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Cheap 4runner mods, emphasis on cheap

Discussion in 'General 4Runner Talk' started by v_man, Mar 13, 2016.

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  1. Mar 13, 2016 at 1:22 PM
    #1
    v_man

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    v_man [OP] New Member

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    Mods, tips, tricks, hacks , whatever you call it , let's see 'em. Keep it cheap , say $100 max? No ARB air lockers or $5,000 Icon suspensions ...

    It'd be helpful if you state the cost $$$ , time to install , and a link to parts if u can...

    Here we go : Interior LED lights hooked up to a remote control...gives you tons of light inside, and very low power draw ... wife not included .

    Cost: Maybe $20
    Time: An hour to install
    parts: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HSF64JG?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00

    http://www.amazon.com/Remote-Contro..._60_img_3?ie=UTF8&refRID=1VP499HN3A7DXQRRQK95

    IMG_3402_zps9fcc782d_0617ccf37afebb69692d5589529b40a6ef3b5d34.jpg
    IMG_3397_zpsf78e17bc_aa7ceca3c47fe1b59fddf87367ef704b5d4a3c80.jpg
     
    v_man, Mar 13, 2016
    #1
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  2. Mar 13, 2016 at 2:25 PM
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    v_man

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    v_man [OP] New Member

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    v_man, Mar 13, 2016
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  3. Mar 14, 2016 at 10:48 AM
    #3
    v_man

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    v_man [OP] New Member

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    no mod love ???

    ok here's one more , an anti-theft measure . We all know how ez the old 'Runners are to steal . Cut a piece of chain and weld it to your shifter, You should be able to lock your tranny shifter and t-case shifter together.

    cost: nearly zero , ok the lock might cost you
    time : an hour max
    parts: half a chain link , some spray paint , a welder , a cut off wheel and a lock

    IMG_3493_zpse54b4c49_b9b0fc686751be2ed60e3226879811256903cb84.jpg
    IMG_3490_zpse832383c_b53b4d25f4226343b7a985facdb56ff03d6e4c77.jpg
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    IMG_3512_zps59fd55df_dbfdb879b185f31849375fead8c9f90fa32c0feb.jpg
     
    v_man, Mar 14, 2016
    #3
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  4. Jul 7, 2016 at 6:10 AM
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    Molina4*4

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    Molina4*4 New Member

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    Do you have the install write up? Thats something would make my kid happy to help be apart of mods. Thanks
     
    Molina4*4, Jul 7, 2016
    #4
    Bob likes this.
  5. Jul 7, 2016 at 3:19 PM
    #5
    v_man

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    v_man [OP] New Member

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    ...sorry no write up . LED's are really easy to install , let me know if you have any questions ...
     
    v_man, Jul 7, 2016
    #5
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  6. Jul 9, 2016 at 9:08 AM
    #6
    Bruinsfan1122

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    Bruinsfan1122 New Member

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    Added a USB charger to my 2005 4Runner. 8 bucks on eBay. Very easy to install. Spliced it right into the cigarette lighter.

    image.jpg
     
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    Bruinsfan1122, Jul 9, 2016
    #6
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  7. Jul 9, 2016 at 11:25 AM
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    Bruinsfan1122

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    Bruinsfan1122 New Member

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    Started another project today. Only had to buy spray paint. I did it with flat black. Painting the mud flaps, the front and back Toyota symbol and the plastic trim piece on the bumper.

    image.jpg
     
    Bruinsfan1122, Jul 9, 2016
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  8. Jul 19, 2016 at 10:15 AM
    #8
    MeefZah

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    MeefZah ------------

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    I'll toss in a few, for a 5th gen.

    Roof bungee net, basically a 28"x28" ATV bungee, a frame made of paracord, and small pieces of velcro tie to keep the net and paracord together. About $20:

    [​IMG]

    Tool box shelf liner scrap placed into the two dash cubbies using spray adhesive to hold them down. Free. No more sunglasses and Altoids flying out when you hit the gas!

    [​IMG]

    This one might be interest-specific. I camp out of the back of the truck a lot and the fact that the rear seats don't fold flat and that the cargo floor has a drop in it is maddening (non-3rd row model). So, I built this 2.5" tall pallet and when I go camping, I unbolt and remove the rear seat bottoms, fold the seat backs forward, remove the fascia that separates the seat backs from the cargo floor, and slide this pallet in. This way you have a totally flat sleeping surface. About $30 in wood. Add a couple of cheap Rubbermaid Totes in the footwells and you extend the sleeping area about 12".

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Changed out the display screen to a photo I took. Free. Instructions in owners manual. Follow them EXACTLY using a blank flash drive.

