Styer's - 2015 4Runner SR5 Build Thread

[Styer]

Styer's - Broken Spoke Overland - "Riley"
2015 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4X4 Mag Gray Build Thread.

I purchased "Riley" about a week or two before Thanksgiving 2014. At the time I was driving a less than a year old 2014 Subaru Outback 5spd. But was having some major issues with the engine burning a quart of oil in less than 1400mi. Yes you read that right fourteen-hundred miles. Through all the research I did it seemed to be a design flaw with their new family of engines. Subaru was having the same issue in its 2.5 and 2.0 engines. There didn't seem to be a good fix and I wasn't game for having a dealer tear down and rebuild a brand new engine. So at that point I was in the market for a new car. I knew I wanted to go back to a trusty Toyota after that experience and I had to have 4x4 or a true AWD. So I looked at the Tacoma and 4Runner. Settled on the 4Runner and couldn't be happier.

STOCK
(Pretty stock. Picture taken the day after Christmas 2014)

AS SHE SITS CURRENTLY

This will be my first foray into overlanding. My wife and I are very excited to get out and explore some of the true backroads around Tennessee and the bordering states. At first we won't be able to stray too far from home as I don't get very many vacation days with my job. Probably just Weekend trips but we'll see what it turns into.

Now back to the build

COMPLETED UPGRADES/MODS:
WeatherTech Floor mats front, middle, and cargo.
Front Passenger and Driver window tint.
Cooper Discoverer S/T MAXX 285/70r17
Sonoran Steel 5th gen lift 3" front 2" rear w/panhard bar.
Camburg UCAs w/ Moog Ball Joint.
SCS Wheels SR8 Matte Gunmetal/Black Rim 17x8.5 wheels.
Differential breather relocation mod.
C4 Fabrication Rock Sliders.
Thule Crossroads roof crossbars and feet(temporary, used when carrying RTT)
GordiGear Explorer Roof Top Tent(used when camping)

PLANNED UPGRADES/MODS:
Flat Iron Fabrication 5th gen CB Antenna Mount. With 3' or 4' Firestik Firefly antenna and Midland 75-822 CB radio.
3rd Row seat removal and addition of homemade storage drawers.
BudBuilt + C4 skid plates
UnderCover Hidden Winch + Warn Winch

LINKS TO POSTS:

 

[Styer]

Tennessee Dirt Devil Day 1:

Here is my account from the first exploring, backroads, offroad trip I took Riley on. This is from 12/26/14

I was able to get out this past Friday(12/26/14) on the Tennessee Dirt Devil and check out about a 40 mile section of it. Took probably 2 hours to cover that 40 miles with lots of stops for pics! My buddy tagged along in his 2WD F150 that gets stuck in just about anything and he had no problems with any of it. I never really needed to take my 5th Gen out of 2WD but did for some stuff that I made harder on purpose. It turned out to be mostly hard packed dirt roads, that dried out well even after all of the rain we have had, and also included a ton of creek crossings. I'd love to go check out more of the roads and see what they are like, but I already have a few favorites.

Here are a few pictures and a link to the album with the rest. I edited a few of the pictures but a lot of them I did not and only cropped them. Not the best pictures of my T4R because I had to give control of the camera over to my buddy but hey what can ya do.
ENJOY!

ALBUM: "Tennessee Dirt Devil" 40mi 12/26/2014

IMAGES:

Those are just some of the highlights!

 

[Styer]

I'm about a year late in getting this thread started. BETTER LATE THAN NEVER!

Let's do a short and sweet recap of the minor things I have done to Riley over the last year.

First MOD I did to the car was disconnecting the Anti-Wiplash device in the driver seat. I could not stand how uncomfortable the drivers seat was. there was a sharp bumpout about mid back for me. Did a lot of research and found on, T4R.org, that disconnecting the mechanical cable that went from the headrest to the lumbar support would allow the seat back to be flatter and much more comfortable.

Next change was replacing the stock cruddy Bridgestone highway tread tires with some really good AT tires in the stock size. After long consideration, at 1000mi on the odo, I went with the Cooper Discoverer AT3 in 265/70r17. The traction on these tires, over the last 8000mi, has been great. They were especially good in the snow and ice last winter. My only gripe with them is they are super hard to balance. Discount Tire did a fine job balancing them when they were new and again after the Toyota dealer messed up the balance at my 5000mi service.

Coming up next is installing my lift, wheels, and dif breather mod. Along with Thule roof crossbars and a roof top tent. All of which have been ordered and just waiting arrival.

 

[Styer]

Got the RTT up on the roof of Riley and tested it overnight for the first time. Looks like I am going to be designing a hoist system under my deck to make mounting and removing a one man job.

 

[Styer]

Sonoran Steel 5th gen lift parts came in yesterday evening. Sadly had to travel out of town this week for work so all I have to drool over are these pictures I had my wife send me. Looks like I will be installing them this Saturday, Halloween day, right after I take her in for her 10,000mi service appointment.

 

[Styer]

Spent almost all of Saturday installing my Sonoran Steel lift and Camburg UCAs. First though I had to take Riley in early for her 10,000mi service. Then I finally got back home around 10am and started on the lift. Finished installing the fronts around 3pm and then took a break for lunch. After lunch I attacked the rears and the replacement adjustable panhard bar. Finally finishing up around 6pm.

STOCK Measurements Floor to Fender

Front Driver 34 1/4"
Front Passenger 34 7/8"
Rear Driver 36 1/2"
Rear Passenger 36 1/4"


LIFTED Measurements Floor to Fender

Front Driver 37 3/8"
Front Passenger 38"
Rear Driver 38 3/8"
Rear Passenger 38 1/8"

OVERALL LIFT
FRONT= 3 1/8"
REAR= 1 7/8"

Kept some of the factory rake which is exactly what I wanted.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

 

[Greenbean]

Looks great bud!

I appreciate an Appalachian Toyota!

I have an Access Cab Tacoma but for the money instead of a four door Tacoma next go around the wife and I may give the 4runner a better look.

 

[dorton]

Nice ride

 

[Styer]

Nice ride

Thanks so much. I have big plans for it. Hopefully it won't take too long to accumulate all the parts I want for it

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[jayspies]

Great start to what will surely be a great truck! Looking forward to updates, especially the hidden winch!

 

[Styer]

Great start to what will surely be a great truck! Looking forward to updates, especially the hidden winch!

Thanks Jay. Sadly though the winch will probably be one of the last items I do.

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[bkg]

Good to see more Mid-TN builds... Wife won't let me touch her 2015 yet....

 

[Styer]

Good to see more Mid-TN builds... Wife won't let me touch her 2015 yet....

Haha, bring her over and let my wife convince her!

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[Styer]

Well spur of the moment while browsing the T4R forums I came upon C4 Fabrications and their new rock sliders for the 5th gen 4Runner. Really liked their attention to the small details in the design. So I went ahead and ordered a set! Can't wait to get them on Riley.

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[bkg]

Haha, bring her over and let my wife convince her!

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I might take you up on that!!!

Bought her a 2015 SR5 Premium. I love that truck. Second 5th gen we've owned and I'm sure it will be in the family for 10 years.