t4rFL's Build

[t4rFL]

2001 4runner SR5

CURRENT:
DSC_3857 by Mike, on Flickr
Engine:

3.4L V6
-162k+ miles
auto, 4wd
Hilux 167 Snorkel
Airaid Intake


Maintenance:

NGK spark plugs
OTRE's
OEM LBJ's
starter
battery
B&M tranny cooler
Bosch wipers


Wheels:

factory 16" 5-spoke wheels
Cooper Discoverer ST Maxx-265/75/16 (plus spare)
199mm Tundra brake upgrade (front)
-stainless steel brake lines


Suspension:

Front - OME 881
Rear - OME 906


Exterior:

SRQ custom grille
Addicted Offroad Plate Front Bumper with LED fog lights
Factor 55 fairlead
Eagle Eyes black headlights/corner lights
-GE Nighthawk bulbs
CBI antenna mount
-3' Firestik Firefly antenna w/ HD spring
LED's
-reverse
-license plate
-LED blinker filler panel mod
plastidip emblems charcoal
replaced factory hitch w/ hidden hitch
AVS in-channel window deflectors
CBI Hitch-mounted tire carrier


Interior:

Custom sleeping/storage unit
Clarion NX605 GPS/DVD
disabled power antenna
Uniden PRO520XL CB
LED lights
(2) Lev-o-gage
Blue Ridge Overland Molle seat panel


Recovery:

Smittybilt X20-Comp (10k) Winch
20' tow strap
Maxsa Traction Mats
48" Hi-Lift
Viair 300P Compressor

 

[t4rFL]

This is my 1st 4runner, bought it March 2015. Came over from a 2001 Jeep WJ....wanted something different and more reliable. was considering buying a newer Jeep XJ, but found a nicer 4runner first. will be using it for mild wheeling and long distance traveling (overlanding). the Jeep was too built for that, and was averaging 13 mpg's.

2001 SR5 4wd, 145k miles, 265/75/16 A/T's.
DSC_6279 by Mike, on Flickr

DSC_6283 by Mike, on Flickr

2015-04-02 14.03.11 by Mike, on Flickr



first thing i did was buy some headlight bulbs, for about $20 on amazon
DSC_6411 by Mike, on Flickr

replaced the spark plugs with NGK

mine didn't come with a spare so bought a spare wheel from a local 4runner. shortly after purchased 5 Cooper S/T MAXX 265/75/16, needed an alignment, but shop said it needs ball joints before they align it. also, shop put the spare in the factory location under the back, but a few weeks later i went to lower it and noticed it was wedged between the hitch and that bar above the axle (trackbar?), so i never put it back, instead sits in the cargo area.
DSC_6418 by Mike, on Flickr

DSC_6416 by Mike, on Flickr

at some point i removed the ashtray for a future CB mounting location
2015-03-26 13.30.25 by Mike, on Flickr

 

[t4rFL]

In May 2015 i took it camping/wheeling for the first time. met up with a bunch of Tacoma's. Was very impressed with the performance of the 4runner offroad. but one things for sure, i need rear shocks badly.
DSC_6423 by Mike, on Flickr
some of us went swimming
11188403_10206604659304782_3164236849510145126_n by Mike, on Flickr

11127490_10206604660264806_4497381032813339120_n by Mike, on Flickr

DSC_6462 by Mike, on Flickr

DSC_6458 by Mike, on Flickr

DSC_6468 by Mike, on Flickr

DSC_6453 by Mike, on Flickr

DSC_6 by Mike, on Flickr

 

[t4rFL]

already had a Hi-Lift jack from my Jeep, needed a secure place to mount it and found these cargo area mounts on this forum, sold by PATCO.
DSC_6475 by Mike, on Flickr

DSC_6485 by Mike, on Flickr

DSC_6484 by Mike, on Flickr

DSC_6487 by Mike, on Flickr

whether it's noticeable from the pictures or not, my rear springs are sagging a lot. so i decided to replace all springs with the '99's and i needed rear shocks, so i bought all 4 too. while waiting for the parts to come in, i was told i have July 4th off since it fell on a Saturday this year (work Saturdays), so i decided to celebrate by going away for the weekend. but first i wanted to replace my ball joints before going on a long trip, so that became priority and the shocks/springs sat for a while until i could get around to installing them.

also replaced the outer TRE's
new parts

old vs new

working in a cluttered garage

it actually took me a few days to get this stuff done. ran into a bunch of problems and working by myself with little experience. but i finished up and got it aligned a day before i left on my mini vacation.

i had also ordered some interior LED's and these flag stickers (had a pair on the Jeep, too)

before

after

at the last moment i noticed the 4runner would randomly be very hard to start, so i started with the fuel filter and sure enough that was the problem.

