TE Build - Milesar

[Milesar]

I suppose I should start with a brief introduction since I am new here. I first started driving Landrovers many moons ago where I fell into the idea of overlanding, after becoming a local at the garage it was time for a new vehicle. My first Toyota was a Tacoma and it was fantastic, not too long ago I traded it in for my first 4Runner and was happy to be back into an SUV.
I live in the southwest so I am fortunate to have an abundance of trails from long desert roads to high mountain passes, unfortunately I also commute 2,000 highway miles a month. I wanted a strong vehicle that was capable offroad but would be suitable as a highway commuter. The 4Runner really brought back the idea of having an overlanding vehicle like my old Discovery, many of the things I have done or want todo to the vehicle fall in line with that idea.

Here is my Mag Grey stock, the dealership had powder coated the wheels.

I went with some Wet Okoles and WeatherTech liners which are fantastic, used the Canvas Back liners in the cargo area as well.
Next was getting the bumper fixed, I needed a good meaty piece of metal to fend off deer that I frequently encounter, it would also provide me with some mounts for more lights. I made the trip up to Denver to visit Slee where they did a great job putting it all together for me - ARB, Warn M8000-s, Lightforce 240's, OME 3" lift. I also paid a visit to Gobi where I had a Stealth rack put into the mix.

Unfortunately I never got a photo of the rack, It was only the next day on my drive home when I was involved in an accident. I can't speak enough about the safety of the vehicle as I was completely unharmed in a total loss; first major accident for me, I tend to drive like an old lady but regardless of how safe you try to be I guess you are never exempt.

It took a while for me to get back into the idea of going through the process of buying a new vehicle, I was upset for a long time about the situation. After driving many weeks in a tiny Nissan rental, I had my check and was ready to start back over, thats exactly what I did. I knew I wanted to go the same route and this time I made a few modifications along the way.

So, for some comic relief...

More to come soon.

 

[ThirdToy]

Sounds like a beautiful truck, but the pictures don't work... :crybaby:

 

[Milesar]

Sounds like a beautiful truck, but the pictures don't work... :crybaby:

How about now? I guess it didn't like the photo host.

 

[adio3x]

Ah I think I saw a pic that ARB posted of your truck on facebook. Lookin good!

 

[SOcalTRAIL]

Awesome rig!!! I am partial to Mag Grey TE's though.... :bluejump:

 

[JayBe]

lol nice job with the 4Runner meme. truck looks good tho!

 

[Milesar]

Ah I think I saw a pic that ARB posted of your truck on facebook. Lookin good!

Yup, that would be the one. I wasn't even home yet before the shop started sharing some of their photos, beat me to the punch.

Awesome rig!!! I am partial to Mag Grey TE's though.... :bluejump:

I really liked the Mag Grey but had to go with what I could find, I'm now in the Shoreline Blue Pearl and I think it looks really nice with the contrast of black trim.

 

[Milesar]

After knowing that I was going to be going through the whole process again I called up the garage and after a short story they were ordering parts and we had another appointment setup. We had played with the idea of a lightbar from Rigid but wasn't sure how we were going to make it work, typically the winch box sits in the center and this would interfere with the light bar. Another thing I wanted to address was having a brighter set of fogs, the ARB fog kit is a bit pricey for mediocre results. After some more phone calls we decided to try getting a pair of Dually D2's to fit into the circular cutouts, with some custom brakets and ingenuity from Slee we got it working. The winch box has been relocated to fit inside the bumper, you can just see the control box in the left side between the fogs. The rest of the build stayed the same.

I also gave Gobi a call and the folks there were awesome to work with again, having seen how strong their racks really are I didn't want to go with any other manufacture. This time around I had another idea with the Stealth, I have a small garage so I asked Paul if he could take out the riser at the front that usually protects the lights, this would give me more clearance. It was all short notice but they asked when I would be in town and it was no problem getting it all put together, I even had a ladder there waiting when I got there.

Here are the stats so far...
ARB Deluxe Bull Bar
M8000-s w/black fairlead
Rigid 20" Hybrid E-Series Bar
Rigid Duallys D2 driving lights custom mounted in fog
3" Old Man Emu lift
Gobi Stealth w/no riser, rear ladder.

Again I went with Wet Okoles and the same Weathertech mats, they are great. I also gave Canvas Back a call and reordered the same cargo set, they seem to work best with the Trail's pull out tray.

I'd like new tires soon, but, have to reload the bank account after this!

All the places I worked with were great, I have been very impressed with the result of the lift, even with the KDSS the car sits level and drives nicely.

 

[Milesar]

 

[MeBe4running]

Yeah!!!!! Looking sweet!!!! Man you building that thing fast! I can't wait to see what else you do. I thought long and hard about putting dually's there but decided I would go with the $80.00 fog light kit and start the saving for the tent! Though now I'm like..... let's just say tempted having seen you pictures.

How did you mount them? I tried mounting my OME foglights but it looked bad and there was no way to adjust them. The sweet thing about ARB'S is the adjustable screw spring so you can change the angle in a jiffy!

Subscribed !

 

[MeBe4running]

Woops got too excited with the pictures and didn't read the copy properly. I see Slee made you some brackets. Nice, there good Guy's!

Coming to think of it, I think I have seen your old truck around this old cow town. Do you live in Denver?

 

[Milesar]

How did you mount them? I tried mounting my OME foglights but it looked bad and there was no way to adjust them. The sweet thing about ARB'S is the adjustable screw spring so you can change the angle in a jiffy!

