theesotericone
New member
A year in pictures.
theesotericone's Trails and BS Thread
- Thread starter theesotericone
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octanejunkie
Elite Member
Dang, G.
Leave some stuff for the rest of us to break!
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Leave some stuff for the rest of us to break!
Replace with a custom outboard mount, probably... #popcorn
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MarkamisPrime
New member
Is that with the eimkeith upper strut mount reinforcement?
theesotericone
New member
Yep. Here's a copy/paste from a post I made on Tacomaworld.
Good discussion. I won't quote everyone since it'd just be a page full of quotes. lol
So here's where I'm at. Geico just totaled my rig. I got a fair value for it even with the unrelated body damage I never bothered to report since it's a wheeling rig. I just got back from DMV with all the needed paperwork to get a salvage title then renewed salvage title once I make the repairs.
There are [MENTION=28464]eimkeith[/MENTION] strut tower reinforcements on the top of the bucket. If you look close enough you'll see where it cracked due to the front 1/3 of the bucket shearing. I consider Keith a friend and he's a damn good dude that makes quality shit for 3rd gen 4Runners and Tacos. This is no way a failure of his product but a direct result of the stupid shit I do with my rig. To give you an idea, I've done the Rubi a few times. The longest it's ever taken me is 9 hours. lol
Part of the failure is I don't have hydro bumps. I was using Durabumps in the front. The one on the passenger side completely shredded and I didn't catch it before other shit shredded. Again, not a cut on Curtis but more of a testament that they lasted that long. Those bumps took well over 5 years of abuse before one failed. I helped Curtis test the first prototypes. After that he came up with prototype 2 which I believe ended up being the production version. So, yeah, they lasted a long time and I highly recommend them if you use your rig in an even close to normal way.
My rig is strapped upfront so that was not a cause. The straps where set 1/2" before the Kings topped out. The durabumps engaged fully with the springs off the shock and the full weight of the vehicle on it. That left about 1/2" of shaft showing. Hard hits off go fast shit probably compressed them further. Possibly far enough to bottom the shock out. I'll never know since I don't own a Go Pro and never will. lol
Another contributing factor was a spindle failure that occurred last year when I was going to recover a Taco stuck in the local snow. When the spindle shredded it took out the hard brake line and hit the coil bucket hard enough to put a small dent in the coilbucket remarkably close to where the failure occurred.
I agree with everyone that's saying just using top side reinforcements isn't enough if you abuse your rig. If the repair is made I'll plate the sides and tie those plated into the top of the frame.
I used IF in that last sentence because I'm very seriously considering cutting all that shit out and SASing it. I do love the way the IFS handles on road and at speed on dirt. I don't love how it performs in the rocks. Don't get me wrong it's done many trails that are considered SA only terrain. Will a SAS still break with what I use my rig for? Probably. As often? Probably not. I'd also never have to suffer another wheel lift again. Those things suck. lol
The driver rear coil bucket/shock mount was repaired with a new OEM part and fish plates welded to strengthen is further. It won't fail again.
The front passenger strut tower is what I finally called my insurance about. I've got an off-road binder on my policy. I told them what happened and they decided to total the rig. I bought it back and now am in the process of deciding what to do with it.
I've decided I'm not going to SAS it. There's just to many compromises to deal with.
I can repair it and jump through some DMV hoops to get a renewed Salvage title. Then I can keep beating it until it breaks again. Then fix it. Again. and Again. and Again. It's the price you pay to play.
Or I can part out everything I have on it and use that money plus the insurance payout to start a build that will be more suited to the size of rocks I tend to play in.
It's a tough choice and one I still haven't made.
octanejunkie
Elite Member
Why not take a page out of [MENTION=118730]AssBurns[/MENTION] book and hack the crap out of the front and rear and go long travel? You can sell the gucci parts that don't carry over to find it.
The bigger question is now that I have 4WD and am building it to crawl (moderate crawling to start) what are you going to drive when I come up there this summer?
