TTSPhotog 2017 SR5 Mod/Adventure Thread

[ttsphotog]

Replacing Dash Speakers

Like lots of people, I wanted better sound out of the stock stereo and read in depth about replacing the dash speakers. Not an audiophile but the stock stereo is a little weak. Heck I'm 48 so the 'if it is too loud, you are too old' may apply here.

There is a ton of information all around this forum on replacing dash speakers. So much information - it's easy to get lost in it all. The two best links I relied on were:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/2367353-post447.html (single post)
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/80426-what-unbelievable-difference-kappa-3-5-dash-speakers-3.html
Also, remember, I'm not very handy at all. But working on my truck is a good challenge and I have determined to learn and grow in this area. Never let a learning curve stop you.

The gist for me was:
- JBL GX 302 seemed like a good choice. I got them for about $50 on Amazon, totally within my budget. These sound great - what everyone writes about is true, replacing dash speakers is totally worth it.
- Decided to use the stock wiring harness, including the crossover that was originally in there and see how it sounds. I left the crossover in and they sound great to me. I will probably at some point get back in there and remove the stock crossover. The speakers come with capacitors on them already.
- Knew I would probably have to sand down the speaker covers in order to make them fit. I didn't have to modify the covers at all.
- Knew there was going to be some work on the speaker brackets to hold them in place. I was able to notch a starting point with my jigsaw and then bend and break them to get the small bracket that was needed. Not a big deal at all.

Tools:
Dash removal tool
Large pliers
Socket 10mm
Small screwdriver
Large screwdriver
Soldering iron
Wire cutter
Jigsaw with metal blade

Here are my specific steps, pictures may help.
1 - Remove speaker grills. Using a dashboard tool, pop the side closest to you - there are 3 tabs across that edge. You can then pull the grill to you as the backside has tabs that fit closer to the windshield.
2 - You'll see 4 bolts on the speakers. Two are to remove them from the dash. The other two are to remove the mounting bracket - loosen those two as well which will make getting the mounting bracket off easier. Remove speaker.
3 - Squeeze a tab on the white half of the wiring harness and pull this out of the blue harness. Now your stock speaker should be totally unattached from the truck.
4 - Carefully remove the blue stock harness from the backside of the stock speaker. This is just glue on the backside - use a small screwdriver. Either cut or desolder the stock speaker's connections to the stock harness.
5 - Connect the new speakers to the stock harness temporarily using electrical tape. Reconnect the harness back in the truck and test to make sure the speaker works. Get excited about better sound.
6 - Solder the connections you just made.
7 - Put the speaker back into the dash and screw in one of the fastening bolts - I think I used the right side ones. You can then see how much you need for a replacement bracket on the other side of the speaker. Most likely, it will be just a small piece of the original mounting bracket.
8 - I used a jigsaw to cut a small notch in the stock mounting bracket where it was needed. After the notch was cut, I could use some pliers and bend the bracket to the point where the piece would break off.
9 - Put the speaker back into the dash. Connect the harness. Fasten the speaker using the modified bracket and the screws.
10 - Do the other speaker just like this one. Crank it up.

 

[ttsphotog]

Gravelly Point

Picking up older daughter from DCA a few days before Christmas. My two girls and the DC Monument in the background.

 

[ttsphotog]

Baja Designs Squadron Sport - Fog Light Replacement

I replaced my stock fog lights with the Baja Designs Squadron Sport lights today. Pretty straightforward overall. The main guide I used is here. Here are a few of my personal notes.

1 - I somehow lost one of the stock screws for the lights, which you reuse when putting in the new BD lights. Figures. Got a replacement at Home Depot - they are #10x 1/2 inch - perfect fit.

2 - The driver's side is pretty straightforward. The passenger side is tougher because there is a splash guard over the light. I was able to pop off the left side but eventually had to use some snips to cut the right side off.

3 - On the passenger side, also remove the outer splash guard by removing a few of the bolts on the bumper and underneath. Also turn your wheel all the way to the right. Both of these will allow you to bend the splash guard to get enough room to work your arm up in there.

4 - There are little tabs that one side of the lights fit into. The other side is where you screw them in.

5 - Make sure to buy the pocket kit too. This includes the right brackets and wiring harnesses.

These are super bright - like them a lot. Simple mod that wasn't too bad and remember I'm no mechanic and got it done. Work nice and slow and take your time.

 

[ttsphotog]

Before and After - Wheels and Tires



TRD Wheels. BFG KO2 - 275/70R17. No rubbing so far.

 

[cmilviper]

View attachment 283923

TRD Wheels. BFG KO2 - 275/70R17. No rubbing so far.

Looks great!

 

[Seattle206]

Informative write up on the front tweeters. Good to know when I eventually replace mine.

 

[ttsphotog]

Looks great!

Thank you!! I love it - extremely happy with them!

 

[ttsphotog]

Informative write up on the front tweeters. Good to know when I eventually replace mine.

Thank you - hope it helps. PM me if you need more details when you get into it.

 

[snitz427]

:hello: Hi! Fellow MDer / Baltimoron here. Your 4R looks great! Can't wait to put on TRD wheels - they really are great looking wheels.

As for off roading around here - there ARE places to go, but none in the metro area. Western Maryland has some trail systems, and West Virginia and North Carolina have some too. Hatfield McCoy area is a good one (especially if you ride dirt bikes, atvs, or utvs!).

