I met up with a group from the Marlin Forum this weekend at Hollister Hills. This was the virgin run for the rig since it's full build up. See my sig for a link to the build up if you haven't been watching it. I drove the rig 300 miles round trip on the freeway to get there and averaged 13 mpg. I can cruise pretty easily at 65. I was shocked at how nice the ride is on the highway. No vibrations and the MT/R's barely hum. For a rig that stands 8 feet tall on 37's it mobs pretty good down the freeway.

Just after I arrived and got camp set up it started to rain and wouldn't stop till later that night. The place turned into a giant mudpit making the trails interesting to say the least. I had heard MTR's suck in the mud. Maybe it was just because mine were brand new but I was going everywhere the guys with swampers were going.

Now onto the good stuff.. I'm very happy with the capabilities of the rig. My only complaint is it is a bit too tall but unless your pushing the absolute limits before you flop it is not noticeable at all. I did suck my seat cover up my butt a few times on some really off camber stuff. I was so far over I could touch the ground out my window but she didn't flop. Next up I gotta say Dual cases rock!!!!!! I don't think I can ever wheel again now with a stock case. 2.28 gears feel like high range after wheeling with 4.70's. I only went to low low once and that was playing in the rock garden. I would recommend against just doing 4.70's in a single case like some people do to save money. They are just too low for normal playing. A few times I didn't' feel like shifting the cases and I found myself running around in 4th gear a few times and reverse is stupid low.

Overall we had a great weekend with not too much carnage. I was fortunate enough to finally run with a group that was more interested in wheeling than stopping every 30 feet for a poser shot like usual so I didn't get a lot of action shots I was just too busy driving. Most of my poser shots I got on Sunday when I hooked up with a couple YTers (cleanSR5 I think he said his screen name was) We dinked around for a couple of hours and had a great time.

Overall I'm very happy with the rig. It's awesome to finally have something that people in camp crawl around looking at!! Enough rambling here are the pics!









Shortly after this shot I got to break in the winch for the first time when I winched the white truck up white rock hill. He was SASed but had no shocks yet and an open front diff. Of course pics do no justice on how steep this hill was. I was coming down from checking out the top when I took this pic. It was gnarly.

 

Good Lord! That's an awesome rig.

 

How do you like the Detroits front and rear?

 

looks nice. Really tall.

 

They are awesome. The front one can be a pain sometimes but it's not that bad at all. I'm going hydro assist soon and then it will be a non issue.

 

When does it present a problem?

 

omg thats soo sweet. i'm pissed i couldnt make it.

 

Hey Joey, glad you were able to get some pics. I only was able to get 2 pics when I was with you guys because of the rain. Wish I could have come back Sunday to wheel with you. I had fun wheeling with you guys. Looks like it was nice there Sunday. Driving up to SF in that rain was no joke!

Actually had a pretty crazy weekend, how many weekends can you wheel at an offroad park, go to the horse track (won 97 bucks on one race!), batchelor party (beer, boobs, and more beer), and went to the A's Yankees game. I am paying for it today though, put almost 600 miles on the 4runner in two days.

 

Nice looking rig. Cool to see another 2nd Gen "corrected" from the factory setup.

What type of HA are you looking to get? I'd like to look into that mod in the future.

Do you DD this 4Runner, or is it just for the trails?

 

Very nice man, i have been following your build-up and it is nice to see another one hit the trails and \tear it up.

 

I sometimes feel tippy on 33's....I cant imagine running 37's. Glad everything worked right. Make sure you retorque everything before you go out again...especially the u-bolts and check the wheel bearings.

 

OK, here are my two pics:

 

If you look in the second picture my wheels are turned to the right. I parked right there and it was steep was so it took some throttle to get it moving. I could not turn left right there at all. I had to back up and turn and then go forwards again.

Elvota I'm going with the Trail Gear set up for my Hydro. I'm going to plate the frame for the steering box at the same time also.

Marc thanks for the advice. I had already planned to do that. I'm going to drain the diffs too now that I have about 500 miles on them. I had a slight pull to the left that I been dealing with and now it barely does it... guess she just wanted wheeled!!

 

Wow... 37's look sweeeet

 

I am leaning towards the TG hydro assist as well. Hard to beat for the price. Will be interested to see how it works out for you.

My concern with HA is the daily driving characteristics. Have heard the sytems can either be to quick or to sluggish... plus the return to center feel dissapears.

I am sure one would get used to these traits pretty quick though. Sure would be sweet on the trail.

 

Very nice Joey, the rig is looking great.
It has come a long way since these pics was shot a few years back at the Fall Colors Run.

 

nice to see some dirt on that rig

 

That crap was the worst mud I have ever seen. It baked on all day on Sunday while we were wheeling. I spent $14 at the car wash and then spent another 2 hours at home trying to get that crap off.

 

nice! looks like your trucks workin out great with the new setup. whats the frame height with your 37's?

 

Since people have been asking it's 27" to the bottom of the frame under the drivers door and 46" from the ground to the bottom of the front fender well.