Diver Deuce
New member
Made a bracket...
It's my first time welding... [MENTION=115941]KneeCaps[/MENTION] any pointers?
It's my first time welding... [MENTION=115941]KneeCaps[/MENTION] any pointers?
What did you do to/in your 5th Gen today?!
- Thread starter DEKA3
- Start date
Engineer
New member
I would like to get out to that area aswell but who knows what the future holds (only moved to Minnesota 8m ago so I still have time to do here).
My biggest beef with the park was the amount of people (holiday weekend) and how they were rip roaring through the trails with little regard. I can understand this is generally the crowd who is out there and I accept it/deal with it but the lack of trail markings on the map really irked me. I did a solid mix of green (easy), blue (moderate) and black (difficult) throughout the day but all of the black I walked 1st as I was by myself and didn't really want to have to ask for help or get myself in to deep. There is black that is doable with the equipment I had and then there is black like "the 1%'r trail" which is going to take a buggy. [Although I felt like I could have made it through with minimal damage expect for 1 obstacle which there was no going around and it was a doozy] As the difficulties are not show or marked on the trail maps I got into 2 situations taking blue trails that to get out I had to choose between 2 black trails and I was not thrilled with this (turning around was certainly a possible option but not how the trail was meant to be done). The 1st situation was only a hill climb that was steep but nothing else and not really an issue but the second was towards the back of the park and it as either "Yo Yo hill" or "Money Talks " both of which I would not have attempted in a stock 4runner. I choose "Yo Yo hill" as it was a much shorter run and the signs for Money Talks on the other end of the trail said winch and hooks required. In the end after some rock moving I make it out with no damage but If I had one recommendation it would be for the park to add the trail ratings to the map. If you are into mud and extreme rock crawling I think it’s a great place but it was not really what I was looking for. I have no issues scratching, denting, breaking things but I would rather do them on the way to extraordinary views, or a great campsite etc and not just “Cause” which is what I felt like I was doing in the park.
I did have a “moment” on the trail , came across a Pair of Jeeps on a Blue trail who were doing a optional hill climb. One had just made it up as I rounded the corner (it was an older built wrangler) and the other was a grand Cherokee that was just starting up…..struggled with lots of wheel spin, after a second faster attempt he back down (my hat was off to him for not continuing to tear the trail/his jeep up) and he asked if I was going to try…….having done most of my more challenging runs in the AM this seem easy so I said sure, and crawled right up without issue or wheel spin, got to the top and him and his buddy threw up their hands and I yelled down “should have bought a Toyota” ☺ While it was all in good fun and the real reason was not the type of truck but that he was not aired down nor had a rear locker but it was just one of those moments that made me smile.
A few more photos I snapped, showing the other rigs that were out there, a small rock ledge on a moderate trail and then the last is the difficult part on the 1% trail, its a little hard to show but that spacing of those rocks is barley large enough for a quad, could it be done.....likely but you would be on a slider the whole way and stand a good chance of gouging the opposite side on the other rocks
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Used a wirewheel on the mounting brackets of my Shrockworks sliders to get the rust and peeling powdercoat off. 2 coats of rustoleum etching primer and 3 coats of top-coat and voila! like new!
Also need to start thinking about what to do in the Houston area early next year because over breakfast the Mrs agreed to let me spend money on a Shrockworks front bumper, 20" light bar, rear bumper, a set of duallies and a winch. it's about 10 months away, but already looking forward to the trip south-west!
Okki
Also need to start thinking about what to do in the Houston area early next year because over breakfast the Mrs agreed to let me spend money on a Shrockworks front bumper, 20" light bar, rear bumper, a set of duallies and a winch. it's about 10 months away, but already looking forward to the trip south-west!
Okki
Jhalko
New member
Well, aren't you going to be the cats meow next year...
How long did it take for the rust on the slider? Just cuz, or did you scrap part of it.
Cobalt Anubis
New member
Installed my Kuat Rack 2 Bike extender. The rack of all racks! Ready for the bike trails.
Wicked! That's bigger than my Yakima Swing - 4 bike rack. The mounts are different but the capacity is the same.
August 2010 is when I installed them. So 6 Indiana winters with road salt. If you scrape that part of the slider you are doing something pretty seriously wrong LOL.
