2001 4x4 4runner build. At Molasses pace
- Thread starter SOAZ
- Start date
SOAZ
Tim and Kelsey get lost..
Lets do it in Death Valley!Looks great Tim! When are you installing mine??
Thanks!
SOAZ
Tim and Kelsey get lost..
:snorkel: Update. Although I can't give long term data. The snorkel worked well on the GC adventure last weekend. Good at highway speeds. No funny noises or wind resistance etc.
On another note I spent yesterday into the late night installing:
1. Upper ball joints.
2. Lower ball joints.
3. Inner and outer tie-rods.
4. A new CV.
A word to the wise. Go to an auto parts store and RENT the specialty tools if you don't have them. A Ball Joint Seperator and a press to get the ball joints pressed in and out. Once I gave in and got them it went nice and smoothly, relatively anyway... :elkgrin:
All of the above was done as preventative maintenance. At 150k miles I felt like I wanted to do it sooner than later.
On another note I spent yesterday into the late night installing:
1. Upper ball joints.
2. Lower ball joints.
3. Inner and outer tie-rods.
4. A new CV.
A word to the wise. Go to an auto parts store and RENT the specialty tools if you don't have them. A Ball Joint Seperator and a press to get the ball joints pressed in and out. Once I gave in and got them it went nice and smoothly, relatively anyway... :elkgrin:
All of the above was done as preventative maintenance. At 150k miles I felt like I wanted to do it sooner than later.
SOAZ
Tim and Kelsey get lost..
I've been loving my Baja Rack. With an SUV it's essential to have a place to put trash bags, firewood and other things I don't want inside with me!
It has been so nice being able to place things somewhere other than inside! :Wow1:
This one is a Baja Rack Mega Mule. I mounted it to the Thule Load bars. I flipped the Baja Rack mounts so it would sit much lower.
The only change I would like to make is to buy Baja Racks new 3rd Generation 4runner specific mounts, weld the onto this rack and it will sit even lower. It will also be more secure and the Thule bars won't take up some of the racks room.
I checked Weezerbot Heidi's out and like those new mounts a lot!! :victory:
It has been so nice being able to place things somewhere other than inside! :Wow1:
This one is a Baja Rack Mega Mule. I mounted it to the Thule Load bars. I flipped the Baja Rack mounts so it would sit much lower.
The only change I would like to make is to buy Baja Racks new 3rd Generation 4runner specific mounts, weld the onto this rack and it will sit even lower. It will also be more secure and the Thule bars won't take up some of the racks room.
I checked Weezerbot Heidi's out and like those new mounts a lot!! :victory:
FurthurOnTheFly
Glamping Society
As Tim mentioned I have the 3rd Gen specific Baja Rack and I didn't notice any additional noise with the rack mounted. Actually I forget its even up there! Well worth it in my opinion.
shawkins
Adventurer
Not to hijack the thread, but where did you get your rack at? I looked on Baja Racks site and couldnt find the 3rd gen rack.
Thanks
FurthurOnTheFly
Glamping Society
Wil at Sierra should be able to order it for you. Its so new I don't think anyone has updated their sites yet!
SOAZ
Tim and Kelsey get lost..
Yep, no noise here. A loss in MPG and a noticeable wind-drag at highway speed though. Yet to determine exact MPG difference. I still like it. I just take it off when not in use for extended periods.
FurthurOnTheFly
Glamping Society
Interesting I haven't really noticed either of those things with mine yet. I've only taken it out of town once up to Sedona and my MPG was still right on according to the scanguage and I didn't really notice any extra noise. I wonder if that is because of how much wider yours is?
ttora4runner
Expedition Leader
Nice. Any plans to put lights on it?
xcmountain80
Expedition Leader
I had lights on my last truck and rarely ever used the damn things, while they looked cool they just weren't as functional to me.
Aaron
Aaron
SOAZ
Tim and Kelsey get lost..
No noise with mine either.
Did you check the actual MPG. The scan guage works off of incorrect data. Maybe try using a gps for the miles and the actual gallons put into the tank. Might not make much difference though. The drag with mine is pretty bad. Not a big deal at 65, but at 75-80 its a big change.
Maybe a flood on the rear of it. I have found its a bad idea to put lights up that high. They hit trees, illuminate the dust so its harder to see, and I use my HID's on the bumper once or twice a week and they are plenty.
SOAZ
Tim and Kelsey get lost..
We started by taking a piece of square for the main beam of the swing out. I then cut and bent up a tube of 1.5" for the second piece. I decided to keep the tire under the truck.
I wanted to keep the jerry cans close into the truck and low. We drew up a design on the computer for the plasma cutter and then used the brake to bend up the actual jerry can holder.
I knew that I wanted a table so we took some left over galvanized steel. It was so thin and floppy that we used the brake to add some strength to it with a couple convex bends. We then cut/bent up the sides and spot welded them together. We spot welded the piano hinge to the cross beam of the swing out and riveted the piano hinge on the table side. To hole the table at its "in use" 90 degree angle we stole a used throttle cable from the 1600 race car. Cut it to length and put eyelets on the ends.
We then welded on the locating pin and made two holes. One for 90 degrees open and one for the swing to be at a full 180 degrees. The "close" latch was welded into place once it was adjusted.
We welded up a few tabs for straps to hold the jerry cans in place for now. (next time I'll make a metal strap that will have a padlock on the upper mounting point.)
The license plate was a complete afterthought. Just before heading back to Phoenix I realized it and I used a couple sheet metal screws to "fix" the problem for now.
Check it out:
I wanted to keep the jerry cans close into the truck and low. We drew up a design on the computer for the plasma cutter and then used the brake to bend up the actual jerry can holder.
I knew that I wanted a table so we took some left over galvanized steel. It was so thin and floppy that we used the brake to add some strength to it with a couple convex bends. We then cut/bent up the sides and spot welded them together. We spot welded the piano hinge to the cross beam of the swing out and riveted the piano hinge on the table side. To hole the table at its "in use" 90 degree angle we stole a used throttle cable from the 1600 race car. Cut it to length and put eyelets on the ends.
We then welded on the locating pin and made two holes. One for 90 degrees open and one for the swing to be at a full 180 degrees. The "close" latch was welded into place once it was adjusted.
We welded up a few tabs for straps to hold the jerry cans in place for now. (next time I'll make a metal strap that will have a padlock on the upper mounting point.)
The license plate was a complete afterthought. Just before heading back to Phoenix I realized it and I used a couple sheet metal screws to "fix" the problem for now.
Check it out: