B6 A4 Avant to my Runner. Best move I ever made. The Audi was costing me waaaay too much to keep on the road. It was one thing after another man. Car was perfect and I loved it for several years. Then...it all went to hell and the electrical gremlins arrived. I was done with it. I really loved that wagon and I miss it but, just could not afford to keep it running. Just realize if you can't wrench on it yourself, they are very expensive to maintain and so much of it is proprietary. I did what I could but I could not do everything. Sorry about your Runner, it was one of my favorites.

I've heard that about Audi's. One of my buddies has had an A4, A8 and TT and the gauge cluster has quit in all 3 of them and each has had its own unique electrical issues. Thats why i'm hoping ripcord stays with Toy/Lex

 

[4-Ripcord]

I went from a 1.8T B6 A4 Avant to my Runner. Best move I ever made. The Audi was costing me waaaay too much to keep on the road. It was one thing after another man. Car was perfect and I loved it for several years. Then...it all went to hell and the electrical gremlins arrived. I was done with it. I really loved that wagon and I miss it but, just could not afford to keep it running. Just realize if you can't wrench on it yourself, they are very expensive to maintain and so much of it is proprietary. I did what I could but I could not do everything. Sorry about your Runner, it was one of my favorites.

I've heard that about Audi's. One of my buddies has had an A4, A8 and TT and the gauge cluster has quit in all 3 of them and each has had its own unique electrical issues. Thats why i'm hoping ripcord stays with Toy/Lex

Even if I did get one, it would cost less to maintain than my 4runner has..

 

[liv2bike]

Even if I did get one, it would cost less to maintain than my 4runner has..

I guess, if comparing it to what you just went through with your Runner. But, every issue I had to deal with on the A4 set me back, minimum, $1,000. No matter if I took it to my dealer or my independent Euro garage.

Would all that stop me from buying another Audi? Probably not seeing as I have my eye on a Q7 TDI. I know.

 

[4-Ripcord]

I guess, if comparing it to what you just went through with your Runner. But, every issue I had to deal with on the A4 set me back, minimum, $1,000. No matter if I took it to my dealer or my independent Euro garage.

Would all that stop me from buying another Audi? Probably not seeing as I have my eye on a Q7 TDI. I know.

I'm not comparing it to just that. Are you aware of all the stuff that has broken in the last 10 months on this truck? Over 2 grand in parts alone and 8 weeks (not including this current 5 week stretch) without a vehicle. I do all my own work.

Anything is cheaper to maintain than that

 

[JayBluShu]

|June 29, 2012|

Well, the bumper is finally color matched and boy does it look good!

I won't bore you all over the details too much. But Ill go over the stuff I used.

For the color Matched paint, I turned to Napa paint stores. Not just any Napa store can do it, it has to be a specialized Napa paint store. What they do is mix the paint right there in the store, all they need is the paint code. They can put it in aerosol cans, small and large paint buckets, prep it for a paint gun, etc..

The only downside is that they do not add hardeners, so they paint take a few days to dry. I really insisted that they add hardeners, even asked to talk to a manager. But, they remained firm on their rule.


At about $17 a can, I think it was a pretty good deal.

The pain process involved 2 coats of self etching primer, 2 coats of primer sealer, 3-4 coats of color matched. and 3 coats of black bumper coating on the backside.

Being that this Thundercloud from napa is a single stage paint, it does not require any clear coat after the base coat.

Hang the bumper by some bailing wire and get to it!

Do you suggest this method over powder coating?

 

[JayBluShu]

Also, when installing your rock sliders, do you have any pictures or a write up on how you installed them to the truck?

 

[fish0281]

Do you suggest this method over powder coating?

I went this route on my bumper and it needed to be redone after a few months. I would not do it again because I really didn't like working with that paint - Napa doesn't put any hardeners in there and so it takes forever to dry. I think professional painting is fine, I won't try and rattle-can something like that ever again though. I also don't really have an appropriate work space either, so that had something to do with it.

 

[4-Ripcord]

It cost me under a hundred bucks and turned out very well if you have the patience to let it dry for like 2-3 days. So yes I would recommend it.

 

[JayBluShu]

thanks guys

 

[JayBluShu]

|September 20, 2012|

OK, last night and this morning I worked on getting the factory bumper mounting plate reinforced. Seeing as that was what bent. I also fixed the misaligned bolt holes, see as that was the cause for the bent plate.


Before I begin, yes I know I suck at welding. I'm just starting out!

How did you realign the mounting holes. I have the same 4xinnovations bumper.