What have you done to your 5th Gen 4Runner today?

Looks great!

 

Nice! Did you skip out on the jamboree, too?

 

Did you fix it? If so, what worked? Thanks.

 

Hood hinge mount, yes. NOT for an antenna.

Used this https://caliraisedled.com/products/...low-profile-led-ditch-light-mounting-brackets and adapted it for the antenna. NOT sure if the bolt hole had to be modified. I doubt it as it would have to be powder-coated, and I know that was NOT done. Before purchase, I contacted the company but they declined to recommend its use for an antenna. Just under two years and some 30k miles, highway and offroad, the weBoost OTR antenna is still connected to the bracket. To keep the hood even, installed one on each side, one for the antenna and one empty. Because the antenna tends to have a lot of torsion due to multidirectional exaggerated movement, I also changed the hood bolts (on both sides) to ~1/8-1/4" longer to keep the length of thread bite lost from the bracket's thickness. My reasoning for this mounting choice, the antenna height is equal to the bicycle rack height (without a bicycle). While I do NOT always have the bicycle on top I always have the bicycle rack on top. If the antenna in front of me, which I can see from the driver's seat, does NOT fix (ie parking structure) the bicycle rack will NOT either. Hope that helps.

 

Almost finished the DIY hidden winch. It needs a minor tweak tomorrow to be finished. Also, cut a winch control access hole and made a cover for it.

 

Nice! Thank you! This is exactly what I bought for my cb antenna. I have the hood hinge mount for my Tacoma from relentless fab(?) and didn’t change the bolt lengths and it’s been fine for a few years, although I usually remove the antenna when not in use. Wonder if I need to for this install. Also, if I install the bracket between the bolt flange and the hood hinge, does it still lift the hood enough that I have to install both? Just curious. Gonna give it a shot either way. Thank you again!

 

I have a quick release for my antenna--same hood mount. I keep it in the back seat and only mount it when I'm using it.

 

Sure did, I asked for a refund and got it. Any chance to get with the boys out in Arkansas I got to take it.

Not sure if anyone else went to the Jamboree? I heard it was extremely packed,

 

Have you found it to be a good buy?The reviews I see are all over the place. Most understand that it is a device that will help prolong a current connection as opposed to starting a new one.

 

305

 

Drive

 

NOT mechanically knowledgeable, like I don't even know how to begin to change the oil much less change the oil at all, thus NOT sure what advice I can give. What I do know, on the longer shaft, the weBoost antenna's movement is very dramatic. NOT most of the time but when driving at highway speeds and in crosswinds the antenna puts on quite the dance show. More so than when offroad. Because of those crazy dancing moments, I thought to use the longer bolt for the torque and torsion. Which, now that I think of it, was likely the cause for the glued joint failure. As to putting the bracket on both sides, again I have NO idea what I am doing, but I know I run better when I have the same pair of shoes on both feet than when only wearing one shoe. Not to mention, the brackets come in a pair thus thought there must be a reason for that. While nothing on the other side bracket put in the longer bolts to just to be the same. Hope that helps.

 

where in Philly are you?

 

So…funny story, I had it for around a year. And always wondered if it worked. Seemed like I never got any kind of boost on my trips.

Yeah, turns out, with my cell service being a first responder network, it’s on a special frequency that is not compatible with weboost. So my girlfriend is the only one that may have benefited from it I sold it a couple of weeks ago.

I will say, seems about everyone in west Texas has one.

 

Disclaimer: I purchased the weBoost because of the work I do throughout rural Arizona and I need an Internet connection for documentation. It being for work as an independent contractor I can, and did, write it off. While it makes a huge difference on whether or NOT I have a connection for work, which is 100% text and NOT images/video that requires a strong connection, I would NOT have purchased it for personal use alone as the purpose of getting out into the middle of nowhere is to get away.

