The Rocker Radials are great. I am a tire geek and usually no matter how much I like a tire I get bored and want to try something different in about 2 years. But I don't see that happening. From Tsl's to bias rockers, to trxus to rocker radials (and many more), I think I have found a damn good all around tire. I have always said the rocker is probably not the best tire for any one condition (snow, rocks, mud, dirt, sand, etc.) but I think it is top 3 for all. Plus, while performing like a bias tire off road, it behaves like a radial on the street, LOUD, but pretty smooth, no flat spots, and they wear like iron (which is amazing considering how sticky they act in the rocks).



Yes, Racelines.

 

I would like to do a SAS on my 86 4runner but have found no yoda front axles!? Heeelp I have found the ol waggies non vacuum sealed fronts but think that will be a lot more work then what I am wanting to do.

 

They gots to be out there. Consider a fj60/62 front axle. I wish I had started with one! If for some reason you like the 8" center (already have one geared and locked) then get a 60 axle, use the bells out and pick up a fabbed housing from ruff stuff or the like.

 

Yea have looked and there are not many near north Dakota... Found a junkyard that has one they can get delivered to them for just 1 front toy axle for a total of...wait for it.... $650! Think I might just go waggy 44s and can pick up the front for 150.

 

That's crazy. Go on car-part.com and source it your self! Should be able to find a 60 axle easy, and shipping should not be bad. Definitely don't go waggy.

 

Nice wheeling with you at the Colorado Toyota Jamboree this past summer! How did your wife do in the Leadville race? Just bumping your thread, hahahahaha!!

 

Yes, I had a great time. Awesome group! I will try to meet up with you guys again, maybe KOH...

Leadville 100mtb... We don't speak of that race in the house, hahaha. It was tough as hell! Evidently completing 5 or Ironmans is not enough. But seriously, it was no joke and she did DNF for the first time in her life. She was very upset. Lots of respect for that race.

 

Since this got bumped again, I can only assume you are all dying to hear more about my ol' lady....

Crazy year. In the spring, while at Rocks and Valleys in MI, I slid off of an obstacle and landed on my old bud built x-member hard enough to slightly bend it. I figured, cool, i now have a flatter belly... But as the year went on, it kept bending so I eventually replaced it.

While at Flat Nasty ORP in MO in June, I broke my 5th ring and pinion in 10 years. I have broke 3 4cyl 3rds, and now 2 v6 factory 4.88 3rds. My truck weighs over 5,000 lbs and has a 3.4. To be honest, I am not really disappointed in the v6 3rds, I got about 3 years out of each rear before they died. So rather than simply spend a couple hours and throw another one in, I decided I would be an idiot and do the following.... in only the 3 weeks I had before leaving for a giant West trip. Oh and during a nice Chicago heat wave....

Fj62 front housing and 3rd with 5.29 and a spartan.
FZJ80 rear with 5.29 and a spartan.
Ford F150 fuel tank behind the axle, but mounted long ways so I could run exhaust beside it.
Outboard the rear shocks and notch the frame for clearance
Throw 14" Fox shocks at all 4 corners.
Manifold back new exhaust
All new brake and fuel lines.
Removed several factory xmembers and added a couple.
Undid a lot of ghetto stuff that I have done in the past.
Lots of other little things that go along with this (mounting the anti wrap, new mounts for hydro assist, cutting off all factory brackets on the axle and grinding them clean (worst part), etc.).

It was a crazy 3 weeks and lots of late nights and lots of favors from friends! But it loaded up on the trailer with hot welds, bare metal, and a can of rustoleum in the tool box. It wheeled pretty flawlessly over the next 3 weeks in Black Hills, Moab, and Colorado! I was shocked! I did manage to break my first quarter glass ever, a branch got wedged between the glass and cage and I didnt see it until I heard it.

Actually, I spent more time working on my tow rig (2006 Tundra DC 4.7 with 200,000+, and loaded with 8000 lbs). Usually its flawless, but it was struggling to pull and getting hot really fast. After throwing a radiator, cap, shroud, and some other stuff at it throughout the trip, I finally took some advice that I got on day one from a friend which I dismissed.... I cleaned the MAF... Runs better than ever... live and learn I guess. The K&N is on the shelf and will be given away!

In September, while in Harlan KY, I broke my first 30 spline Longfield in ten years. Trail Gear replaced it no problem. The break caused slight damage to the Spartan (chipped a pin and dented a couple teeth. After consulting with Spartan, we agreed that it was ok to run and it has been fine ever since.

 

I like this one

 

Bump!! I LOVE your doors! I want to make a set for myself. How have the materials held up over the years? Do they stay warm in the winter? Keep up the gawesome work!!

 

Thanks. Materials are doing fine. The Cordura is crazy tough! One night in CO a bear tried to break in by pushing against the soft door. Broke some welds, but the fabric, window and stitching was fine. Everything is holding up pretty well. There are a couple things I would have done slightly different, but I am 99.8% satisfied! I doubt they offer much insulation, but I do drive it on cold days sometimes. The heater in this truck is crazy strong!

Usually when this dusty old thread gets bumped I update it, but I there isn't much to say. Since the crazy rebuild in 2016 the truck has been pretty trouble free. I will say though, in Moab last summer, I had an odd problem that started on a 104* day on Rusty Nail. The truck would just shut off. No stumble, no nothing. Like I turned the key (but all the warning lights lit up as the key was in the "on" position. It kept on doing it. Once I limped it to the high way it stopped. But then did it a couple more times driving through town. Hasn't done it since. I'm guessing the heat was messing with it. 140*+ slickrock temps on that trip.

Just moved to a nice spot deep in the woods and have plans for a 3000 sq ft shop, probably next year or the year after.

 

Update for fun...

The 4runner is still doing great, just got back from Hot Springs ORP in Hot Springs AR. About 8 rigs (12 or so people) spent a week hitting mostly 5 and 4 level trails, that place is awesome!

The 4runner is in about as good of shape as it has been in a long time. More dents, but I wouldn't hesitate to take it cross country today. After 20 years parts of the tube work (all DOM) is getting a little "Tim Hardy," which is a good thing in my opinion. I'm impressed that the exo is still holding up well, has no damage, is unbent and unshifted, even on this heavy truck and having been flopped twice and used on rocks and trees often. The exo has no internal bracing and you could always wiggle it quite a bit by hand, but it seems to move until it hits the body and then they work together. Yes, the body has some markings and dents, but i don't care.

Not many new mods since the last post. The truck works well and I can't think of many upgrades that don't require major changes in the vehicle. Links, 4 wheel steer, even 40's would require tearing apart most of the truck. So, just maintenance and such. Cleaned up some stuff, wiring mostly. Since this is the truck I have really learned everything on over the past 20+ years, I am often forced to go back and redo stuff that I did as a kid.

I don't take many pictures anymore.

 

Still looking badass