Trooper Redux ...

[jeffryscott]

worked on the rear end ...

Worked on the rear today, a new set of old dirty drawers were installed.

I'd built these three or so years ago for my 4Runner, the second set it saw after I sold the first set when I tried selling it the first time. Width in the Trooper is a tiny bit wider than the 4Runner, but 3 inches shallower with the pockets installed on the rear door, so I needed to do some cutting to fit. The fridge slide is homemade and the ARB is attached by the feet through the aluminum plate.

Turns out I decided to take the pockets off, but this will give me the option of some other sort of storage on the back door (first aid kit or shovel, fire extinguisher, etc ...) if I want.

I have Herculiner waiting to apply and still need to run a dedicated power line to the fridge as I don't know if the accessory plug wiring will handle the load well (doubtful).

I have fashioned slide out tables that can be supported by a monopod to give me a work area if desired.

Still need to do some finish work (want the drawer faces to line up with each other a bit better) and then will Herculine, etc ... at a later date. Wanted to get it in before Labor Day as we hope to go camping.

Still awaiting my OME shocks, have the rock sliders but no time right now to install, that and its 106 outside during the day so thought I'd work on the drawers mostly in the shade.

 

[jeffryscott]

Trooper Tuesday

Did some much needed baselining today: new OEM plugs and PCV valve (think maybe the originals at 105k). Hoping my mileage improves, really hoping.

Wired a new outlet for the fridge, 10-gauge from the Blue Sea fuse block to an outlet in the rear. Last week got the Old Man Emu shocks on as well.

Had plans for more, but a lovely afternoon monsoon put an end to working on the truck. Still need to change fluids, install the rock sliders and springs and a t-bar crank.

 

[BigSwede]

I love the OME shocks. Great on and off road, and very durable.

Mileage is never going to be stellar....EPA est mpg is only 14 city, 17 highway. Plus you are adding a bunch of weight.

 

[jeffryscott]

I love the OME shocks. Great on and off road, and very durable.

Mileage is never going to be stellar....EPA est mpg is only 14 city, 17 highway. Plus you are adding a bunch of weight.

I love the OME stuff too, been on every vehicle I have owned since I discovered them with my first Trooper.


As for mileage, I don't expect greatness, but I do expect better than 10.5 in town. I have heard Champions are horrible in these engines, so I am hoping for an improvement. My 99 I routinely got ~15 in town and 18-20 highway.

 

[BigSwede]

Yeah, my old 99 definitely did better than 10.5 mpg...but I might note that it came with Champion plugs from the factory.

However, I think the newer years are more sensitive to plugs, something about ion sensing technology, dunno.

 

[jeffryscott]

Bringing this thread back from the dead.

Still driving the Trooper, although have put it up for sale two or three times :sombrero: but just can't let it go.

This last round of selling brought me oh-so-close to buying a 2010 Forester. But with only 131K on the Trooper, and the only problems since purchase, are a fuel pump and a starter going out made me realize I'd be stupid spending 250/month for five years. This to replace a vehicle i've only driven 25K since purchase in August 2011.

So, the current plan is to invest in the Trooper - timing belt, brakes, rear axle seal and today new tires to replace over 10-year-old Michelins.

Let the adventure continue ...

 

[stevo-mt]

Well in the last few months I've had the chance to do most of the things you can do on a trooper. I bought a few for my wife and I to have decent MPG daily drivers and have fallen in love with them. The timing belt kit wasn't too bad to do. It doesn't take long to get everything out and replaced. I put a new setup in my wife's when I put the new/used engine. I'm pretty impressed to how stout everything is in these things. I was pretty impressed how well they perform stock with the rear LSD. When I got my 2001 running I proceeded to climb a super steep hill behind my shop and it did not skip a beat!

Whenever I'm tempted to buy a new vehicle I just do some calculations figure in car payments, insurance, and licencing become very happy buying a new set of tires for a 15 year old vehicle. I was amazed in the ride quality after getting some new shocks and new tires on my wifes rig!

 

[Ryanmb21]

Awesome! I just did some preventative maintenance on my 10 year old 4Runner and its feeling good as new. I would say you made a solid decision.

