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

Tint installed.

 

What tint?! I can't take my eyes off the Nauti Blue and GOLD!

 

Added 20% ceramic all around, except the windshield.

I am loving the nautical blue myself.

 

I can't wait for mine to arrive.

 

Love the flag reflection off the blue!

 

After a good detailing, I installed Diode Dynamics Stage Series reverse lights.. been on my want list since I ordered the rig, and I just picked them up on Memorial Day sale. Looks like the left one is a little sideways .. I'll have to investigate.


And then some AVS original vent shades. Very happy with the look, but I need to figure out how to get rid of the AVS white lettering on them.

 

looks good

maybe it’s just the curve of the bumper or even the tire that makes it seem that way

acetone or something similar for the lettering

 

Installed India's helmet because she will NOT sit in the passenger seat as long as the footwell is empty. Maybe it's because she is still a puppy at 14 months old, or she fears falling through the abyss of the footwell as she cannot define the bottom, and likely she'll grow out of it. Because when the void is occupied, like when we traveled to Guatemala, she's comfortable sitting in the passenger seat. Nonetheless, for now, I cut up a styrofoam cooler to fit the space. Maybe later an outside opening to take advantage of the space underneath for storage. (By the way, before the Internet bans me for life, by helmet, I mean safety helmet; like one to ride a tricycle.)

 

Looks good! At the rear, do you have 20% on top of the privacy glass, or did you have them match so the final result would give 20%

 

Reinstalled the Brite Box anytime foglight kit. I had this kit on my 2020 ORP and removed it prior to trading it for a 2022 ORP.

The install is pretty easy except for getting the wires through the firewall grommet. That is a PITA. I am very happy with the end results.

 

Did some canine test fitting.

Untitled by Mike H, on Flickr
Untitled by Mike H, on Flickr

 

Fortunate to visit Gibson Exhaust.

They keep my 4Runner for some R&D... I get some goodies! Will keep you all posted!

 

Got a bunch of rusted and worn out suspension parts replaced on the 4Runner in one day at a shop. Would've taken me multiple weekends to do it all myself.

Springs and shocks replaced with 2022 OEM takeoffs
Sway bar links replaced with my Tacoma's OEM takeoffs
Moog K500417 lower ball joints
Mevotech MES80895 outer tie rod ends
Energy Susp 8.9104G urethane bumpstops - these are a good value and feel cushy

 

Installed the DR KDSS TrackBar correction kit.

 

The black abyss bothers me too, so I can understand India’s desire to define the bottom of the floors with herself lol.

I have thought about getting floor mats that are a lighter gray instead of the black. If you drop anything down there at night, it’s impossible to find it unless you have stadium lighting lol.

 

no matching just 20% all around

 

That’s hot. Mmmm

Poster-worthy picture lol.

 

That tire is at least 10 years old

 

I live in Luna County, and venture into the Chiricahua mts and the desert surrounding the area in AZ. A/C does okay, not like old R13, but good enough.

 

In the summer in AZ it’s hot no matter what car you have if it’s been sitting in the sun. But once you’ve been driving for a couple of minutes the AC of the 4R works perfectly fine. In 115F, I set my AC at the lowest temperature (obviously) and max fan for the first 5 min or so, then I lower it to about half. After driving 30+ min I’m down to the second setting of fan speed usually and it’s plenty sufficient. Point is, once the interior has been cooled, it does a fairly good job at staying cool without blasting the AC to the max

 

Yeah, my expectations are very low for at least the first 20 minutes. I'm more concerned about keeping up in the steady state.

As a point of reference, I used to do some equipment testing at Yuma Proving Ground, even at peak summer heat, and the Florence Air National Guard Range. One of our Yuma testing spots was adjacent to the GM test track out there. We watched them running vehicles (disguised and not) under horrible conditions. The worst-looking one was done in 110F air temps. The car under test was driving ~35 mph, about four lengths behind an identical car that dragged a big mat to create a continuous cloud of dust, thick enough to be dangerous from a visibility standpoint. They ran that way for hours on end.

 

Built a cheap last minute sleeping platform right before leaving for a camping trip

 

It looks like a good fit. Is it 3/4" plywood? What's it got underneath?

 

15/32 plywood cut to 41" x 43.5" wrapped in cheap carpet, and underneath one 8' 2x4 cut into thirds screwed into place

 

What product did you use? How was installation?

As a former Wrangler owner, I know the pitfalls of an unprotected radiator.

This was the covering I used on my Jeep. It was only 4 pop rivets to install.

 

Didn’t think it would happen to me. The 4runner has been sleeping outside for a couple weeks since my garage is in project mode. It was apparently too great of an opportunity for the local small mammals to resist.



There was a pretty good stash of acorns and nesting material in there. I thinkI got all out. No chewed wires that I could see, and no check engine lights as of yet. Hopefully it stays that way!

 

I filled up the gas for the first time, checked the tires and the fluids. This vehicle has by far the longest dipstick I've ever used. I was wondering when the end was finally going to come out.

 

You can get the gutter guard at Home Depot. The bottom panel will fit with no cutting at all (least I didn't have too) and a little finagling. The top panel will need to be cut-to-fit. Zip tie to keep in place.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Amerima...lack-Metal-Mesh-Gutter-Guard-6360X2/205207064

 

So, not a seamless fit? No Home Depots around me. Was hoping it was a pre made solution, like it was for my Jeep. Not something I have to make work. Thanks though.