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5Runner's 5Cruiser Build Thread
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5Runner
Adventurer
As promised, once the shop was done, the body lift was next. Well...the shop's not "done", but close enough that I could move it in and get this little job done. I've updated page one with some new updates.
I'm also well on my way to collecting what I need to install a front ARB locker and replace my weak 2 pinion gear. While I'm at it, I am going to pull my leaking steering rack for a rebuild and install it with some new poly bushings. This is the big project for this season and it starts with dismantling this weekend!
I also pulled the whole cargo build out. It was a good test version for the season, now I'm redesigning for V2.0. Even this season it will likely be temporary, but the design is getting really close. This time around I am designing it so that it can transform into a 1 adult and 1 kid sleeping platform. Usually it's all five of us, but I like to take special trips with the kids separately also.
I'm also well on my way to collecting what I need to install a front ARB locker and replace my weak 2 pinion gear. While I'm at it, I am going to pull my leaking steering rack for a rebuild and install it with some new poly bushings. This is the big project for this season and it starts with dismantling this weekend!
I also pulled the whole cargo build out. It was a good test version for the season, now I'm redesigning for V2.0. Even this season it will likely be temporary, but the design is getting really close. This time around I am designing it so that it can transform into a 1 adult and 1 kid sleeping platform. Usually it's all five of us, but I like to take special trips with the kids separately also.
MaverickTRD
Adventurer
awesome thread! this or a 4th gen runner is the only thing i would even consider upgrading my 3rd gen runner from...but i'll be holding onto it for a while i think. can't wait to see more pics
iRagedoYou
Member
Awesome thread indeed! I'm taking notes :coffeedrink:
5Runner
Adventurer
So I've really been digging into my cargo build V2.0
I had done some work before, laying out the drawers (using the old ones), fridge and water.
I got the sides of the compartments built and a top cut. That was it for the first session.
Last week I got the framework started, and the water tank ordered.
MARCH 24, 2012
I got all the compartments made and cut out as much wood as I could. I am going to fill in the spots with 1/2" poly insulation.
From top left, clockwise:, Water, storage, fridge, drawer, drawer
Here is the layout of pieces for the sleeping platform. The pieces will be connected together with hinges and latches...
It will fold up and lock into this. Notice Ruff-Ruff modeling is approximate location in the truck:
Folded up in the truck for dog/gear divider
Unfolded and locked into place as a sleeping platform
Storage behind the fridge, with access by folding the rear seat down.
That's two thermarests rolled together in the storage area, with plenty more room. This will be for "permanent" storage. Gear to sleep in the rig and change the families clothes, etc...
Here's a mock up of the second module that will be able to attach and detach, the one that goes over the fridge for storage above.
Here's the whole platform together:
A lot of design issues got solved today...it was a good day. My water tank should arrive next week and I've already got the pump. I need a little more wood and aluminum and some 200lb hinges for the fridge/table slide. The dog/storage divider will also be adjustable. When we have a really big trip or other reason that we need more storage, there will be another setting where Ruff-ruff has to give up some space. The divider (while at camp) will be able to be detached, unfolded, laid down over the back seats and attached in place, voila! sleeping platform. It's totally going to work.
There's a number of combinations of my family that will fit with the fridge in place. I'm also planning on adding an outlet up front, and making it so I can put the fridge in the passenger front seat for the night, fill in the hole in the back, and have a FULL sleeping platform. Even so, without moving the fridge, it will get used.
I can really see my vision coming to life in this build. I bet this one will last a while before V3.0.
MARCH 31, 2012
I made some more progress today. My water tank didn't arrive, but the 200 lb slides did.
I use full length drawer slides at the bottom of the two drawers (24") so the drawers are fully supported down the length
However, I didn't want the drawers to open that far. I also wanted some stability at the top since they are 12" deep. So I used one pair of 18" slide on one side of each drawer at the top. This really took the wobble out of the drawers and limits their opening length.
Both drawers out.
Fridge slide pulled out.
Bar table.
The idea is that one person could be standing to the left of the "bar", with the drawers closed, and using the tailgate table to prep food. At the same time someone could come up on the right side of the "bar" and access the fridge to make a drink or get food.
I am going to use a kitchen spray nozzle that will mount here
It will extend way out to the side so you can wash your head and body.
I had done some work before, laying out the drawers (using the old ones), fridge and water.