 

[jeffryscott]

So I bought tires the other day. In an attempt to be practical and realistic, and eek out any additional gas mileage, I went with a P rated 265/75/16. An aggressive enough tread, Discount's Pathfinder S-AT, to cover most anything I would currently do. Drives super smooth and I notice a difference in acceleration. However, in the back of my mind I'm just not satisfied. The little voices say if, or should I say when, I do go offroad (which I do want to do) will these tires suffice? And then there are the aesthetics, the tires look nice enough, but just aren't interesting.

Given my current driving of way less than 10K annually, a 1-2 mpg improvement is not a huge money savings. I am feeling that the extra gas cost is relatively minimal compared to the peace of mind of actually having the tires I want, either Hancock DynaPro ATM's or Cooper ATP's from Discount (they will let me upgrade the tires I just purchased). The one thing I'm still struggling with is P vs LT on either of the above tires. In all honesty, the P rated tire would likely be just fine, but the off-roader in me (it is still there somewhere) is thinking the LT would provide the peace of mind already mentioned.

I'm just thinking out loud. Anybody else with thoughts? I know the P vs LT debate is common and one can find answers to satisfy both sides of the argument, just wondering what people here have decided. Thanks.

Update: just filled with gas after a quick morning drive. Gas mileage improved maybe 1mpg, not enough to override my other concerns so on Monday I believe I will get the tires I will have confidence in for all conditions ...

 

[stevo-mt]

When I bought my wife tires for her trooper my friend who owns the tire / tow shop in town wouldn't sell me p rated tires. In his experience 30+ years he hadn't had not had any luck with p rated tires on heavier suv's holding up for people that go on rough roads somewhat often. I live about 15 miles out of town and 8 of those are gravel and he didn't want me bugging him with warranty issues. I ended up buying the load range e 265/75/16 cooper AT3s because of their toughness but they don't drive bad at all on the pavement or gravel. Not the best milage though. Went down from 17-18 mpg to 14-15 instantly. I had also put the load range e 265/75/16 cooper st maxx on my friend's 4runner with the added weight and they have held up great. And they are surprisingly smooth once the rear drawers and stuff was added into the rig. I'm not sure if the p tires account for the extra weight in the back from even a simple drawer setup. Load range E might be overkill for your rig though.

 

[jeffryscott]

BFG AT's are going on as we speak. Likely overkill, but I do want to get off-road and don't want to worry about performance on or off road. If I ever do decide to sell the Trooper, the BFG's will certainly help vs having street tires.

UPDATE: Tires are on and it definitely was the right choice aesthetically. Now to go get on some dirt ...

 

[jeffryscott]

A few questions about how to finish the surface of my rear table setup.

Currently the table and extension are bare wood, but I want to finish it with something durable and easy to clean. Bed liner, like used on my drawers, is too rough and would be impossible to clean. As the table is used for food prep as well and general utility, I want it easy to clean. I've thought of an oil based product, such as what is used on butcher block, but that seems like a dust magnet. Maybe a piece of stainless steel fitted on top? Paint of some sort? What have people found works well?

The table, itself, is very handy. Using the factory attachment points for the now removed pockets, the table is supported underneath by one of my photography monopods. I can adjust level on that plane depending upon terrain by raising and lowering the monopod. I also have rigged up an extension, which attaches via a c-channel aluminum piece, to the left side of the folding table, doubling my work surface to 64-inches.

Attached is a pic of the table folded out, but not supported and without the extension. Will upload other photos when I get to the external hard drives they are on.

 

[outofrshell]

Spar varnish works very good, at least 3 coats. It will leave a very durable shiny finish that's easy to clean. I used it to finish the camp box in my Trooper and it is holding quite well. Plan on doing a similar fold down table like your's and it will get the spar varnish finish. Dave

 

[BigSwede]

Mine is varnished. I wouldn't want to add the weight of a sheet of stainless steel. Bedliner is a horrible idea, impossible to clean.

 

[jeffryscott]

Went out today to try out the new BFG-AT tires. Felt good to stretch the Trooper a bit and get on some dirt. Filled up after driving a bit and gas mileage was .02 mpg less than I had with the previous P-rated tires in a mix of dirt and pavement, so am much happier I went ahead and upgraded.