 

[t4rFL]

So this past 4th of July weekend i drove up to the North Georgia mountains near the Tennessee border to go backpacking for a few days. Trail head was in TN, and then most of the hiking in GA. Some pictures from that trip:
trail head parking (black must be pretty popular )

DSC_6513 by Mike, on Flickr

decked out with my gopro on my head and camera gear in my chest pack

DSC_6527 by Mike, on Flickr

DSC_6552 by Mike, on Flickr

DSC_6603 by Mike, on Flickr
first time driving off-road in the mountains...this one was right on the dirt road leading to the trail head
DSC_6632 by Mike, on Flickr
and then last night there camped with the 4runner
DSC_6638 by Mike, on Flickr

 

[JeepKiller]

Looking good man! That's a great start! Have any bigger plans for it or are you trying to keep your gas mileage haha

 

[t4rFL]

Looking good man! That's a great start! Have any bigger plans for it or are you trying to keep your gas mileage haha

thanks....i would like to lift it 2-3" in the future, but right now i'm going to put the '99 springs and shocks in since it's sagging. i plan on doing front winch bumper, possibly a rear bumper, a light bar up front, some reverse lights and would like to build (or have built) a sleeping platform/storage.

in the future i plan to travel across the USA, so that is my main concern with the mpg's. right now i'm just focused on getting it ready for a trip up to New Hampshire in 2 months.

 

[t4rFL]

Uniden 520xl, 4' Firestik Firefly and cbi antenna mount installed

i love the fact that these 4runners have a place for a cb to mount that looks factory

many people bolt theirs, but i found a pic online where someone used velcro, so that is what i did and it is solid.

antenna bracket

 

[BigFishAllDay]

thanks....i would like to lift it 2-3" in the future, but right now i'm going to put the '99 springs and shocks in since it's sagging. i plan on doing front winch bumper, possibly a rear bumper, a light bar up front, some reverse lights and would like to build (or have built) a sleeping platform/storage.

in the future i plan to travel across the USA, so that is my main concern with the mpg's. right now i'm just focused on getting it ready for a trip up to New Hampshire in 2 months.

Nice 4Runner.

You'll probably be happy with the '99 springs up until you put more than a backpack in the back of your rig. Just wait until you put a sleeping platform and/or an aftermarket bumper back there. I've run that setup on my '97 and can tell you that the lift is VERY minimal, and the rear will sag under any sort of weight (200 lbs. will show significantly in your ride height).

If you still can, I would consider returning the springs/shocks and jumping straight to a better setup. Take a look at some Toytec coilovers for the front and some OME 890's for the rear. That will give you the flexibility you need in the front to adjust height as you add weight, and the 890's will get you about 3" in the rear and hold the weight better than the '99 coils. A setup like that won't break the bank, and will save you money/time in the long run.

 

[t4rFL]

Nice 4Runner.

You'll probably be happy with the '99 springs up until you put more than a backpack in the back of your rig. Just wait until you put a sleeping platform and/or an aftermarket bumper back there. I've run that setup on my '97 and can tell you that the lift is VERY minimal, and the rear will sag under any sort of weight (200 lbs. will show significantly in your ride height).

If you still can, I would consider returning the springs/shocks and jumping straight to a better setup. Take a look at some Toytec coilovers for the front and some OME 890's for the rear. That will give you the flexibility you need in the front to adjust height as you add weight, and the 890's will get you about 3" in the rear and hold the weight better than the '99 coils. A setup like that won't break the bank, and will save you money/time in the long run.

well, i did think about it more and decided to just do the rear shocks for now since they were really worn.

plus with my new job i'll be have less time to do work on the 4runner, but be bringing in more money, so might be able to get a small lift sooner.

i also bought a storage/sleeping platform a local 'runner was selling. most of it is made from 3/4" plywood...

also, to avoid any pink milkshakes i added a B&M cooler (bigger one)...

also noticed the coolant was the green stuff, so i had it flushed and put in the Toyota red stuff

 

[jb10]

already had a Hi-Lift jack from my Jeep, needed a secure place to mount it and found these cargo area mounts on this forum, sold by PATCO.
DSC_6475 by Mike, on Flickr

where did you purchase these, do you have a link?

thank you

 

[t4rFL]

where did you purchase these, do you have a link?

thank you

username on here is patco you can PM him, or you can buy mine. no use for them anymore. if interested PM me a zip code and will get a shipped quote soon as i can.

 

[t4rFL]

new battery, mine was about ready to die

also relocated my spare..

 

[t4rFL]

last weekend work and fun

 

[jpshoe]

We have almost identical 4Runners lol. I have a 2000 4x4 black with 127k. Different tires (same size) and fenders is all. Well that and the blown HG i'm fixing. I'm also in Florida, Orlando/Sanford area.

 

[Cmparry85]

new battery, mine was about ready to die

also relocated my spare..

Very clean ride man..like the custom storage in the back, was thinking of doing the same.

 

[buccaneerbandit]

runner

Nice rig T4RFL. To bad your moving jpshoe looks like we are starting to build up a Fla crew.

 

[t4rFL]

broke a mud flap, so removed them...

 

[t4rFL]

DSC_6923 by Mike, on Flickr

DSC_6932 by Mike, on Flickr

a little bit of flex..

..and a little bit of mud..

 

[Fisheroon]

How is the Hi-lift mount holding up on the stock crossbars? Do you have any more details about how you mounted it?