    [​IMG]

    Probably no one cares about this, but it's my favorite mod. Littlite map light. Used they are around $20 on Ebay. These are the top of the line ones they put in fire trucks. All aluminum construction.

    [​IMG]
     
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    MeefZah, Jul 19, 2016
    #8
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  9. Oct 2, 2016 at 12:01 PM
    #9
    MeefZah

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    MeefZah ------------

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    Free, shut them DRLs off...

    [​IMG]
     
    MeefZah, Oct 2, 2016
    #9
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  10. Oct 3, 2016 at 8:13 AM
    #10
    MeefZah

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    MeefZah ------------

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    Kind of surprised no one has posted this yet... $20 Salex organizer ($18 with the t4r forum discount code):

    [​IMG]
     
    MeefZah, Oct 3, 2016
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  11. Feb 11, 2017 at 10:59 PM
    #11
    v_man

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    v_man [OP] New Member

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    The mod bug bit me again , I've been wanting to wire up some temperature gauges for awhile. I found these relatively cheap, yet quite accurate temp gauges on Amazon:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01H1RDJOI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
    Overall this mod took me most of the day as I ran into some wiring issues , but here's how it went down ...

    6409f9f0-0113-472f-84cd-abaa5ce10ca5_zps_aa2193d813061a356ae9c71cde94118a6ea11b5b.jpg
    I mounted two gauges in the center console tray , the gauge on the right reads the inside air temperature, the gauge on the left reads the outside air temp (both gauges come with a 4 foot temp. sensor)

    20170208_171001_zps7drhag6a_9d8c18dccc83c13e8d409c064454c34f6235fd70.jpg
    Then I tied the gauges into a switch

    20170211_123606_zpsmk7zt51a_0134824c38d17708ea03d27a746736ebd7e04621.jpg
    Next I cut up some plastic and glued the gauges and the plastic into the console

    20170211_172354_zpsknheanif_e1b1a32fc03f832732aee8a10ba24813d9dba4a1.jpg
    Then a few hours of wire and temp sensor wrangling, and then I put the radio back in

    6c24db92-6947-49a2-9cee-8782788ed66f_zps_c5346b9e07dc022d78baf6a63aa4b841707c8855.jpg
    And then it's done, and the blue of the temp lights matches my radio . Now I know how warm my 'Runner with no A/C is getting :)
     
    v_man, Feb 11, 2017
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  12. Feb 12, 2017 at 8:43 AM
    #12
    POOLGUY

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    POOLGUY New Member

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    :cheers: Good stuff here. Nothing I've done on my son's 4runner has been cheap.
     
    POOLGUY, Feb 12, 2017
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  13. Jun 12, 2017 at 7:36 PM
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    HarveyElmore

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    HarveyElmore New Member

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    HarveyElmore, Jun 12, 2017
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  14. Jun 12, 2017 at 7:36 PM
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    HarveyElmore

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    HarveyElmore New Member

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    Thanks selling my 16' Tacoma at the end of the month to pick up my new 4runner
     
    HarveyElmore, Jun 12, 2017
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  15. Jun 14, 2017 at 1:51 PM
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    v_man

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    v_man [OP] New Member

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    FWIW, I made a catalog of all my mods on my 2nd gen...you can find it here:
     
    v_man, Jun 14, 2017
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  16. Jun 14, 2017 at 10:30 PM
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    markiemark671

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    markiemark671 New Member

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    0a6ca0446c803357bbb2eeae96254341_d604012362e61f34c29115bc2c8dcb6899b36365.jpg

    Hatch protection from canvasback
     
    markiemark671, Jun 14, 2017
    #16
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  17. Jun 14, 2017 at 10:31 PM
    #17
    markiemark671

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    markiemark671 New Member

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    Which one is this? I have the same one but it crosses.. did u just remove the walls?
     
    markiemark671, Jun 14, 2017
    #17
  18. Jun 21, 2017 at 8:03 AM
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    MeefZah

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    MeefZah ------------

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    $8 power outlet... actually our local Radio Shack was going out of business so I bought all of these they had in stock... $3 each...wired to the open spot of the fuse panel which is always on, so the outlet is always hot. Putting the outlet right there makes it easy to charge a cell phone - just lay it on the passenger seat, the cord doesn't have to stretch that way.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Aug 11, 2017
    MeefZah, Jun 21, 2017
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  19. Jun 29, 2017 at 2:47 PM
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    salex

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    salex Vehicle OCD / Baselayer Vendor

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    I just got set up as a vendor here and wanted to share discounts and ordering details. 4 Runner center console organizers, center console trays, and glove box organizers. Specifics are on the Salex vendor page. See ordering details in my signature below.

     
    salex, Jun 29, 2017
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  20. Jun 29, 2017 at 6:13 PM
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    HarveyElmore

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    HarveyElmore New Member

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    Thanks, being a new owner soon and past Tacoma owner I will try to share common items to the 4Runner forum.
     