That said, the weBoost antenna does make a huge difference. Just this weekend I was in Glen Canyon, AZ, it's in the middle of nowhere and where the line of sight connection is lost inside the canyon. Yet, had a connection with the weBoost that fluctuated between 0-4 b bars, but had a connection. While in the canyon I was waiting for a call and thus had the indoor antenna directly attached to the back of the phone. If I removed the antenna from the back of the phone it lost the connection (the phone NOT the antenna lost connection). While the bars fluctuated between 0-4 bars once connected it held onto the call without dropping. NOT sure if holding the call was because of the antenna but I am sure that without the antenna I would have NOT captured the call. A misconception of the weBoost (and similar products) is that it creates a connection. It does NOT. The weBoost antenna, and I guess every antenna, only facilitates a connection but does NOT create a connection. Additionally, the weBoost antenna only functions while powered. When I had the antenna connected to the vehicle's start battery the moment it was shut off the connection was lost. Now I have the antenna connected to the house battery and am able to continue using the antenna after the vehicle is shut off. Huge difference. Lastly, and the main reason I connected the antenna to the house battery, the weBoost antenna will drag or extend a connection from outside its reach into an area where there is NO connection, like inside a canyon where line of sight is lost. However, the weBoost antenna dragged whatever connection was outside to where I was inside Glen Canyon. The moment the power to the antenna is disconnected that dragged connection is lost. Thus, by keeping the antenna power on with the house battery it's possible to still have a connection inside Glen Canyon.

I understand the reason for mixed reviews, it's a lot of money if it does NOT meet expectations. Many of the reviews I read are due to NOT knowing what they do NOT know. For example, (1) That the weBoost antenna facilitates a connection and is NOT a signal by itself. (2) That there is NO connection after losing power and when power is reconnected there still is NO connection. (3) And the likes. Anyhow, hope that helps. Again, had I NOT been able to write it off (~$600) I would NOT have purchased it. But, now that I used it successfully, it makes a difference. Still NOT sure I would purchase on my own.

 

Stock bumper but the swing out is from Rigd Supply

 

NOT wanting to open the hood to access the winch control made access through the grill. https://www.4runners.com/threads/wh...h-gen-4runner-today.2261/page-600#post-302197

 

Final project! also painted the grill center with bedliner along with the valance area, the letters are black with a matte clear, to give the "ghost" effect. But now since just need to put on more layers of ceramic wax. Now to start gathering material to fab up a lower front bumper and bike carrier.

 

Yeah there are trade-offs when you want a winch and keep the truck’s face intact. I have a couple of remotes, so if I have to use the manual controls a lot of stuff failed to get there. Sure as I DON’T create that access I will get somewhere and need it. @The Knitted Brow

 

I understand completely. My only reason for connections in remote areas is the need to stay informed of severe weather and radar access. The areas I go tend to suffer from flash flooding and tornadoes in certain times of the year.

The one thing you brought up that is a concern is a constant flow of juice from a power source. To properly benefit I need to start figuring out a power solution. I use a Jackery 850 for my fridge (An insulated cover has improved efficiency by almost two-fold) however if I dont wheel long enough to top off the juice it could take awhile to top off the power bank.

 

By no means an expert, I would consider a weather radio with a proven reliability record for decades over unreliable internet access for current weather updates, especially regarding those areas and weather phenomena you mention. While visual radar access is a huge benefit it's NOT a benefit if unreliable.

Solar, in any form--permanent install vs temporary foldable, is the best source for keeping your power bank charged when NOT moving enough to use the alternator.

 

We have a weather radio, it is indeed a godsend, the radar "want" is for sure a first-world nerdy thing,

I do have a 100w solar panel from Jackery, the issue is when weather is cloudy the watts coming in turn into a trickle. Im considering either doubling the panels or looking at a second battery source (it just seems like a PITA and expensive)

 

sold this on CL for $140 , helping to offset the cost of my lo pro bumper from SSO!

 

lmao good luck on your side! Mine went in trash

 

You're "Good Luck" must've worked, he sold it!

* In reality he sold it prior to you wishing him good luck but hey, it all helps!

 

I was saying good luck on his side to sell it for that. Any time you can get good money for stock parts is a win

 

Today I took pride in that my 4Runner on 295s is doing better on gas than my wife's stock Highlander. (I'm averaging about 16 atm)

 

Yep! Good on him. I planned to trash mine since my buddy that works at the recycler just got this in a couple days ago. Apparently they are not in high demand.

 

I agree it was lucky to happen to find someone who needed it! Either way, this is so much better!