CYi5's '99 4Runner Buildup

[CYi5]

Few small updates

Here are some recent photos from a 2 week, 3,700 mile solo trip from northern California, throughout Colorado, and then down to Southern California.:smiley_drive: Was the first really long trip i've taken with the 4Runner since I got it last August. Though a supercharger would be nice in the high elevations in Colorado...

Bonneville Salt Flats

Camping just northwest of the flats, testing out the new awning setup.

Window Sox, brought back from a trip to Australia. They're made for an 01+ CR-V, but I was lucky enough to guesstimate the size correctly. They are great for ventilation and to keep bugs out at night. You can also leave them on all the time, as they're made to provide UV protection when you have babies on board.

Echo Park, Dinosaur National Monument. Beautiful campground which is a treat to get to! Bring insect repellent!:yikes:

Hankooks performed awesomely. Not too loud at highway speeds and no noticeable slippage on the gravel. When they say they've incorporated rock ejectors, they mean it...these things huck rocks like crazy. There were some large silt beds to plow through on the way to Toroweap and they performed very well. I'll be adding 1" wheel spacers in the future for a little more stability, however. The 5.25" BS feels a little iffy taking highway speed turns.

Toroweap, north rim of the Grand Canyon. It's pretty awesome to drive 80 miles offroad and have an isolated campground all to yourself with a view overlooking the Grand Canyon!:wings:

Rest of the pictures including Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Telluride, Dinosaur National Monument, Estes Park, Grand Canyon, and Rye Patch Reservoir.

 

[CYi5]

For these two weeks of sleeping in my car I tried out Weezerbot's setup of the Roll-A-Cot in the back. I'm a side sleeper so the cot didn't work out quite as well as I was expecting . I ended up putting an air mattress on top of it, resulting in about 5" of headroom. Soo I may be going back to the ol' tent setup.

I would love to run a rooftop tent again, but don't want to put the 120 lb. wind dam back on my roof. I wish the Oasis II lightweight tents would drop in price similar to the campinglabs/RTT and I'd buy another one. Maybe someday someone will come out with an affordable lightweight RTT.

 

[DrJohn]

Great looking 'runner!

How is your homemade awning treating you after you got a chance to camp with it?

 

[CYi5]

Great looking 'runner!

How is your homemade awning treating you after you got a chance to camp with it?

Thanks DrJohn, it worked out pretty well. I want to sew up a zippered sleeve for it so that I can leave it attached to the truck, leave the poles attached, and then just roll it up and bag it securely. The sides also flap in the wind, to be expected as it doesn't have side supports. But hanging anything slightly heavy to a side grommet fixes the issue. For what I paid and the amount i'll be using it i'd call it a success.

 

[DrJohn]

Thanks DrJohn, it worked out pretty well. I want to sew up a zippered sleeve for it so that I can leave it attached to the truck, leave the poles attached, and then just roll it up and bag it securely. The sides also flap in the wind, to be expected as it doesn't have side supports. But hanging anything slightly heavy to a side grommet fixes the issue. For what I paid and the amount i'll be using it i'd call it a success.

Very nice. I may have to copy you on this one - shade is essential

 

[LexusAllTerrain]

Hankooks performed awesomely. Not too loud at highway speeds and no noticeable slippage on the gravel. When they say they've incorporated rock ejectors, they mean it...these things huck rocks like crazy. There were some large silt beds to plow through on the way to Toroweap and they performed very well.

I agree with you, these are great tires!:sombrero:

 

[NCtrail4R]

Sorry to jump in, but I'm looking for more feedback on the Hankooks. Looking for an aggressive tire that rolls well, with low(er) road noise and good wet handling. Want the attributes of an AT with better performance offroad.

The Hankooks look like a nice compromise. How have they been on the road and in the wet? Going on my daily driver and most of my exploring trips involve a lot of road time to get to the good stuff.

 

[LexusAllTerrain]

Sorry to jump in, but I'm looking for more feedback on the Hankooks. Looking for an aggressive tire that rolls well, with low(er) road noise and good wet handling. Want the attributes of an AT with better performance offroad.

The Hankooks look like a nice compromise. How have they been on the road and in the wet? Going on my daily driver and most of my exploring trips involve a lot of road time to get to the good stuff.

I am very happy with the Hankooks offroad, in road they are not an AT tire, but not too much noise!

I have them in the 295-75-16, however I am considering the Duratrac as my next AT tire in 315-75-16 after I regear!

 

[CYi5]

Sorry to jump in, but I'm looking for more feedback on the Hankooks. Looking for an aggressive tire that rolls well, with low(er) road noise and good wet handling. Want the attributes of an AT with better performance offroad.

The Hankooks look like a nice compromise. How have they been on the road and in the wet? Going on my daily driver and most of my exploring trips involve a lot of road time to get to the good stuff.

The only rain i've seen thus far was the occasional thunderstorm in CO while on the freeway and they didn't seem to have any trouble. They are loudest around 45 mph, but that is common to most MT's. Once you get up to 55+ they are a smooth ride. If I jump back up to 285/75's in the future I wouldn't mind running the Hankooks again! This is my daily driver and I have no problems having a conversation in the cab.

 

[CYi5]

Console Security Box

I spent yesterday building a security box for the center console. I wanted to make one for a couple reasons. First, to have lockable storage for when my vehicle is parked at the lake, etc. and its a nice place to leave a wallet/gps/cell phone if they can't be carried on me. Secondly, I wanted a place to legally store a firearm that was easily accessible if need be. When it's all said and done I don't think it is large enough to hold a sidearm, unless I get a snubnose revolver or the like.

I chose to do a combination cam-lock over standard key for ease of access to anyone I trust, leaving another key off the keyring, and the ability to open it without removing keys from the ignition.

Excuse the dark pictures, but you'll get the idea. Black metal box .

If I were to do it again i'd probably just get a keyed cam-lock: 1/3 the price, less clearance needed between box and console lid. The combination is just too cool though.

 

[jim65wagon]

Nice 4Runner....love seeing the daily rides out doing the fun things in life. That sissy-sized tire looks like it fits perfectly and will get you wherever you want to go!

I'll be adding some new places to my "To Visit" file....like the Salt Flats and Dinosaur NP, etc. Nice photos!

 

[evan]

I like the lockable box, where did you find it? Did you have to cut out anything in the console to make it fit.

 

[CYi5]

I like the lockable box, where did you find it? Did you have to cut out anything in the console to make it fit.

I made it out of sheet steel. Cut out a pattern with a plasma cutter, then lots of bending, hammering, and grinding. No alterations to the console necessary, and it bolts in using the existing bolt holes in the floor.

 

[CYi5]

I installed an inverter I found in the garage the other day. It's a Xantrex XPower 1000w that i'll mainly use for recharging the netbook and camera batteries. It's pretty far from the original battery which sucks, but i'll be keeping an eye on the temperature of the cable when in use.

Mounted it to the rear of my sub. I threw in some rubber isolators so hopefully that takes a little of the vibration out of the equation. I'm not super worried, looking inside the inverter itself it seems to be very well manufactured.

Fills up that little bit of wasted space nicely!

 

[rover4x4]

sweet truck I like the late model wheels on it.