I am back....

[Marc P]

After about a 6 month break from owning a 4runner 4x4, I am back in one....

Picked up a clean 2003 V6 SR5 with 120,00 miles. Not sure what my longterm plans are, but I am going to get some sliders and a mild lift to start.

The beginning.....as of yesterday

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/MarcP1971/00c0c_bIbi3JIRK3V_600x450_zpsc8a44215.jpg (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/MarcP1971/media/00c0c_bIbi3JIRK3V_600x450_zpsc8a44215.jpg.html)

I have been offroading 4runners for the last 14 years.....many of you know my history

Started with "Goldmember" and modified and wheeled it for 9 years..

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/MarcP1971/Picture023.jpg (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/MarcP1971/media/Picture023.jpg.html)

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/MarcP1971/Big%20Bear08/bigbear08017.jpg (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/MarcP1971/media/Big%20Bear08/bigbear08017.jpg.html)

I then traded for this 3rd gen a couple years ago..

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/MarcP1971/2012-05-25_15-37-56_635.jpg (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/MarcP1971/media/2012-05-25_15-37-56_635.jpg.html)

For some reason I sold that to buy a Tundra...still asking myself why?

[Seanz0rz]

Glad to see you back in a 4Runner!

Come hit up Mojave Road with us this year! It's doable in a stock vehicle and would be a lot of fun to have you along. Now we just need to get Mikey back in a 4Runner!

[4x4mike]

Glad to see you back. I didn't know you had gotten rid of the 3rd gen. Do you still pull your pop up?

[DHC6twinotter]

Nice to have you back, Mark!

[Good Times]

what was wrong with the tundra?

welcome back! :) now to get mikey to buy a trail rig again!

[Marc P]

Tundra was cool, but I decided I dont like car payments...plus 14-15mpg was getting old.

I picked up the 03 to do some light wheeling and to pull my pop-up and little jet boat when I need to.

Honestly if I would have kept the 3rd gen, I probably would have kept the Tundra....hindsight!

[paddlenbike]

I like having automotive variety as well. I alternate between wanting things I can't afford like Aston Martins, to other things I can't afford like 1970s Country Squire wagons with wood paneling and lots of dents. Welcome back.

[Marc P]

So I installed the lift today...gave me about 3.5 inches up front and 2 inches in the back with airbags deflated.

Lift consists of OME 90000 front struts with OME 885 coils, stock FJ rear springs with Daystar 1.5 inch spacers and Airlift airbags.

I am happy with how it turned out, and had it done in about 5 hours today.

pics...

Front before
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/MarcP1971/2013-12-15_09-50-48_336_zpsa223bf15.jpg (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/MarcP1971/media/2013-12-15_09-50-48_336_zpsa223bf15.jpg.html)

Front after
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/MarcP1971/2013-12-15_11-55-57_645_zpsdfb11447.jpg (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/MarcP1971/media/2013-12-15_11-55-57_645_zpsdfb11447.jpg.html)

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/MarcP1971/2013-12-15_11-03-15_304_zps8747cd0f.jpg (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/MarcP1971/media/2013-12-15_11-03-15_304_zps8747cd0f.jpg.html)

Rear before
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/MarcP1971/2013-12-15_09-51-02_682_zps4aaf25d1.jpg (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/MarcP1971/media/2013-12-15_09-51-02_682_zps4aaf25d1.jpg.html)

Rear after
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/MarcP1971/2013-12-15_15-06-07_220_zps4e00ead7.jpg (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/MarcP1971/media/2013-12-15_15-06-07_220_zps4e00ead7.jpg.html)

Done
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/MarcP1971/2013-12-15_15-06-35_519_zps8161458e.jpg (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/MarcP1971/media/2013-12-15_15-06-35_519_zps8161458e.jpg.html)

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/MarcP1971/2013-12-15_15-06-20_921_zps08a3cb1b.jpg (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/MarcP1971/media/2013-12-15_15-06-20_921_zps08a3cb1b.jpg.html)

....Next up sliders!

[Good Times]

wow that was quick! :)

how long before it's fully armored?

[Seanz0rz]

Looks great! You absolutely have to come out with us this winter! I will find a way to force you!

[4x4mike]

Looks good.

Do you need to run air in the rear bags for it to sit level?

[Marc P]

I put them in for towing....I have a heavy pop-up trailer, and small jet boat I tow. The 3rd gen had a really hard time pulling the pop-up.

[Marc P]

My buddy Josh welded up the sliders today...the look great! Very well made, and fit perfect...thanks Adam from 4x Innovations

Now I just need some paint..

