TX_Lucian's "I'm only going to mod a little, I swear" build

Well. I guess....its finally time for me to start a build thread.

So, previously, I was driving a Chevy Trailblazer. However, I /really/ wanted a 4Runner. In January, I decided to bite the bullet and get one after @TX-TACO, and then @Tynan both took the Toyota plunge. Things were good. Very good. I was happy with the truck, and all was well.

Originally, I meant to keep it "mostly stock". (No, really!) My two buddies above...then joined Tacoma World. I see this as the first major turning point in my build. I joined to see what the buzz was, since the 4Runner forums were dead.

Through TW, I had some pretty big influencers to bounce ideas off of, like @riz_atx, @Texoma, @exportexp and @Phoosa. And this guy called @ChadsPride ...who's apparently a very big deal on the internet. And a monthly event that we call Tacos and Tacos where everybody gathers and cooks...well...tacos. And unholy amounts of bacon as well.

You see, I was still happy at this point.

Then I met @ramonortiz55 , and these magical things called "Group Buys". Damn it all. Now I'm broke and happy. Thanks Ramon!


So here I am...trying to keep track of the insanity. I present to you, lucky viewer, my "Build Thread"...just so I can remember what in the heck I've already put on the truck.

And...here it is. Down the rabbit hole we go.


2016 Toyota 4Runner Trail
Purchased: January, 2017

Bone stock, February 2017:


1 year later:



Exterior Mods -

Armor
SOS Offroad Concepts Sliders
RCI Aluminum Full skids (Front, Transmission & Transfer Case)

Suspension
Old Man Emu - BP51
SPC Light Racing UCAs
ARB 2889 (Medium Duty) Rear Springs
@Wheeler's Off-Road Inc Super Bump bump stops
@Wheeler's Off-Road Inc Extended Brake Lines (Front & Rear)

[ Removed Mar 2018 ] Bilstein 5100 - 1.75" Front, 1" CornFed spacer on the rear

Lighting
Low Beams: @XenonDepot Xtreme HID Conversion Kit - 5000K
High Beams: Phillips Diamond Vision 9005 HB3 5000K bulbs
Fogs: @Baja Designs Squadron-R Pro Spot/Cornering combo
Behind Grill: @ragofabrication Hidden 30" Light Bar
Rear: @Diode Dynamics Tail as Turn mod & LED upgrades

Wheels & Tires
@SCSPerformance Ray 10 Matte Gunmetal
BF Goodrich KO2 265/70R17 E-Rated

Roof Rack
Front Runner Slimline II 3/4 Rack

Tent
CVT Mt. Shasta SF Stargazer Pioneer

Under the hood
Switch-Pros 8100 Switch system on a @Tynan fabricated mount
ARB CKMT12 Twin Air Compressor on a Bandi Passenger side Mount
NorthStar group 31M Battery
@Pelfreybilt Group 31M Battery Cage

Interior Mods
@ragofabrication Molle Panels
@Diode Dynamics full LED conversion

SnoMaster 56L Dual Door Fridge (with TopoChico bottle opener)

 

[ Reserved ]

 

June 2017 -

Still mostly stock at this point. I bought Bilstein 5100's in February, right after purchasing the truck. Installed immediately, and it had quelled my urge to mod (with the exception of a CBI Ditch bracket for a CB antenna).


In July - "I got a box":


Which contained the next mod for the truck - the Rago Molle panels. Rock solid mounts - still one of my favorite additions to the truck.

 

Then, the first of Ramon's group buys! A Front Runner Slimline II roof rack. This was in August of 2017.



It looked rather lonely, however. All by itself. It needed something to go on it.

A little later that month - the CVT RTT arrived:


First time I've been able to go camping...and I go to sleep at night...and I don't wake up until the next morning. AMAZINGLY comfortable!

 

No reserve for you. In.

 

Next up - October. Ramon got me again. "Hey, look at this shiny SwitchPro group buy". This GB ultimately went under, but...hey, it was kinda dark on the beach...maybe additional lighting would be useful.

Queue...some BajaDesigns Squadron Pros... (thanks Ramon!)


And while the front end's apart - why not add in a Rago light bar?


...yeah, not bad! That works out well! Add in the Xenon Depot Extreme HID kit, too...might as well. Already neck-deep in it.

 

Oh, I did mention that I had to add in a Switch Pro (at full price) to run it, right? Thanks to @Tynan for doing a quick fabrication of a bracket:


The wiring's all like...not a rat's nest. All was good again, and everything worked.

Here's the truck on October 22'nd..after the SOS Offroad Concepts sliders came in:


And again 2 days later, October 23:


....I have no self control. Srsly.

With @Tynan's help - we then got to wiring the ARB compressor up that...well, I had bought in the meantime. This hobby...is already expensive.


...but DANG it feels amazing when you're ready to go on a trip:




...totally worth every penny.

 

I can't like this thread enough, nice work Cole.

 

Great looking 4R! Are the last 2 pics from BBNP in November? If so think we passed on Old Ore Road just before sunset. The pics look like the group I passed heading to my camp site with a stock black 05 4R.

 

Well hell... I guess I better sub this so I can tell when you're spreading lies and telling tall tales about me.

 

Thanks, brother! Seriously, one of these days I hope to get up to the level of your truck. #Goals! Though, hopefully I'll have the need for the executive office at Triple-C Chop shop here in a couple of months.

O snap! Yeah, that was us. The bottom 2 are from New Mexico BDR...directly after we left Big Bend back in November. You stopped to say hi for a bit and chatted by the overlook? The white tacoma is @riz_atx , and the black one (also stock at the time) is @pixelsailor . Good to meet you here!

 

Nope that wasnt me at the overlook. My buddy and I pulled off to let you guys pass us going the opposite direction. It was maybe an hr before sunset and we were in a hurry to get to camp to setup since we had just arrived. I did chat with, I think, @riz_atx on here shortly after getting back from the trip though. It was def you guys that I saw!

 

Ah, gotcha! Yeah, we were doing the same thing after a long day of driving down. I just saw that you said 4R...other guy was a stock black taco. Haha, we were doing the same thing - trying to book it out as quick as possible when we passed you guys. Ended up getting off Old Ore right before dark...but had to make it halfway down River Road to camp. Got there waaaaay after the sun went down. Fun times!

 

Word!

 

Yeah buddy!!! Woot! In AF!

 

The stock 4r I was talking about was my buddy that was with me. I wont mistake a Taco for a 4runner.

 

Stock?! Man, so my sliders, skids, lights, radio, bed rack, tent, and drawers don't count for nothin? Gotta have the lift and tires or else it's "stock."








Good looking build. It's coming along nicely.

 

And I hope to get to your level of exploration. My goal this year is to go on more adventures.

 

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Dem memories!!!! I needs to go back out into the wild again! This whole working thing is really crappy in comparison lol