2003 4Runner Limited 4wd V8 FJ tcased overlanding rockcrawling do-it-all build

It ain’t too hard to weld aluminum...

 

I'd like to get setup for it eventually. Tig would be nice but I think you can wire feed, like MIG, aluminum, right?

 

Probably. I tig it all

 

Interesting design with the modular wings, I dig it. I had issues with the swing out mount flexing and had to go back a few times to reinforce and brace it, yours is much lower and closer to the mount(s) so that should help with that.

 

Yeah, I decided to go this route to make it easier if I need to do work on the corners for whatever reason. Like moving the body mounts higher! Also makes it easier to fix them if they get beat to shit.

I've though about flex from the swingout since I had that issue with the Coastal rear bumper on my old Tacoma. I'm hoping I don't have any problems with it on these but I have a couple places I can add more reinforcement on the passenger side if need be.

If I ever redo these wings, I'll move the single, main bumper bolt to the back side of the main bumper so it's hidden. That would open up the corners for a little better design I think, instead of leaving them un-finished looking like now. But I'm happy with them as they are for now.

 

Happy that's it's looking more *finished* again! Even if it isn't. Really need to get a lift kit for it, that heavy ass front bumper probably ate up about an inch in front. Even just stiffer springs would be better. Eventually....



I also reinstalled the driver side lights from the old running boards. For now, they are just puddle lights but I'm going to wire in a switch and get better LED lights to make the rock/camp lights. I just re-used the metal housings and lights from the OEM running boards and installed LED bulbs for now. Still have to do the passenger side.

 

That looks killer, well done

 

Thanks!

 

If I ever make it out to AZ I might ask you to build me one

 

Making some extremely slow progress on the swingout. Trying to work on it a little during the week, since I will be out of town this weekend.

 

Was out of town for the weekend, visiting family in San Diego. Made a pit stop at Buckman Springs off I-8 on the way home today.

 

That bumper though

 

Hit the 300k mark today, right when I turned to back into my garage.

 

That swingout tho

 

Yeah, got some major work done on it today.

Capped the corner and glued on the swing lock thingy.



Also glued on the hinge plate for the latch system. Both the swingout hinge and the latch system are from 4xInnovations. Highly, highly recommend these, they are stout!





Figured out and glued on the catch pin for the latch.







Had to grind off a bit of the pin to clear the hatch opening. Plenty of room now. I ground some more after this pic BTW...



Got the carrier uprights figured out. Went to get steel this morning but they didn't have any 2x3 rems, which is what I had originally planned on using. So I got some .120 wall tube instead.



Nice and tight (as tight as I will go, gotta have some gap!) to the hatch.



Braced it. Ignore the ugly, shitty welds, thank you very much.



And lastly, glued on the whatchamacallit thingy to hold the tire. I have a 1/4" plate that I need to drill mounting holes in and glue to the whatchamacallit thingy still.



And here it sits until I can finish it off tomorrow. Mostly. Have more stuff I want to do but don't have the time right now.





Test fit of the spare to get a rough idea of where it will sit finally.

 

Done. At least for now. It's functional but there's a few more thing I would like to do to it. Good for now tho, I have a wheeling/camping trip next weekend.

Mounted the wheel plate and gave it a happy 2.5 inches.





It doubles as a bottle opener. Low Range sells them.

Got busy and didn't take a lot of pics. Glued together what will eventually hold a jerry can or 2. Might see what else I can do with the extension. Plate is mounted there for now.





Ran out of paint initially so only was able to paint a few pieces. Reinstalled the passenger plastic bumper cover. I made everything fit so that the swingout hinge bolt is covered by the bumper cover. Keeps it clean looking.



Spare tire mounted.





Fully open in the locked position.



Lots of room for that hatch to open.





Ran some errands and picked up more paint. No rattles or anything from the swingout. Rock solid back there with the 4xInnovations hinge and latch system.



Glad to be done with this for a while!

 

Any plans to make/sell them?

 

Nope, not at all, sorry.

 

That looks really good, great job!

 

You killed it dude, looks awesome! I really like how low profile the rear turned out. I always disliked how most 4th gen off-the-shelf options are really blobby on the sides, but your bumer-ette pieces hug really nicely. I didn't see it, but you didn't have to cut or mash anything in the vent areas/behind the cover on the side to get them to tuck nicely, right?