Unner's Build, 2001 T4R 4x4

[TheOGConCon]

Kinda random, but noticed in your photos that you have an Airlift sticker on your rear window. Are you actually running an Airlift kit? I don't remember seeing any mention of it... just out of curiosity, since I just recently put a kit on my rig.

 

[Unner]

Kinda random, but noticed in your photos that you have an Airlift sticker on your rear window. Are you actually running an Airlift kit? I don't remember seeing any mention of it... just out of curiosity, since I just recently put a kit on my rig.

I was running an air lift kit with moog springs in the rear when I was stock height before the lift. I'much happier with the new OEM LC coils in the back with the lift.

 

[TheOGConCon]

I was running an air lift kit with moog springs in the rear when I was stock height before the lift. I'much happier with the new OEM LC coils in the back with the lift.

Your old setup is the exact same as what I'm running right now. How are the LC coils with holding weight? Because right now I'm leaning towards OME 906 that way I can stay with my Bilstein 4600's for the time being, but have some rake + better capacity for weight.

 

[Unner]

Your old setup is the exact same as what I'm running right now. How are the LC coils with holding weight? Because right now I'm leaning towards OME 906 that way I can stay with my Bilstein 4600's for the time being, but have some rake + better capacity for weight.

The LC coils are great at holding weight. My truck has a pretty good bit of extra weight with the sliders, skids, rack, toolbox, full size LT spare, and hi-lift in the rear as well. I highly recommend buying new though. The problem is most people buy used coils with 200k miles and then complain about them not holding weight, well yeah, they're springs, they wear out...

This is the same thing I saw [MENTION=50342]JayRolla[/MENTION] preach when I was researching lifts and I completely agree with him now.

 

[TheOGConCon]

The LC coils are great at holding weight. My truck has a pretty good bit of extra weight with the sliders, skids, rack, toolbox, full size LT spare, and hi-lift in the rear as well. I highly recommend buying new though. The problem is most people buy used coils with 200k miles and then complain about them not holding weight, well yeah, they're springs, they wear out...

This is the same thing I saw [MENTION=50342]JayRolla[/MENTION] preach when I was researching lifts and I completely agree with him now.

Sweet, good to know. Maybe not in the near future, but eventually.

 

[Unner]

Sweet, good to know. Maybe not in the near future, but eventually.

Everything with time, I waited a while to lift mine because I had replaced the stock suspension with stock replacement stuff like you did. Still a very capable truck you have there at stock height with the locker.

 

[JayRolla]

Sweet, good to know. Maybe not in the near future, but eventually.

If a lot of weight is added you can always add a cheap in coil air bag when you are loaded up. This also gives a solid ride on the highway, and when you hit trail just let the air out.

 

[Unner]

Well I've got a Gobi ladder sitting here waiting for install, RCLAM skids, some TRD WeatherTech stickers, a few new stickers for the back window, and I picked up a "Soft-Shackle" at South East overland last weekend. I'll post pics of all that stuff sometime.

Two weekends ago I got a little mud on the 4Runner. I was up in the mountains in Asheville, but where I wanted to go was closed and my girlfriend wasn't enjoying the vertical drop off the road so I chose not to stop and take pictures haha. So instead here's a couple pictures of a dirty 4Runner.

DSC03418 by Unner Unner, on Flickr
DSC03419 by Unner Unner, on Flickr
DSC03415 by Unner Unner, on Flickr
DSC03417 by Unner Unner, on Flickr

We found a little dirt trail near my place, I drove through it once and let her drive a little bit of the easy part until she got too scared on the second pass through haha. 4Lo was needed to keep her speed down for sure. I don't know who was more scared...


Last weekend I went to see her, the 700 mile round trip went well except for me loosing my turn signals for a little while in Atlanta... Nothing good comes out of big cities. No pics from there really either, but here's a couple of a southern Alabama sunset. It's so flat and different down there.
DSC03422 by Unner Unner, on Flickr
DSC03429 by Unner Unner, on Flickr

Sometime now I should be getting my AOR bumper, BAMF LCA skids, and I recently placed an order for a full set of disconnects from Mstudt. My homemade links didn't seem to fit real well on the front and it wasn't too much more to get a matching pair for the rear so I went ahead and did that. I'll be selling the "homemade" links here, nothing wrong with them, they work great for the rear.

I'll probably also have South East Overland weld on some limit strap mounting points so I don't need to worry about letting a CV droop too far or anything like that. Especially if I do go with aftermarket UCA's eventually.

 

[infamousRNR]

I'm waiting for my BAMF LCA skids as well and my sliders... hopefully picking them up this month!!

 

[Unner]

I'm waiting for my BAMF LCA skids as well and my sliders... hopefully picking them up this month!!

Nice, I love their sliders. That kickout is a work of art.

 

[Unner]

Today I got my TRD weathertech replacement stickers put on my floor liners. It was just a simple, fun, cheap thing to do that came out nice.

