4Crawler lift installed

[Yabedude]

Will take a pic soon but I wanted to thank Andries for the install writeup. A few points in my install:

- an ARB bumper doesn't have to come off, only the skid plates to access the rad from below. Side note: When I installed the ARB bumper, there were 2 brackets protruding out in the front and attached to the body. I had to cut those off as it will be 2 weeks before I can get a bumper relocation bracket made. The ARB install should suggest to cut those useless brackets off as they were actually rubbing on the inside of the ARB all this time.

- The lift point under the B-pillars is the same with my welded on sliders, however it will depend on where the sliders cross bar is located. That's something folks should think about when fabing sliders and welding them on - leave a 12" space right under the B-Pillar so that a 2x4 can be used to block between the 2 body cross members and then be used for lifting and installing this mod. That lift location was perfect.

- try to use up as much windshield wash as you can before doing this mod. I had a full container to drain which took a while.

- Today I stopped in at a local landscape place and bought some heavy-duty pond liner and refabbed the rubber liners inside the front wheel wheels. I will tackle the rear another day. There are none on the 4Runner to begin with but a rather ugly gap is now visible.

- All the 4Crawler (Roger Brown) parts were correct including nuts, blots, and washer sizes. The steering column spacer was also perfect.

- If you're doing the work in a residential garage, make sure you have enough clearance to get out after! I couldn't but I loaded about 500 lbs in the rear and 2 friends hung off the rear bumper and I had about 3mm of clearance then. We had a good laugh.

I'll post some pics soon ...

[Yabedude]

OEM bumper brackets. I guess there were to give the top support but I now cut them off to stop the rubbing under the ARB bumper and the visible rust it caused:
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/100_5507.jpg
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/100_5506.jpg
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/100_5505.jpg

Before lift ... notice the lack of space between the rocker panels and the slider:
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/Snow20071202.jpg

After lift:
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/100_5533.jpg
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/100_5532.jpg
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/100_5530.jpg
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/100_5531.jpg

H U G E gap in bumper that needs fixing. Will post solution for that in a few weeks.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/100_5518.jpg

Pond liner replacement splash whatever-they're-called. I'll be adding the same liners to the rear in time. :
Before (OEM removed):
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/100_5511-1.jpg
After:
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/100_5525.jpg
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/100_5527.jpg
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/100_5528.jpg

The rear bumper was really binding on one side more than the other so I released some of the pressure. The whole bumper will be replaced soon enough so I didn't care about the looks right now.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/100_5516.jpg

[bulldog]

What size bodylift did you install?



BTW I just air down the tires very low to get more roof clearance :D If you don't have CO2 or compressor it might be an issue though.

[Yabedude]

Sorry I forgot the important value ... it was a 1.5" kit.

Plan B was to air down :)

[Jeremy]

Looks nice! Mind me asking why you decided on the arb bumper over SW?

[Yabedude]

ARB announced theirs about a day before Shrockworks and that's when I placed the order/deposit. I have SW sliders which were originally bolt-on, but their forward mounting brackets wouldn't fit so I cut them (all) off and welded them on instead. If their first set of bumpers were the same, I'd be pissed totally. I never did get a reply from them when I explained the bolt-on sliders don't fit so I personally shy away today. Am pleased with the ARB albeit it's a tad overkill.

[Jeremy]

Ill be in the market for either soon enough just cant make up my mind. Fitment wise, one better than the other? Sorry to hijack your thread

[Yabedude]

By default, ARB installs with a 1" gap between the fenders and the bumper. Because of the body lift, mine is now at 2.5" I need after-after market mounting brackets to raise it back up. I'm going to mount it with a gap of < 1" this time because I think 1" was too much.

When hitting potholes, and especially offroad, the bumper shakes as it's mounted to the 2 protruding frame ends and if it didn't have a gap the fenders would crumple from it heaving on them. I would imagine other vendors would have the same issue yet most pictures I've seem of others have them fitting tight which is puzzling. Either other vendors found a way to stop the front end from shaking or they're going to have fender issues one day OR the fenders are inside the aftermarket bumpers rather than the bumper sitting just under the fender.

[bulldog]

By default, ARB installs with a 1" gap between the fenders and the bumper. Because of the body lift, mine is now at 2.5" I need after-after market mounting brackets to raise it back up. I'm going to mount it with a gap of < 1" this time because I think 1" was too much.

