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

Just confirmed ‘21 nightshade can… the simple thangs haha

 

Pretty sure it can. I would be suprised if it didn't. SR5's have that feature.

 

We’re telling you the whole freaking thing comes down.

 

I just recently found this feature too, from this thread post #23:
https://www.4runners.com/threads/under-rated-features.21828/

The latch handle is here:

 

You’ll really love the recline feature then when you bump into that!

 

Mine looks the same as your before picture. Can you tell me what you used equipment / chemical wise?

 

I started with a polisher, not an orbital buffer, that ran at 1800-2400 rpm. A 10" wool pad with 5 dime sized dollops of Meguire's "Solo" Cut and Polish Cream. Using my finger, I smeared the cream around the face/flat edge of the pad to reduce the "fly off". Worked one individual scratch at a time, one panel at a time. Finished up with an orbital buffer and a foam pad using same cut and polish cream.

If you can hook your finger nail on the edges of the scatches, you are probably into the paint and no amount of buffing will eliminate the chaos.

I was total noob at this buffing stuff. I am really proud of the results. Good luck!!

 

Ha!! That's my dirty interior! lol

Thanks for adding the arrow!

 

forgot to post this, but last weekend I was able to give my truck its first oil change. Installed the fumoto quick drain valve and upgrade to the metal oil filter housing from a camry



Had to take off the front skid plate so I could get enough access to the drain bolt area to tighten the fumoto.


but having the lift meant I got to take this beautiful shot of the underbelly of the rig ... that that I might need a fuel tank skid in the near future after seeing the solid dent in the stock one

 

Got rack and light bar installed.

 

Thank you for posting this! It's very helpful and I didn't know the feature was there! For the past few ski seasons, I've been telling my friends I can only have 1 of them ride in the back because I thought the rear seats are 60/40 splitting (we always have to fold down one of the rear seats for the skis). Now that I see the center comes down, we can fold down the center for the skis and have room for another friend to come along for the ski trips.

 

Good job on the pic. Credit to you. I was too lazy to snap my own so I used yours. I’ve had my 4R since 2018 and never knew about this fold down feature.

 

Yeah, it’s a great feature for carrying skis, fishing poles, or even lumber. Years ago I remember seeing something similar I think on a VW sedan where you’d folding down a rear seat flap, and in the trunk was an access port with a neoprene bag that extended into the back seat. For carrying wet skis and such. I thought that was a great idea.

 

I didn't know about it when I bought mine either. Being in Colorado, it's a big deal though. Makes it easy to carry 4 people with skis and snowboards.

 

I got a TRD Pro replica grill for my birthday 2 weeks ago so installed it and while at it, plasti-dipped the bumper valences to see how I like them black vs silver. Unfortunately, I touched my pants leg up against the front before it was dry and got a smudge but do like the look overall. Next on the build plan is to order a new front bumper and winch...

 

Go DAWGS!

 

Just a case? BTW, nice work!

 

Dang. I was hoping to do the Fumoto valve without dropping the skid (I have the same).

 

I just did my oil change today. I had access holes to drain the oil and the oil filter housing in my skid plates. When I drained it the oil got all over the place under the skid plates. So I had to remove the skid plates. Ended up pressure washing under the car from off-roading. Whatever dealership did my last oil change had that filter housing torqued WAY tight and I could barely get it off with the correct tool. Needless to say everything is in spec now.

 

I bought a fumoto drain, received a few weeks ago, still sitting on my tool box, looking at it the treaded end is about 1/2 in long, the oil pan can't be a 1/2 in thick, I'm just guessing but wouldn't that leave oil at the bottom of the pan? Has anyone ever removed the fumoto after it stopped draining to see if any oil is left? Personally I like to get as much old oil as possible.

 

I don’t think it’s a problem.
I have a similar device installed; Valvomax. There’s a FAQ on their website that addresses it.

“Q: Does any oil get left behind in the oil pan?
A; No, the valve is designed to sit flush with the inside of the pan, thereby releasing all the oil.”

I would imagine Fumoto paid special attention to this detail also.

However, for the doubters, there’s an easy way to verify this. Drain your oil with the Fumoto, remove the valve and see if any more oil drains out. Maybe someone has done this.

But still, even if there’s a little bit of oil left in the pan it’s not a big deal. Consider this:
A while ago I checked into the Toyota TIS repair manual for my model year for the oil capacities. The Dry Fill is 7.5 US Qts. A regular drain and fill with filter change is 6.6 US Qts.
So that implies that after you drain your oil 0.9 quart of oil is still clinging to the surface area and innards of the engine that you can’t get out anyway!

 

Makes sense not all the oil comes out, but like I said, personally I like all/most of the old oil out, especially with a new vehicle to get all the metal shavings out, with the fumoto installed, if it does leave oil on the bottom, now we're talking 1.5 -2.0 qrts of oil unable to come out. Hopefully someone has an answer and has already checked, if not, I'll do it.

 

SUPER excited to have signed up for off-road training course at Rausch Creek. 10/23 I’ll be learning on the trails there and hope to make it a more routine habit with another dealership led day same place on 11/7. I’ll be sure to get some pics.

 

Finally installed these things today. I'm not a huge fan of the carbon fiber look, but it bothered me a little that the center console was the only carbon fiber looking thing in the vehicle. Also a little less plain looking now too since everything else is glossy/shiny.

 

You might want to start a new thread about this and ask the question. It would get more attention than buried in here.

 

I'd like to thank the previous posters for alerting me to the fact that the middle section of the rear seat folds down!

I just changed the oil/filter. Ecogard and Havoline 0w20 Wal-mart box oil (plus a little M1 0w40 top-off).

The angering portion of the program was that I could NOT get the fill bolt off the A/T. Not at all. I'm going to need an impact wrench, or to put it on ramps and use my breaker bar. And THIS is why you ALWAYS try the fill bolt first.

Minor annoyance, will figure it out.

 

as was I, there just isn't enough room to get a crescent wrench through the hole for the oil drain (at least with my RCI, stock you might have room)

My filter housing was also on too tight from the factory! the housing drain bolt was on so tight it took the entire housing off which created more of a mess than I was hoping for but hoping that it will no longer be a problem.

 

it sits flush, I had nearly finished draining mine (just a few drops coming out) and installed the valve. waiting a minute and opened it up. bit more oil came out that had pooled up. Nothing to worry about

 

It's coming along!

 

That's effing AWESOME...!!
Take your time and cut the bumper carefully. I hate some of the cuts I see. Please Please take your time and do a perfect cut leaving no gaps. I mean the low profile bumper should cover the bumper cut. Add some rubber thingy to the edges as well. Please share the final result..