Squishmitten's 02 Sport Edition Build

[squishmitten]

I've been lurking here for a little while and figured I would share some of my progress. I don't get much opportunity to go out and hit the trails due to work full time and school so this isn't going to be as awesome as some of the build threads on here.

I picked this bad boy up late August of 2017. At the time it had the Baja Utility rack and some PIAA halogens on it. Other than that it was stock. There will definitely be more to come.

02 Sport Edition w/ approx 180xxx on the clock

As of today, here’s what’s on it:

Armor/Recovery:
RPMFab plate front bumper
XRC 9500 winch w/synthetic rope
Factor55 1.0" hawse fairlead
Factor55 Flatlink w/rope guard
4xInnovations DIY sliders
Savage Offroad front skids
4xInnovations rear bumper
Tire carrier swing out
Jerry can mount (single)
Hi Lift mount
Fold out table

Lighting:
Baja Designs Squadron Pros (Driving Combo) (w/security hardware)
Opt7 LED Headlight bulbs

Suspension:
Front
Bilstein 6112 (removed)
King OEM ext travel w/650 lb springs
Mstudt front sway bar extended links (Thank you for an awesome product!)
Sonoran Steel diff drop
SPC UCA
Rear
OME890 (removed)
OME861
Bilstein 5100
Mstudt rear sway bar extended links
eimkeith panhard brackets (Super easy install, thank you for an awesome product!)

Wheels/Tires:
16x8 SCS Ray 10 (matte gray)
285/75/16 BFG K02’s
SCS ET lug nuts

Exterior:
SRQ Fabrications flush mount grill
Weathertech Bug deflector
JDM Hilux clear corners (Thank you Rhyi)
Baja Racks Utility rack
23Zero Litchfield RTT

Engine:
HKS Super Hybrid Filters (still a JDM fanboy)
Sonoran Steel windshield fluid reservoir relocation
Odyssey Extreme Battery
Big 3

Transmission:
B&M 70268 SuperCooler Automatic Transmission Cooler
AndyMod 2.0 w/OEM Sequoia TRAC Off switch

Interior:
LED bulb conversion for map/dome lights
Kenwood Deck
Garmin
Scanguage II
Cobra CB (installed in ashtray)

The day I got her
And a more current shot

 

[squishmitten]

I already had some of the lift components from an older 97 that I had previously. That one was too rusted to do anything with. I got rid of it and used the funds to pick up some wheels and tires, as well as the rest of the lift components.

Lift:
Bilstein 6112
OME 890's/Bilstein 5100's
Extended sway bar links
Panhard brackets
Sonoran Steel diff drop and windshield fluid reservoir relocation

Wheels:
16x8 SCS Ray10 (matte gray)
285/75/16 BFG K02's
SCS ET lug nuts

 

[squishmitten]

Shortly after the lift was installed, my SRQ grill and my 4x Innovations sliders arrived.

The grill looks amazing, although it was a bit of a hassle to install. We had to trim the mounting tabs on the grill itself for them to fit correctly. One of the corners to this day won't mount all the way, but it's not going anywhere so I'm not worried.

My buddy Ryan is much better at welding than I am, so he helped me get the sliders welded up. All in all happy with the end result.

 

[squishmitten]

Took a trip out to the desert to plink some steel with my buddy and his Yukon.

Scratched up my paint a little bit and broke my antenna.

 

[squishmitten]

I ordered a bumper on Black Friday from the local guys at RPMFab. Super friendly dudes, easy to work with, and the bumper fitment was amazing! It was a really easy install (with the help of my roommate). I would recommend. I'll need to pull it back off when I get a winch, but that will be a few months down the road.

I also ordered some amber Baja Designs Squadron Pros to mount in the bumper, but there was a mix up with my order and they sent the clear lenses. They were super easy to work with and fixed it right away. These things are bright! The photo below from in the truck is with just the pods on. Don't mind the filthy armrests on the lawn chair.

 

[geocook717]

Shortly after the lift was installed, my SRQ grill and my 4x Innovations sliders arrived.

The grill looks amazing, although it was a bit of a hassle to install. We had to trim the mounting tabs on the grill itself for them to fit correctly. One of the corners to this day won't mount all the way, but it's not going anywhere so I'm not worried.

My buddy Ryan is much better at welding than I am, so he helped me get the sliders welded up. All in all happy with the end result.

