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

I hope none of this impacted his driving record

 

Both accidents weren't his fault. He was rear ended at a red light, then t-boned when someone ran a red light.

 

Maybe not what I did, but I've accumulated in past day

1. Some Desert Does It seat jackers



2. So OEM steps (took a whole day's drive to get them -- spent more in gas vs. price I paid for these)



3. Expedition Essentials Powered Dash Mount



4. Dongar Dash cam power adapter (no pic -- arrived after left for work).

 

Not nearly as bad as I thought it would be when I imagined a forklift hitting it, still sucks ass though.

 

Yeah fortunately it was going backwards and not forks first

 

That sucks! On a positive note I like the color matched area where the 4runner badge is mounted. Did you take apart the hatch to take it out and paint it?

 

That’s how’s the SR5’s come (and maybe the limiteds?)

 

As mentioned by others, the SR5 has color matched door handles. They have chrome accents for the model logos on the side:

 

added the Rigd Skep (skid/step) to my swing out





worked on the interior blackout project with AJT designs knobs on the radio and dual climate - also added black steering wheel logo cover





garmin 67w dash cam + powered by Dongar Technologies USB / rear view mirror adaptor

 

I’ve been on vacation, but while there, the glove box organizer and tray for the middle console are installed. I’m getting tires this week and will post a pic then.

 

Picked her up from getting windows tinted and since here in NE Indiana we were FINALLY blessed with a nice day I gave her a good bath!

 

Performed my first oil change in over 25 years. Added a Fumoto valve and the metal filter housing. Cleaned the bolts for the skid plate. Added the Tufskinz letters just because.

 

https://youtu.be/lRnezgtn0CU

Retrofitted OEM LED headlights and SS3 Max backlit fog lights into the 2016. Harness adapters from FBC Harness Solutions made it plug n play.

 

There's a guy near me that might sell me his oem 2021 headlamps. He said to make him an offer, but I'm not sure what's fair. I think they came off within a month or two of ownership.

 

They're worth it. You can see an instrumented test here showing that they have triple the intensity of the OEM halogen headlights.

 

I switched to the Philips H9s based on Crash's test results. That was before the OEM LEDs were out. I'm just trying to think of a good offer. I don't want the guy thinking I'm low balling him. Maybe $800?

 

I got mine for $500 shipped from Louisiana to California, and I know shipping wasn't cheap.

Offer him $300 and negotiate from there. They're not doing him any good sitting in the garage, and he won't have to package them up if you're local. I promise that they're better than any other headlight on the market save for the Morimoto units- but I have a lot of concerns about Morimoto reliability.

https://youtu.be/kItoEHPgn98

 

I think that's what he replaced them with.

 

I installed the KDSS control harness kit from Dr KDSS and it is the best mod I've done to my 4runner so far.

I have high end suspension (Elka DC reservoir) and it was a huge improvement on road and off compared to stock, but it still wasn't great over rough terrain at higher speed before I installed this kit...

Well let me tell you, now my suspension is exactly what I dreamed it would be when I forked out the cash for it. honestly a night and day difference. trails where I used to go 20 km/h I can now go 50 km/h and be more comfortable.

I don't know how much better your ride would be with stock or budget suspension, but if you have KDSS and a good quality aftermarket setup, you need this.

 

After much thought deleted the drinking faucet, moved the water pump on/off switch, and settled for storage. The water pump power indicator light stays. Just thought it would take more thought, and trial and error to figure out recycling water for drinking before being satisfied than simply carrying a case of water. Because after recycling 10 gals of showering and dishes for a week-plus the water became more cloudy than visually appealing. Meaning, that while the water tasted the same and without GI symptoms its appearance was a bit unfavorable as the cloudiness just seemed odd, and I couldn't ascertain or quantify the long-term effect on the GI tract. Storage is always a plus. Especially if now I have to carry a case of water. Chose a case (~4.5 gals) over a 5 gal can because a case is easier to distribute throughout the vehicle versus a non-malleable can.

 

Looks great! What high beam bulbs are you using? Also, where are the grille lights? Are they staying out until you get the double bracket figured out?

 

The high-beams are Osram/Sylvania 9011 bulbs as tested here. AutoZone stocks them, although it seems like they only have 1 bulb each at any given store which is kind of a pain. Make sure you get the ones made in Korea, the older German models are not as performant.



Yes I have the driving lights out while I tinker on new mounts. Also, I'm using their harness to test out the quad high-beam setup. I need to add a Bussman box because I'm running out of accessory circuits!