The Duallys are mounted to a metal bracket that attaches to the inside of the bumper, whats really cool (like you said about the ARB's) is the Duallys can be adjusted to point up or all the way down. Should come in handy when its snowy or foggy, also you have the option of throwing some color filters in the mix.

I will have to post some night photos because the amount of light is quite remarkable, to the point where it is a bit concerning. Not sure if you could get away with running them with other cars (unless they are straight down) also not sure how much reflection there will be in inclement weather.

Coming to think of it, I think I have seen your old truck around this old cow town. Do you live in Denver?

Not in Denver, I keep my distance from the big citys, just a hop over the rockies keeps me happy having a bit of space to stretch out. I'm on the front range occasionally, but usually have to have a good reason, if you caught a sighting of the last 4runner it would have been mid Jan.

 

[Bay33saw]

After knowing that I was going to be going through the whole process again I called up the garage and after a short story they were ordering parts and we had another appointment setup. We had played with the idea of a lightbar from Rigid but wasn't sure how we were going to make it work, typically the winch box sits in the center and this would interfere with the light bar. Another thing I wanted to address was having a brighter set of fogs, the ARB fog kit is a bit pricey for mediocre results. After some more phone calls we decided to try getting a pair of Dually D2's to fit into the circular cutouts, with some custom brakets and ingenuity from Slee we got it working. The winch box has been relocated to fit inside the bumper, you can just see the control box in the left side between the fogs. The rest of the build stayed the same.

I also gave Gobi a call and the folks there were awesome to work with again, having seen how strong their racks really are I didn't want to go with any other manufacture. This time around I had another idea with the Stealth, I have a small garage so I asked Paul if he could take out the riser at the front that usually protects the lights, this would give me more clearance. It was all short notice but they asked when I would be in town and it was no problem getting it all put together, I even had a ladder there waiting when I got there.

Here are the stats so far...
ARB Deluxe Bull Bar
M8000-s w/black fairlead
Rigid 20" Hybrid E-Series Bar
Rigid Duallys D2 driving lights custom mounted in fog
3" Old Man Emu lift
Gobi Stealth w/no riser, rear ladder.

Again I went with Wet Okoles and the same Weathertech mats, they are great. I also gave Canvas Back a call and reordered the same cargo set, they seem to work best with the Trail's pull out tray.

I'd like new tires soon, but, have to reload the bank account after this!

All the places I worked with were great, I have been very impressed with the result of the lift, even with the KDSS the car sits level and drives nicely.

How does the canvasback flooring stick to the floor, it is just the velcro attaching to the Toyo's floor fabric, or do you have to attach one strip of the velcro to the back of the seats and floor?

 

[MeBe4running]

The Duallys are mounted to a metal bracket that attaches to the inside of the bumper, whats really cool (like you said about the ARB's) is the Duallys can be adjusted to point up or all the way down. Should come in handy when its snowy or foggy, also you have the option of throwing some color filters in the mix.

I will have to post some night photos because the amount of light is quite remarkable, to the point where it is a bit concerning. Not sure if you could get away with running them with other cars (unless they are straight down) also not sure how much reflection there will be in inclement weather.

Okay, now I have some envy. I would love to see some night shots of them. The color filters just attach over the top of the unit, right? Like the image attached:

Not in Denver, I keep my distance from the big citys, just a hop over the rockies keeps me happy having a bit of space to stretch out. I'm on the front range occasionally, but usually have to have a good reason, if you caught a sighting of the last 4runner it would have been mid Jan.

Well if you had the GOBI ladder on, and where on Colorado Blvd heading towards Commerce City around that exact time, I bet my bottom dollar it was you. I remember at the time thinking that’s an identical set-up bar the rigid's on top of the GOBI rack and this person had large-ish HID's on front of the ARB bull bar. Then I was thinking I had never seen that rig on any of the forums!? Mystery man, finally reveals himself!

 

[Milesar]

How does the canvasback flooring stick to the floor, it is just the velcro attaching to the Toyo's floor fabric, or do you have to attach one strip of the velcro to the back of the seats and floor?

There is velcro sewn onto the underside of the canvas, it sticks right to the carpet underneath. The velcro is quite strong so if you constantly install and remove it you may end up with some worn carpet underneath, typically though you would just leave it in once it is there. Very easy to vacuum and clean, holds up well with the dogs so far.

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

Very nice. I like how the stealth rack looks without the hump. I might have to do the same and then just mount some LED lights so they are still underneath the the top bar.

 

[RiDE]

^I agree. I really like the Stealth rack without the hump. Very nice truck!

 

[Milesar]

The color filters just attach over the top of the unit, right?

Yup, exactly, any of those filters clip right onto the Duallys, havent been able to get any decent night shots yet.

Well if you had the GOBI ladder on, and where on Colorado Blvd heading towards Commerce City around that exact time, I bet my bottom dollar it was you.

Ah, well I didn't get the ladder until this time around, sounds like a good lookin car though!

Very nice. I like how the stealth rack looks without the hump. I might have to do the same and then just mount some LED lights so they are still underneath the the top bar.

I like it because it allows me to have a flat surface for boats/rafts as well as the extra clearance, if you get a roof tent you could also run it forward over the hood to the bull bar. The Rigid SR series lights would be a perfect fit up top as they would still be lower than the top rail, very similar to some rear light setups with the same rack.