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The bigger question is now that I have 4WD and am building it to crawl (moderate crawling to start) what are you going to drive when I come up there this summer?
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theesotericone
New member
I've wheeled with [MENTION=118730]AssBurns[/MENTION] a fair bit. Steven was never long traveled. He did a proper 4-linked rear a few years ago. He doesn't post on here much anymore so unless your following his Insta you would be amazed at what he's doing to the BeerRunner currently. LS swap is done and he's got some plans to put that power to use.
As far as moderate wheeling goes. There's a 1996 Taco and a 2009 4Runner in the driveway. lol Just let me know when you're coming up this way.
octanejunkie
Elite Member
I do follow him on IG but I don't actually use social media much anymore, just for my hobbies and interests, like the FB 4runner and tarantula groups I'm in.
I'll send you a PM about wheeling dates, I have a few in mind.
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theesotericone
New member
I've decided to sell the rig as-is. Here's the link if anyone here wants to take a look:
FS: Built 97 4Runner for Parts or Repair Bishop, CA $6.5K | Tacoma World
FS: Built 97 4Runner for Parts or Repair Bishop, CA $6.5K | Tacoma World
TonyB66
New member
Bummed to see you go, but very much understood. Hope you get a quick, uneventful sale. Curious what you get next...
octanejunkie
Elite Member
Best of luck with the sale, and your next adventure. Another third gen? My two wheel drive is up for sale soon.. I'll even throw in the ARB bumper for you
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theesotericone
New member
Thanks guys. The rig has truly been a blast to build and wheel. It was a hard decision to part with it instead of repair it again. Truth is I'm pushing it beyond what it is capable of. It's done it's best to get me to the end of the trail and it always has. But it's a lot like having Mayweather fight Fury. lol
If it doesn't sell in a few months I'll strip it down and part it out. I'll make more on it that way but I really want someone to use the damn thing. It's got a lot of fight left in it. Just not in the heavyweight bracket. lol
thezentree
Senior Member
What’s your next rig gonna be?
theesotericone
New member
Road Bull nailed it. Tube buggy is what I want to do. I might end up doing a streetable rig though. Still going through the pro/con stage as well as trying to set a reasonable budget to build the next rig.
thezentree
Senior Member
Right on.
I’m kind of in a similar dilemma. I’ve started wheeling my 4Runner hard enough that it’s going to get ruined, and I don’t want that because it’s a great vehicle for road trips and buying groceries too.
Been kicking around the idea of a 1st gen tacoma, but its got the same weak points up front and I’d end up SASing it eventually, so I’m not sure it’s worth Tacoma money for a truck I’m just gonna start cutting up.
I NEED mine to be streetable though since I’m going to give up what would be a tow rig in order to have driveway space. Keep us posted on what you end up building! I’m still trying to figure out what it is I want, so I’m interest to see what you pick.
I’m kind of in a similar dilemma. I’ve started wheeling my 4Runner hard enough that it’s going to get ruined, and I don’t want that because it’s a great vehicle for road trips and buying groceries too.
Been kicking around the idea of a 1st gen tacoma, but its got the same weak points up front and I’d end up SASing it eventually, so I’m not sure it’s worth Tacoma money for a truck I’m just gonna start cutting up.
I NEED mine to be streetable though since I’m going to give up what would be a tow rig in order to have driveway space. Keep us posted on what you end up building! I’m still trying to figure out what it is I want, so I’m interest to see what you pick.
theesotericone
New member
Just figure out a way to get my rig to Kentucky. Then fix the tower and wheel the shit out of it. Not sure what Kentucky's salvage title requirements are but I'm betting it's a lot easier then CA's requirements.
octanejunkie
Elite Member
If you're going to wheel the crap out of it a salvage title doesn't matter. Liability insurance is on the driver, you don't need comprehensive coverage, just collision.
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thezentree
Senior Member
I’d honestly consider it but I need a pickup for pickup stuff occasionally.
Basically I need a rock bouncer that is also a F250, a corvette, and a Prius.
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