I got the sides of the compartments built and a top cut. That was it for the first session.
Last week I got the framework started, and the water tank ordered.
MARCH 24, 2012
I got all the compartments made and cut out as much wood as I could. I am going to fill in the spots with 1/2" poly insulation.
From top left, clockwise:, Water, storage, fridge, drawer, drawer
Here is the layout of pieces for the sleeping platform. The pieces will be connected together with hinges and latches...
It will fold up and lock into this. Notice Ruff-Ruff modeling is approximate location in the truck:
Folded up in the truck for dog/gear divider
Unfolded and locked into place as a sleeping platform
Storage behind the fridge, with access by folding the rear seat down.
That's two thermarests rolled together in the storage area, with plenty more room. This will be for "permanent" storage. Gear to sleep in the rig and change the families clothes, etc...
Here's a mock up of the second module that will be able to attach and detach, the one that goes over the fridge for storage above.
Here's the whole platform together:
A lot of design issues got solved today...it was a good day. My water tank should arrive next week and I've already got the pump. I need a little more wood and aluminum and some 200lb hinges for the fridge/table slide. The dog/storage divider will also be adjustable. When we have a really big trip or other reason that we need more storage, there will be another setting where Ruff-ruff has to give up some space. The divider (while at camp) will be able to be detached, unfolded, laid down over the back seats and attached in place, voila! sleeping platform. It's totally going to work.
There's a number of combinations of my family that will fit with the fridge in place. I'm also planning on adding an outlet up front, and making it so I can put the fridge in the passenger front seat for the night, fill in the hole in the back, and have a FULL sleeping platform. Even so, without moving the fridge, it will get used.
I can really see my vision coming to life in this build. I bet this one will last a while before V3.0.
MARCH 31, 2012
I made some more progress today. My water tank didn't arrive, but the 200 lb slides did.
I use full length drawer slides at the bottom of the two drawers (24") so the drawers are fully supported down the length
However, I didn't want the drawers to open that far. I also wanted some stability at the top since they are 12" deep. So I used one pair of 18" slide on one side of each drawer at the top. This really took the wobble out of the drawers and limits their opening length.
Both drawers out.
Fridge slide pulled out.
Bar table.
The idea is that one person could be standing to the left of the "bar", with the drawers closed, and using the tailgate table to prep food. At the same time someone could come up on the right side of the "bar" and access the fridge to make a drink or get food.
I am going to use a kitchen spray nozzle that will mount here
It will extend way out to the side so you can wash your head and body.
5Runner
Adventurer
I got more done this weekend, April 2012.
Ruff-ruff test run
Water and door to tool and recovery gear storage (under ruff ruff)
The cage around the fridge (so I can pack the back full of gear, but still open the fridge), has four clips, one in each corner
In a matter of seconds the cage comes apart
The top comes out
Left side folds in
Right side makes the top for the FULL SIZE sleeping platform (but where does the fridge go?)
The top fits nicely in the front seat
And the fridge move here for the night. I will put in a second plug to the fridge battery up front
Or maybe it's an emergency, and we have to stay over night unexpected. Well...then the fridge moves under the rig, and the front platform becomes ruff-ruff's spot for the night.
From the second row, I can fold down the 1/3 seat and pack around the fridge.
Main shut off for tank and tee to drain and to pump
The gravity drain for the tank is a hose by the rear driver side seat.
It's got a separate valve, and a rubber stopper over it...just in case.
.
Ruff-ruff test run
Water and door to tool and recovery gear storage (under ruff ruff)
The cage around the fridge (so I can pack the back full of gear, but still open the fridge), has four clips, one in each corner
In a matter of seconds the cage comes apart
The top comes out
Left side folds in
Right side makes the top for the FULL SIZE sleeping platform (but where does the fridge go?)
The top fits nicely in the front seat
And the fridge move here for the night. I will put in a second plug to the fridge battery up front
Or maybe it's an emergency, and we have to stay over night unexpected. Well...then the fridge moves under the rig, and the front platform becomes ruff-ruff's spot for the night.
From the second row, I can fold down the 1/3 seat and pack around the fridge.
Main shut off for tank and tee to drain and to pump
The gravity drain for the tank is a hose by the rear driver side seat.
It's got a separate valve, and a rubber stopper over it...just in case.
.
