shinyblackdeer
New member
This is what comes next: Turtleback trailer with CVT Mount Shasta RTT. We're almost there!
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shinyblackdeer's 98 T4R SR5 V6 build thread
- Thread starter shinyblackdeer
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Taylor20
New member
Curious what part number you ordered.
Mindomission
New member
Go-Go-Gadget-Trailer! Are you building it, or just picking it up? I like the receiver on the back so you can add even more gadgets. Or just bikes. Nicely done. Shake down for the T4R too? Safe Travels!
shinyblackdeer
New member
shinyblackdeer
New member
We're picking it up. They make a nice nose box for it, too, but we didn't get all the bells and whistles. Definitely a shake-down for the T4R! Thank you.
shinyblackdeer
New member
Tekonsha Primus IQ brake controller install
In preparation for next week's trailer pickup, we just installed a brake controller. Etrailer.com has a bunch of install videos, and I read a few 4Runner-specific how-to's online before getting started. This isn't a how-to, as the job was pretty straightforward. UNTIL the very last wire connection (I'll get to that at the end).
We purchased the $65 ETBC7 Universal wiring kit from Etrailer with no regrets. If you'd prefer to purchase everything separately, here's what you get:
The best place we could find to mount the connector bracket on our CBI bumper was on the passenger side of the receiver, opposite the license plate bracket:
EDIT: Turns out, this is a terrible place to mount if you do any rock crawling. We stripped some wires and had to fix before hooking up the trailer. [MENTION=1795]sschaefer3[/MENTION] showed us where to mount up out of harms way.
We chose to run the wires from back to front through the frame on the driver's side. There's a writeup somewhere online where the wires are run inside the cab. Why anyone would go through the trouble of removing interior panels/carpet is beyond me. Please don't do that. Do this:
Here's where the wire exits the frame and heads up toward the engine compartment near the firewall:
Here's a finished view showing the circuit breakers at the firewall and connections at the battery. We really need to invest in a fuse block:
There are 3 wires that enter the cab through the firewall to connect to the brake controller unit. We passed through one of our existing waterproof grommets. The unit came with 2 mounting brackets -- we chose the metal one with tilt adjustment:
The hardest part of the entire install was making the final connection to the factory brake wire. The only useful piece of information I found online was to follow the brake pedal up to locate the switch wiring. This is possible by lying on your back and wearing a bright headlamp. There's a connector with 4 wires (you splice into the green w/white stripe) coming down from above that plugs into this switch. I unplugged the connector, hoping to pull it down for better access in order to splice the last wire from the controller. There was no slack at all.
I didn't think I would ever be able to use the splice connector with only one hand, so I took off the main panel below the steering column (same panel the controller is mounted to in photo above), hoping for better access. That gave me a line of sight and an extra hand to squeeze the splice connector with a needle nose pliers. Sorry I don't have photos of the location -- it's just too close and cramped in there.
One of the nicest things about the wiring kit from Etrailer is that it comes with a mini circuit tester. Without the trailer, we didn't have any way of knowing if the connection worked. Using the tester we confirmed the brakes, signals and lights are working. Awesome!
EDIT: Super happy with the performance of this brake controller after 2000+ miles of hard travel in less than a week.
In preparation for next week's trailer pickup, we just installed a brake controller. Etrailer.com has a bunch of install videos, and I read a few 4Runner-specific how-to's online before getting started. This isn't a how-to, as the job was pretty straightforward. UNTIL the very last wire connection (I'll get to that at the end).
We purchased the $65 ETBC7 Universal wiring kit from Etrailer with no regrets. If you'd prefer to purchase everything separately, here's what you get:
- the 7-way RV/4-way flat combo connector is made by Hopkins
- wiring is 10-gauge
- extra circuit breaker for choice of: 20 amp (1 - 2 axles) or 30 amp (3 - 4 axles)
- kit includes connection to factory 4-way flat plug
- we used extra corrugated plastic wire loom tubing that we already had to supplement what came in the kit
The best place we could find to mount the connector bracket on our CBI bumper was on the passenger side of the receiver, opposite the license plate bracket:
EDIT: Turns out, this is a terrible place to mount if you do any rock crawling. We stripped some wires and had to fix before hooking up the trailer. [MENTION=1795]sschaefer3[/MENTION] showed us where to mount up out of harms way.
We chose to run the wires from back to front through the frame on the driver's side. There's a writeup somewhere online where the wires are run inside the cab. Why anyone would go through the trouble of removing interior panels/carpet is beyond me. Please don't do that. Do this:
Here's where the wire exits the frame and heads up toward the engine compartment near the firewall:
Here's a finished view showing the circuit breakers at the firewall and connections at the battery. We really need to invest in a fuse block:
There are 3 wires that enter the cab through the firewall to connect to the brake controller unit. We passed through one of our existing waterproof grommets. The unit came with 2 mounting brackets -- we chose the metal one with tilt adjustment:
The hardest part of the entire install was making the final connection to the factory brake wire. The only useful piece of information I found online was to follow the brake pedal up to locate the switch wiring. This is possible by lying on your back and wearing a bright headlamp. There's a connector with 4 wires (you splice into the green w/white stripe) coming down from above that plugs into this switch. I unplugged the connector, hoping to pull it down for better access in order to splice the last wire from the controller. There was no slack at all.
