Adventures in 4Runner'ing

[ScaldedDog]

I just put a set of 35x12.50x17 MTR's on my stock jeep Rubicon wheels today. They are 7.5" wide, and Discount wouldn't touch them. 4Wheel Parts had no problem, and got the business. If you go there, ask for JT. Good guy.

The other option is to check Craigslist. Right now there are a couple of nearly new sets, and I bet that's pretty common. Buy Mikeyhana mass quantities of his favorite beverage to mount and balance them, and you're good to go.

Mark

 

[Townsend]

I'll sell you my 35" MTRs + wheels for $7,500...and throw in the already built truck. Because why build it when you can buy it, right?

PS - I'm being serious.

 

[White Stripe]

Craig's has some good dealshttps://fortcollins.craigslist.org/wto/5549871225.html
These are a pretty good deal for example. Little bigger though

 

[DouglasVB]

I'll sell you my 35" MTRs + wheels for $7,500...and throw in the already built truck. Because why build it when you can buy it, right?

PS - I'm being serious.

Let me go check my piggy bank...

 

[mikeyhcrana]

Buy Mikeyhana mass quantities of his favorite beverage to mount and balance them, and you're good to go.

Mark

Rockstar energy drinks....yes, that'll do it.

 

[DouglasVB]

Rockstar energy drinks....yes, that'll do it.

So like a case of Rockstar to get five tires mounted and balanced? Sounds like a pretty good trade! I better get to ordering those tires.

 

[DouglasVB]

Are there any tire shops that I should be ordering through to get a warrantee on the tires (I recall someone in passing mentioning ordering through a specific national tire chain that keeps replacing tires for him every time he tears a side wall)? Otherwise it appears I can order online easily enough.

 

[ScaldedDog]

4WP has a similar certificate program to Discount's. The certs are a little less expensive, but a replacement carries a $35 deductible.

 

[DaveInDenver]

4WP has a similar certificate program to Discount's. The certs are a little less expensive, but a replacement carries a $35 deductible.

The road hazard replacement is one reason I'm a dedicated Discount user (so far at least). I've used it and they were great about it. In this case that Discount is pretty prevalent in the places I travel is key. There aren't 4WP in nearly as many places.

I used one in Flagstaff on road a trip when I had a plug not stay sealed. I'd put the plug in on the road to Toroweap and it decided to start leaking and begin developing a bubble outside Sedona, so we limped to Flagstaff (since my spare was undersized) and they replaced the sketchy tire but also the other one on the same axle so that (in their words) the two diameters were the same. Now neglecting that I use 4WD and I would have needed all 4 to be replaced, I still thought it was nice of them.

 

[DouglasVB]

Thanks guys for reminding me! I think I'll probably go with Discount Tires because, as you said DaveInDenver, they're located in more places that I will likely be.

This looks to be the selection in the size I'm looking at: http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/se...80401&ar=12.50&fqs=true&rd=15&y=19&x=21&cs=35

I'll decide later this week the exact tire I'm getting.

 

[DaveInDenver]

For me, since I tend not to push the boundaries of rim size, all the headache Mark's gone through hasn't been an issue. Take that into account that even if you do find a Discount here that mounts your 35x12.50 on 7" stock rims that might go against corporate policy so the road hazard warranty might not be useful if they won't do replacements in the store you happen to find. They may also not offer the warranty on mounts outside recommendations, too. That they have a lot of stores and haven't given me any trouble that the "road hazard" part wasn't necessarily due to something on pavement is worth it, though.

 

[DouglasVB]

Hmm I'll talk with the local Discount Tire to see what they say.

 

[Notyourmomslx450]

I've had really good experiences w/ Big O

 

[DouglasVB]

SASpocalypse Now

Well I got inspired Friday, took off work early, bought an appropriate welding system, taught myself how to weld watching YouTube videos, and welded up the SAS swap and 63" spring swap by mid day on Saturday. Then I watched some more YouTube videos and figured out how to build up my own diffs. That was done Saturday night. This morning I built the front axle, put it on, put on the rear 63" leafs, and swapped in the dual crawler case after some frustration with trying to get all of the gears to align. As luck would have it, I found a shop open that was able to make me new drive shafts today. I also found just the tires I wanted at a Discount Tire that was open. I did end up getting different rims but that's okay. This afternoon I decided to change up the front bumper a bit, redo the sliders, and because I really love having white vehicles (my Subaru and one of my motorcycles are both white), I resprayed the truck in my garage (that was a real chore!) white. Even swapped back on the hardtop so it will stop snowing.

Anyway all of that work is done now. Didn't need someone to do it for me after all. Here's a picture of the finished truck. Still need to add back on the roof rack and antennas, and put on the front LED lights and winch but that can wait until another day. I'm really beat after all of this work this weekend!

 

[ToyodaTocco]

i don't think they are 63 rears on it.

 

[DouglasVB]

i don't think they are 63 rears on it.

yeah they're not. The springs have been changed out and lengthened but not all the way to 63". It's sagging a bit in the rear compared to the front so at some point in the future I'll probably do the full 63" swap.

 

[HoneyBadger]

LoL Dang, Douglas! You've been busy. That puts even my most productive weekends to crying shame. I need to take some lessons from you.

In other news... The following memes...

I'm glad you got your hands on a rig that you've been wanting, Douglas! It's gonna be so much fun this summer. Looking forward to wheeling with you.

 

[DouglasVB]

 

[DouglasVB]

So yeah... Townsend sold me his SASed white 4runner for a good price (same as it would have cost for me to finish my SAS build) one year to the day from when I bought my gold 4runner.

I spent today wiring in appropriate kill switches in the vehicle since now it is a HUGE theft target. I also stripped off all of the stuff from the gold 4runner that I want to keep (roof basket, lights, radios). Might pull the front bumper, too, if there is a ready buyer. I'll post the gold 4runner for sale on the forum to hopefully keep it in the Rising Sun family and give it a few days before I put it up on CL.

Once I shakedown the white 4runner, I'll assess what parts I want to keep from buying everything to do the conversion that I ended up not doing on the gold 4runner. I think the 63" spring swap kit and the rear shock tower setup will probably find their way onto the truck this summer. Dunno what else I might switch on at this point as the truck is pretty darn complete.

 

[Townsend]

1) Travis, those memes are hilarious, but definitely sting...

2) Douglas - couldn't be happier to pass the torch. As we talked about yesterday, other than me having to say goodbye to a ridiculously fun rig, I couldn't be happier that she's going to a perfect home/situation. The stars aligned in a pretty crazy way I think. Looking forward to watching the progress as you perfect her, and getting on the trail together soon.

I'll be the one in the work-in-progress soccer mom mobile...just look down from your new drivers seat and you should see me.