SwellRunner Build and Adventure Thread

JasonKoko

JasonKoko

New member
Putting together a build thread has been on my to-do list for quite some time. I love being a part of the community, sharing and helping where I can, and most of all, learning and gaining experience along the way.

I really can't say enough good about this forum and all I've learned from here - inexhaustible resource for everything I've needed.

Hopefully I can contribute and be of some help as well.

I bought the 4Runner coming out of 4 years of driving newer BMW's. I've owned several over the years, and the last two seem to mirror the sentiment: they don't make them like they used to.

I bought the 4Runner because I wanted to get something I could adventure in, wanted to learn a new genre of automobile, and I ultimately went with the Toyota brand because I wanted to have as few reliability issues as possible.

I live in NW Florida so the adventuring here doesn't include rock crawling, hilly terrain or mountain views. While the beach is gorgeous, our off-roading trails are limited to sand forest roads in pine state forests. And of course the occasional light water crossing.

This winter I'm looking to taking the kids north a little to explore some of our Smokey Mountain varieties.

The goals with my build are to stay focused on usability but augment the truck with some performance-goaled modifications that will help with light off-roading. Perhaps, with experience, I may get into some of the crazier stuff like some of you do, but that would be much later in my 4Runner tenure.

The world of overlanding is something that is completely new to me, and as I've continued to dig deeper, I continue to become more and more intrigued. To be honest, I spend way too much time thinking/dreaming about it.

I spend more time than I'd like to admit researching, reading, learning, thinking about this new world.

I'm in the beginning stages of planning a small trip with a couple of the kids this winter to try my hand at it and get some experience, see if it's something I actually enjoy, or if it's just something my mind thinks I'll enjoy.

Something about new gear, toys, gadgets, find it hard to resist.

I guess this is as good a time as ever to show some photos.

These are some of the latest I have taken, but you can see a regular stream if you follow me on Instagram: SwellRunner

Photos as of 9/20/16

IMGL8309_10_11_12_13.jpg


IMGL8279_80_81_82_83.jpg


IMGL8241_2_3_4_5.jpg


IMGL8266_67_68_69_70.jpg


Mod Write Ups

Fender Liner Mod

Eezi-Awn K9 Rack Install

XenonDepot Xtreme LED High Beam Intall
 
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Hey Bro! Welcome and Nice Rig!
Are you on fb "Florida 4runners". If not I'm pretty sure there are some members in your part of Florida who like to mod their Runners and get out exploring. Most members in Tampa area but we are getting some folks from all over FLA.
 
4RunnerAquasport said:
Hey Bro! Welcome and Nice Rig!
Are you on fb "Florida 4runners". If not I'm pretty sure there are some members in your part of Florida who like to mod their Runners and get out exploring. Most members in Tampa area but we are getting some folks from all over FLA.
Click to expand...

I'm not, but I just liked the page (this it?) so hopefully I'll catch the updates!

Thanks for the link!
 
Slee Offroad Sliders

I spent a lot of time researching and pondering which sliders would be a good fit for my lifestyle and ultimately decided on the sliders from Slee.

I think my wife would have preferred the NFab steps or even just a running board, but this mod had to serve two primary purposes:

First - function as a step.
Second - function as a slider, should I ever be in a situation where I'd need them.

I didn't really feel the NFab steps or running boards would hold up with the second primary objective. :D

It's funny really. A couple months after I got the 4Runner, my wife told me this was her favorite vehicle I've ever owned. I have no shame in admitting that made me giddy inside. I loved that she loved the truck. If you're married, you know the feeling of having the justification approval from your spouse.

And after the lift, her opinion hadn't really changed, but when when I added the 285's, it resulted in the entry point being too high for her to comfortably get in and she literally stopped driving it. Made me sad. :(

She gave me the OK to get the "steps" and I picked these out.

And really, contrary to the few opinions I read on this forum, I actually love the way they look. It's possible I have bad taste, or perhaps I have a taste for something different than some of those on the forum. But who can tell?

The installation of these bad boys was a royal pain in the....

While I don't think they were any more difficult to install than any other slider, it's not a modification I'd be willing to try my hand at again. I spent just about 10 hours crawling around under the truck and was actually sort of traumatized by the experience. I know, I'm a baby.

I did the install by myself, which was probably my other mistake, but what can I say, I have kids, not friends.

These things are held on by approximately 15 bolts on each side bolting the sliders to the frame. I haven't tried to jack the truck up on a slider, but I'd bet they'd hold up just fine.

I love having them, but I'd sort of like to forget about the installation experience. It was hot, uncomfortable and I still cry at night and wake up in cold sweats when I think about it.

But I'll offer a little advice for someone that's a big baby like me that wants to embark on something like this:

Pay your way into a friends shop with a lift, find 2 other friends to help lift the things when it's time to mount and do the install in cooler weather and it'll probably go just fine.

Me? I'm an idiot, so I just did it by myself.

You should have seen me trying to leverage these things up to the frame using these white Ikea step stools and my chest.

Photos

I know I have these photos (as of 9/20/16) in the first post in my build thread, but I wanted to have them in this post as well in the event that I change those photos.

IMGL8309_10_11_12_13.jpg


IMGL8279_80_81_82_83.jpg
 
4RunnerAquasport said:
I actually forgot about those folks. I should have put the link on here initially. https://www.facebook.com/groups/727757883992435/729344047167152/?notif_t=group_activity Our name is just "Florida 4runners" its a closed group.

Anthony Thorn is the mod and he will add you. Tell him you ran across "Brett" on T4R.org.
Click to expand...



