weeeee's build thread

[weeeee]

Let's do it! Mid-April?

Slick Rock Trail is closed until about mid-May, but I'm open to other suggestions. I sort of want to go somewhere with trails where we can do some wheeling too. Mendocino NF has some light trails and we can camp nearby. Lmk if you have anything else in mind.

 

[Magnetic4R]

I may be able to do the weekend of 4/22,23 or 5/7,8 or possibly 5/14,15for camping.

 

[RedStripeRanger]

Let's do it! Mid-April?

Slick Rock Trail is closed until about mid-May, but I'm open to other suggestions. I sort of want to go somewhere with trails where we can do some wheeling too. Mendocino NF has some light trails and we can camp nearby. Lmk if you have anything else in mind.

I may be able to do the weekend of 4/22,23 or 5/7,8 or possibly 5/14,15for camping.

April would be best for me since Im taking 3 days of work off in May for Expo. We could also mob it out to Eastern Sierras around the Bishop area. Some good BLM land and old mining towns out there.

 

[weeeee]

Looks like my new bumper will be here in 3-4 weeks. This is going to be an expensive month :cry2:

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

Looks like my new bumper will be here in 3-4 weeks. This is going to be an expensive month :cry2:

Which one did you go with again?

Oh and for camping, I probably will be a no go until after my wedding (and LT install).

 

[Monsterbait]

I'm down for a camping trip! Just say when!

 

[Jhalko]

Full Size CB Install

I had this from my other 4Runner and never really got around to figuring out how to install it. Unfortunately there just aren't very many spots where you can mount a full sized CB in the 5th gen. After looking into several options and coming up empty, I decided to mount it inside the center console.

The unit is a Uniden Bearcat 980SSB. I chose it mainly for the SSB features, and because it looks cool

Started out by removing the center console from the car (trust me, you dont want to do all the test fitting when crammed inside of the car). Dremeled the hell out of the center console and tried to make it as clean as possible. I was originally going to build a bracket to hold the CB inside, but ended up only friction fitting it- it's pretty snug in there.

Im going to try to mount this same CB in my center console, likely closer to the driver side as I want to access my 120v outlet still (you only had a USB I believe). I have a cobra already under the shift console, is it obvious how to remove center console once that is off? Are you running an external speaker or is it loud enough inside?

 

[weeeee]

Im going to try to mount this same CB in my center console, likely closer to the driver side as I want to access my 120v outlet still (you only had a USB I believe). I have a cobra already under the shift console, is it obvious how to remove center console once that is off? Are you running an external speaker or is it loud enough inside?

I believe if you try to mount it closer to the drivers side you'll run into some clearance issues with the transmission shift linkage. If you want to be sure you can just take a light and shine it in that section once the shift console is off. I did have the USB, and from what I remember the 2010-2013 model 120V outlet has a slightly larger footprint.

To take out the center console, there are 2 bolts inside of the armrest, another 2 or so under the shift console on the sides. You'll also need to take off the two side panels where the AC controls are to access 2 Philips screws. There's a small trim piece right under the cubby hole that hides 2 more bolts. Hope that helped without a visual, but it's pretty straightforward when you look at it and wiggle everything around.

I have a wireless mic with the Uniden radio that is also a small external speaker, so that allows me to hear audio with the lid closed. The few times I've used it without the wireless handset and with the lid closed its been a little muffled.

 

[weeeee]

Which one did you go with again?

Oh and for camping, I probably will be a no go until after my wedding (and LT install).

I ordered a Demello. My buddy had a Demello bumper on his rig before going with a hybrid tube and I really liked the build quality. Plus since I'll be in SoCal a few times in the next couple months I can save on freight by picking up directly.

No worries- we can hit up the trails when you're all done

 

[Jhalko]

I believe if you try to mount it closer to the drivers side you'll run into some clearance issues with the transmission shift linkage. If you want to be sure you can just take a light and shine it in that section once the shift console is off. I did have the USB, and from what I remember the 2010-2013 model 120V outlet has a slightly larger footprint.

To take out the center console, there are 2 bolts inside of the armrest, another 2 or so under the shift console on the sides. You'll also need to take off the two side panels where the AC controls are to access 2 Philips screws. There's a small trim piece right under the cubby hole that hides 2 more bolts. Hope that helped without a visual, but it's pretty straightforward when you look at it and wiggle everything around.

I have a wireless mic with the Uniden radio that is also a small external speaker, so that allows me to hear audio with the lid closed. The few times I've used it without the wireless handset and with the lid closed its been a little muffled.

Thanks for the info, I started pulling it apart tonight, I get you on visuals but I've had it open before so I understand. So far the linkages aren't the issue there is a duct there that may be an issue for clearance. This sucker is going in there somehow or someway, haha :flamethrwoer2:

 

[mfregeau20]

Let's do it! Mid-April?

