Rubbertoe's GTA 98 runner

[rubbertoe]

Thought i would update my thread as i installed my "savage" sliders on friday ,pretty stoked ! these bad boys are beefy and provide some real time nerf protection. one great feature of the runner is that i like to ride jet ski's (stand ups) and mine fits in my runner ! also i am able to lock it up in there unlike my truck ,this feature really kind of works for me.no crazy 4x4 pics yet,but here are some R&R weekend pics as we are getting ready for summer fun.also my wife has been working hard to commandeer the runner at every chance she gets ,as shown in the pics .Lol .enjoy

 

[rubbertoe]

Well i thought i would share with the group my little project from yesterday ,as i have gotten some great ideas lurking on here for customizing my rig so i will give back ! one thing that has been a disappointment was the quality of the finish on my "Rola " roof rack,man it faded quick and looks weathered .so taking the weekend off from jet skiing i decided to give the 4Runner some much needed attention.so i pulled the trigger on a yakima tire mount for the roof rack because after going with the CBI rear bumper A 32 inch tire no longer fits in the stock location ,plus it would hang down and look like shit .so before i receive the mount that i ordered i wanted to clean up the finish of my roof rack and lower it,so i decided to go with dupli-color spray on bed liner in a rattle can to use as a durable finish also so it bling again .not a big fan of running a tire up there ,but i will try it and see.first i had to lower my roof rack mounts, so that if was going to run a tire up high my vehicle it wont look so narrow and tall.plus i had this in mind before i even considered running a tire up there.also my buddy is a big fan of the swapmeet (I hadn't been in 15+years) so i decided to go ,ended up scoring a brand new hi-lift jack for $40.00 wich helped motivate my roof work as now i need to figure out a mount for it ! heres some pics of what i did for lowering mounts, hi lift mounts next !

 

[rubbertoe]

Like any forum lurker might do ,i am doing the easy stuff first ,couldn't get into too much trouble working on my rack ,right ? plus i am injured right now so something easy was just my speed! to give you an idea of what i did was using all m6 stainless hardware and 1 1/2 x 1/8 aluminum angle i fabled up some 6" brackets that used the stock mount tabs that were inside my factory roof system .the m6 x 1.0 pitch is what the factory system utilized so i found the correct length ones to work for me (aprox 1 1/4") the one in the pic is a little short ,fyi .also i used a piece of 3/4 x6" plastic that i had at home for a spacer to bring the rack up so it clears the arc of the roof top ,but i imagine a piece of square stock 3/4 aluminum or any composite material would work just fine as an alternative to plastic spacers. i then needed to offset the angle on top of my spacer 3/8" to make it wider, because the rola rack is a bit wider than the location of factory rails ,drilled a hole in both pieces and picked up the factory insert tabs in the rail system all and all made for a sturdy firm mount .for those of you who live in San Diego ,you need to check out "marshals hardware" in miramar area this place is the mega mart of hardware and makes projects like these a lot easier one stop shop with just about every nut and bolt/size &material you can imagine, best of all its serve yourself to as many or few that you want . I like the way it turned out with the lower profile and improved finish ,no more dull looking hi-hat rack ! next i will be lifting her a little more ,the 2.5 just isn't cutting it ! hope i'm not shooting myself in the foot as it drives and handles really nice right now .Im just trying to get some info out there for anyone looking to do the same roof rack modification and give back some to T4Rorg community,enjoy

 

[AZ_Trails]

Hey man, rear bumper looks really good. Do you keep your spare under the truck still? If it's full size, I'm curious how it fits.

 

[rubbertoe]

Az ,I could make a smaller tire work for a "just in case" but don't like how it looks . defeats the whole purpose of a lower profile bumper to have a tire that sticks down,imo. but i knew this going into it .So my options are either mount in the back of the truck (i like the idea of it standing up to one side)or on the roof rack or if i really don't like these locations i can always add a swing out . i think on the roof rack with a cover will be just fine. i plan at some point going to a 33" tire so i doubt that size will fit under any A/M bumper without sticking down ridiculously low or coming close to moving parts ?any suggestions recommendations or input welcomed ? thanks.Robert

 

[rubbertoe]

Felling kind of crappy about riding the couch this weekend especially when my water scooter is ready to rip ,being injured really sucks!!!!!! so i thought i will share some pics of some eye candy me and my bros enjoying the water from the last few weeks of riding .man getting old sucks ,it just takes longer and longer to heal up.Heres a couple perv shots from the lake where we ride ,enjoy courtesy of rubbertoe.... ( FYI thats me above on the hurricane ski ,for those jetskiers who are interested )

 

[rubbertoe]

