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

I can roll dimes on a clean flat surface but I failed on this one for sure. I could grind it down and make it look nice. However, that just weakens the weld. We will see maybe I will take the wheel off next time.

 

4 years in the making! Finally was able to install my headlights and all the other lighting along with the C4 bumper ☺️

 

Nothing like a random snow storm nearing the end of April. My 4Runner looked just as disgusted this morning as I did. *laughs* I swear, the older I get the more I'm ready to move to the desert.

 

Friend of mine Ed from Ohio, is working his way west (overlanding) and stopped by yesterday. We hit some trails together off of Glade Top Trail in the Mark Twain National Forest. Mid trail we met up with Blue Line Overland, who was also running a trail ride.

Blue Line Overland consists of active and retired LE who donate all the funds from their swag sales to needy children. I met them previously at the MOORE event in Springfield, MO a couple months ago and bought a couple of their patches.
https://bluelineoverland.com/




It was cold and snowing yesterday, which is really rare for the Ozarks in April. The day before it was 75F.

 

Which is more important, looks or strength? I am not a welder.

 

Both.

 

I finally received my set of C4 full skidders just a few weeks short of a 6 month wait, guess they got real busy with all the discounted pre-order thingy they did at Thanksgiving time... No worries, it's all good!

Unboxed em, checked em all out, made sure everything was there and they were off to Maverick powder coating in Anaheim. They came out great with a less than a week completion time!

I put them on Saturday by myself with a lil help from my motorcycle jack, that front skid was a bit heavy and awkward for me to try and bench press that sucker up and get a bolt started! LOL

Took a couple hours, wasn't bad at all except for on bolt was a pain in the arse to get tightened down. And if you watch the install video, you'll notice they don't film them putting in that one bolt! I find it funny now but not when i was under the truck almost breaking my arm to get it done.

Anyways, here's a couple pics of the job completed. I rewarded myself with a burrito and a beer for lunch after.



As I told my buddy, "these things are super beefy with an extra side of beef!"

 

Strength... but often looks is synonymous with strength. You just want to look for good weld penetration and not a lot porosity.

 

Nice! Here is my RC4WD Trail Finder II.

 

Sweet! I like how that truck looks! Is it a hard body? It's way more detailed than my Tralrunner's lexan body.

Check out my topic about RC here. Don't worry, you don't have to be from NJ to join in https://www.4runners.com/threads/finally-some-legal-offroading-in-central-new-jersey.14668/

 

Sharp eye

 

Can you have one without the other or are both a prerequisite?
My wife, a retired veterinarian, wants to learn to weld.

 

Is porosity part of the weld itself and not the metal?
My wife, a retired veterinarian, wants to learn to weld.

 

Redoing the old TRD rims for a set of mud tires. They will look much better without the two tone spokes. Painting the caps and powder coating the rims.

 

Nothing fancy, added a center console safe that I was able to save a bunch on by ordering on FleaBay.

 

Idk if this qualifies for “wtf you do for Gen 5 today”, but anyway I just emailed Drifta from Australia. I have been researching drawer systems for my T4R and when I really noticed Drifta I thought theirs just may be it. There are a few tweaks I would ask them to do for me and I think they’d do it and I’d be sold 100%. So that’s all for now.
Oh yeah and I just went for a trail ride today, first time in the new Pro.

 

Had a slight twinge of regret when I saw that the original 4Runner ORP I had ordered finally arrived at the dealership(and yep, that glitch did indeed wipe out every single option I had requested for that vehicle), but, l then looked at all the extra stuff I've been able to add on with the money I saved, and the fact that I'm already having a lot of fun with the SR5P I ended up buying...That twinge of regret didn't last too long.

 

What was the discount on those at the time? Now I think they are going for $729 for the set of three.

 

Google weld porosity and you'll find examples and full explanations of how/why it happens and how to prevent. Usually it's inadequate shielding gas, or could be dirty/contaminated surface. Could also come from going too fast (which is more so leaving gaps rather than porosity), or too hot (burning through).

 

Just looked up my receipt, been so long since I ordered. LOL

I believe it was 20% off, The price I paid was $583. So, for full set of skids, I think it's a pretty good price. Worth the wait.

 

Installed battery powered LED strips behind molle panels (multi color)
hatch lights

Strips only
Hatch and strips

 

Thanks

 

Wow those are bright! Pretty cool and no wires to run. Where did you get them?

 

Thanks
Looked up -battery powered led strip- on anzn

 

Thanks.

 

Got some Methods finally. Next up, waiting for the suspension to be delivered!

 

Bit the bullet and replaced the windshield. We're roadtripping to Kansas next week and I didn't want to give the state patrol any reason to pull me over. It's bad enough driving into their state with Colorado tags on my truck.

 

Um...HOLY cow that glass is CLEAR!!!
But like...wouldn't they pull you over for NOT having a windshield
LOL
JKJK

 

The new glass is amazing! It's almost like it wasn't there at all.

 

Found a person selling the following for $100:
https://www.4runners.com/threads/used-oem-headlights-and-fog-lights-for-100-00.19700/#post-240286