How do you like those PIAA lights? Are they the super amber/yellow or whatever? I saw a set or two online for like $150 basically new in box. Was considering those or some LED ditch lights. Do you have pics of those lights in the nighttime?

 

[trailbikerider]

I hope your powdercoat holds up better than mine. After 6 months I'm getting some pretty bad cracking on and around the D-rings. And now that I moved back up north, it's starting to rust underneath.

 

[cblock406]

4Runner is looking great! Hard to beat a clean black truck.

 

[squishmitten]

How do you like those PIAA lights? Are they the super amber/yellow or whatever? I saw a set or two online for like $150 basically new in box. Was considering those or some LED ditch lights. Do you have pics of those lights in the nighttime?

To be honest I was not a big fan of them. They were very yellow, so they cut through dust well, but my issue with them was how shaky they were on the trails. I think that if they were mounted to a steel bumper, maybe it wouldn't have been so bad, but with them mounted to a stock/plastic bumper, they had very visible vibrations in the beams, thought I was gonna have a seizure half the time they were on.

I hope your powdercoat holds up better than mine. After 6 months I'm getting some pretty bad cracking on and around the D-rings. And now that I moved back up north, it's starting to rust underneath.

I'm hoping it does, but I keep some bed liner in my truck anyways from when we spayed my sliders. Any plans for a visit back to AZ?

4Runner is looking great! Hard to beat a clean black truck.

Thanks man! It's tough to keep clean in AZ but it's worth it

 

[trailbikerider]

I'm hoping it does, but I keep some bed liner in my truck anyways from when we spayed my sliders. Any plans for a visit back to AZ?

Yessir! I will be back March 2-12. No truck though, I'm flying in.

 

[meeceboy78]

Such a nice looking 4Runner!! I'm in Gilbert, we should meet up sometime.

 

[squishmitten]

Such a nice looking 4Runner!! I'm in Gilbert, we should meet up sometime.

I think I've seen you driving down Elliot a couple times on my way to work. You have a NICE truck man.

RPMFab is having a "Grand Opening" at their shop this Saturday, I'll be there, you should come out

 

[meeceboy78]

I think I've seen you driving down Elliot a couple times on my way to work. You have a NICE truck man.

RPMFab is having a "Grand Opening" at their shop this Saturday, I'll be there, you should come out

thanks!
I thought that was you. haha
oh cool! i will try and make it. thanks!

 

[squishmitten]

Went out to RPMFab for their grand re opening at their new shop last weekend. Had a great time, lots of 4Runners and a lot of Jeeps.

They raised close to $8,000 for the AZ Neurological Society through their raffle, it was a good time. Plus I got to see a 23Zero RTT in person, and I'm definitely going to be picking one of those up ASAP. AZ 4x4 Recovery came out as well, that dude is really cool.

 

[PROSTAR]

sick Rig

 

[squishmitten]

sick Rig

Thank you sir!

So I get a sabbatical from work at some point this year. I'm taking (at least) 4 weeks off and I'll be doing a trip from Phoenix to Iowa (to see the family) and then from Iowa to Yellowstone to see some nature.

This is my first time doing anything like this, and I'm going solo. Any tips? Must have items? I'm picking up my RTT soon. I'll probably get a Yeti cooler for the trip as well.

I'll be driving right through MOAB, might as well stop there. Anything else on the way back down to AZ from Yellowstone that is a must see? Thanks in advance!

 

[squishmitten]

I got my skid plates from Savage Offroad in the mail a few weeks ago but haven't had time to put them on. Sunday was my first day off in 3 weeks. :ybrick:

I'm really happy with their product. I had to add a few washers to get everything to clear the diff with the diff drop but nothing too bad. They're beefy and they look badass!

 

[squishmitten]

So this happened yesterday. I picked up a 23Zero Litchfield.

 

[squishmitten]

This thing is comfy! I finally got some time to set it up and check everything out. Unfortunately the front plate on my BajaRack blocks one of the support poles for one of the windows. I'll probably just drill a hole to pass it through.
Hopefully I can get out of the city this weekend.

 

[rkntoy]

I got my skid plates from Savage Offroad in the mail a few weeks ago but haven't had time to put them on. Sunday was my first day off in 3 weeks. :ybrick:

I'm really happy with their product. I had to add a few washers to get everything to clear the diff with the diff drop but nothing too bad. They're beefy and they look badass!

Only thing I don't love about the Savage skids is they need to be about 6 inches longer in the back to provide a bit of protection to the steering rack. I made an extension plate.