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I also sorted through my storage box in the back, inventoried what I have and added a few things I picked up recently like a soft shackle, gorilla tape, and rubbing alcohol.
DSC03433 by Unner Unner, on Flickr
Here's what's inside the truck, most of it in the box, but some of it outside like the hi-lift, and some of it in the console or stock storage box in the back like the triangle, flag, knife, lighter, and first aid kit.

• 
  Lighter
  Kershaw Knife
  Napkins
  Warning Triangle
  First Aid Kit
  Ice Scraper
  American Flag
  2 Shackles
  1 Soft Shackle
  30ft Recovery Rope
  Jumper Cables
  2 S hooks
  2 Carabeeners
  Can Opener
  100 ft Paracord
  Compass
  Beanie
  2 Pairs of Gloves
  Tire Plug Kit
  Jak Jaw Attatchment
  Shovel
  Axe
  Hitch Pin
  Rubbing Alcohol
  Tire Pressure Gauge
  Breaker Bar
  21mm Socket and Extension
  Coilover Wrenches
  Lots of Fuses
  Viar Air Compressor
  Gorilla Tape
  Zip Ties - 5", 8", 24"
  Fork, Knife, Spoon
  Bungee Cords
  Ratchet Straps
  Bug Spray
  Military Poncho Liner
  Gallon Size Zip-Lock Bags
  Hammock
  Hammock Straps
  Hammock Rope
  Waterproof phone pouch

I plan to keep adding to my recovery type of equipment, but the good stuff is expensive so it'll be a slow process.

Hopefully these will be going on the truck tomorrow.
DSC03444 by Unner Unner, on Flickr
DSC03445 by Unner Unner, on Flickr

 

[Bandit Runner]

I also sorted through my storage box in the back, inventoried what I have and added a few things I picked up recently like a soft shackle, gorilla tape, and rubbing alcohol.

• 
  Lighter
  Kershaw Knife
  Napkins
  Warning Triangle
  First Aid Kit
  Ice Scraper
  American Flag
  2 Shackles
  1 Soft Shackle
  30ft Recovery Rope
  Jumper Cables
  2 S hooks
  2 Carabeeners
  Can Opener
  100 ft Paracord
  Compass
  Beanie
  2 Pairs of Gloves
  Tire Plug Kit
  Jak Jaw Attatchment
  Shovel
  Axe
  Hitch Pin
  Rubbing Alcohol
  Tire Pressure Gauge
  Breaker Bar
  21mm Socket and Extension
  Coilover Wrenches
  Lots of Fuses
  Viar Air Compressor
  Gorilla Tape
  Zip Ties - 5", 8", 24"
  Fork, Knife, Spoon
  Bungee Cords
  Ratchet Straps
  Bug Spray
  Military Poncho Liner
  Gallon Size Zip-Lock Bags
  Hammock
  Hammock Straps
  Hammock Rope
  Waterproof phone pouch

Soft shackle?

 

[Unner]

[MENTION=55891]Bandit Runner[/MENTION]

Yup, they're stronger than a metal shackle and allow you to attach to points you normally wouldn't be able to like sliders or a roof rack even if you had to. Here's the link to them. Mine is sitting on the recovery strap in that picture above. They're pretty cool. I might pick up another one from them sometime.

Soft Shackles, Tube Savers & Load Equalizing Bridles : 3/8" Southeast Overland Soft Shackle | Southeast Overland

Got the ladder installed today. The bottom mount went on solidly, but the top one the set screws wouldn't set. The top mount is only held on with the double sided tape and the way it wraps around the hatch, but it seems solid. I can move the truck by shaking the ladder so I think it's good. It holds up great using it to get on the roof too. I like the look also. I'll have to see if it is in the way at all when looking out the back window when I'm driving tomorrow.
DSC03453 by Unner Unner, on FlickrDSC03454 by Unner Unner, on Flickr
DSC03452 by Unner Unner, on Flickr

Better pictures are to come, it was getting dark and I was loosing feeling in my hands at the time...

 

[infamousRNR]

Love the stickers on the weathertech mats. That's a nice touch! Ladder looks awesome.. How did the Install on the lotus RCAM skids go?

 

[JerkyDrewster]

Post

Those stickers are sweet. The ladder on the back looks really good too. Hopefully you can get those screws to set in place! How often are you using your roof rack? I feel like the only time I will be using mine is when I sleep inside and place the spare tire on the roof. Other than that it is just for looks

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

I see you got that ladder you've wanted. How do you feel about it being made by Gobi? Any plans to cover up their logo?

No offense intended. I mention because I recall discussing that you were trying to find an alternative to purchasing a Gobi product.

The 4Runners looking good btw

 

[Unner]

Love the stickers on the weathertech mats. That's a nice touch! Ladder looks awesome.. How did the Install on the lotus RCAM skids go?

