Yeah straight trailer rig. Ive never thought about replacing the body mounts like that. it may be an idea. Im really not to worried about it right now but ill definetly keep my eyes on it and watch to see how it reacts.

The shop im going to bring it to to run the codes has a fork lift next door. Im gonna use that to help install my bumbstops and a check some stuff before I wheel it again. Ill look into the small things like the body flexing. Really its just sheet and I cant see it doing to much harm to anything. Im gonna beat this rig pretty hard on the trail so Im gonna break things regardless so if it goes Ill change it Also you talk about the body of the 4runner giving more flex since its so big. I plan on cutting the back potion and maybe shortning it up some too, full exo and interior roll protection most likely alot will be conected to the body as well as the frame so that should also help some with my body flexing too. Just some thoughts Im no expert on alot of this stuff im just learning as I go. I appreciate all input because it helps and is taken into consideration thoughout the build.

 

i like how you raised your tranny, like the Mega Cruiser & H1 Alpha. give you good ground clearance. and the whole build is looking great. good luck with it.

 

Thanks The added ground clearence should help alot with the length of the 4runner aspecialy here in WA with the downed trees and stuff

 

If you chop the back, loose the tailgate and go tube doors the weight wouldn't be an issue. Plus it will be killer to loose all that.

I was just thinking of the body in it's stock form not necessarily flex more than a pickup but being more weight trying to tear away from rigid mounted frame points.

 

Exactly. I know what you mean with the 4runner body weight and stress on parts. Ive wanted to lose some top weight ever since i started wheeling it. I could have just gone with a pickup but I like the 4runner look. I want to make it capable of hauling gear and people on wheeling trips and have it be a machine to get everyone and thing to were I want to go. I also want to make it safer if I do so. So the top and cage will be in the works shortly. I just need some more $$$ like the rest of em Tube doors or half doors will be in the works definetly for summer

 

An entire week with no updates?? Im going through withdrawals from not having my daily fix of this build And since I havent said it yet...this thing is SWEET so far!

 

I know I know... The weather has been bad and times have been slow but I have and got a few things done.

I bought an 18' trailer that needed lights so I added them. I also plan on (since the trailer is a bit on the skinny side) widen it ~12". Thats in the works but at least I got a trailer finaly. Sorry no pics of that right now but I will get some tomorrow maybe.

I was working on the gas tank filler location today. I bought an alluminum magnet press cover. I had to take off interior panels in the back and remove the holder's and speakers. (Removing the panels will also make it easy to cut the rear portion of the roof off so I will not be replacing it.)
In this pic you can see the hole in the floorboard for were the filler tube will come from the tank. You can also see a hole in the sheet for ~were the filler will be.

Again with the ~location. you can also see my poor bondo job oh well haha (paint will be added soon to cover it up a bit better)

and the HOLE (its just sheet )

I didnt get the outside pic since the weather turned before I could but you can see I used small bolts to hold the cover too the body and used a sealer to keep out the elements. Ill get the outside pic tomorrow.

This is were I got to before the weather turned on me. Ill get more pics and updates as they come for your viewing pleasure sorry for the delay

 

Yesss! You made my day just putting up some pics of that thing lol.

 

So the inside will not be the most eye appealing but it sould work for atleast right now. I still need to get a flexy filler tube to reach from the tank to the filler neck. I have searched parts stores and on and have had no luck really finding this piece until today online I bought the stock fords tube. I hope it works. If not this design may be changed to have the filler just in the truck bed. Will see I hope this will work

The filler neck is the stock toyota one just modded a bit to have the flapper attached to it. Notice the mount I weled to the tube and then bolted to the body. I also did one more similar right below that ataches to the body aswell making the tube a little more solid as well as the body which had just a bit of cutting I had to do. the filler neck points directly at the ford filler location

From the outside. I hope its not to high but it should still work and this is the only way I can see to mount it.

Shots of the tank cap


Using the ford tank in the back should be a great way to gain some clearence in the center of the truck. The mods to make it work may be hard for some and its definetly proving a challange for me at this point but once ive finished this design it should be a great mod Ive done to help on the trail. One more thing about the elements and this type of cap... Since the side panels arent going back on I noticed that if water does come into the body which it hasnt yet but could easily happen on the trail it would pool up in the lower fender portion in the back. To stop this pool from growing I could paint the interior portion with bedliner and drill a few holes to let the water escape. I dont really see huge amounts of water coming in but ill have to see

 

Heres the trailer I just bought. I think I may widen the axles move them forward a foot or so, add a bit more side decking and it needs fenders and ramps.


Most the work on my 4runner has been delayed do to some funds, also I just moved, and the weather around here has been all over the place. So work may seem to be going slow at the moment but its going and ill try to update it as much as I can.

 

here I go nit[picking your ride again:

I think you may want to put some sort of boot or something to seal up the gap between the filler neck and the body, otherwise you might get some fumes in the cabin, I know you said that you are going to chop it and stuff so this may be a non issue,

or you might just not care about the gas smell, things like that just tend to bother me, like when I had a 4runner, if you had the rear window down, and you were going the right speed, some of the exhaust fumes tended to circulate back into the cabin, very annoying

 

Ahh, you have your own thread! Sweet.

Say, if your looking for a good guy to build you a cage, call Darius up at S+N. They are talented and more inexpensive than most. They have built at least one Top Truck challenge truck (the bronco in 2006) and build mostly tube bugs.

Crashy also builds them, as you probably know. His place is out in Sultan, so it would not be too far for yah.

 

Ya im hoping to buy a tube bender soon so I can start the cage andbumpers. I just dont really like paying people to work on my truck just because I kinda want to do it all myself for the most part. Thanks though. I may still have to go check them out sometime though

 

Your just so picky arent you



Ya im going to seal it. Its not 100% done yet and Im waiting on a tube for it that should be here early next week. Ill figure out a way to seal it once I finish the build of the actual filler neck. Gas smell dont bother me its my brains cells that need all the help they can get

 

hey fill just a suggestion for ur sealing the filler tube problem, u could try just regular 4 inch exhaust tubing. it would be strong, and with proper welds, stop the smell too. build is looking bitchin cant wait ta see it in action!!!!

 

That gives me a good idea with tubing to seal it. Im waiting on a part right now for the exhaust so hopefully ill get some work done on that this week. Im also gonna be making some ramps for my trailer monday if its not snowing.

 

was just the first thing that came to mind. am only a couple more weeks away from putting "betsy the beast" on the train. cant wait to start my own build. how much longer u think u got before u can shread some dirt?

 

It really depends. I get closer everyday in at least a small way. its just time right now and funds for it. Ive already got so much into it. Im hoping within the next coming weeks Ill drive it again

Its fun to do this stuff. my one word of advise is just dont rush and do it all right. it takes time but is well worth it in the end.

 

You think you need ramps to get that beast onto the trailer?

 

where would u suggest to start? i wanted to start with the engine swap because it will be easier to reach the engine compartment sittting on stock suspension. I still want to go with a 350. someone else told me if u are carefull and dont drive like a maniac, toyos 5 speed and axels will hold up for a while. what do u think? i will eventually sawp in 3/4 ton axels or 1 tons. just the trails that are around here u need some good horse and tork behind u. cant wait ta see it done. keep me posted on ur filler tube problem.