TTSPhotog 2017 SR5 Mod/Adventure Thread

[ttsphotog]

Hi all!

I was introduced to the 4Runner when I was about 14 years old and working at a summer camp and one of the older leaders showed up with a 1st Gen, probably an 84 or 85. Fell in love with it then. Fast forward 30 some years later and I just bought a 2017 SR5 4x4 MGM. Bought it used with 16K miles on it. Love it so far.

I'm a software engineer by day and run a faith based nonprofit on the side as a hobby. I'm married and have two daughters, one in college, one in high school. I've run my nonprofit as an all consuming side hustle for 7 years now - I love it and it keeps me young, but I don't really have any other hobbies. I don't watch too much tv - sports bores me to tears... I like to travel, my kids are kind of gypsies because of our travels, I like photography and I'm looking to do some simple mods to the 4runner. Nothing crazy though and I am not at all handy with tools. But I hope to try a few simple mods here and there. I live in suburban Maryland so although I love to drive in the mud, it's all illegal here.

Here's one of the first pictures after I bought it.

 

[ttsphotog]

Cape May NJ

First real drive - Cape May NJ. Apparently you can drive on the beach in Wildwood NJ, at least for part of the day. I would have done that if I had known earlier.

 

[swim.bike.run]

First real drive - Cape May NJ. Apparently you can drive on the beach in Wildwood NJ, at least for part of the day. I would have done that if I had known earlier.

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Welcome

 

[ttsphotog]

Welcome

Thanks!!

 

[clo_iam]

Nice, Welcome! The SR5s are great and hope to take you to many new and fun places!

 

[ttsphotog]

Nice, Welcome! The SR5s are great and hope to take you to many new and fun places!

Thanks so much!!

 

[ttsphotog]

Mods #1

1 - Hitch receiver with shackle. Not sure it will ever get used but maybe. But I like the look. My wife refers to it as a nose ring. See below.

2 - Vehicle OCD console organizers.
Console Tray
Center Console Organizer

 

[ttsphotog]

Blackwater Wildlife Refuge

From last weekend at Blackwater Wildlife Refuge on the eastern shore of Merryland. Cool place, great visitors center as well as a very cool Harriet Tubman museum, right outside the quaint town of Cambridge, MD.

We drove down the Wildlife Drive for about an hour and saw a few buzzards and maybe one bald eagle. The refuge has the second largest population of eagles.

Sadly, no mud or dirt - just paved roads.

 

[ttsphotog]

Running Boards

My truck didn't come with running boards and I could take them or leave them - not a big deal to me. But my wife said she wanted them to help with getting in and out. I like the look of the OEM boards as well as some of the sliders but the sliders were definitely overkill. I found a pair of boards on sale from another forum member and picked them up a few days ago and installed them last night.


I'm not very handy but have decided to try my best with work on this truck so it's fun and a bit intimidating. But this was super easy. Unscrew 6 bolts. Put screws in boards and screw back in. I even did it all by myself.


I did use a standard 1 gallon can of paint to help get the boards in the right place. Setting it on the can got it high enough on one end where I could lift the other end and get it screwed in. I also had a shop light under the whole truck the whole time.

I also did have to remove a little plastic plate behind the rear doors at the front of the rear wheel well. I think those are there if you don't have boards on.

 

[Ron4RNevada]

My advice for your area -> just upgrade the tires for occasional snow or mud. "C" rated as you won't be encountering rock climbing. Stay with the same size.

I just spent three weeks in PA, MD, WV, VA, NC and SC = There is really no place to go off-roading back there so don't bother with lift or oversized tires.

If you ever visit me in Nevada where you can off-road everywhere you still don't have to modify anything but tires. ENJOY THE SR5!

 

[ttsphotog]

My advice for your area -> just upgrade the tires for occasional snow or mud. "C" rated as you won't be encountering rock climbing. Stay with the same size.

I just spent three weeks in PA, MD, WV, VA, NC and SC = There is really no place to go off-roading back there so don't bother with lift or oversized tires.

If you ever visit me in Nevada where you can off-road everywhere you still don't have to modify anything but tires. ENJOY THE SR5!

Yeah I hear ya on that advice. I'd eventually like to get some TRD wheels and maybe tires just a tad larger. But yeah, it is ALL pavement around here....

OOOO Nevada!

 

[ttsphotog]

Amish Country

Up in Lancaster, PA for a nonprofit speaking gig and then a few days with family near Hershey.

 

[ttsphotog]

LED Interior Lights

I replaced out all the interior lights, well almost, with LEDs. Like I wrote earlier, I am not handy at all, so this seemed like a pretty easy project... and it was for the most part. I watched a bunch of videos and ordered a set of dash installation tools too. The LED set was from HID, which I like overall. I thought they would be a little brighter but I got warm white instead of cool white, which might be why. It wasn't so much about the color but also to see if I could really do it.

So far, I haven't been able to get the map bulbs out. I've tried all the tricks - electrical tape, scotch tape, painters tape. Just can't seem to get them out but will try some more in the next few days. In one of the videos, the guy just plucks them out with his fingers. Hmm nope. If anyone else has any great ideas about map bulbs, I would appreciate it!

Below are some pictures and commentary for the door lights. Just a little tricky [for me] to get the housing out of the lens. Once I figured out the first, all the others were super easy.

Also, a few of the bulbs weren't working when plugged in. I learned that the wires where the bulbs seat into the housing weren't quite in the right place, so just moved them a tad over.

 

[capecodflatsboat]

I replaced out all the interior lights, well almost, with LEDs. Like I wrote earlier, I am not handy at all, so this seemed like a pretty easy project... and it was for the most part. I watched a bunch of videos and ordered a set of dash installation tools too. The LED set was from HID, which I like overall. I thought they would be a little brighter but I got warm white instead of cool white, which might be why. It wasn't so much about the color but also to see if I could really do it.

So far, I haven't been able to get the map bulbs out. I've tried all the tricks - electrical tape, scotch tape, painters tape. Just can't seem to get them out but will try some more in the next few days. In one of the videos, the guy just plucks them out with his fingers. Hmm nope. If anyone else has any great ideas about map bulbs, I would appreciate it!

Below are some pictures and commentary for the door lights. Just a little tricky [for me] to get the housing out of the lens. Once I figured out the first, all the others were super easy.

Also, a few of the bulbs weren't working when plugged in. I learned that the wires where the bulbs seat into the housing weren't quite in the right place, so just moved them a tad over.

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Nice, I would like to at least do my puddle lights

 

[ttsphotog]

Nice, I would like to at least do my puddle lights

Thanks! I don't have puddle lights but from the looks of it, those are pretty complicated.

 

[ttsphotog]

Replacing Map Bulbs

So big thanks to 2016 4Runner SR5, I was able to remove the overhead console to get the map bulbs out.
[Is that the best way to tag someone..?]

1. Open sunglass holder
2. Unscrew two screws there.
3. Gently but firmly, pull down on the overhead console - there are two clips that hold it in from the back.
4. The map bulb housings twist a quarter of a turn and pop out.
5. Pull old bulbs out, replace with new.

Not a big deal for most but good for me. Slowly gaining competency around doing little stuff like this.

 

[ttsphotog]

First Snow

From a few days ago. Not enough though.

 

[ttsphotog]

Baltimore Inner Harbor

Was in the city for a work event.

 

[cmilviper]

Was in the city for a work event.
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Great Pic!

 

[ttsphotog]

Great Pic!

Thanks so much!! Happy Holidays!