    HarveyElmore, Jun 29, 2017
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  21. Jul 26, 2017 at 1:06 AM
    #21
    larramo

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    larramo 3ed gen faithfully

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    3" lift but mostly all stock not a scratch on it it is pristine condition amazing for being 19 years old.
    i am absolutely digin that anti theft on the shifter idea fucking brilliant. i have a aftermarket alarm in my 4runner but it is so sensitive if a cat gets on the car it goes off. so i am doing that shifter idea too mine.as far as a cheep lift kit you can go to o'reilly's and get a rubber thing that goes between the top of your strut and the body of your 4runner for around 20$ and for the rear they have another thing for that just ask them and they will set you up remember it's not the best way its the cheapest way!! thank you you are awesome LARRY B.
     
    Last edited: Jul 26, 2017
    larramo, Jul 26, 2017
    #21
    v_man[OP] likes this.
  22. Jul 26, 2017 at 5:31 PM
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    HarveyElmore

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    HarveyElmore New Member

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    Nice add
     
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    HarveyElmore, Jul 26, 2017
    #22
  23. Aug 20, 2018 at 1:53 PM
    #23
    gspsrgr8

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    gspsrgr8 New Member

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    I installed a similar one, but with a built in voltmeter.
     
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    gspsrgr8, Aug 20, 2018
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  24. Aug 20, 2018 at 2:16 PM
    #24
    JosephMehta

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    JosephMehta New Member

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    Shrockworks Front Bumper, CBI Rear Swing Away with dual Jerry Cans and full size spare, Full Shrockworks Armor, Warn 9.5 Synthetic, PIAA Lighting on roof rack and front bumper, Rear lighting wired to vehicle's reverse gear, Dobisons dual slide out rear bay storage with sliding top and refrigerator tie-downs, Limb Risers, Gobi Rack w/mounted Powertank, Fire Extinguisher, Jack, Axe, and Shovel, 33" Nitto Grapplers (295/70/17), Body Mount Chop, Icon Stage 7 Billet w/S2 Stage 3 Secondary adjustable front suspension, 3.5 inch Icon Stage 7 Billet with Billet Upper and Lower Links, Icon Bump Stop, 3.0 inch Icon Overland Rear Coils, ARB Front and Rear Air Locker with ARB Differential Breather (relocated to engine bay), ARB Twin Compressor mounted in engine bay, 360 degree, 4-camera system with DVR with monitor mounted on the dash, Dual Rear Headrest Monitors w/DVD and gaming capability Future mods in 2019: Magnusson Supercharger w/Catback system and possibly an roof mounted, solar heated shower and water storage
    Best mod I made cost nothing and increased MPGs by a couple miles per gallon; got rid of some annoying, dead weight and a ridiculous, never-ending noise from the right side of the front seat area when I told the ex-girlfriend to go find an Uber...
     
    JosephMehta, Aug 20, 2018
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  25. Aug 20, 2018 at 3:27 PM
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    jgcaps

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    jgcaps Lovin the Colorado Life.!

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    Nice.! :) Probably saved you a few bucks as well:hattip:
     
    jgcaps, Aug 20, 2018
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  26. Aug 20, 2018 at 4:01 PM
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    MeefZah

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    MeefZah ------------

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    Good thing you weren't married, or getting rid of her would not have been a cheap mod...
     
    MeefZah, Aug 20, 2018
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  27. Aug 21, 2018 at 11:41 AM
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    eaglescout

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    eaglescout 2018 SR5

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    I popped out my drivers side mirror and replaced it with the RAV4 drivers side view mirror that has the extra mirror in top left for the blind spot. This change out is the mirror glass only, not all the housing. The change out took less than 60 seconds!! I ordered the RAV4 mirror from GenuinePartsDealer and the price was $61.35 shipped! The RAV4 Part# is 87961-42D20

    IMG_2745.jpg
     
    eaglescout, Aug 21, 2018
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  28. Aug 21, 2018 at 10:00 PM
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    WallyT4R

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    Salex organizer is a ripoff. I use one of those 4 pack or 6 pack cardboard carriers from my favorite beer at the time. I currently have a empty 4 pack in there as this worked without modification. Of course I enjoy the beer first, then organize
     
    WallyT4R, Aug 21, 2018
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  29. Aug 22, 2018 at 6:52 AM
    #29
    justinfro

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    justinfro New Member

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    justinfro, Aug 22, 2018
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  30. Aug 22, 2018 at 6:56 AM
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    Dougy

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    Could anyone tell me the free way to disable the DRL's on a 3rd gen? lol
     
    Dougy, Aug 22, 2018
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