RedRunner's 2016 SR5 Build and Adventure Thread

We've really enjoyed this thread! Keep up the great work. It's the closest we've gotten to the Springs in 2020. Cheers!

 

Glad you are enjoying it!

 

Totally forgot to post these. We did a quick Color Changing run when my buddy bought his 1st Gen Tundy

IMG_9230 by Red Runner, on Flickr
IMG_9232 by Red Runner, on Flickr

Found some deer
IMG_9237 by Red Runner, on Flickr
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Last weekend we did a run from Canon City to Cripple Creek back to Colorado Springs. We went from sunny 62 degrees in Canon City to snowy mountains and freezing in Colorado Springs. I think this was the last trip for The Lamb(2nd Gen 4Runner), as it developed rod knock climbing the snowy hill.

IMG_9275 by Red Runner, on Flickr
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Hard to see but the snow capped mountains in the background were absolutely stunning!
IMG_9284 by Red Runner, on Flickr
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THE LAST HILL CLIMB for The Lamb
IMG_9312 by Red Runner, on Flickr

This spot was super rutted and super icy. Took me 3 times to get over but the 'ol girl made it!
IMG_9313 by Red Runner, on Flickr
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Switch from Amsoil to Shell Rotella and no Kirkland Brand. Going to do a oil analysis done to see how it stacks up.

Untitled by redrunner87, on Flickr
Untitled by redrunner87, on Flickr

 

First sample was Amsoil but it was pretty much all highway, since I was commuting pretty from work. Second sample was Shell Rotella but did have a lot of off-roading and overloading involved. Also I now live 3 miles from work, so not sure if that effects it at all.

4RUNNER-210102 by redrunner87, on Flickr

 

Awesome truck!

 

Thanks! Trying to do a budget over(under)land build

 

More money and time to go off-roading , I wish I could go out as often as it looks like you get to!

 

That is the goal! Plus I am trying to just take what I need and nothing more. Keeping it nimble and easier to get places.

 

Great build and lots of great pictures! I’m in Denver and planning some similar mods out so i’ve read through the whole thread.

A couple questions-

What was the reason for spacers? Did you find the pizza cutters less stable or did you just want a more aggressive width?

Other than looks what finally motivated the lift? Seems like the tires fit fine, and you did some pretty extensive offroading without it. Was it for ride quality or to improve approach and departure angles?

thanks!

 

Absolutely love my Pizza Cutters. The only reason I went with spacers was purely looks reasons. I wanted to poke the tires out a little bit(it lined them up perfectly with the fenders). I have two buddies running 255/80's with no spacers and they have no issues whatever with stability.

I was at 100K miles and wanted to "refresh" the suspension. Also wanted to sit up a little higher and get more clearance. It definitely rides better loaded down when I do my camping trips with the suspension. But I did a weeklong trip without the lift and it rode and did great. I did a ton of off-roading without a lift, but it was put on for looks, to refresh and improve approach/departure angles

 

Wow 100k on pizza cutters with no lift. I’m trying to go as long as I can without lifting. Being able to fit 33s on stock suspension helps a ton. I have RCI sliders and skids on the way, and plan on mounting 255 Wilpeaks this spring. Hope to see you on the trails!

 

When I took the stock suspension off it, the shocks were still pretty strong. I was actually pretty shocked on how much resistance the stock shocks had on them still. My intention wasn't really to lift it honestly. I had purchased 1" Cornfed spacers for the front and I was going to rock that for awhile. But Ironman had such a killer deal I couldn't pass it up. I would run stock as much as you can. I had no issues with 33"s and stock suspension. Sliders help a lot too. I need to pull mine off soon and touch them up.

 

I need to read up on those foam cell technology, haven’t heard much about it. I’ve had icons on my old FJ and they felt softer off-road but that was a really heavy rig. Steel bumpers, winch, 35s. This time I’m trying to build practical functionality over looks.

I have to wait for my daughter to grow 3 more inches before I can lift or she won’t be able to get in on her own, so I have a while!

 

It is supposed to stay cooler longer and recover faster. Not sure how true that is, but I have zero complaints.

Luckily my daughter still is light enough to be lifted into the Runner. Hopefully by the time she is roaming on her own, I will have a better DD.

 

Before
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During

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After

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Decided to re-do all my wiring for the ditch lights. That included pulling all the connectors I used and then soldering them together and heat shrinking them. Downside, I just moved and couldn't find my extension cord, so I had to make do. Also tested out the free light bar I got. Going to try to mount it in the upper grill and get rid of the raptor lights.

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https://www.youtube.com/embed/kHUzH-9oGPo

 

Nice to see another SR5 build. I love the Barcelona red!

We bought a 2016 for my wife and she’s now getting into hitting the trails with me.

 

Awesome! The SR5 will serve you well. A lot of people talk crap about it not being a TRD OR/Trail, but my SR5 hasn't let me down yet. As you can see, I definitely take my out and abuse her.

 

A little camping mod done. This mod serves two purposes, 1) I lost the remote and the light is super bright. Hoping it will dull it out. 2) I am hoping the red will keep the bugs away from my windows and not kill our night vision

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Untitled by redrunner87, on Flickr
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I did about 5 coats. It is a little more pink/white than I wanted, so hopefully it achieves the goal I want it to.
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I received a free 28" light bar and my plan is to try to squeeze it into the upper grill area. I didn't really want a white light so I decided to change it to yellow with Lamin-x. I ordered a 2"x30" strip and was able to cut it in half and use two strips to darken the yellow. The light bar has a remote and offers 3 output levels and a few different strobe settings.

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Untitled by redrunner87, on Flickr
Low Setting
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High Setting
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Got this light bar for free. Put a couple Lamin-x strips on it and tried to mount it in the upper grill. That was a no go, so I found this Rago Hidden Mount with the bar for a steal of the price. Didn't realize he was selling the lights with them as well. So I have to figure that out as well.

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Untitled by redrunner87, on Flickr
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Getting ready to install the Rago Hidden Light Bar mount
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Mounted up and all the bars adjusted
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Testing the wiring
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All the forward facing lights
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All buttoned up
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Final product
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I just got a 2021 TRD ORP last week and mine is reading faster than my GPS. I have one Ridge Grappler LT255/80r17 tire on order with Discount Tire to fit test it without a lift. Tires are hard to get right now! Is the front driver side the only place that you experienced any rubbing with your 255/80r17 on stock suspension? Did you end up making any modifications to run the 255/80r17?

 

Seems like everything is hard to get now-a-days! I only rubbed on the front mud flaps when I was running stock suspension. I simply just removed the mud flaps and I had no rubbing. I'm sure you could use a heat gun a remold if you didn't want to do that, but I didn't try that.

 

We did a birthday run in Woodland Park, CO. We hit up Rampart Range Road, Hotel and Missouri Gulch and ended it in Mini Mob. It was definitely a fun and challenging run. I haven't hit dirt in soooo long, so it was nice to get out.

Air down:
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Pikes Peak in the background
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Mini Moab
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One video:
https://youtu.be/5EaMel5unqg

 

Just got back from doing a 1k mile camping trip and noticed that my LCA was black when it should have been covered in mud. I also noticed the shock body was also black and looked to be covered in grease. I emailed Ironman yesterday(Sunday) and they got back to me today. They asked for pictures, which I provided and they immediately stated they would be sending me a new strut. No idea when or where the shock started leaking, but I can say the ride quality never diminished with the oil leaking. Basically this is what the email stated "we'll get a replacement strut (45710FE) sent your way soon! Your Foam Cell Pro should be fine driving on until you get it replaced... one of the benefits of having foam." I am pretty happy with Ironmans Customer Service. They were easy to deal with for sure.

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Cleaned it up a little bit for better pictures
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Untitled by redrunner87, on Flickr

 

https://youtu.be/MSRyW6ITvKk

 

I don't think I really posted my sleep platform, so here it is!

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