Dam all of you, kids school along with little league has me booked till June otherwise id find a way into this group :AK47:

 

[Gabex35]

You've inspired me to get a solar panel for charging vehicle battery and my Goal Zero Yeti 400.

Did you build that MC4 to two pin connector cable yourself or buy it?

**Edit ** Never mind, looking at mine i think i figured out what you did.

 

[weeeee]

You've inspired me to get a solar panel for charging vehicle battery and my Goal Zero Yeti 400.

Did you build that MC4 to two pin connector cable yourself or buy it?

**Edit ** Never mind, looking at mine i think i figured out what you did.

Cool! Yeah the Renogy stuff is pretty cool, and has been getting good review everywhere that I've seen. It's also a lot cheaper than the other panels.

I just spliced in the dual pin SAE connector with weatherproof connectors to where the battery jumpers were coming off the panel. I had a hard time finding a pigtail over 12GA so I went wih the Adventure Trailers SAE plugs.

 

[Jhalko]

Hey [MENTION=44305]weeeee[/MENTION]
Would you be able to measure the depth of your cut in the center console? I'm trying to eye ball it but putting the CB box closer to driver is looking super close given a vent below. Hoping you can give me a close measurement to see how deep I need to go to get clearance on top. If you say all the way... I may have to say goodbye to the outlet or try to move it, ugh.

 

[weeeee]

Hey [MENTION=44305]weeeee[/MENTION]
Would you be able to measure the depth of your cut in the center console? I'm trying to eye ball it but putting the CB box closer to driver is looking super close given a vent below. Hoping you can give me a close measurement to see how deep I need to go to get clearance on top. If you say all the way... I may have to say goodbye to the outlet or try to move it, ugh.

I pretty much went all the way down until I cleared, which ended up about 1/2" from the bottom. You can get more clearance by popping out the tissue holder which is what I did. I'll snag a measurement in a bit.

 

[Jhalko]

I pretty much went all the way down until I cleared, which ended up about 1/2" from the bottom. You can get more clearance by popping out the tissue holder which is what I did. I'll snag a measurement in a bit.

Hm, didn't realize the tissue holder came out, if that's the case I think I can still put it on driver side. Also the vent running under the center console looks like a half inch above would be fine to clear it since the CB box will only cut in a little towards the front. How does the tissue thing come out? Brute force?

I'm taking pics while in there to post later if anyone else is dumb enough to do this, haha. Course my dremel died yesterday so that's a bit of a snag to moving this forward.

 

[weeeee]

Hm, didn't realize the tissue holder came out, if that's the case I think I can still put it on driver side. Also the vent running under the center console looks like a half inch above would be fine to clear it since the CB box will only cut in a little towards the front. How does the tissue thing come out? Brute force?

I'm taking pics while in there to post later if anyone else is dumb enough to do this, haha. Course my dremel died yesterday so that's a bit of a snag to moving this forward.

I measured at just above 1/2" from the bottom. Keep in mind I did need to drill a hole for the coax. The tissue holder came out with some careful prying. I don't remember exactly how I did it but it came out pretty easy. Hope that helps!

 

[frenchee]

So jealous.
Thing looks great

 

[Jhalko]

I measured at just above 1/2" from the bottom. Keep in mind I did need to drill a hole for the coax. The tissue holder came out with some careful prying. I don't remember exactly how I did it but it came out pretty easy. Hope that helps!

Thanks man, what did you use to cut it out? I had been planning on my currently deceased dremel, then I started thinking it wouldn't have fit down in there anyway for the vertical cuts. I have a oscillating saw but it's not very precise.

Edit: tissue holder does pop right off, pull from bottom (with console lid open) and it doesn't require all that much force. Once that is off the Uniden box actually fits height wise even before cutting, sort of. I don't think I'll need to go quite as deep and I can hopefully do the wires away from the vent.

 

[weeeee]

Thanks man, what did you use to cut it out? I had been planning on my currently deceased dremel, then I started thinking it wouldn't have fit down in there anyway for the vertical cuts. I have a oscillating saw but it's not very precise.

Edit: tissue holder does pop right off, pull from bottom (with console lid open) and it doesn't require all that much force. Once that is off the Uniden box actually fits height wise even before cutting, sort of. I don't think I'll need to go quite as deep and I can hopefully do the wires away from the vent.

I used a Dremel but had to use a box cutter in some areas. I don't have the slimmer remote head thing so getting it in certain places was a bit hard.

Keep in mind that you'll still want to get the CB as low as possible so the mic cable doesn't get too bent up. Even with mine sitting as low as it is, the mic plug on mine gets pushed past 90 degrees.