Basically the sides of the metal section where you feed the bots through had started peeling (small surface area for the powdercoat to grab onto) and it spread a bit from there. I'm not worried or upset about it. The Toyota frame itself has rust on the welds as well. Took no time to get back to shiny metal with the wire wheel on my die-grinder. We'll see how long this lasts. should be good for another couple years :cowboy:
Okki
Antman
Elite Member
Made a bracket...
It's my first time welding... [MENTION=115941]KneeCaps[/MENTION] any pointers?
Lol- I bet you bought the exact same welder as me! Check out this thread...
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/general-discussions/158498-welding-advice-please.html#post1578556
Diver Deuce
New member
Thanks Jeff. Yup I have the 90A Harbor Freight welder, and the red auto dimming helmet. I need to practice. A buddy of mine joked that the welds don't have to be pretty, you just have to be good at grinding.
cougarzluv
New member
Apex Overland
New member
Made a bracket...
It's my first time welding... [MENTION=115941]KneeCaps[/MENTION] any pointers?
I would say first looking at you picture, you need to clean your surfaces before you weld, grind/wire brush, because there are oils/waxes that are put on stock when it leaves the yard to keep it from rusting. These are contaminates when you weld, don't want those.
Second is practice, practice, practice, never can get enough of that. I even take out a piece of scrap and run a quick bead before I start welding everyday. It helps me know I set everything right gets me in the groove of things, and I don't ruin my good material.
Get a piece of scrap and play around with the settings until you figure out what does what, yes there are charts that can tell you if your weld looks like this do this, but it helped me when I was learning to just play around and figure it out on my own.
I would say power to low or wire speed set to fast. With a little of you moving too fast. You want to stay right at the edge/just inside the puddle, and drag the puddle along.
But really, just start out with a flat piece and run strait beads. Once you get your settings set mark it with a sharpie. You should not have to move it ever, just change your speed and pattern. Unless you are welding thinner or thinker metal. But even then, I've found the sweet spot on all the welders I use and don't change them at all unless I'm welding something VERY THICK or VERY THIN.
Once you get that down you can start moving into the V pattern or C pattern. Those are the easiest and the only two I really use normally.
And I think I read you are using the HF welder? If y just can't get it set for some reason, make sure the polarity is not backwards(buddy bought one and that was his problem).
hope this helps a little, I'm not good at trying to explain things by typing, if I could drive over and show you I would.
Vegas Island
New member
Been using my 4Runner for my pressure washing business. Hope to see ya around in Las Vegas! Vegas Island Power Washing ? Affordable Pressure Washing
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barryhiram
New member
Write-up complete.........http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...bar-upper-grille-%9212-sr5-%96-installed.html
Ron4RNevada
New member
Running around north of Black Butte this morning (north east of Fernley, NV)
As usual, spending a morning in low range - just cuz - - -
Yesterday some wild horses blocking the roads in the industrial park
This morning - July Fourth - supposed to rain hard later today
an old volcanic crater
about to drive down through the brush and cross the crater
across the crater and looking back
along a faint track I hadn't noticed before
THASS ALL
As usual, spending a morning in low range - just cuz - - -
Yesterday some wild horses blocking the roads in the industrial park
This morning - July Fourth - supposed to rain hard later today
an old volcanic crater
about to drive down through the brush and cross the crater
across the crater and looking back
along a faint track I hadn't noticed before
THASS ALL
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As usual, spending a morning in low range - just cuz - - -
Yesterday some wild horses blocking the roads in the industrial park
This morning - July Fourth - supposed to rain hard later today
an old volcanic crater
about to drive down through the brush and cross the crater
across the crater and looking back
along a faint track I hadn't noticed before
THASS ALL
Wish we could have some rain here in CA. It's fun driving the 4Runner on wet pavement and dirt.
Ron4RNevada
New member
Actually we've had quite a bit here in N. Nevada since the first of the year. But raining in the sand doesn't help the lack of snow pack in the Sierra Nevada.
But our sage brush and salt brush are the greenest they've been in 4 years....
I'm hoping for a heap of snow from October 1st to May 1st this next winter.....
But our sage brush and salt brush are the greenest they've been in 4 years....
I'm hoping for a heap of snow from October 1st to May 1st this next winter.....
Ron4RNevada
New member
Now go out and git 'er dirty! A dirty truck is a happy truck.
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