5Runner
Adventurer
APRIL 2012 UPDATE
So I did some more "work" yesterday. The most important kind. The kind were you stand there staring at your rig for hours as you devise your next step in the mod.
Here is the sleeping platform in "full" version. The dog divider is unfolded and secured over the rear seats. In this mode, the cover for the fridge is moved to the front passenger seat (as previously shown) for the night
In "full" mode it is 59.5 inches wide. Three thermarest mats are 20" wide. Considering were trained to sleep 5 people and a dog in a 4 person tent, the "full" platform would allow the various combinations:
wife and I
Me and two kids.
The next mode is "2/3" mode. The 1/3 seat can be left up and the dog-divider-platform-extension is folded over. This mode would work when it is just me and one kid. At night, the seat is folded down and the platform just flipped over. The fridge again moves to the front passenger seat.
The kids seat.
There's more modular awesomeness though...
If I am solo or just me and my wife, I can move the fridge top to the passenger side back row seat the same as I can the front seat. This allows the 2/3 platform to be ready for camp and the fridge is accessible from the front seat while driving. Simply move the fridge to the front seat for the night, flip over the platform, and we've got the "full" platform for us for the night.
So...with this build:
-I have three potential locations for the fridge, all fast and easy to set up.
-I can go from a solo person rig...to a family of five and a dog...in not too much time at all. I can do arrangements for everything in between, me/wife, me/wife/one kid, me/one kid, me/two kids. The dog can be mixed into that combination at any point.
I will put some loops on the top of the fridge platform so the fridge can be strapped to it. the front edge of the platform is locked under the front seat due to the angle of the seat back. When in the front passenger seat, it is locked under the dashboard.
I will incorporate something so that the seatbelt can be used to secure the back side of the platform in place. This would work in either front or rear passenger seats
Here are some other updated photos from our first trip with the new setup. 5 nights in Moab!
the grill grate we use for camping on the fire gets wrapped in plastic (to contain food grime/grease) and slides perfectly underneath the fridge/bar table slide! sweet!
The cutting board and skewers have enough clearance to store ontop of the bar table
Getting packed up
The little flip up door that allows you to get a replacement beer/soda to but in the fridge when you take one out. This is designed so that while packed full, you can get a drink and replace it, without lowering the tailgate to open the drawers.
Here you can see the divider in the one drawer that keeps the soda's stacked to the front....right below the little trap door access.
Does the pooch love his spot...yes he does. Here's a little rest after a long hike.
And since I mentioned Moab, I figure I better give you a little porn.
The gang from RM4x4. Great bunch of friends!
Fins and Things
My buddy's sick 3rd gen runner
Nothing too crazy here
My wife washed her hair twice with the new running water! Damn I'm a smart husband. We were careful, but not stingy, with the 12 gallons and we had about a gallon left when we got home. I even washed my hair one morning. Sweet
My daughter has made herself the official tire air-up person. Cool!
The, of course, her brothers wanted to learn. I hope to never have to air up again...
So I did some more "work" yesterday. The most important kind. The kind were you stand there staring at your rig for hours as you devise your next step in the mod.
Here is the sleeping platform in "full" version. The dog divider is unfolded and secured over the rear seats. In this mode, the cover for the fridge is moved to the front passenger seat (as previously shown) for the night
In "full" mode it is 59.5 inches wide. Three thermarest mats are 20" wide. Considering were trained to sleep 5 people and a dog in a 4 person tent, the "full" platform would allow the various combinations:
wife and I
Me and two kids.
The next mode is "2/3" mode. The 1/3 seat can be left up and the dog-divider-platform-extension is folded over. This mode would work when it is just me and one kid. At night, the seat is folded down and the platform just flipped over. The fridge again moves to the front passenger seat.
The kids seat.
There's more modular awesomeness though...
If I am solo or just me and my wife, I can move the fridge top to the passenger side back row seat the same as I can the front seat. This allows the 2/3 platform to be ready for camp and the fridge is accessible from the front seat while driving. Simply move the fridge to the front seat for the night, flip over the platform, and we've got the "full" platform for us for the night.
So...with this build:
-I have three potential locations for the fridge, all fast and easy to set up.
-I can go from a solo person rig...to a family of five and a dog...in not too much time at all. I can do arrangements for everything in between, me/wife, me/wife/one kid, me/one kid, me/two kids. The dog can be mixed into that combination at any point.
