2015 4runner IPO build

we like to drink a lot of beer and pretend Florida has cool shit like that.

 

And that our Prerunners are really 4WDs.

 

RCI al-you mini-um skids are on!

A group buy came around and I couldn't pass it up.

My favorite features besides the obvious protection factor:

Oil filter door (no more removing a skid to change it)
light weight
No need to paint it!

 

Picked up a few odds and ends.


Baja Designs Squadron Sport lights:


Smittybilt x20 10k winch:


Some recovery gear:

 

Subbed.
Sweet rig!

How do you plan to chrome delete?

 

Plastidipshit the trim that is out of the way, and the badges. Some of it is already done. Then plate bumpers front and rear.

 

Haha. We've been pondering the foothills around Willow. 4-5 years from now. Nearer term, we're planning a road trip out there, with a stop at Moab. Probably 2018, and probably company paid too. They're doing two Moab trips this summer, but I can't make it yet. My boy is still too little.

 

Sweet!, and I'm going to trust you that "load up my rig" is not a euphemism for anything, and that you really just mean "place sensible utility items into an off-road vehicle."

 

Oh she's a trailer queen is she?

 

Like that's ever happened before...

 

Ahem..

 

So I've decided this Demello bumper is really nice and it deserves some sort of write up.

I really wanted to do an in-depth write up, but I'm just too damn lazy to do that. I have too many frickin kids, and a new house, and a hot wife that demands my attention, and other cars and shit, and work.

Anyhoo, this bumper has tons of gusseting and bracing throughout. Really well engineered. Mounts are great. Very solid. Holds up really well, inadvertently tested winching from it with the brakes on (read at the very bottom).

First of all, it comes strapped to a pallet. It is HEAVY. I think it's about 170lbs. Shipping was like $230 I think? From Oregon to Florida


Gusseting and bracing (after I painted it):



Some of the sexy welds:





To prep it for final coat, I scrubbed it down with a scuffing pad, then cleaned it with acetone. I then used Locktite rust neutralizer on all the spots that rusted already just from it being bare steel. After that, I hit it with several coats of Rustoleum's self-etching primer. Final coats were done with Rustoleum's bed liner.

The usual suspects for all my metal painting work:



Before mounting it, I installed the winch (smittybilt x20 10k lb). So now we're up to about 240lbs on the front of the truck. So with the current springs I lost about 1.5 inches of compression in the front. To correct it temporarily, I cranked up the coilovers 1.5 inches. Coilovers will be replaced. I'm thinking King extended coilovers, 14" 700lb springs? Still up in the air about the details. There's always the possibility of LT, so not committing to anything yet.



I also removed and cut my existing bumper:





The mounting brackets were confusing at first (this bumper has no installation documentation). They actually sandwich the OEM mounting points (the three vertical bolts in the second pic):




I installed the bumper myself with no help. I used a complicated series of ropes and pulleys I had laying around in the bedroom




I left the bottom section of the front grill above the bumper blank so I can get into the winch controls. Plus, it was just easier that way:



Added a few things since the bumper install like the Baja Designs Squadron Sport lights and the firestick using the firering cable and spring:




The way it sits now. (AP sliders installed too)

The detail oriented of you will notice that the winch hook is missing. Basically, my wife ruined the winch line. Oh well, good excuse to get a new one (line, not wife, she still has many other talents). Aso a good excuse to get a factor 55 setup. On order!

 

Installed lengthened rear sway bar links. A combination of Energy Suspension links/bushings and eye-bolts from Holmes Depot. Last time I bought something from Energy Suspension it was for my autocross RX-7!

There's a subtle change in the angle of the swaybar.








Also, installed the shin guards finally!

 

Went out to Ocala Hardrock on 4/30. Met a few of the TW guys out there. I arrived late so it was more of a passing wave for me than a meet up.



Need more flex in the front.


I could swear I got more flex from the extended sway bar link



The wifey enjoyed herself.
\

I'm holding this tree up and hiding behind my cb antenna.


Allenfab's ride. very nice


Filipino women are great for refilling tires since they're so low to the ground.


A few short vids. Turn the volume down.
https://youtu.be/aD8qsLdY1B0

https://youtu.be/6k9gBGFaOew

I was hoping to have more and better videos, but my dashcam's files were all corrupt.

 

Gobi! Gobi, Gobi, Gobi, Gobi, Gobi, Gobi, Gobi, Gobi... Gobi!!


After waiting since November of last year, a big ass Gobi lookin box finally arrived!



Apparently, I'm now living the Gobi life? Whatever that means. Maybe it means I'm a master of patience after waiting 6 months?




Install complete. Everything was pretty basic. The instructions are detailed. The wind fairing was actually the most difficult part.