Snow in Maine, 2000 4runner limited

[Quadsbc]

Great thread man. Very nice build.

Wheeling in deep snow can be tough. I tried going into 1-2 ft snow on the trail in big bear and nearly got stuck.

Thank you! I'm looking forward to some spring snow wheeling. Once it compacts it should become easier. The nice part about snow wheeling is you can always get out if you have a shovel. Just depends on how much you need to do. I really want some maxtracks but I know my wife would kill me.

Anyway here's some slightly better cell phone pics of the truck, bumper and winch setup.

I cranked up the front up an inch but it still looks saggy. Either I've got to crank some more or add weight to the rear.

 

[Quadsbc]

Added some extra hp today! Had them custom made. From:http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/bu...phix-custom-bedside-decal-request-thread.html

Once the rear bumper is built and painted black it should look even better. Think I'm going more for an overland build.

 

[Quadsbc]

Replaced both inner and outer tie rods today. The old ones had more play than a gamers Xbox controller. Took it for an alignment, I had it real close to straight. They only had to adjust the drivers side, I could tell it was a little off but maybe a half a turn. While I was there the owner asked who built the truck, I which I replied I did. He complimented me on the overall quality of the truck and offered me a job but I declined. I think it's better for me to keep wrenching a hobby. Plus it wouldn't work out with the coast guard schedule.

Also installed a deep cycle marine battery. Should help with the longer winch pulls. Then installed a start solenoid on the hot side of the winch. Planned on wiring it to a switch inside the cab but couldn't lockate my switches. Just rigged it for now.

Lastly hard parked it. Almost crushed to picnick table.

 

[mmml4]

First off, nice rig. What type of solenoid did you use? When I did mine I used a Motorcraft starter solenoid and found out the hard way when it started blowing fuses that it was not rated for continuous duty and would melt the coil.

 

[Quadsbc]

That's good to know, I'm not sure if it's rated for continues duty. It's the standard can style like the old warn winches used.

 

[Quadsbc]

Lots of fun was had today. Snowing and snow wheeling.

Finally able to really flex the front end.

 

[Quadsbc]

I think i found my new set of snow tires!

 

[Quadsbc]

Ok, found out someone on here and following this build is getting stationed in rockland maine, who is it?

 

[W3LCH]

Im not one for many stickers and decals, but the rear hatch looks sick in my opinion!:artist:

 

[Quadsbc]

Boom rear bumper build.







Now waiting on more steel and swingout parts. Going to be bad ass just you wait

 

[Bandit Runner]

That's a good start on the rear bumper. Just a little advice:

The bumper looks pretty close to the bottom edge of the hatch. You might want to increase the spacing a little. The rear flexes a lot between the frame and body, and the bumper might hit the hatch.

 

[Quadsbc]

Good to know, I've got 1/2 in between the hatch and bumper. I guess we will find out if that's enough. I still need to add the hitch, bracing for that, plus Swingout and side protection.

 

[Quadsbc]

Used the rest of my scrap to start the side protection.




Getting better at welding.

 

[drodandsrod]

Great build. I really like that your focus seems to be functionality and quality. I got my t4r about a month ago but I've already been able to play in the snow up here in Bangor (that's BanGoah not Banger for all you non-Mainers). If you don't mind my askin', how much are you into the bumpers and skids?

 

[Quadsbc]

For steel, about 320. That covers what you see built front and rear bumper plus skid plates. But I aslo have used some scrap pieces there too. The sliders I'm in at 99 bucks. I've been getting the steel at lane conveyors and driers in brewer. I figure I'll be at about 550-600 in steel for full armor with swingout. Not bad considering I'd estimate the cost if purchased prebuilt would be close to 3200. Where have you been wheeling up by Bangor. We should meet up at some point.

 

[drodandsrod]

Wow that's pretty affordable, and you get to develop a useful skill set. I hadn't really looked but i didn't realize I could source the steel so close to home. So far I've got around 300 miles on the trails off the Stud Mill road going as far out as 42-00-0 rd. I don't know if you've picked up the Maine Atlas and Gazetteer yet but it's my favorite "mod" to date. Many of the exciting looking trails are either under a foot and a half of snow or snowmobile trails still. My ride's basically stock but I've got the rear locker so we've managed to get back off the beaten path a ways. It'd be pretty cool to have someone to wheel with, let me know if you're in the area.

 

[Quadsbc]

So I picked up some more steel today, just about 120 for 10ft of 2" square and 48x36 piece of hot roll 3/16 plate. And 75 ish for 3/4" expanded mesh 9ga steel 48x60 and 10' of 2" 1/8" strip for the beginings of roof rack build.

 

[Quadsbc]

These arrived today

 

[MTD]

These arrived today

EBay from summit? I gotta buy a set or two before they sell out...

Edit: G damnit looks like I missed out already! I knew I should have pulled the trigger right away!

 

[Quadsbc]

Summit direct, I watched them for a while. Yellow sold out, blue sold out then only green left so I pulled the trigger. 211 shipped for both sets couldn't say no.