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/MarcP1971/2014-01-11_10-45-31_946_zpsbd6dc191.jpg (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/MarcP1971/media/2014-01-11_10-45-31_946_zpsbd6dc191.jpg.html)

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/MarcP1971/2014-01-11_19-00-35_84_zps41b3a75d.jpg (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/MarcP1971/media/2014-01-11_19-00-35_84_zps41b3a75d.jpg.html)

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/MarcP1971/2014-01-11_19-05-07_130_zps85e090f8.jpg (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/MarcP1971/media/2014-01-11_19-05-07_130_zps85e090f8.jpg.html)

[Seanz0rz]

Looks great! 4xI sliders are the biggest bang for buck! I put the HREW sliders on mine at least 6 years ago. They are dented and heavily scratched, but they keep accepting paint and keep going strong.

[Marc P]

All painted up and ready to rock..

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/MarcP1971/2014-01-12_16-55-40_656_zpsb8b43560.jpg (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/MarcP1971/media/2014-01-12_16-55-40_656_zpsb8b43560.jpg.html)

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/MarcP1971/2014-01-12_16-55-51_476_zpsee6fecc0.jpg (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/MarcP1971/media/2014-01-12_16-55-51_476_zpsee6fecc0.jpg.html)

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/MarcP1971/2014-01-12_16-56-04_360_zps8b412c61.jpg (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/MarcP1971/media/2014-01-12_16-56-04_360_zps8b412c61.jpg.html)

[Good Times]

lookin good marc!

[4x4mike]

Yeah, looking good. I wished I had gotten a kick out like you've got.

[Kryptoroxx]

Nice looking runner! I am thinking about doing bags after I lift as well since from time to time I tow and I hate squatting.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk

[Seanz0rz]

Kickouts are great for pivoting around a rock, especially on tight trails where the difference in tracks from front to rear mean the rear ends up trying to climb a bolder it cannot.

I have also been told they are great for resting a cheek on when nature calls. You could say the kickout performs /puts sunglasses on/ Double Doodie.

As for airbags, get ones that match what you need, not the stock 4runner ones. I'll post a thread about swapping mine out when I get the cash to do so.

[Kryptoroxx]

I have been saving for the sonoran steel lift and they have bags for that lift. That was my plan at least. Tax season will dictate.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk

[4x4mike]

Kickouts are great for pivoting around a rock, especially on tight trails where the difference in tracks from front to rear mean the rear ends up trying to climb a bolder it cannot.



I'd want them for the pivoting part. A couple of times now I've slid most of the length on the slider only for the rock to end up in my fender flare. I've got some flare scrapes but they are lower profile than the Limited flares and black so it's not too bad. The kick outs would make it a little easier for the kids to climb in as well. My daughter loves wearing cowgirl boots and they are pointy and slippery enough to make it a little tough. I had to remove some of the grip tape at her door because it was cutting up her leg/knee and messing up her clothes.

[Bob98SR5]

welcome back, mark!

[Marc P]

I like the kickouts on these sliders because they are not too big...I think the All-Pro ones are way overkill.

Thanks Bob!

[04 Rocko Taco]

I am actually a little surprised, given some of the issues I had, but my 4Xinnovations sliders have taken a lot of beating, and are holding up fine (mine are DOM). I got the kickouts as well! Super handy in the rocks.

[fenrisx]

I am actually a little surprised, given some of the issues I had, but my 4Xinnovations sliders have taken a lot of beating, and are holding up fine (mine are DOM). I got the kickouts as well! Super handy in the rocks.

I came here to post "Well, there goes the neighborhood..", thinking that you started this thread.

So... nevermind. :)

[Marc P]

Had a chance to paint and install the RCI skidplates that have been sitting in my garage for a few weeks....

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/MarcP1971/2014-05-18_17-39-44_287_zpsc2772b77.jpg (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/MarcP1971/media/2014-05-18_17-39-44_287_zpsc2772b77.jpg.html)

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/MarcP1971/2014-05-18_18-47-08_572_zps567f68d2.jpg (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/MarcP1971/media/2014-05-18_18-47-08_572_zps567f68d2.jpg.html)

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/MarcP1971/2014-05-18_18-50-36_654_zpsb1ec5d62.jpg (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/MarcP1971/media/2014-05-18_18-50-36_654_zpsb1ec5d62.jpg.html)

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b251/MarcP1971/2014-05-18_18-50-01_187_zpsffcc15bf.jpg (http://s21.photobucket.com/user/MarcP1971/media/2014-05-18_18-50-01_187_zpsffcc15bf.jpg.html)

[Seanz0rz]

Looks great! Let's go scrape the hell out of em!

[Jaydee914]

Yeah, let's make a run!