What Did You Do To Your 3rd Gen Today?

[Marc15]

Borescope pics

While I'm waiting for my valve adjustment tools to come I inspected my valves and here's what I found today.

 

[JBurt]

I bought a bunch of things recently for my 4runner. First got some 33s, 1500 poorer. Then yesterday realized that HF was doing the 25% of any item thing, so got the badlands apex, 450 poorer. So naturally I have to decide on a bumper finally. Waffled around for a bit on buying some kinda jank tube stuff on FB and the finally decided to grab the 4xI bumper, 800 poorer. So here in 3-4 weeks I should have that and I get to start hacking at it to fit my winch in there (and my 4x4 club has been telling me that hidden winch bumpers are kinda bad anyway as you can't monitor the spool). Hate to slash at 800 of steel and welds but we really don't get much choice in the third gen world. If only trail gear didn't skip a generation with their tube bumpers. Now I just need to refrain from buying anything for about the next half year and sell a bunch of stuff I don't use....

I also snagged an apex winch this weekend. I thought of it Monday night after the store had closed, but was able to use the coupon online.

I don't know how set you are on a tube bumper, and I know your ordered the 4xI one, but addicted offroad makes a tube bumper, although with a longer lead time and more money:

Addicted Offroad is a full service Parts, Sales, and Fabrication company offering offroad parts for all makes and models, Addicted Offroad

I got their plate bumper a couple years ago, and finally got it powder coated last week. I've misplaced my led turn signals. Once I find those stupid things that bumper is finally going on.

 

[Rushthezeppelin]

I also snagged an apex winch this weekend. I thought of it Monday night after the store had closed, but was able to use the coupon online.

I don't know how set you are on a tube bumper, and I know your ordered the 4xI one, but addicted offroad makes a tube bumper, although with a longer lead time and more money:

Addicted Offroad is a full service Parts, Sales, and Fabrication company offering offroad parts for all makes and models, Addicted Offroad

I got their plate bumper a couple years ago, and finally got it powder coated last week. I've misplaced my led turn signals. Once I find those stupid things that bumper is finally going on.

That price is kinda nutty though. Almost the same design as the tubes for the 2nd gen from Trail Gear but twice the price, sorry but powder coating isn't worth that much. Ohh well I'm sure I'll make the 4xI work. I do think there's some advantages to plate bumpers so I'm not that torn up over it and at least I get to also shed some weight by cutting it up a bit.

Edit: ohhh wow, even worse. I just realized that's the bare metal price.

 

[JBurt]

That price is kinda nutty though. Almost the same design as the tubes for the 2nd gen from Trail Gear but twice the price, sorry but powder coating isn't worth that much. Ohh well I'm sure I'll make the 4xI work. I do think there's some advantages to plate bumpers so I'm not that torn up over it and at least I get to also shed some weight by cutting it up a bit.

Edit: ohhh wow, even worse. I just realized that's the bare metal price.

Yeah their prices exploded. I got mine on a black friday deal, and I think it was ~$750. Stupid inflation.

I wonder if they've still got good volume at that price.

 

[Rushthezeppelin]

Just to be clear, I'm not knocking them or anyone who can afford them, they look great and I'm sure the price has a lot to do with how big or small they are. This business is obviously tough as evidenced by all the third gen vendors that have folded just in the recent past. I'm just being salty because I'm not poor but I'm definitely not made of money.

 

[Rushthezeppelin]

Also just noticed they do free shipping, that probably has a fair amount to do with it. I definitely winced a bit when I saw the shipping cost from 4xI.

 

[JBurt]

Oh for sure. I don't think I'd buy it at the current price. I do like it though. I've torn my garage apart looking for those blinkers, and have no idea where they are. Frustrating. Once I find them I'm sure that I'll remember putting them there thinking that it is a good safe place to not forget where it is.

 

[Rushthezeppelin]

Oh for sure. I don't think I'd buy it at the current price. I do like it though. I've torn my garage apart looking for those blinkers, and have no idea where they are. Frustrating. Once I find them I'm sure that I'll remember putting them there thinking that it is a good safe place to not forget where it is.

Lol isn't that how it always works? My memory is terrible these days even after I quit smoking pot lol.

 

[habanero]

I bought a bunch of things recently for my 4runner. First got some 33s, 1500 poorer. Then yesterday realized that HF was doing the 25% of any item thing, so got the badlands apex, 450 poorer. So naturally I have to decide on a bumper finally. Waffled around for a bit on buying some kinda jank tube stuff on FB and the finally decided to grab the 4xI bumper, 800 poorer. So here in 3-4 weeks I should have that and I get to start hacking at it to fit my winch in there (and my 4x4 club has been telling me that hidden winch bumpers are kinda bad anyway as you can't monitor the spool). Hate to slash at 800 of steel and welds but we really don't get much choice in the third gen world. If only trail gear didn't skip a generation with their tube bumpers. Now I just need to refrain from buying anything for about the next half year and sell a bunch of stuff I don't use....