Here's a little update on my thread as i haven't done much to the 4runner lately but drive her.well the GTA wasn't a clean get away as the robbery wasn't well planned ,I guess i never gave to much thought about the wifey factor .rewind to about october when the wife's ride started to give us problems (cam/crank sensor issue)this damn issue turned into an on going thing as it was intermitting gremlin that would cause her car to stall out .so i guess you can all figure out what had to happen as wifey defiantly needs a car to get around to and fro and the 4runner was in her sights .i tell you i worked franticly to get the issue remedied with her car because i knew the more she started to like the 4runner the harder it would be to get it back , i was right .4runner is a shared ride in our family but i didn't want her to think the other car was no longer needed and she was taking the 4runner over full time,shoot next thing you know there will be stuffed animals and clothes instead of recovery gear in it .adversely pulling the GTA,lol. Heres some pics of the wheel spacers i added and the finished shots after the install. i debated putting these on due to the fact that some tire shops would not perform service to the truck with these installed.but what the hell everything else has been modified if i have to i will take them off for service as it wasn't to much work to put them on .one thing that always bugged me about my 3rd gen was how narrow the wheel base was and after lifted it looked tall and narrow .this mod i feel makes the truck look great and fills out the body lines better ! one thing i did discover was my upper ball joint looks as if its leaking and probably needs to be replaced ? I couldn't see a tear in the boot but it was sploodging grease ,let me know what you guy's think .

 

[RockMuncher]

Good stuff RubberToe!!!!

Thanks for the updates...the runner has come a long way, hope your daughter is enjoying this beauty!



Muncher

PS Can we get more of the lake eyecandy stuff (not the waterscooters).

 

[rubbertoe]

Good stuff RubberToe!!!!

Thanks for the updates...the runner has come a long way, hope your daughter is enjoying this beauty!



Muncher

PS Can we get more of the lake eyecandy stuff (not the waterscooters).

Jock Muncher (AKA Steve )in case you don't understand the dynamics i will help spell it out . I ride freestyle jetski's @ 45 yrs old, meaning were a crowd of self absorbed selfish sum *****es with rocks for brains ,capish (JK)

 

[4RunFun44]

Jock Muncher (AKA Steve )in case you don't understand the dynamics i will help spell it out . I ride freestyle jetski's @ 45 yrs old, meaning were a crowd of self absorbed selfish sum *****es with rocks for brains ,capish (JK)

I was really digging this thread there Mr. Rubbertoe, until this. What did Rock Muncher do wrong?

BTW, I really like how your Runner is progressing, but now I am a bit hesitant to compliment you.

 

[rubbertoe]

I was really digging this thread there Mr. Rubbertoe, until this. What did Rock Muncher do wrong?

BTW, I really like how your Runner is progressing, but now I am a bit hesitant to compliment you.

Im sorry you feel this way ,as i know this "rock muncher " character personally and his post is the beginning of more follies to come ...is all

 

[4RunFun44]

OIC, keep up the good work. Do you ever go out to Corral Canyon? We go there 4 - 5x a year

 

[rubbertoe]

Thank you.I used to ride my dirt bike in 4 corners @ Buckman Springs a lot ,a few years back . but from what i remember its mostly single track moto trails and fire roads .i see pics of people 4x out there . personally no not in the 4runner you take yours out there ?

 

[RockMuncher]

Exactly 4Run4Fun44. Thank you. I was trying to compliment RubberToe, and he responds with that juvenile BS.

He seems really mean spirited and angry.

 

[rubbertoe]

Exactly 4Run4Fun44. Thank you. I was trying to compliment RubberToe, and he responds with that juvenile BS.

He seems really mean spirited and angry.

T4R.org aka Rock Muncher .Quite messin with my threads Steve ,i know its you ! Douche bag....

 

[4RunFun44]

Thank you.I used to ride my dirt bike in 4 corners @ Buckman Springs a lot ,a few years back . but from what i remember its mostly single track moto trails and fire roads .i see pics of people 4x out there . personally no not in the 4runner you take yours out there ?

You are right, still mostly single track up at 4 corners. There are some fun trails to putt around on and do some exploring if you don't mind coming home with a few new racing stripes hwell:

I picked up a Socal off road trail book and have been trying to check out a new area every month. There are some fun runs close to my house. Let me know if you want to come down and check out some trails.

I think a simple "I'm sorry" to Rock Muncher would make him feel all warm and fuzzy inside. He seemed sincere when he was complimenting your build.

 

[rubbertoe]

I think a simple "I'm sorry" to Rock Muncher would make him feel all warm and fuzzy inside. He seemed sincere when he was complimenting your build.[/QUOTE]

Are you speaking on behalf of Rock Muncher ? Rock Muncher is a troll, he has got on other sights as an alias and messed with my threads (AKA Gary Poupon) he's lucky if i don't punch his lips next time i see him .(jk)

 

[swapmeet]

Umm...

Hi guys...

 

[rubbertoe]

Man ,there goes my thread hoping to get away from you clowns now you all got 4Runners sheeeesh ,is nothing sacred anymore ?

 

[swapmeet]