Just so happens I am now an authorized rep/dealer for budbuilt.com

 

That's cool! I'm getting the FROR one, but I'm sure a lot of 2nd Gen's would be interested in the Budbuilt ones.

Chris

 

So, what's the difference between this picture and the next two?







Yeah, baby! I can't wait to get the crossmember/skid plate from FROR, and it will be completely flat! Brian at FROR said the skid plates are ready to go, but he's waiting on some more of the crossmembers. I'm just hoping it's before Tellico.

Chris

 

Today I went for a short wheeling trip to attempt some rather hard obstacles. It didn't take long to realize that I would have never made the trail if I hadn't moved the gas tank and removed the rear crossmember. For those guys that think this mod is dumb, or a waste of time, or whatever, I'd beg to differ. All I can say is that I can't wait to go to Tellico and try out Slickrock again. Where I hung up before shouldn't even be an issue now. Here's some pics that show the proof:

This is actually a quick pic of how well the sidewall punctured rear tires(fixed) held up:


It was very dry today, so traction wasn't much of an issue. But to put this in perspective the passenger front tire is climbing up about a 3.5-4' rock:

 

Look at the big empty space!


This gives you a good idea of how big that rock was:


Look, no gas tank!

 

No more crossmember!


Now, here's where it show that there is no possible way I would have made if up over this rock with the stock tank and crossmember in place. It would have been impossible.


And, here's a shot from the driver's side. I would have hung big time on the crossmember.


Even with the relocation done, I still barely made this obstacle, because I dragged from there into the lower control arm mount and up the rock.


And the last shot show how little room for error there was:


On another note, I did high center in a rock on the new gas tank, which put a pretty good size dent in it, unfortunately. I need to get the skid plate done ASAP.

Chris

 

Chris, the last 3 pics are messed up-red X's. Where is that-Royal Blue?

Edit-nevermind, now they work.

 

Yeah, I loaded this page before I got them all uploaded.

This is actually some new trails about 15 minutes from my house on the mountains right up my road. It's becoming a very fun place to ride. A guy in a Samuri has started cutting trails, and their pretty hard. Good fun!

Chris

P.S. So when are we doing your tank relocation??

 

Um? Hell I should-tire won't fit under there anyway. I'll let you run it for a while and see how reliable it is.

 

Yep, It's been great so far, and it will only get better with the new FROR skid plate/crossmember too.

Chris

 

Cool, gonna have some 35's or 36's by next month?

 

Nope, unfortunately not! I'm hoping to have the undercarriage done, the gas tank skid, and maybe the rear bumper.

Chris

 

Man, those pics look sweet Chris. That makes me wish I had finished the relocation of my tank before Tellico. maybee sometime this summer I will finally get it done.
great job BTW.

 

Thanks Will! I'm very happy with it so far. What's nice about having the tank back there is that it will still get hit every once in a while, but it won't hang you up like the stock tank will. Basically, you're probable over the obstacle by that point, so all you have to do is pull forward. This is why I'm going to build the skid out of 3/16" plate, and reinforce it a tad so it can take some serious hits.

Chris

P.S. I can't wait to see your progress!

 

Here is a reason to move your gas tank from your factory location

 

Yep, mine looked exactly the same! What a world of diffreence it makes not having anything there.

Chris

 

That looks like mine too!

 

Chris, you might as well go ahead and make a gas tank relocation kit and sell it, looks like there will be good interest in it.

 

The idea is good, but the problem is that my truck is far from stock, which makes for a completely different installation on a stock crossmember'd 4runner. Who knows at this point, but I've thought about it!

Chris

 

Well, I cut the material for the skid plate last night. Tomorrow, I'm planning to take it to Cherokee Millwright to have it bent into shape.

Chris