Mstudt's 01 Toyota 4runner SR5

[96Delica]

I've got a Delica more room in the hatch that you guys I think. Although I'm thinking you're right about not being able to hook it to the light, after thinking about it I guess you would have to take the whole assembly apart and wire it to where the actual bulb sits. I could always wire another switch back there I guess.

 

[MStudt]

I'm completely neglected this thread. I have a couple updates, but not a ton.

My platform is now finished.

Finished carpeting.

Did a transmission swap.

Installed some goodies.

Got rid of the silver bezels for some black bezels, and ran a new coax for my Midland Handheld.

 

[MStudt]

Starting to plan for a small road trip over Christmas. So far this is the planned route, and we're working a backup route in case weather doesn't want cooperate.

Google Map's

Google Map's

 

[MStudt]

Getting some things ready for the road trip, and moving the 4runner into something that would be more comfortable for our future plans.

In about 18 or months or so we'll be hitting the road until the money runs out. No idea how long that'll take, or where it'll take us. Here are some of the latest developments in money spending.

I picked up this 4xInnovations bumper off Craigslist for $450. Only 4 months old, primed, and bedlined.

I was able to get in on the Cyber Monday special CVT was having, and took the opportunity to get a 55" awning. Rook rack will be in on Thursday.

Also picked up some used Fox/Fabtech coilovers from a member on T4R.

 

[2scars]

Was your Auto going bad or why did you swap? I thought you were adding a 5-speed when I first saw it...

Brandon

 

[MStudt]

Was your Auto going bad or why did you swap? I thought you were adding a 5-speed when I first saw it...

Brandon

My radiator broke allowing the coolant, and ATF to mix. It happened a couple months before we left to hike the Appalachian Trail. After sitting for 6 months it would barely shift when we got back.

 

[2scars]

What did you do for a replacement? Auto recycler used tranny?

 

[MStudt]

What did you do for a replacement? Auto recycler used tranny?

There was someone local to me that was parting an 02 out. The insurance company totaled his due to an accident, but the transmission was in good shape. If I hadn't found that one I would have bought a reman transmission and torque converter from a company in Oregon (can't think of their name).

 

[2scars]

My pump has been whining since I got it back on the road, but no slipping or anything funny and I already have the extra cooler on it. Unfortunately the 03 has the electronic kickdown and all that so it isn't as easy as some of the earlier Tacomas, I think your 'Runner has a similar thing doesn't it?

 

[MStudt]

My pump has been whining since I got it back on the road, but no slipping or anything funny and I already have the extra cooler on it. Unfortunately the 03 has the electronic kickdown and all that so it isn't as easy as some of the earlier Tacomas, I think your 'Runner has a similar thing doesn't it?

Yes it is. I was a bit of a pain trying to find the transmission that I needed, and I got lucky. I swapped out the transmission, t-case, and torque converter all from an 02. I wanted to keep everything together since it worked together. No sense in mix matching parts on this. Took me about 2 full days to swap it out, and get it back on the road. I also added an external cooler for added insurance.

 

[MStudt]

A couple weeks ago I decided to order a Prinsu Design roof rack, and a CVT awning to go with it. This weekend I was able to get everything mounted up, and I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

Mounting was very straight forward for the rack, and only took me about 1 hour to install in it. The awning took almost as long since I had to mount it a little differently.

 

[MStudt]

We went on a little road trip over the holidays. Head out west for about 11 days to visit family, and see a couple things.

Here's the route we took.

Spent the first night at a rest stop, and the second night in Mojave. This was our view just after leaving camp.

Next we heading to Sequoia National Park for a big tree fill. We had some snow getting to the General, and chain were required at the time we were there.

We tried visiting Yosemite on the 26th, but there was over a 2 mile wait just to reach the park entrance. After leaving to park we started heading in the direction of Redwood State Parks, and slept at a rest stop again.

The next day we made it to Redwoods, and spend the night at Jebediah Smith State Park. We headed up the coast to New Port Oregon the next day.

Visited family for a couple days, and walked the goats.

Washington was the last stop, and we saw a couple things. Spent the day is Astoria at a park, getting fresh sea food, and stopping at Buoy Brewery.

 

[paddlenbike]

Maybe I missed it, but did you design a revised sleeping platform with the main goal of saving weight?

 

[MStudt]

Maybe I missed it, but did you design a revised sleeping platform with the main goal of saving weight?

I did redo my platform. The one I have now is much lighter then the original that I had. I'm very fond of the current one, and I think I'll be making another one in the near future. The one I have now is the perfect height, but I think there's a lot of wasted space with the boxes.

I think the new build started on Page 6.

 

[paddlenbike]

I did redo my platform. The one I have now is much lighter then the original that I had. I'm very fond of the current one, and I think I'll be making another one in the near future. The one I have now is the perfect height, but I think there's a lot of wasted space with the boxes.

I think the new build started on Page 6.

The weight of the plywood designs is one reason I never bothered to build one. After seeing a couple of builds using lightweight aluminum framing, I am pretty sold on the idea. I can get it really light if I don't use drawers. Material-wise, I can't seem to come up with a way of using drawers without adding a lot of weight.