My husband cut a hole in the top to fit the winch, and a little bit of the grille, I used a remote solenoid pack kit and no cutting. My solenoids are within the bumper under the right headlight. I need to get around to figuring out an extension for the spool lever to make it easier to use, he has easy access to his right up top.

The winch is kinda big, it's his fault. He gifted one to me to figure out how to stuff in there so I gave him one too! You can kinda see the winch poking up through the top and the trimmed grille...

And my version. His is easier to access...

I've been very happy with the 4xI

 

[Rushthezeppelin]

My husband cut a hole in the top to fit the winch, and a little bit of the grille, I used a remote solenoid pack kit and no cutting. My solenoids are within the bumper under the right headlight. I need to get around to figuring out an extension for the spool lever to make it easier to use, he has easy access to his right up top.

The winch is kinda big, it's his fault. He gifted one to stuff in there so I gave him one too! You can kinda see the winch poking up through the top and the trimmed grille...

And my version. His is easier to access...

I've been very happy with the 4xI

YOU ARE AMAZING. Thanks for showing me exactly how much I'm going to need to clear the grill, less than I thought tbh. I still want to cut the hole in the bumper so that I can see the spool. I'm a complete noob to winches but it seems to be the consensus of a lot of pros that hidden winches can lead to problems in a rescue. Then again I've also seen some of these rescue pros say some pretty snooty stuff like not to trust a single piece of badlands gear. They probably also equip their entire home garage with matco or snapon lol. Also thanks for suggesting the spot to hide the controller if I decide to relocate that which I'm def thinking about once again to make monitoring the spool easier.

Edit: is that second photo from CO?

 

[habanero]

...is that second photo from CO?

You're correct! We do a 2 week CO/UT trip every year, that one is at Engineer pass.
One from Utah...


The bumper came with hole on the top of the bumper, Without the solenoid pack on top I can see my winch line there- except I covered it with a removable plate to keep the sun off my synthetic line.
I am about as far from a pro as one can get and don't have a lot of experience with winching things.

For peace of mine I also installed a Warn 63001 power interrupt solenoid with an in-cab switch- no power goes to the winch until I switched on. It also controls power to the OBA in the rear.

 

[Rushthezeppelin]

Ended up getting some 555 rear end links from a 2nd gen and reinstalling my front sway bar today. Was on the edge of tolerable before I put her on 33s, now the roll is just too much in a scenario like hard braking with a little steering input. I'm just going to take the time and remove the links anytime I'm on a harder trail. Such a breath of fresh air having that back on for the road. Truck is nice and responsive again and just so much more pleasurable to drive. Plus if I have scouts in my truck that's much more peace of mind.

 

[BigDummy]

Replaced the driver's seat bottom leather. Took about 2 hours. Should have done this years ago. But I broke the seat height adjustment knob (manual seat). Anyone have any clue what the PN is for that?

 

[habanero]

Replaced the driver's seat bottom leather. Took about 2 hours. Should have done this years ago. But I broke the seat height adjustment knob (manual seat). Anyone have any clue what the PN is for that?

72457-22020-E4 11.1995 - 08.2002 KNOB, VERTICAL SEAT ADJUSTER
MD.OAK

72457-22020-B4 11.1995 - 08.2000 KNOB, VERTICAL SEAT ADJUSTER
MD.MOON MIST

I did a quick look here- Parts catalog for Toyota 4Runner, use the exploded view to make sure it's what you're looking for.

 

[JBurt]

Someone actually included the moon mist part numbers?! I feel so included and special

 

[habanero]

Someone actually included the moon mist part numbers?! I feel so included and special

I'm kinda partial to that interior my ownself

 

[Zhehan]

I bought a set of Eibach Pro-Truck Stage 1 coilovers from Wheeler's during the Labor Day sale. They arrived yesterday. I installed them today. I replaced the old Bilstein 5100/TRD Tundra setup that I had on there for 14+ years.

I also found a broken end link on the passenger side. I just replaced both links while I was at it. I had spares on hand.

 

[Rushthezeppelin]

I bought a set of Eibach Pro-Truck Stage 1 coilovers from Wheeler's during the Labor Day sale. They arrived yesterday. I installed them today. I replaced the old Bilstein 5100/TRD Tundra setup that I had on there for 14+ years.

I also found a broken end link on the passenger side. I just replaced both links while I was at it. I had spares on hand.

How's the ride?

 

[Zhehan]

How's the ride?

I would say "planted". They soak up pot holes and manhole covers a lot better, plus there is a lot less brake dive now. The old setup was progressive springs with a digressive shock. The Eibachs are linear springs with progressive shocks.

So far so, so good. I'll take some pictures tomorrow.

 

[Marc15]

Got the head off today. As suspected, one of the exhaust valves in #2 NG. Going to the machine shop tomorrow.

Gasket looked good and the 2 bores I can see look good.