thezentree
Senior Member
Highly recommend it. There’s enough trail miles to make it worth the trip from just about anywhere. We saw license plates from Texas, Florida, Illinois, etc.
Thor or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Vibrations (build thread)
- Thread starter thezentree
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Highly recommend it. There’s enough trail miles to make it worth the trip from just about anywhere. We saw license plates from Texas, Florida, Illinois, etc.
thezentree
Senior Member
It's been a few months so I figured I'd update this thread. Between all the covid BS (China is asshoe) and a month-long, ultimately unsuccessful fight with a non-regenerative immune-mediated anemia with our cat I haven't been able to spend a whole bunch of time on the 4Runner.
I ordered a set of BudBuilt skids a few months ago and finally got around to painting and installing them this weekend:
The belly skid rubs the transfer case, even with some washers between the crossmember and the skid so I need to figure that out, but overall I'm happy with these.
Since I lost the removable center section I made for my 01 grill, I made a satoshi grill out of a 96 grill I got through some horse trading. It's definitely a 10 footer, but it does the job.
And just because I miss this guy, here's Oliver, my buddy my wife and I lost last month. He was almost 4 and was diagnosed with anemia in July, and after multiple blood transfusions and huge amount of medication, he crashed and we had to euthanize him. He was such a great cat and I'm so glad he was a part of our lives, even if he was only here for a little while.
Anyway, on a happier note I'm going to meet some friends at Uwharrie later this month to do some four wheeling and camping, so I'll have some more fun pics then.
I ordered a set of BudBuilt skids a few months ago and finally got around to painting and installing them this weekend:
The belly skid rubs the transfer case, even with some washers between the crossmember and the skid so I need to figure that out, but overall I'm happy with these.
Since I lost the removable center section I made for my 01 grill, I made a satoshi grill out of a 96 grill I got through some horse trading. It's definitely a 10 footer, but it does the job.
And just because I miss this guy, here's Oliver, my buddy my wife and I lost last month. He was almost 4 and was diagnosed with anemia in July, and after multiple blood transfusions and huge amount of medication, he crashed and we had to euthanize him. He was such a great cat and I'm so glad he was a part of our lives, even if he was only here for a little while.
Anyway, on a happier note I'm going to meet some friends at Uwharrie later this month to do some four wheeling and camping, so I'll have some more fun pics then.
thezentree
Senior Member
The trans mount is about a year and a half old, and I did take the factory underwear off, but there is still a little bit of interference even with some spacers added. I started a new thread for specifically that issue but I'll update this thread too if I figure it out.
thezentree
Senior Member
I got to go to Uwharrie for a few days last month with my friends from NC. It's a fairly small trail system, so we ran all of it in a couple of days, but we had a great time between the four wheeling and camping. The fish tacos I made the first night were pretty good, but my buddy stole the show by slow cooking a pork shoulder in a dutch oven over the fire all day and it was fantastic.
No major breakage this trip, thankfully. The 4Runner did great and we only had to stop once for about half an hour for my buddy with the Ramcharger (bad battery connection, stopped charging).
Kodak Rock, where I got to tighten loose skid plates instead of getting a poser shot:
Starting Daniel from the RML end:
See that tree right there?
Found the tree:
Need longer bumpstops:
My sliders left a mark across my shirt at shoulder level when I got out to take this pic:
The window was kind of a bummer, but it could have been much worse - zero sheetmetal damage. It was a super tight off-camber spot, and I could see where a lot of other rigs had rubbed the tree. I had a new window installed the morning after I got back, so no big deal.
The skids got worked pretty hard and saved my ass a couple times, but they came loose (or got knocked loose) every day. I don't think the washer stacks I'm using to clear the transfer case are doing me any favors, so I need to figure out something better.
I think the biggest takeaway from this trip is that I am kind of at a crossroads with the 4Runner. It works great for being relatively stock, but I've definitely found its limit. Other than the crappy paint it is in really good shape and I'm not eager to start wrinkling it up, but based on the trails I've run the last few trips I'm quickly heading that way. I have no intention of selling this thing since it is such a great all-around vehicle (and has been in the family for almost two decades) but I'm starting to think that I might need to find something I can really hammer on.