You should check out Assateague Island next time you are on the eastern shore. You can apply for a OSV permit to drive on the beach for the year. You are required to have 4x4 and basic recovery tools, though (shovel, tire gauge, jack/base, tow rope), and can't camp on the beach (but you can camp at the park just outside OSV). Assateague is my favorite place to visit and camp, much better than OC. Just be careful with the kids as sometimes the people using the OSV area can be really rude and negligent. They are mostly fishermen and they often drive too fast, too close to vehicles, and with disregard to others in order to get as close as possible to the water to look for the prime fishing spots. So you want to keep the kids from wandering too far away. For a regular ol' beach day, the OSV area is just past the public beach parking lot - which is a great place to stretch out and let the kids run amuck!!

 

[ttsphotog]

:hello: Hi! Fellow MDer / Baltimoron here. Your 4R looks great! Can't wait to put on TRD wheels - they really are great looking wheels.

As for off roading around here - there ARE places to go, but none in the metro area. Western Maryland has some trail systems, and West Virginia and North Carolina have some too. Hatfield McCoy area is a good one (especially if you ride dirt bikes, atvs, or utvs!).

You should check out Assateague Island next time you are on the eastern shore. You can apply for a OSV permit to drive on the beach for the year. You are required to have 4x4 and basic recovery tools, though (shovel, tire gauge, jack/base, tow rope), and can't camp on the beach (but you can camp at the park just outside OSV). Assateague is my favorite place to visit and camp, much better than OC. Just be careful with the kids as sometimes the people using the OSV area can be really rude and negligent. They are mostly fishermen and they often drive too fast, too close to vehicles, and with disregard to others in order to get as close as possible to the water to look for the prime fishing spots. So you want to keep the kids from wandering too far away. For a regular ol' beach day, the OSV area is just past the public beach parking lot - which is a great place to stretch out and let the kids run amuck!!

Whats up MD! Thanks - loving the wheels and tires.

Ah good info on Assateague - I will check it out maybe when we get some beach weather. That sounds fun though.

I'm also been meaning to check out either Peters Mill or the Frederick Watershed. There are some people that do a local run once a month - the Instagram name is hiluxsurfoffroad, so would be fun to run with those guys one of these months.

Cool - I will see you around. =)

 

[RajjyP]

This is a great thread, love to see someone figure it out like this. How’d the speaker upgrade sound? Which aspects of sound changed more?

Also, those dash organizers, you can have both in at once, correct?

 

[ttsphotog]

This is a great thread, love to see someone figure it out like this. How’d the speaker upgrade sound? Which aspects of sound changed more?

Thanks so much! I'm having fun doing the easy things that I can. The speaker upgrade is definitely worth it. It sounds so much better - less 'tinny', more robust and more volume so you don't have to turn it up so loud.

Also, those dash organizers, you can have both in at once, correct?

Yup you can have both in.

 

[Arishtat]

Whats up MD! Thanks - loving the wheels and tires.

Ah good info on Assateague - I will check it out maybe when we get some beach weather. That sounds fun though.

I'm also been meaning to check out either Peters Mill or the Frederick Watershed. There are some people that do a local run once a month - the Instagram name is hiluxsurfoffroad, so would be fun to run with those guys one of these months.

Cool - I will see you around. =)

The Hilux Surf Offroad crew are a great bunch of people and I can't recommend them enough for someone getting into the off-roading scene. You should also look at the not-brand-specific DMV Overland and Expedition group on FB. It's run by the same guys but isn't Toyota-specific.

 

[ttsphotog]

The Hilux Surf Offroad crew are a great bunch of people and I can't recommend them enough for someone getting into the off-roading scene. You should also look at the not-brand-specific DMV Overland and Expedition group on FB. It's run by the same guys but isn't Toyota-specific.

Nice! Yup, I've been following along with both of those. Both seem like a good group of guys. Maybe I'll see you at one of the monthly events.

 

[ttsphotog]

Frederick Watershed

A buddy of mine at work and I hit up the Frederick Watershed this past weekend. Very dreary out, temps in the 40s and pouring rain and fog most of the time we were there - almost like a horror movie. So yeah it was fun!! The Watershed is about 15 mins north of Frederick Merryland.

Most everything in the Watershed is gravel roads. We knew that but wanted to get out anyway and at least put them in 4x4. We did hike a bit down a trail but it was way too muddy and wet and we probably would have gotten stuck.

At one point, a Ford Fiesta followed us for a while, so it is definitely not too technical in there. But lots of good mud holes and some washboard here and there and one small creek crossing.

 

[MrJux]

Nice thread so far, but most importantly, thank you for all of the labels on the photos

 

[ttsphotog]

Nice thread so far, but most importantly, thank you for all of the labels on the photos

Haha. Thanks! I try LOL

 

[ttsphotog]

Highlandtown Baltimore


From a few months ago, doing a little nonprofit project in Highlandtown, downtown Baltimore.

 

[ttsphotog]

The Cove

Went to The Cove event a few weeks ago. Lots of fun. Very cold. The first hill we drove up for a green trail had me very freaked out, but my very close to stock T4R went up it like it was a walk in the park. I skipped another crazy hill the rest of the group did, but I was far less nervous the rest of the day. This truck.is.amazing.