When hitting potholes, and especially offroad, the bumper shakes as it's mounted to the 2 protruding frame ends and if it didn't have a gap the fenders would crumple from it heaving on them. I would imagine other vendors would have the same issue yet most pictures I've seem of others have them fitting tight which is puzzling. Either other vendors found a way to stop the front end from shaking or they're going to have fender issues one day OR the fenders are inside the aftermarket bumpers rather than the bumper sitting just under the fender.

Off topic. Teh SW front bumper is hieght adjustable to allow for body lift and to adjust the fitment on the truck. The new brackets on the SW seem to address soem of the early issues with the first batch. WIth the SW most users found than a 1/2" gap is ideal and avoids any touching of the fender and bumper, but it still moves aorund somewhat when driving offroad. More an issue of the frame and fenders flexing in relation to each other than the bumper moving on the frame (same for the ARB I woudl assume).

[Yabedude]

I was considering remounting the ARB at 1/2" so it's nice to read your feedback about SW bumpers and their gap measurement.

[AlexJet]

Keep us inform on the progress.

[Dealmaker]

great detail on the splash guards/skirts. Did you keep the templates you used to cut those out? You could probably make a little side cash makiing and selling the skirts and fasteners. I assume the fasteners plug into existing holes?

[Yabedude]

great detail on the splash guards/skirts. Did you keep the templates you used to cut those out? You could probably make a little side cash making and selling the skirts and fasteners. I assume the fasteners plug into existing holes?

Thanks. I kept the OEM rubber but no template for the replacements. It's such a simple mod for anyone else that it would just be a PITA for me do even think about doing it for $$$. HD pond/pool liner is awesome. I used the OEM rubber and drew the bottom outline ... moved it up 1.5" and drew the top outline (with consideration for the placement of the OEM holes) and connected the missing lines and it was done. I still have the OEM rubber and would change the new pattern slightly to make sure that the new gaps are filled over. To the left/right of the OEM rubber are new gaps as the frame is now separated from the body leaving spots where mud/snow/salt can get in. I've got enough left over to redo 4 more rigs so will deal with that in the spring.

I also want to bore holes in the rear frame and rear wheel well to install splash pads back there. There is no requirement to cover anything for a rig with no body lift installed as the body sits flush with the frame.

[Yabedude]

The specs ...
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/ARBBumperbracketspecs.jpg

Waiting to be painted ... someone with a sharp eye will see that one bracket has it's posts offset by 1/4" to the other bracket as the bumper had a tilt from (me) goofing up from day one during the original install. The 1/4" offset is intended to restore balance to each side.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/2piecesrawmaterial.jpg

After painting ...
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/2piecespaintednobolts.jpg

There are 2 types of nuts. The silver ones won't be used.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/2piecespaintedwithbolts.jpg

I actually had 3 brackets made. The 3rd is the identical mate to the first (sans 1/4" offset) in case the 1/4" offset doesn't work as anticipated.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/3PiecesPainted.jpg


Now to find someone to help me put a pair of these on ... will post back when the job is done, but it won't be for a few days.

[AlexJet]

I've re-read this thread and mention couple things:


- If you're doing the work in a residential garage, make sure you have enough clearance to get out after! I couldn't but I loaded about 500 lbs in the rear and 2 friends hung off the rear bumper and I had about 3mm of clearance then. We had a good laugh.

This is fannu, but very important thing to know if you'll be able to get out. Have you removed the basket fo it?


Looks nice! Mind me asking why you decided on the arb bumper over SW?

I have ARB Sahara bumper on my truck and I'm very happy with it. It looks awesome and perform extremly good.

When hitting potholes, and especially offroad, the bumper shakes as it's mounted to the 2 protruding frame ends and if it didn't have a gap the fenders would crumple from it heaving on them.

Interesting...My ARb has ~1/2" gap to the fenders. It doesn't move at all, body is moving side to side a little bit on rocks, but I never hit the fender with my bumper (at least I can't see any traces of it on the fenders).

[AlexJet]

I've re-read this thread and mention couple things:


- If you're doing the work in a residential garage, make sure you have enough clearance to get out after! I couldn't but I loaded about 500 lbs in the rear and 2 friends hung off the rear bumper and I had about 3mm of clearance then. We had a good laugh.

