the Rescue Runner build thread

[zgensler31]

Hey man, I saw in the pics you posted in the 3rd Gen gallery that you've got some backup lights mounted down by your hitch. Can't find anything in your thread about them, so I was just hoping to get some more info about them, how they are mounted, wired and such. And if you like them.
I was hoping to do something similar soon.

 

[the great him]

Hey man, I saw in the pics you posted in the 3rd Gen gallery that you've got some backup lights mounted down by your hitch. Can't find anything in your thread about them, so I was just hoping to get some more info about them, how they are mounted, wired and such. And if you like them.
I was hoping to do something similar soon.

yeah, they are PIAA back-up lights, the old school 40 series ones. no longer for sale. PIAA now sells a 1500 series back-up light. its smaller and a lot more of a rectangle shape -about as wide but not as tall -about half the height. i have them wired up/tapped off of the factory back-ups. i need to run them off of a relay to give them their full power -they are 55w bulbs. i just drilled holes through the rear bumper on the bottom and mounted them to the bumper itself. in case you cant tell i really like PIAA, and there is only one other light manufacture that i have on my truck, and thats IPF -but i run PIAA bulbs in those lol

 

[zgensler31]

Yeah. I've caught onto the Piaa theme.
But awesome. Are afraid they might get smashed up off road being where they are? Or are they protected by the hitch pretty well?

 

[Supra725]

kid..

was it hard to remove the drain plug? cause for the life of me.. I can't remove mine at all..

who's cv did you went with that has lifetime warranty?

 

[shootmymime]

Are afraid they might get smashed up off road being where they are? Or are they protected by the hitch pretty well?

take a look at mine, ive got mine wired up from a power switch inside the cab so i can bump then on and off when ever, its become a habit just to just to hit them when im backing up with me left hand. mine are just the $15 pair at any auto parts store. the wire runs all the way to the back out the back tail gate and grounds to the ground towing wires.
as you can see the white wire on the bottom left is my power. the lights are just screwed into some bolts that were factory drilled into the bottom of the bumper underneath. they do not hang down any further than the stock tow hitch. i have not had a problem with them moving or being broken from rocks or road debre / snow/ ice. (been on about a year) they come in very handy when im hooking up a trailer at night too. cant be in reverse to have the lights on while your our of the rig hooking up a trailer.
just a few of my thoughts.

 

[TCMach]

Out of curiosity what is you hub to fender measurement with the toytec/eibachs on the second perch?

 

[the great him]

Out of curiosity what is you hub to fender measurement with the toytec/eibachs on the second perch?

22", that seams a little short to me... i was thinking i should be more like 23" but yeah. i still have some pretty good rake going on.... i think im gonna put in that 3/8" top plate spacer

 

[the great him]

they other day a couple of deputies got their rigs stuck up in the snow... over 3500 miles of paved roads in our county (1500 of witch is strictly our jurisdiction) and they get stuck in the snow...

this was the pic i received via text -and a caption of "high centered in the snow"

i didnt know exactly where he was(i had yet to know there was two of them stuck lol) and so i was only going off of tire tracks in the snow and mud... i knew i was getting close when my radar detector started cherpping at me way out in the sticks lol. and came around a corner to see them, stuck even with chains one being chained up on all 4s...
took a few tries but i got them out. -had to anchor the 4runner to a tree to not get sucked into the expedition.... those things are heavier than i though. they tip the scales at around 6800lbs ready for patrol. first time using the winch and it worked like a charm.

 

[T4Rex.]

22", that seams a little short to me... i was thinking i should be more like 23" but yeah. i still have some pretty good rake going on.... i think im gonna put in that 3/8" top plate spacer

I have the 5100s and the eibach springs i was told not to put them on the second perch by Toytec. U got any pics of how that looks cause i need some more lift in the front....

 

[Dous]

What were they doing out there?

 

[the great him]

I have the 5100s and the eibach springs i was told not to put them on the second perch by Toytec. U got any pics of how that looks cause i need some more lift in the front....

I think the reason toytec tells you not to, is the preload on the spring will make things too stiff...? Idk its working fine for me, I had no issues installing them, and the ride is nice, no stiffer than my tundra coils, infact if anything I like the ride better because I have more travel and so to me it feels softer and cushier... But I am also running a bumper and winch with armor as well so that might have something to do with it as well. But maybe someone from toytec can chime in and give us a reason as to why not to run them on anything but the lowest setting.