Thanks, it's the little things that count. I didn't get to the skids yesterday because I couldn't feel my fingers after the ladder it was so cold. I started them today. Other than my face currently bleeding due to a slipped ratchet, the passenger side not fitting, and having to go to the store to get a mallet and some punches to try and make the passenger side fit it's going great! Off to lowes I go! The driver side went on well though!

Those stickers are sweet. The ladder on the back looks really good too. Hopefully you can get those screws to set in place! How often are you using your roof rack? I feel like the only time I will be using mine is when I sleep inside and place the spare tire on the roof. Other than that it is just for looks

Thanks man. Unfortunatley I can't get the screws in the top bracket. I threaded them all the way in but they don't even touch the hatch as they're too short or the bracket isn't bent enough. They're supposed to be a set screw but they won't set. I think it's plenty sturdy the way it is though.

Right now I'm not using it for much other than climbing on top to get a better vantage point for views/pictures, plus I feel like a badass standing up there looking down on all the puny cars. I was in Auburn last weekend actually and my girlfriend and I watched a lacrosse game from the roof, better view than all the suckers on the ground in camping chairs haha. I do have a kayak I plan to carry up there once the weather gets warmer though, I'll keep my Tred recovery ramps up there too when they come in and I go out wheeling.

Like you said also, I'll probably throw my stuff up there when I sleep in the back of the truck also, or just sleep up there if it's nice enough out. It's longer than the back of the 4Runner with the seats folded down actually.

I see you got that ladder you've wanted. How do you feel about it being made by Gobi? Any plans to cover up their logo?

No offense intended. I mention because I recall discussing that you were trying to find an alternative to purchasing a Gobi product.

The 4Runners looking good btw

Honestly, I called Gobi to order expecting to get a rude answer on the phone like many had complained about, but she answered and was very polite and nice. She answered all my questions about the ladder, and when I asked how fast they could get one made and sent out and she said less than two weeks to my door. It ended up being 4 days to my door, they made it Tuesday, shipped it Tuesday evening and it arrived Friday afternoon. I had thought about covering up the Gobi logo, but I think I'll just leave it. While I still don't condone what they did with WMW, they do have the best product on the market ladder wise. It's solid construction and for $210 shipped and powder coated you can't really beat it.

No offense taken either, I thought about having a local welder or so make one for me, but they wouldn't have been able to get one as clean looking as this one, and it wouldn't have been tested or anything either. If there's one thing I don't like it's a shoddy install or product.

Thanks for the compliments, I'm really liking the way the 4Runner is coming along, I'm certainly proud to be driving it and like showing it off and talking to people about it. Now I just need that AOR bumper to come in and it'll reach a new level of awesome.


I'll post some better pictures of the ladder, truck, and skids tonight hopefully.

 

[Unner]

Got the passenger side skid on. I'm not sure actually if the mount was a little tweaked, or if the skid wasn't welded perfectly straight and that was causing the interference. Anyway I went to lowes and tried to stretch the skid out a little in one of their display vices, not sure if I did anything since it's 1/4" steel I believe, but it was worth a shot. I also bought a mallet and a punch. I hit the skid pretty good with the mallet until I could see the holes starting to line up and then instead of using the punch I actually just used my needle nose pliers to line the hole up. Took all of 3 minutes. Then since I hadn't left the lowes parking lot I went and returned the punch. I'll pick up a set from harbor freight like my dad has, it's a good set and great for lining up control arms and lower shock bolts.

I'm glad the skids are on now, and there's very little I have left to worry about on the underside of the truck now. She's getting pretty well armored at this point.

I still need to sort out the driveshaft hitting the gas tank though. I had it fully flexed, like 3 wheeling flexed last weekend and it made a pretty good thud as the driveshaft went over the bolts for that skid bracket. I'm gonna try and figure out a way to make the bolts stick out just a little bit less. I think I really only need like 1/4" more clearance.

And now picture time.
DSC03462 by Unner Unner, on Flickr

Perfect clearance on where I had the rack positioned. Now I can actually use the double sided tape and mount the front support bowl things for the front of the rack.

DSC03463 by Unner Unner, on Flickr

Shaped pretty well to the truck, very tight to the body with perfect clearances.
DSC03464 by Unner Unner, on Flickr
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Wonderful view of the Lowes parking lot.
DSC03494 by Unner Unner, on Flickr
Mall Crawler FJ
DSC03495 by Unner Unner, on Flickr

 

[SLO_Rob]

Ob!

New favorite here. And good to see an Overland Bound sticker in there too! :thumb:

 

[AntleredRuin]

So I misread the first paragraph of the thread and thought that you were now only 17. (too expensive at the time, but finally got my hands on one a year later...)
I was getting really upset because this is one of the most BA builds I've ever seen and I thought it was done by a 17 year old without real bills to pay. I was longing for the glory days of that first job after turning 16 where my money went towards whatever I wanted it to go to (minus gas and insurance).
We'd ALL have builds like that if money were no object.

Obviously though, you're simply a hard worker who knows how to manage his finances and it really has paid off. Keep up the great work. :bigok: