Whistler RKT build thread

[Whistler RKT]

Thanks for all the compliments folks. I'm super happy with it so far. Not nearly done though...

Camera is an Olympus Stylus Tough 8100; shockproof, crushproof, waterproof.

I'd be interested to know what all the differences are between the Canadian and American versions. I'm told one big difference is that the Canadian 4Runners are made in Japan. Anyone have the inside scoop? The Canadian trucks came with colour matched door handles, colour matched roof rack, NO chrome whatsoever, less flashy running boards, black trim, etc...

 

[SOMDRUNNER1]

Nice looking truck !

 

[desertred]

The easiest way is to pull up the Toyota USA and Canada web sites and do a cross comparison of the models. However, one thing that is the same between them is that the US model is also assembled in Japan.

Very quick aesthetic differences pointed out elsewhere on the board is that the Canadian SR5 trim appears to the be the same as the USA TE trim with the exception of color matched painted bumpers on the latter. The USA SR5 exterior is a virtual match of the Limited trim with the exception of the 20 inch wheels of the LE. The USA SR5 also offers the tan interior in addition to the black which, from my understanding, is not available in the Canadian SR5 (is this correct?). A lot of the USA folks (me included) much prefer the factory running boards of the Canadian models over the US offering.

 

[chmura]

Canadian models without all the chrome accents in fact look much better then the usa models. Thats how the SR5 should of been here.

 

[Whistler RKT]

I've received a few pm's about my set-up and rather than answer you each individually, I hope you all don't mind a group answer.

The fact is I'm not 100% satisfied with my set-up and I'm hiding a little bit of butt-sag in the angles I've shot.

I tried to do a quicker and cheaper "aesthetics" lift that would allow some larger tires but have gotten bit in the ass a bit.

The problem is that the stock coils aren't beefy enough to hold up the rear end and so even though I only leveled the front end 0.5" higher than the rear, my ass is sagging.

So what's the solution?

I have some medium-duty Old man Emu coils ($200/pair) and some Nitrocharger shocks ($200/pair) on order for the rear which should arrive in a week and so the rear Daystar 2.0" lift spacers will be coming off and going on Craigslist at that time.

I'll be leaving the front lift spacers in place for now, but will eventually switch them out for OME up front down the road. I incorrectly said my front lift spacers were daystars when in fact they are Pro-Comp's.

The OME coils and shocks will lift up the rear 3.0" to give a very slight downward rake, give a firmer ride, and hold level when I'm loaded.

So the moral of the story is:

Don't make the same mistake as I did or you'll eat a couple hundred bucks in labour and get stuck with a set of $120 spacers that you'll have to try and sell on Craigslist.

For the extra $300, you can do it right the first time with a set of 2.5" Pro-Comp (or Daystar) lift spacers up front, and the OME coils and shocks in rear. Don't waste your time with spacers kits! Do it right the first time!

Here's a side-on shot that shows the sag and I'll post new pics with the OME set-up in rear in a week or so. It's not terrible, but it's bad enough that I'm getting high beamed by every second vehicle at night.

 

[Whistler RKT]

A lot of the USA folks (me included) much prefer the factory running boards of the Canadian models over the US offering.

I plan on ordering some sliders in a pay cheque or two, you can have first dibs on my running boards. This is what they looked like clean on delivery day...

Funny how priorities change...no sliders on order yet.

 

[hamiltonj2w1]

Thats a sweet SR5 sucks about your lift goodluck with the new setup I hope it works out for you.

 

[Whistler RKT]

Thanks. It's not a big deal, just some growing pains for a guy who's never really done many mods to his vehicles. Anyone with half a clue about suspensions wouldn't have made the same mistakes, but, oh well...

Should be rectified in a week or so. Or a month or three.

Tricking out vehicles is addictive! Should be a warning on this site before you're allowed to view some of the awesome rigs on here!

"Beware, looking at the vehicles on this site will sap hours out of your life and end up costing you mucho dinero! Proceed with caution."

Ha ha...

 

[Whistler RKT]

So after a failed spacer lift experiment, I sucked it up and went with a proper OME 885X/889 & Nitrocharger lift and my only regret is that I didn't do it right the first time.

I took these pics after a three hour waxing job in a local underground parking lot. It's a big truck when you wax every inch!

 

[Whistler RKT]

It's definitely a stiffer ride than the factory ride, but coming from a Tacoma, I like a more solid feel. The OME set up virtually eliminates nose diving during braking, body rolling in tight corners, and IMHO, has a sweet rake.

 

[Whistler RKT]

I saw a few people asking about towing...

I tow a 5000 pound boat and it tows pretty nice considering the V6. The trailer is a tandem axle with surge brakes which helps the ride of course, but the 4Runner holds its own and feels really stable on windy roads and up moderate hills. She's slow going up steep hills and there's a bit of sag in the rear with a load on, but that's to be expected...

 

[Whistler RKT]

One complaint is the location of the electrical plugs for towing. Why would Toyota put the plugs way off to the left side rather than right beside the hitch? Anyways...

 

[Whistler RKT]

Here's a few snow shots from our second deepest winter ever on record...over 40 feet of cumulative snowfall!

 

[Whistler RKT]

As for my other vehicle, I own a taxi. Here it is on a pit stop between trips with the Yakima Load warrior on it.

It's a 2006 Honda CRV EXL 4 banger AWD. The perfect Whistler Taxi!

 

[Whistler RKT]

And seeing as we all love motorized toys, here's a couple final shots...one of the boat in the water (North River Commander X) and my summertime taxi job...

 

[Ripsnort]

Nice write up and pics RKT.
I live in WA state and ski Crystal Mountain alot since I live just one hour from it. Of the 33 years I've lived here, I've never skiied Whistler, can you believe that?! One of these days I'll get up there.

 

[sc1911cwp]

I like the fender flares. Any info?

 

[nashman69g]

And seeing as we all love motorized toys, here's a couple final shots...one of the boat in the water (North River Commander X) and my summertime taxi job...

how long have you been flying?

 

[IsItMe?]

And for now, that's all she wrote. (Ya, that was short lived...)

I plan on giving her a true suspension lift down the road, but for now I just wanted it to look and feel the way it should have looked and felt coming out of the factory.

The leveling kit looked cool, but it did nothing for the body roll and nose diving during braking...

That is one sweet pic!:thumb3:

 

[kingpin748]

I dislike you because your life seems much more exciting than mine.