Oh toyota....

[Grantnr]

Heres the 2019 runner im currently working on. The headaches are real. ALLEGEDLY... this thing had a love tap on the front before I got her. "Purely cometic'" they said. Well just an FYI for those that don't know. The front bumper tabs aren't supported front of the cross member. So any impact could jar them one way or the next. So this is what going from the factory aluminum crush bar with sheet metal tabs you can bend one way or the next to a plate bumper looks like if that's happened. Good times.

 

[Grantnr]

While I'm showing off my... expertise of ratchet straps and a comealong... here's the cheapest way to build out a winch. Buy one with steel cable, toss the steel in the recycle bin, get you some amsteel blue 3/8, a solid thimble, 45ft of chafe sleeve and 2 beers (dont forget these, cheaper is better). The chafe acts as UV shield on the exposed end (abrasion protection too I guess. Who really ever rubs that part on rocks anyhow ), you get something cool to show off to your friends, and you can squeeze a bit more line than the manufacturer gives you on the drum.

 

[Grantnr]

BRUTE FORCE FAB for the win building the front and rear bumpers for this thing. Dude is super helpful, does amazing work, and cant recommend him enough.

 

[Grantnr]

0/10 don't recommend lol. Looks good but a raging PITA. Antenna mounted inboard of factory roof rails, radio mounted down by air pickup for the blower motor. "Decent" enough (better than in the glove box or console) air flow around it plus an easy access to through firewall. Hope to get a semi decent ground plane with the roof, also grounded antenna to a hard point in the back. Will get numbers on it later.

*update on the numbers if anyone was interested, hi and lo freqs checked*

 

[Grantnr]

Also got the new fart vents installed. The factory flaps were letting all kinds of debris in with the new bumpers, these should halt that.

 

[Grantnr]

After attending the MOORE expo, and going for a bit of a swim on the way there, we wound up yoinking the battery in Springfield MO (was pretty weak to begin with) and eventually had pull the starter out in Maryland. Turns out the factory one didn't like waist deep water, who'd of thunk it. And considering I'm from Texas using my basic kit out of the back (wrenches and 1/4in sockets) I think the surgery went quite well.

 

[Grantnr]

Bout damned time. Lift is achieved. Ordered this ONLINE direct from ARB Friday morning and by 8pm Saturday had recieved the lift and installed on the rig. Not very often I crow about tools but, harbor freight strut spring compressor. If you have IFS get one. Seriously, go now and get it. This is the "safest" spring compressor I have used outside of a wall mount with cage. And I put safest in quotations because while I wasnt fearing the tool, struts stress me out and I have rebuilt dozens of them.

 

[OG_Zuninja]

That spring compressor looks a metric shit ton better than what you can rent at a local auto parts. I would've much preferred that when I installed my lift on my GX. Nice find!

 

[Grantnr]

That spring compressor looks a metric shit ton better than what you can rent at a local auto parts. I would've much preferred that when I installed my lift on my GX. Nice find!

I've used the double points and had springs take flight before. Grease the hell out of it and after using it I'd actually be comfortable putting the impact to it

 

[Grantnr]

Ok, well work comes in spurts and this time is no different. The 4runner got to celebrate black Friday this year. Finally put fogs in the new bumper, LASFIT led hi and lo beam, seat jackers with driver side storage (that flashlight rolling around in my door was hyper annoying), got the nose matted out, and put all my gear in a box in the back (think the flashlight was annoying, that jack rolling around was worse) the before and after pictures are low beam, high beam, high beam with ditch

 

[Grantnr]

"Shakedown" run (by definition, a good reason to dick off). Ran padre island all the way to the jetties and back about half way before we got a small camp set up. Have a friend who got starlink roam for his rv but hadn't tried it out yet. Sooo we suction cupped it to the inside of my sunroof. Runs like a scalded ape, even at 40mph down the beach it was crystal clear. Something to consider in the future I guess.

 

[Grantnr]

Alright, this is gonna be fun. Doing my power control and putting in a fridge. This is most of it. Shout out to redarc and arb.... spent WAYYY too much money with these guys. BCDC25 charger/solar control, 120w panel, second battery tray, electric controls (fuses, busses, etc), fridge, and roof rack to hold the solar. Want to tidy up existing electrical while im in surgery and install a few other quality of life things, new plug location and mount for radio, some new USB plugs throughout the truck for charging and the creme de la creme (not pictured) an aluminum plate bolted under the rear carpet to hold the fridge slides and a single (maybe 2, not sure yet) set of drawers. Got 3 weeks off work, so let's get stupid.

 

[Grantnr]

Also, I cant be the only one who flattens my tires to work in the engine bay, screw a step stool, them things are wobbly. Some before pics

 

[TexasLandman]

BRUTE FORCE FAB for the win building the front and rear bumpers for this thing. Dude is super helpful, does amazing work, and cant recommend him enough.

NICE! I went that route on my rear bumper too. Did the coastal Offroad on for my front only because I was impatient and didn’t want to wait 6 wks. He does do great work. Sweet looking rig

 

[Grantnr]

For sure he likes that welder. There is more welding than ive seen on any other bumper. Solid work for sure.

 

[Grantnr]

View attachment 20260201_182327.mp4
well, one week(ish) in. Dual battery installed, new fuse block, new terminal block for my switch panel, roof rack, solar panel on said roof rack, new "clean" plug for gmrs, new usb to aux battery, and fridge plug in. Fridge is set loose for now, more to come next week.

 

[Grantnr]

3700 mile amd 5day round trip "shakedown" run... can I even call them that at this point? No rattle, no noises (except for those 2 little green propane tanks... bastards), everything functioned as intended and a great time was had. Overnights in Sedona AZ, Joshua Tree CA, the OC (met the ol lady at the airport and did family stuff there so hotel that night), then me and her went to Goodsprings NV, and finally just outside Ruidoso NM for a final night. Managed to get some off-roading in too. This was more of a necessity trip than a fun trip so was more drive focused.


View attachment 20260214_063333.mp4

 

[Grantnr]

First aid kit off the floor and reachable without opening rear hatch. The most useless of lights, well except for that one time, also installed
View attachment cfdd1550-e1aa-45ea-937c-033c9d316512.mp4

 

[ThundahBeagle]

Bout damned time. Lift is achieved. Ordered this ONLINE direct from ARB Friday morning and by 8pm Saturday had recieved the lift and installed on the rig. Not very often I crow about tools but, harbor freight strut spring compressor. If you have IFS get one. Seriously, go now and get it. This is the "safest" spring compressor I have used outside of a wall mount with cage. And I put safest in quotations because while I wasnt fearing the tool, struts stress me out and I have rebuilt dozens of them.View attachment 296754View attachment 296756View attachment 296755

Tried to do mine on my Sierra with a standard AutoZone spring compressor. No thanks - that thing started to bow out. Brought my coilovers to a shop with an old Branick wall mount spring compressor. He ended up having to weld the tabs back on the bottom but we got it done. Scary

 

[Grantnr]

Tried to do mine on my Sierra with a standard AutoZone spring compressor. No thanks - that thing started to bow out. Brought my coilovers to a shop with an old Branick wall mount spring compressor. He ended up having to weld the tabs back on the bottom but we got it done. Scary

I know that feeling all to well