Cool!

Yea that other I linked to didn't look like it's updated often.

I jus requested to join, no option to leave a message. Maybe give him a heads up?

Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Looking good! Love the utilitarianism of the build and love the sliders!

The Florida 4runners group that [MENTION=119302]4RunnerAquasport[/MENTION] mentioned is having a group ride up at Hard Rock off road park in Ocala on October 1st. I'll be up there with them and camping that night in Ocala National Forest. If your interested feel free to pm me and I'll send you more info. Its a good group and the moderator [MENTION=98374]awthorn[/MENTION] is a really good guy!

Can't wait to see more as your build develops!
 
Jason love your truck and your vlog! Recently subscribed!

Question: are you running aftermarket upper control arms along with the OME lift? If not how was the alignment process for you? Thanks
 
neatoneto said:
Jason love your truck and your vlog! Recently subscribed!

Question: are you running aftermarket upper control arms along with the OME lift? If not how was the alignment process for you? Thanks
Click to expand...

I would like to know as well.

I'm considering the ome 3" lift with the icon uca's
 
Jason, love your write up and vlogs. Looking forward to more awesome content from your build and travels.

What made you stick with the stock wheels (17x7.5") when you decided to install the BFG 285s? I know that these tires are rated for 7.5-9" wheel width, but I see lot of conflicting information on why you should/shouldn't put them on 7.5" or 9" wheels (min and max). In fact, most people seem to put them on 8.5" after market wheels.

You've wheeled them pretty hard (seen your YouTube channel, sub'd), and would like to hear your thoughts on their performance. Were you not concerned about popping the tires off when you air them down? You also seem to have the exact same wheel + tire setup on your Turtleback as well!

Cheers!
 
UT_RUNN3R said:
Jason, love your write up and vlogs. Looking forward to more awesome content from your build and travels.

What made you stick with the stock wheels (17x7.5") when you decided to install the BFG 285s? I know that these tires are rated for 7.5-9" wheel width, but I see lot of conflicting information on why you should/shouldn't put them on 7.5" or 9" wheels (min and max). In fact, most people seem to put them on 8.5" after market wheels.

You've wheeled them pretty hard (seen your YouTube channel, sub'd), and would like to hear your thoughts on their performance. Were you not concerned about popping the tires off when you air them down? You also seem to have the exact same wheel + tire setup on your Turtleback as well!

Cheers!
Click to expand...


A narrower rim can actually help hold the bead
on the rim when aired down. I wouldn’t go
narrower than 7”. I ran 33x10.5 on 6.5” x 15” Toyota steel rims at 12 psi without issues.
 
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UT_RUNN3R said:
Jason, love your write up and vlogs. Looking forward to more awesome content from your build and travels.



What made you stick with the stock wheels (17x7.5") when you decided to install the BFG 285s? I know that these tires are rated for 7.5-9" wheel width, but I see lot of conflicting information on why you should/shouldn't put them on 7.5" or 9" wheels (min and max). In fact, most people seem to put them on 8.5" after market wheels.



You've wheeled them pretty hard (seen your YouTube channel, sub'd), and would like to hear your thoughts on their performance. Were you not concerned about popping the tires off when you air them down? You also seem to have the exact same wheel + tire setup on your Turtleback as well!



Cheers!
Click to expand...



I don’t have enough experience to give a qualified answer. However, the reason I went with what I did was just based on research, on here actually. Seemed like this was a very common size tire and many ran it on the stock rims.

Someday I’ll change the wheels (have something cooking now actually), but I’ve always loved the stock trail wheels. 20 months into doing all this with this tire size and I’ve never had any issues.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
JasonKoko said:
I spent a lot of time researching and pondering which sliders would be a good fit for my lifestyle and ultimately decided on the sliders from Slee.

I think my wife would have preferred the NFab steps or even just a running board, but this mod had to serve two primary purposes:

First - function as a step.
Second - function as a slider, should I ever be in a situation where I'd need them.


Photos

I know I have these photos (as of 9/20/16) in the first post in my build thread, but I wanted to have them in this post as well in the event that I change those photos.

IMGL8309_10_11_12_13.jpg


IMGL8279_80_81_82_83.jpg
Click to expand...

I'm thinking of getting the Slee sliders as well and was hoping you could answer a couple questions. How are they holding up and have you had to use them to life the the vehicle? Had any significant impacts with them? Last thing I was wondering is if the silver Slee tread plates can be removed. If I go with the Slee sliders I'd like to remove those and have them powder coated black to match the rest of the slider.
 
Saw your (clickbait!) video about selling the 4Runner.

Why not satisfy your urge to get a Land Cruiser by modifying your wife's? That way you get to keep your 4R and scratch the itch of having a LC200 you can take out from time to time.
 
engineeer said:
Saw your (clickbait!) video about selling the 4Runner.

Why not satisfy your urge to get a Land Cruiser by modifying your wife's? That way you get to keep your 4R and scratch the itch of having a LC200 you can take out from time to time.
Click to expand...

Ditto. Mega-clickbait.

Also. I endorse this message. Mod up the wifey's!
 
hbrogers said:
I'm thinking of getting the Slee sliders as well and was hoping you could answer a couple questions. How are they holding up and have you had to use them to life the the vehicle? Had any significant impacts with them? Last thing I was wondering is if the silver Slee tread plates can be removed. If I go with the Slee sliders I'd like to remove those and have them powder coated black to match the rest of the slider.
Click to expand...

The tread plates only come in black now per their website. I've heard great things about their sliders.
 
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