I didn't think I would ever be able to use the splice connector with only one hand, so I took off the main panel below the steering column (same panel the controller is mounted to in photo above), hoping for better access. That gave me a line of sight and an extra hand to squeeze the splice connector with a needle nose pliers. Sorry I don't have photos of the location -- it's just too close and cramped in there.
One of the nicest things about the wiring kit from Etrailer is that it comes with a mini circuit tester. Without the trailer, we didn't have any way of knowing if the connection worked. Using the tester we confirmed the brakes, signals and lights are working. Awesome!
EDIT: Super happy with the performance of this brake controller after 2000+ miles of hard travel in less than a week.
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sschaefer3
New member
Christy and Jeff are out in Phoenix so I took them wheeling. We did Elvis (Rock crawling) up and over the high hills (Scenic Desert) to Box Canyon (Neat Natural Slot Canyon). It was a nice introduction to wheeling out west. Their truck did really well, no dents and only a few minor scratches. It is a very sharp vehicle, even prettier in person.
We had my 2001 IFS 4Runner on 35's, 2011 FJ with Long Travel and MT rear on 35's and a Jeep JK on 35's as well as the truck from Iowa.
We had my 2001 IFS 4Runner on 35's, 2011 FJ with Long Travel and MT rear on 35's and a Jeep JK on 35's as well as the truck from Iowa.
sschaefer3
New member
Like all hard core SA trucks, it got wheeled hard and put away wet. I sold it back in 2009 with a lot of dents before it lost all it's value. The problem with that truck was that I could not build parts for normal trucks off of it as it was so cut up and weird. This 2001 Limited I built for a customer (Bighead) in 2006, 35's etc and I told him if he ever sold it, sell it to me. He sold it to me in 2011. It's mine now, its in pristine condition. It was nice to get a fresh one and start over.
T4R2014
Elite Member
Didn't know. Any idea what's up with your old 99' nowadays?
sschaefer3
New member
It was in Steamboat Springs, CO, but a year ago or so we found it on craig's list, but the guy never answered any of the e-mails so I assume he still has it. The only change was the old MT/R's were replaced with KM2's.
shinyblackdeer
New member
Thanks again, Steve, for an awesome time! Really appreciate your amazing hospitality, knowledge and patience.
shinyblackdeer
New member
Finally wheelin' just shy of our 1 year T4R anniversary!
Yep, we're doing it on 31's:
Following [MENTION=1795]sschaefer3[/MENTION] outside Phoenix on Elvis:
The awesome Turtleback Trailer at Glen Canyon:
Monument Point, Grand Canyon:
Zion:
This is not Iowa:
The shiny black deer:
Yep, we're doing it on 31's:
Following [MENTION=1795]sschaefer3[/MENTION] outside Phoenix on Elvis:
The awesome Turtleback Trailer at Glen Canyon:
Monument Point, Grand Canyon:
Zion:
This is not Iowa:
The shiny black deer:
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shinyblackdeer
New member
Love this truck!
Mindomission
New member
Something about the box cars not being on tracks seems bizarre. Almost as if they are grazing! lol. Great pics. Appears as though the trip went well. Welcome back to the Midwest!
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Frostythe4Runner
New member
I'm actually currently looking into the same sliders as you and I've been having the idea of getting them linex'd! Alright apologizing ahead of time for the questions, but how have the sliders been? And how much did you pay for the paint job, and how did the paint hold against the rocks? Oh and are your sliders the DOM tubing?
shinyblackdeer
New member
Considering we spent more on sandblasting, primer and Linex as we paid for the sliders, I'm not sure I would do it again -- it was close to $300. I probably should have listened to [MENTION=1795]sschaefer3[/MENTION] when he said the rocks eat bedliner for breakfast, because they do. Probably ours more so because we have little tires, but nothing a little black paint couldn't fix. I will say the Linex finish looks the same today as when it was applied. We ordered the DOM tubing from 4X Innovations. I recommend them -- they're good guys.
shinyblackdeer
New member
Thank you! Jeff wanted you to know that your build is one of his favorites, so it means a lot for you to comment on ours
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shinyblackdeer
New member
Fixed broken body mounts
I guess we pushed our truck to the limit on our trip out west a few months ago, resulting in cracked out front body mounts. Jeff found 2 perfect sets of washers/sleeves and had them welded in place. Let's hope they make it through another trip -- we're headed to Moab next weekend :clap2:
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I guess we pushed our truck to the limit on our trip out west a few months ago, resulting in cracked out front body mounts. Jeff found 2 perfect sets of washers/sleeves and had them welded in place. Let's hope they make it through another trip -- we're headed to Moab next weekend :clap2:
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