No major breakage this trip, thankfully. The 4Runner did great and we only had to stop once for about half an hour for my buddy with the Ramcharger (bad battery connection, stopped charging).
Kodak Rock, where I got to tighten loose skid plates instead of getting a poser shot:
Starting Daniel from the RML end:
See that tree right there?
Found the tree:
Need longer bumpstops:
My sliders left a mark across my shirt at shoulder level when I got out to take this pic:
The window was kind of a bummer, but it could have been much worse - zero sheetmetal damage. It was a super tight off-camber spot, and I could see where a lot of other rigs had rubbed the tree. I had a new window installed the morning after I got back, so no big deal.
The skids got worked pretty hard and saved my ass a couple times, but they came loose (or got knocked loose) every day. I don't think the washer stacks I'm using to clear the transfer case are doing me any favors, so I need to figure out something better.
I think the biggest takeaway from this trip is that I am kind of at a crossroads with the 4Runner. It works great for being relatively stock, but I've definitely found its limit. Other than the crappy paint it is in really good shape and I'm not eager to start wrinkling it up, but based on the trails I've run the last few trips I'm quickly heading that way. I have no intention of selling this thing since it is such a great all-around vehicle (and has been in the family for almost two decades) but I'm starting to think that I might need to find something I can really hammer on.
thezentree
Senior Member
Thor got new front wheel bearings and a little more lift to compensate for the armor. I'm back up to around 2" in the front and 3" in the rear. I need to do rear bearings soon too, but at least now I have the press.
And of course once you replace wheel bearings it's important to go drive through a bunch of water.
The other day was absolutely gorgeous for November and I had no obligations, so I decided to go run some easy trails out in Daniel Boone NF. There wasn't really anything challenging, but somehow there wasn't anyone out there on such a pretty day. I'll take it!
And of course once you replace wheel bearings it's important to go drive through a bunch of water.
The other day was absolutely gorgeous for November and I had no obligations, so I decided to go run some easy trails out in Daniel Boone NF. There wasn't really anything challenging, but somehow there wasn't anyone out there on such a pretty day. I'll take it!
thezentree
Senior Member
Vansnxtweek
New member
Oh my, those is beautiful.
RomanSchnobrich
Member
Finally read through some of your thread (been following along on IFS too), great read so far. You're gonna like your Kings so much. I had OME shocks, then 5100s that blew very quickly, and finally balled out on nice (and expensive!) adjustable and rebuildable coilovers... 1000% worth it.
thezentree
Senior Member
I'm so stoked on them. I haven't gotten a chance yet to drive much of anywhere, but they are smoooooooth over the raised railroad crossing up the street. My wife is gonna punch my arm and tell me to slow down a lot more.
thezentree
Senior Member
The Kings are still great. No ragerts at all. Just need to get some for the rear now, because the Toytec shocks I have just don't compare haha.
I put a set of Spiker Engineering hood struts on it the other day, and I can't believe I waited this long to do it. I should have done that when they first came on the market.
I put a set of Spiker Engineering hood struts on it the other day, and I can't believe I waited this long to do it. I should have done that when they first came on the market.
thezentree
Senior Member
Rushthezeppelin
New member
Lol I guess our 3rd gens are going to be twinsies with brand new racks. Did you clean your reservoir as well?
thezentree
Senior Member
I put a new pump on it last year and did then. I’m just gonna flush it before I button it back up. It’s also getting valve cover gaskets too. Gonna do all this next weekend. Probably. Maybe.
Rushthezeppelin
New member
Man I'm kind of surprised that rag joint is that cheap and the PS hoses are that expensive. Glad I don't have any leaks in my system. So far it seems like I nailed gutentite on the connections to the rack that are basically impossible to get a torque wrench on even with a crowsfoot line wrench.
thezentree
Senior Member
thezentree
Senior Member
habanero
Senior Member
Looks like you got real crazy with the sawzall...people are going to think you've got a Tacoma or something
thezentree
Senior Member
No I used a plasma cutter
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