 

Definitely looking forward to the final results!!

 

She’s done for !

 

Did a little cargo management. Added some nrs loop straps and 1” strap mounts. . These things are awsome.

 

I think you made a good call. Clean drinking water is truly the most valuable thing a person can have. If you were already in a life or death situation, I could understand taking the risk. But it’s no use getting sick in the middle of nowhere for no good reason

Curious, how was the gray water being filtered for drinking?

 

Got the idea from Dan of The Road Choose Me https://youtu.be/geGO_yNmVKM?t=575, with a few modifications of my own.

I have this 0.2-micron filter https://goblutech.com/collections/fixed-mounted-pressurized-water/products/nodirtywater-solo which is similar to the LifeStraw technology that does NOT use ultraviolet (unlike Dan's which uses UV).

For me, the water has been drinkable as the taste is NO different than at the beginning and without GI symptoms. But after recycling the shower and dish water for almost 10 days the cloudiness from the soap accumulated over time and its reuse. Today I emptied the tank and refilled it with 1 tsp bleach for 10 gals of water, which is for disinfecting but I am curious if the mixture will clear the filter without having to remove and clean the filter individually. The reason, I am guessing, with soap being a surfactant it has colored the water, as there is NO soap taste or smell. Of course, I could be wrong. Anyhow, tomorrow I want to see if the water cleared. Meaning the surfactant (soap) accumulation on the filter cleared. Then that problem is solved. If the water continues cloudy then the surfactant continues attached to the filter. If so, then the filter has to be removed and specifically and individually cleaned and run water through again to see if cleared or NOT. If the problem is solved with either then the likely solution is to limit the number of times the shower and dish waters can be recycled. Additionally, and possibly part of the cloudiness too, I used regular soap and I am curious if biodegradable soap or baby soap would have been a better choice.

Also different from Dan, he did NOT recycle his water. I have. Dan used his system for drinking water only. I did that initially and it worked well, even when I siphoned water from a lake. This reused water is a work in progress for me. So thanks for asking as I try to figure it out. This was its first use and reused (x10). In another two weeks, I have another opportunity to try it for a week. Regardless of what I learn tomorrow, next outing I am going to change one variable and use biodegradable soap to see that outcome. I hope I answered your question (and more). Thanks again for asking.

 

I was commenting about law on another thread and had to disclaim that Im not a lawyer. Well, Im not a chemist or microbiologist either lol, so take my opinions for what their worth.

I’m thinking the soap is your problem. Is soap something that would even be filterable? It sounds like a fine filter, but I wonder if soap/surfactants (when dissolved “in solution”) exists as particles that would even be “filterable”.

My second guess would be bacterial growth, but I’d think that the filter would catch that. Or you’d be sick as a dog.

Third guess is whatever bacteria excrete as they live happily stuck in the filter lol.

Im biased towards not experimenting with drinking water, but I can appreciate why somebody would want to figure this out. It kinda depends on the motivation.

I would consider a hybrid system if you want to save water. Keep your potable water separate, and just recycle gray water for cleaning purposes.

Either that, or distill the gray water to get your drinking water. But even then, I would research if distilling would remove soap.

Another potential source for ideas (not joking) is NASA. They do this stuff all the time on the space station. Pretty much a closed-loop water system on the ISS, as water is heavy and very expensive to launch into orbit.

 

Did you mean 50mph? As 50km/h is about 30mph.

I have the regular KDSS and a Westcott lift and suspension and with a good line of sight, I have to set the cruise control to 50mph on some trails. Otherwise, I can be going 60-70mph on the trail before I know it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L723IJf9HhI

 

Yes, soap is the problem. There are ways to make the surfactant into a solid, like adding Epson salt, and better known as soap scum. But that would shorten the filter's need for cleaning as soap scum then attaches to the filter NOT allowing the water to get through.

Yes, a 0.2micron filter is the gold standard for drinking water filters. The best known is the LifeStraw used in austere environments.

Yes, I concur...

...concur for now. NASA's water recycling system is exactly what I am somewhat trying to replicate (Uncle Sam has the deep pockets--I do NOT) for those reasons you mention, drinking water is the most needed, heaviest, and most expensive to transport--for overlanding as well.

Drinking water is one of the most common reasons we have to come into town (as fuel is dependent on how far and NOT long one stays out). Thus, the dilemma is whether to come into town for water in general (by NOT recycling shower/dish water) or for drinking water only (as there is sufficient water for showering/dishes by reusing)? Decisions. Decisions.

Thanks.