 

[TCMach]

22", that seams a little short to me... i was thinking i should be more like 23" but yeah. i still have some pretty good rake going on.... i think im gonna put in that 3/8" top plate spacer

Hmm. Yea 23" is what I'm sitting at on the first perch. I don't think we are that different weight wise. Apart from the winch which shouldn't sag the front end a full inch. I'm guessing you got the right springs? I don't really have any other ideas.

Nice job pulling out the other guys. Maybe they should trade into a Toyota :biggrin2:

 

[the great him]

What were they doing out there?

They first guy(the one in the Tahoe) was up there on a active investigation. The other deputy (the one in the expedition) came up to try and recover the first one when he got stuck. The took the set of chains off the Tahoe and put them on the expedition to try and free him once he too got stuck. But by then it was too late, he just ended up digging all the way down till he was on the floor pan and his tires would just free turn... Needless to say the investigation got scrubbed...

 

[T4Rex.]

I think the reason toytec tells you not to, is the preload on the spring will make things too stiff...? Idk its working fine for me, I had no issues installing them, and the ride is nice, no stiffer than my tundra coils, infact if anything I like the ride better because I have more travel and so to me it feels softer and cushier... But I am also running a bumper and winch with armor as well so that might have something to do with it as well. But maybe someone from toytec can chime in and give us a reason as to why not to run them on anything but the lowest setting.

I would really like to go up to the 2nd perch, but i dont have a bumper or winch unfortunately....i do have a custom skid plate built by Haddix. He built it based off of Budbuilt's skidplate. I just put LC 8 wraps on the rear and love the way it rides compared to the OME 890s. Do u think the weight difference between your front with your winch and bumper and my stock bumper would make a difference on ride quality? if i were to go up to the second perch would love to have some more travel!!!

 

[the great him]

I would really like to go up to the 2nd perch, but i dont have a bumper or winch unfortunately....i do have a custom skid plate built by Haddix. He built it based off of Budbuilt's skidplate. I just put LC 8 wraps on the rear and love the way it rides compared to the OME 890s. Do u think the weight difference between your front with your winch and bumper and my stock bumper would make a difference on ride quality? if i were to go up to the second perch would love to have some more travel!!!

yes, the winch alone is over 100lbs, the bumper is only a couple lbs heavier than my stock bumper with brush guard, but my brush guard was pretty beefy. i think the ARB bumper is around 78 lbs... dont quote me on that, but i put the weights of my old bumper and brush guard and the ARB and they were close... but yeah id say i have at least another 200lbs over a stock rig up front, from the lights to the skids to the bumper to the winch...

 

[T4Rex.]

yes, the winch alone is over 100lbs, the bumper is only a couple lbs heavier than my stock bumper with brush guard, but my brush guard was pretty beefy. i think the ARB bumper is around 78 lbs... dont quote me on that, but i put the weights of my old bumper and brush guard and the ARB and they were close... but yeah id say i have at least another 200lbs over a stock rig up front, from the lights to the skids to the bumper to the winch...

ok....so i guess i am gonna be waiting until i get a winch & bumper first....:doh:...oh well....thought seems cool!

 

[rickashay]

Hey Isaac, quick question: how did you run your wires from the roof lights into the cab/engine bay? Did you go into the roof rack track holes? Or go into the door jam and down the B-pillar?

I've got something in the works and need a good way to do this. Thanks!!

 

[the great him]

Hey Isaac, quick question: how did you run your wires from the roof lights into the cab/engine bay? Did you go into the roof rack track holes? Or go into the door jam and down the B-pillar?

I've got something in the works and need a good way to do this. Thanks!!

i ran down behind the outter seals, and down the B pillar between the front and rear doors, inside of flexable loom. i had to drill some small like 1/8" or 3/16" holes to run my wires through -one hole per wire, so i think like 4 holes per side. it works great because when i take my rack off i can just lay the wires down in under the outer seals...






as far as from there, they are all ran behind the interior trim panels to the firewall and through a hole and then along the motor side of the firewall to my relays...

 

[sleeper17]

I am stealing your roof light wiring idea. Seems like a clean and easy way to run the wires. Looks good.

 

[92-SR5]

Gotta love a rescue runner! Keep up the good work Isaac. :thumb3: