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

Just to update a little, the RCI radiator plate mated up with the Victory front skid really well. Install was pretty straight forward, except for the fact that my old bones don’t like me doing that kind of stuff, so I have to take breaks, and have a samitch & a beer. Thanks to you all for the support.

 

well done looks great

 

Where did get that from I been looking for that link please

 

https://www.canvasback.com/index.php/products/toyota-liners/4-runner.html

 

Really nice! Great work!

 

Frosty got fangs.

 

Turned out great bro. Ordered mine as well. Thanks for being the guinea pig for us LOL

 

Glad you found something. Its tough at times in the job field. The vendors are happy for you too!!!

 

Kevin,
Congratulations on your new job!
Not apples to apples. However, when I lowered my '87 Toyota Supra I used Eibach springs & Tokico shocks (worked with the factory electronic suspension). The combination was excellent and handled like it was on rails!
I think Toyota may work with Eibach or they are really good about sharing spring rates & critical information. I would pair them with our T4R in a second!
Now get to building. Lol
Glad it worked out for you.
Ryan.

 

Is the RCI installed on a 4Runner at their shop or an after picture of a customer install? Could’ve been polished up and then pictures were taken to sent to RCI.

All the skids I’ve bought and seen brand new have needed to be sanded/grinded because most fab shops expect them to be painted and not left bare. That is probably powder coat ready imo. I don’t think it has to be polished down perfect to be sent to a powder coat shop.

But that’s just my opinion. Like buttholes everyone will have one and they will all be crappy.

 

Also if you look at the RCI skid the welds aren’t ground down so it’s more than likely polished in some way before the bending and welding that victory 4x4 may not be able to replicate.

 

I have the RCI's and they came and look just like that pic.

 

I was wondering if you would go struts & springs or just struts. Congrats on the new job. Big burden lifted...

 

Does anyone have any experience with an X-Bull winch? Reviews seem good

 

Do you know if the victory skid is aluminum as well? Don’t feel like scrolling back.

 

A buddy has one on his tacoma and it’s pulled me out several times. I can’t speak for how long it lasts because he’s only had it about 1.5 years but it does pull well.

 

I did a write up on this winch for this thread a couple of weeks ago. I mounted mine on a tow hitch cradle. Haven’t used mine for recovery yet, but it seems like a solid product and the set up is easy.

 

Thanks for the feedback

 

The one posted in the picture by @SlvrSlug is aluminum and is the actual skid he received from Victory 4x4. EDIT: image copy below. Looks like a high school shop class project huh?

 

I don't think it looks bad for being sold as "powdercoat ready". RCIs skid was welded and not ground down or else it would look the exact same as the victory skid. RCI is obviously a bigger company with more resources and ways to make look the way it looks. But in the end it's a skid so it'll look beat up anyways if you use it and if you don't use then why waste $300+ on a piece of bent metal that you can only see if you're laying on the ground?

 

I know several guys that have had them for years and ran the piss out of them they worked well. Some had a few solenoid issues but nothing terrible.

 

I agree about the use of the skid but powder coat ready it was not. You can't see the deep gouges from the pic. Again, yes it's a skid and is under the vehicle but there is some expectation of fit and finish for a $300 part from a company that markets and advertises their "quality" products here and on other sites heavily. Also look at other companies offerings and the disappointment is real. Then...Factor in the initial crappy/ NO customer service response and.... they have lost me as a customer. YMMV.

 

I got my ASE Auto Maintenance and Light Repair certification today. I passed and everything, though i prolly should of bought one of the good study guides and practice tests before doing it... I figured it would be super easy even without studying... It really WASNT. If the test was actually hands on that would be easier, the "Theory" type questions are what trips me up. Never LOVED taking test though.

But screw it... Its done. Next time i will do some better studying so i dont have to be in the middle of the test worrying if im going to make it LOL

Now im jumping into the automotive electronics course at the college. Another year and a half and i will have every automotive course offered locally.... Then ALL vehicles will turn into solar powered hover cars and everything i learned will be obsolete

 

Congratulations on your achievement! That is awesome. I tried to be an auto tech after high school. I was too dumb to get a loan for the tools.
You have no worries. The ICE isn't going anywhere that fast. Lots of infrastructure is still needed.
Congratulations again,
Ryan

 

Congratulations my man. I've let all my ASE certs run out since I'm no longer a mechanic for a living. They really aren't that hard I never studied for a single test, the key is narrowing down the answers based on what they asked. Like MOST correct, LEAST likely, etc that's how they get people. There could be several correct answers to the question but only one is correct for the wording they have. Even if tthey turn into solar powered hover cars the things you learn won't be obsolete your theory will guide you through the electronics. It's all pretty simple just application is different take what you learn and apply it an electric motor is an electric motor pretty much. And solar is DC power but has to be converted to AC. You can do it!!!!

I was an ASE certified master tech, ASE master diesel tech., silver level chevy tech, and ASE machinist.

 

Congratulations..never stop learning

 

LED lights, took front license plate off! Added some km3s(33s)1.5 spacer in front and 1 in rear. Toytech

 

https://www.4runners.com/threads/2020-tax-time-sale-20-off-plus-giveaway.12359/

 

Got my switches wired up to the dash lights, just need to wire them to the actual lights this weekend. Also got my last two wheel spacers in.

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

 

Thanks fellas!!

Yeah man the wording screws me up, it's like they try and trick you with the wording which I don't understand... Seems like they'd understand a bunch of grease monkeys aren't the smartest tools in the shed

I'm doing all of this as a hobby. I'll work on my own vehicles and prolly get an old truck to rebuild but I'm not a mechanic for a living... I'm "retired" I'm only 35, and technically I'm a disabled veteran, but I don't feel disabled most the time so I decided to go to school and learn to work on vehicles for fun.... It just keeps getting more involved LOL at first it was just going to be a workshop type class... Now it's a degree type with extra workshops, performance classes, ASE certs and everything else I can squeeze into. Built me a garage on my property and been collecting tools as well. Wish the damn tools weren't so expensive... But eventually I'll have a nice setup!