I will put some loops on the top of the fridge platform so the fridge can be strapped to it. the front edge of the platform is locked under the front seat due to the angle of the seat back. When in the front passenger seat, it is locked under the dashboard.
I will incorporate something so that the seatbelt can be used to secure the back side of the platform in place. This would work in either front or rear passenger seats
Here are some other updated photos from our first trip with the new setup. 5 nights in Moab!
the grill grate we use for camping on the fire gets wrapped in plastic (to contain food grime/grease) and slides perfectly underneath the fridge/bar table slide! sweet!
The cutting board and skewers have enough clearance to store ontop of the bar table
Getting packed up
The little flip up door that allows you to get a replacement beer/soda to but in the fridge when you take one out. This is designed so that while packed full, you can get a drink and replace it, without lowering the tailgate to open the drawers.
Here you can see the divider in the one drawer that keeps the soda's stacked to the front....right below the little trap door access.
Does the pooch love his spot...yes he does. Here's a little rest after a long hike.
And since I mentioned Moab, I figure I better give you a little porn.
The gang from RM4x4. Great bunch of friends!
Fins and Things
My buddy's sick 3rd gen runner
Nothing too crazy here
My wife washed her hair twice with the new running water! Damn I'm a smart husband. We were careful, but not stingy, with the 12 gallons and we had about a gallon left when we got home. I even washed my hair one morning. Sweet
My daughter has made herself the official tire air-up person. Cool!
The, of course, her brothers wanted to learn. I hope to never have to air up again...
kchristian
Adventurer
I gotta say that's a pretty sweet set up. My wife and I have been trying to figure out the engle fridge vs full size sleeping platform question for a couple weeks now. I didn't want to store it outside. I'm not sure why I never thought of the passenger seat but you have opened my eyes to a whole new world of options here. Thanks!
5Runner
Adventurer
SLEEPING PLATFORM TEST
SEPTEMBER 2012
Got my BIOR belly skid
Well, as my name implies, it's not usually less than 5 of us. However, this summer was busy and I did a couple trips with just a handful of the family.
I finally got to test out my sleeping platform. Me and my daughter took a little trip, just the two of us. It worked great. I still need to make some adjustments. As I have said...this is a test version.
Here's us from the Swan River forks in Colorado
Here's how it looked in the back while on the trail
The transformation worked perfect! Fridge moved to the front, gear in the footwells and front seat, and a nice big platform. The platform fits three 20" thermorests wide!! I am sure I could fit me with two of my kids.
Who else do you know has a rig that accommodates expeditions for a family of five and a dog...and can in 5 minutes accommodate a two/three person sleeping platform. When I finally get this design dialed in it will be awesome...and the kids will be teens and never want to come with me again...ha, ha, ha
Happy snuggles in the morning!
A shot of the gang, just for fun.
SEPTEMBER 2012
Got my BIOR belly skid
Well, as my name implies, it's not usually less than 5 of us. However, this summer was busy and I did a couple trips with just a handful of the family.
I finally got to test out my sleeping platform. Me and my daughter took a little trip, just the two of us. It worked great. I still need to make some adjustments. As I have said...this is a test version.
Here's us from the Swan River forks in Colorado
Here's how it looked in the back while on the trail
The transformation worked perfect! Fridge moved to the front, gear in the footwells and front seat, and a nice big platform. The platform fits three 20" thermorests wide!! I am sure I could fit me with two of my kids.
Who else do you know has a rig that accommodates expeditions for a family of five and a dog...and can in 5 minutes accommodate a two/three person sleeping platform. When I finally get this design dialed in it will be awesome...and the kids will be teens and never want to come with me again...ha, ha, ha
Happy snuggles in the morning!
A shot of the gang, just for fun.
Last edited:
KC Cruiser
Adventurer
Very thorough and impressive build! After building a 97 4runner and now an 80 series I think my long term goals are leaning towards a 100 series. Even with these larger rigs we have to be careful with packing for trips with our 2 girls. Drawer systems and roof racks save the day. Thanks for sharing.
5Runner
Adventurer
Yes, when I started with the 4runner, all our overnight gear went on the roof (tent, bags, mats, chairs). With the 100 series, it all fits inside. I am waiting to buy a Gamaviti (sp?) roof rack for things like: gas, fishing poles, axe, shovel, hi lift, canopy, canoe, firewood, etc.
I love going to the mountains.
