2001 4x4 4runner build. At Molasses pace

[Photog]

Those lights look like a great idea. Could you post a couple pics of the lights, installed, during the daytime.

You must have placed them in an area that does not get crushed, when the hatch is closed.:Wow1:

 

[SOAZ]

Those lights look like a great idea. Could you post a couple pics of the lights, installed, during the daytime.

You must have placed them in an area that does not get crushed, when the hatch is closed.:Wow1:

I'll take some better pics this weekend. In this pic you can see one of the loose wire that connect it to the next one. I am thinking about gluing that part down too, but it seems to stay pretty tucked up for now.
The dust/air seal on the rear door lands on the "fatter" part of the rear hatch. So I placed the stickey backed led's on the most outer skinny part of the hatch. Of that "skinny" outer area I put it as far in as I could right before it gets fat.
This will make a lot more sense with decent pics, but take a look at this one for better info.

 

[ttora4runner]

Have you thought of cutting into the bottom portion of the hatch and recessing the lights?

 

[SOAZ]

Have you thought of cutting into the bottom portion of the hatch and recessing the lights?

No, the lights are less than a quarter inch thick so they are just about flat anyway. Any cutting would be excessive in my mind. (They do seem to be waterproof as advertised since I submerged them a month ago and they are still working great.) :snorkel:

 

[Ryanmb21]

SOAZ - I love your build! Where do you carry your spare? (sorry if I missed it)

 

[SOAZ]

SOAZ - I love your build! Where do you carry your spare? (sorry if I missed it)

Ryan,
Thanks! Not sure if I ever mentioned it. I keep it in the stock location. Tucked up extra high from some mods to the upper mounts. I use an ultra skinny tire to help it tuck.

I like keeping the weight low especially since the last time I needed a spare was over a decade ago. I try to plug any and every flat I get. :elkgrin:

 

[tacollie]

I am digging you 4runner. I am sold on the having cans on the rear bumper. What do you mean by tucked extra high? My 255 Cooper ST hangs low.

 

[SOAZ]

I am digging you 4runner. I am sold on the having cans on the rear bumper. What do you mean by tucked extra high? My 255 Cooper ST hangs low.

It's still hangs down a bit, but by modifying the two cross bars that the tire sits against up near the frame it can tuck an inch or so higher. I don't have any pictures of that part, but next time the spare is off I'll take a pic.

Thanks, I like having the cans on the rear bumper since just about every trip they get used.
The tan water can gets used every day. The rusty red can is the trash can so it gets used every day and the green fuel can get's used on most trips at some point, but definitely less than the other two.

 

[r3run33]

Hello tim loved reading our write up; may I pick your brain for some back info if you have time? When you had the roof top tent; how was it mounted to the 4runner? I seen from the pics that you removed it off and on; Thinking about getting one but also may go with your set up of interior sleeping and just using the top for equipement. (had a run in with a bear and we will not sleep out unless we are on a beach lol). doing a build up for a moab and yosemit trip next year. now as for your new roof top rack how hard was it to do the weld for the mods to lower it?? for a newbie welder scale 1 to 10 lol

 

[whytebredd]

Use the NorCal TTORA resource of service manuals to walk you through it. http://www.ncttora.com/fsm/

I am offended! the NC in NCTTORA standeth nay for Northern California but instead North Carolina. How dare you sir.:exclaim:

 

[SOAZ]

Those lights look like a great idea. Could you post a couple pics of the lights, installed, during the daytime.

You must have placed them in an area that does not get crushed, when the hatch is closed.:Wow1:

It took a little while. :victory:

Hello tim loved reading our write up; may I pick your brain for some back info if you have time? When you had the roof top tent; how was it mounted to the 4runner? I seen from the pics that you removed it off and on; Thinking about getting one but also may go with your set up of interior sleeping and just using the top for equipement. (had a run in with a bear and we will not sleep out unless we are on a beach lol). doing a build up for a moab and yosemit trip next year. now as for your new roof top rack how hard was it to do the weld for the mods to lower it?? for a newbie welder scale 1 to 10 lol

Sorry for the long delay. It was originally mounted on the stock load bars. After a couple days of offroading the factory mounts collapsed and were permanently broken.
Until I got rid of the tent we used standard Thule feet in the factory mounting rails with thule load bars. Just 2 of them. It handled the weight just fine.
Haha, well if you can check out someones rack like mine or someone with the "3rd gen 4runner" specific baja rack you can get the idea and copy it. If you then take the time to grind off the powdercoat where you need to weld it's really easy. Just block out a few hours on a weekend and even for a 2 out of 10 welder it should be easy. (I was in a rush on the day I did it so it's "booger weld" city as I tried to burn through the powdercoat. It's strong and ugly. :ylsmoke

I am offended! the NC in NCTTORA standeth nay for Northern California but instead North Carolina. How dare you sir.:exclaim:

Uh oh, how do I delicately back away from this one... Ummm, I knew that. I meant NORCAR. Didn't I say NORCAR? :Wow1: Haha, thanks for the correction. All of that work deserves the correct credit.

I'm trying to think of other updates I've never posted here. Have I posted my jack. I removed the heavy steel front and rear wheels and some other items. Replaced the bottom with an aluminum skid that is tig welded to the jack.

Current setup in Colorado last week.

 

[SOAZ]

Rear lower suspension link bushings were shot and they don't seem to sell replacements. They did well for 190,000 miles, but now they're dead.
I decided to call my friends at Total Chaos Fabrication to order up a set of their arms.
http://www.chaosfab.com/toyaccess_taco.php

No pictures yet, but the install only took about an hour tonight. Pictures and some testing this weekend as we go wheeling for new years eve.

 

[SOAZ]

Well, I had picked up a sort of speed wobble and these replacement arms totally eliminated that.
I assume it was because my bushings were almost non-existent on the stock arms. The truck feels nice and tight again.
Here are a couple pics of the truck flexing, but I couldn't find anything on this run to max it out. I still had a couple inches of travel in reserve at this point.

 

[SOAZ]

Finally found the limit of the rear suspension flex. I'm happy with it.

 

[Danimal]

Love the flexing pictures! Yours has always been one of my favorite 4Runners.

Just before I got rid of my 4Runner it seemed to have a speed wobble that I couldn't track down. I focused so heavily on the front suspension/steering and replaced tons of parts to no avail. Wonder if the rear lower control arm bushings were the culprit?

So I noticed a while back that you ditched the steelies. Just because of weight? I've still been kicking around the thought of a set of FJ steelies on my Taco.

Anyway, thanks for the update!

Dan