Trixx and Bean's 2017 MGM Build Thread
- Thread starter Trixx
- Start date
Simpleman74
New member
Nice rig! and the installer too!
4Running303
New member
Check out BORA Spacers, they make a .75"...few folks are running them on here.
Wheel Adapters, Wheel Spacers, Hub Rings for your car! | Motorsport Tech
Fairly straight forward. Front has 13 clips and can be installed with the bumper on. My wife's smaller arms helped. I used a flat head on a few to help push down the clip in tough spots.
On the rear virtually everyone suggested removing the bumper so we did. There's a good how to for removing that floating around the forum somewhere.
Nice little build. Like what you've done so far. I'm looking at doing a similar mix'n'match on the suspension, thought I'm looking at OME and TC uppers. I'm still very early on in my build though (tires were first... and some recovery gear).
Two thoughts:
1) How do you like living in the toy hauler? I'm kicking around a similar option myself as I can afford a plot here, but building would be a bit down the road. (SoCal is not cheap... and have a trailer from family potentially lined up). Any simple advice/thoughts?
2) +3 to your wife. 1... helps with truck. 2.... is cool with the mods. 3.... lives with you in the trailer. :hail:
Two thoughts:
1) How do you like living in the toy hauler? I'm kicking around a similar option myself as I can afford a plot here, but building would be a bit down the road. (SoCal is not cheap... and have a trailer from family potentially lined up). Any simple advice/thoughts?
2) +3 to your wife. 1... helps with truck. 2.... is cool with the mods. 3.... lives with you in the trailer. :hail:
The Toy Hauler has been great. My wife and I had only been together around a year when I bought it 4 years ago, but had we of been where we were at now, I would have bought a regular 5th wheel with a more traditional living room, and then a separate enclosed trailer for her to tow when we move. Other than that it's been just fine for us and the dog. My brother has a brand new insane 5500 sq ft house in Phoenix and going there just seems like mind boggling to us because we are so comfortable in our 5th wheel. When we are ready to buy a house, I think it will be nice because we will be very happy with something much more reasonably sized (other than me wanting a big garage/shop/gym).
My wife is definitely a champ. I could honestly go on forever, but I'll refrain lol. I take care of her very well and she does the same. We are very fortunate. We actually met because I used to work with her step father and were friends prior to working together as well. He was showing me pictures of his wife's family, and I was like, "oh, her daughter looks hot, hook me up!" So he did, and 5 years later, here we are.
Here's a few more pics from the install this weekend.
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Cool to know. Yeah. I have a cousin whose job didn't pan out as expected, and instead of hopping around all over Eastern NY for his job... he and his new wife are planted in one spot and expecting their first kiddo. I have first dibs on his 5th wheel... and it's fairly big (if dad is impressed by it, then it's nice. I trust my pops.) In any case, it was an unexpected bit they offered up, and I'm now having to mull it over.
Sounds like a good set-up for you two. Yeah, um.... 5500 sq.ft. to me is overkill. Unless 4500 is garage, shop, and gym. lol Glad to see someone else shares my priorities.
More power to you both!
As Bill and Ted said, "Be excellent to each other!". Sounds like you two have something amazing..... and I wish you two the best in everything. :cheers:
So now that my initial performance/appearance mods are out of the way, time to start getting some functional mods put together so we can enjoy some upcoming weekend camping trips.
Tonight I ordered:
ARB Awning and Awning room (20% off at auto anything)
ARB 50qt fridge w/ direct wiring kit to battery
Partner 22" stove with wind blockers
Odyssey Extreme Deep Cycle Group 34 Battery
Waterport Shower Kit
Going to need to figure out how I want to secure the fridge to our sliding tray and the awning to the oem roof rails (no cross bars) until I get my roof rack and a drawer system built for the cargo area. I don't foresee anything to hardcore off road coming up so it doesn't need to be perfect. Mostly just some beach camping.
Tonight I ordered:
ARB Awning and Awning room (20% off at auto anything)
ARB 50qt fridge w/ direct wiring kit to battery
Partner 22" stove with wind blockers
Odyssey Extreme Deep Cycle Group 34 Battery
Waterport Shower Kit
Going to need to figure out how I want to secure the fridge to our sliding tray and the awning to the oem roof rails (no cross bars) until I get my roof rack and a drawer system built for the cargo area. I don't foresee anything to hardcore off road coming up so it doesn't need to be perfect. Mostly just some beach camping.
For the sliding tray, I'd slap down a couple of these, and use small machine bolts/screws to anchor them (washers underneath... help distro any force).
4 pack Stainless Steel Flush Mount D-Rings Recessed Rope Rings 800 lbs
Plus, you can still slide stuff over them.
One thing I recommend that you check out at some point is what Antman did for storage in his. Turned out real nice.
Been a busy couple days getting everything installed before our camping trip this weekend at the Freeman Park beach in NC. Most of the parts just came in the last day or two.
My wife installed the Group 34 battery and hard wired it to the rear for the ARB fridge while I was at work yesterday. Installed the ARB awning today. Also tried out the Partner Stove and Waterport shower. Both seem like they will be very high quality. Waterport needs a few extra pumps from a bike pump to get extra pressure but it's a small price to pay. Very well built. The Partner stove is very impressive as well.
I'll post up some pictures and reviews of the set up this weekend.
Upcoming mods will be: Baja Utility Rack, Drawer system for the rear, solar panels for the battery, roof top tent?
I've never built drawers, but like doing my own projects. I haven't done much with wood since building tons of bike ramps when I was a kid. We'll see how it goes. Just have a hard time paying $2000+ for a goose gear system I can probably make for $500 and get some self satisfaction while doing it.
I'm having my 3rd hernia surgery next week so may have to put things on hold for a little bit. There goes my front and rear full bumper fund :frusty:
My wife installed the Group 34 battery and hard wired it to the rear for the ARB fridge while I was at work yesterday. Installed the ARB awning today. Also tried out the Partner Stove and Waterport shower. Both seem like they will be very high quality. Waterport needs a few extra pumps from a bike pump to get extra pressure but it's a small price to pay. Very well built. The Partner stove is very impressive as well.
I'll post up some pictures and reviews of the set up this weekend.
Upcoming mods will be: Baja Utility Rack, Drawer system for the rear, solar panels for the battery, roof top tent?
I've never built drawers, but like doing my own projects. I haven't done much with wood since building tons of bike ramps when I was a kid. We'll see how it goes. Just have a hard time paying $2000+ for a goose gear system I can probably make for $500 and get some self satisfaction while doing it.
I'm having my 3rd hernia surgery next week so may have to put things on hold for a little bit. There goes my front and rear full bumper fund :frusty:
Thought I would update the thread.
As I mentioned earlier in the thread, part of what was driving to build my 4Runner was to do camping trips with our dog since he was getting up there in age and wanted to avoid boarding him for weekend trips.
Unfortunately, on our maiden voyage to the beaches of NC to camp for a weekend (June 10th, the day after my last post), Gibson did not make it. We got to the beach, set up, and he immediately went down hill from there. We had to take him to an emergency vet clinic near the beach and he had to be put down. He was my 16th birthday presents from my parents in 2004, so he was with me for many years.
Needless to say, it certainly put a bit of a damper on camping trips and the 4Runner in general. Saturday will be 6 weeks since he passed. We will be picking up a pup soon to hopefully continue with the desire of puppy filled camping trips.
RIP old buddy -
As I mentioned earlier in the thread, part of what was driving to build my 4Runner was to do camping trips with our dog since he was getting up there in age and wanted to avoid boarding him for weekend trips.
Unfortunately, on our maiden voyage to the beaches of NC to camp for a weekend (June 10th, the day after my last post), Gibson did not make it. We got to the beach, set up, and he immediately went down hill from there. We had to take him to an emergency vet clinic near the beach and he had to be put down. He was my 16th birthday presents from my parents in 2004, so he was with me for many years.
Needless to say, it certainly put a bit of a damper on camping trips and the 4Runner in general. Saturday will be 6 weeks since he passed. We will be picking up a pup soon to hopefully continue with the desire of puppy filled camping trips.
RIP old buddy -
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Picked up this beautiful restored m416 military trailer and Tepui roof top tent today. I've been wanting an RTT but just hate how they look day to day. This m416 will address that as well as give us a spot to store all our camping gear so we can just hook up and go every time we want to leave. We drove 7 hrs to get the trailer today and are camping on the way back, but I'll go into more detail with the trailer when I get back and really dig through everything. The PO did a lot of very tasteful work to it.
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Thanks!
The Nuclear Plant I was working at just abruptly closed, so the entire 5000 employees were let go.
For every up side, there is a down side. I'm a contractor and plan for times like these to be safe, and I'm absolutely not going to sit around and mope on my rare times off, and will be taking full advantage!
WVSR5P17'
New member
Sorry to hear about your job, I thought by a previous post you might have been able to travel and work from anywhere. Enjoy and I will keep checking out your status!!!
Pieced together this phone mount today. Pro clips vent holder and various ram mount accessories. Has a rubber tether if needed but it's in there so secure with just the mount I doubt I'll need it much, so it's slightly tucked away; I'll probably just remove it and stick it in the glove box.
Solar panels arrived today and SSO bumper with 30" Baja Designs light should be here tomorrow. Lots to do before we leave Friday but we're making good progress.
Solar panels arrived today and SSO bumper with 30" Baja Designs light should be here tomorrow. Lots to do before we leave Friday but we're making good progress.
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dot_tom
New member
Awesome thread! Glad I stopped in to read it all. Sorry to hear about your dog. I grew up with two black labs. Putting them down were two of the hardest things to happen in my 30 years.
I have the same 4Runner. Picking up the same wheels Saturday. Doing the same black outs. Glad I could see how it'll come together prior. I have 2" Bora spacers on my current OEM wheels with 285s and a lift. Plenty of fender liner and bumper modding. Still slight rubbing I need to address. But man, it looks so good.
Great to hear your wife is so cool and you definitely need to post up about the Baja bike trip!
Looking forward to more progress! Will you be at Appalachian Toyota Round Up at Windrock Park in TN?
I have the same 4Runner. Picking up the same wheels Saturday. Doing the same black outs. Glad I could see how it'll come together prior. I have 2" Bora spacers on my current OEM wheels with 285s and a lift. Plenty of fender liner and bumper modding. Still slight rubbing I need to address. But man, it looks so good.
Great to hear your wife is so cool and you definitely need to post up about the Baja bike trip!
Looking forward to more progress! Will you be at Appalachian Toyota Round Up at Windrock Park in TN?