This is fanny, but very important thing to know if you'll be able to get out. Have you removed the basket fo it?


Looks nice! Mind me asking why you decided on the arb bumper over SW?

I have ARB Sahara bumper on my truck and I'm very happy with it. It looks awesome and perform extremly good.

When hitting potholes, and especially offroad, the bumper shakes as it's mounted to the 2 protruding frame ends and if it didn't have a gap the fenders would crumple from it heaving on them.

Interesting...My ARb has ~1/2" gap to the fenders. It doesn't move at all, body is moving side to side a little bit on rocks, but I never hit the fender with my bumper (at least I can't see any traces of it on the fenders).


http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/3PiecesPainted.jpg

Nice brackets. Let us know how would they work.
Oh, BTW, make some pictures on installation process as well.

[Photog]

Will these brackets be taking any load, when the winch is used?

[AlexJet]

Will these brackets be taking any load, when the winch is used?

x2 Good question....

[Yabedude]

x3 good question. Am concerned. Back to drawing board.

[Yabedude]

Revised brackets ...
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/100_5784.jpg
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/100_5785.jpg
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/100_5786.jpg

The bolts are much larger and harder than the ARB bumper bolts. 3 bolts attach to bumper and 3 to bumper. 2 of the center bolts are common bolting positions.

3 ARB bolts on bumper vehicle side bracket:
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/Toyotabumperlagbolts100_5760.jpg

3 ARB bolts compared to new replacement bolts.
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/Toyotabumperlagboltsbracketbolts100.jpg

Bye Bye ARB bolts ...
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/Toyotalagboltscutoff1100_5763.jpg

ARB front bumper side bracket ...
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/ARBBumperside100_5766.jpg

Bumper installed ...
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/ARBRelocationbracketinstalled1100_5.jpg
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/ARBRelocationbracketinstalled2100_5.jpg

Drivers side spacing is way better ... even better than when I first installed the bumper and before the 1.5 body lift ...
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/Bumperdriversside1100_5778.jpg

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/Bumperdriversside2100_5779.jpg

Passenger side is a tad higher than I wanted, but it appears to be acceptable after a days of driving into random potholes and sunken manholes. Those events are the things that jar the body causing a sharp rocking motion and that's where the bumper would met the body. So far so good.

Before ...
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/100_5518.jpg

After ...
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/Bumperpassengerside1100_5780.jpg

From the front, it's still not perfectly aligned, but it's good enough ...

Before ...
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/100_5532.jpg

After ...
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/Bumperleftgoodrightoffatad100_5773.jpg

--
Chris

[Yabedude]

Now the splash guard needs to be replaced as it's too short to fit back between the bumper and the lower cross member ... stay tuned ...

If I get more time, I think I may bore yet another hole thru the bumper/bracket/frame bracket and add a 5th bolt. I really don't think it's needed as both the fabricator and his engineer (they build heavy duty Caterpillar buckets) both say that this design will withstand more than what the 9.5 k winch would put out.

[bulldog]

very cool work there!

[Mikestang]

Looks much better.

[Yabedude]

Thanks guys. I like it much better to.

[AlexJet]

3 ARB bolts on bumper vehicle side bracket:
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/Toyotabumperlagbolts100_5760.jpg

Chris, those are not ARB, those are Toyota OEM bolts. ARB provided one upper and one lower additional bolts to make it 5 all together. So you've cut Toyota bolts.

Anyway, nice job.

[Yabedude]

You're right. Wrong 3 letter acronyms used. They had to go. What's you're thoughts on needing to add yet another bolt? I think it's plenty strong, but there is room for another bolt, it's just a hassle to revisit the mod.

[AlexJet]

You're right. Wrong 3 letter acronyms used. They had to go. What's you're thoughts on needing to add yet another bolt? I think it's plenty strong, but there is room for another bolt, it's just a hassle to revisit the mod.

Have you tried just move 1 bolt up. It should give you 1-1/4" as far as I remember my install.

[Yabedude]

I needed to move mine up 2". 1.5" to compensate for the BL. 1/2" to reduce the original 1" gap down to just a 1/2". I never liked the 1" gap it had from day 1 and felt it was overkill. Then to complicate things further, the passenger side was originally set/bolted on at slightly more than a 1" gap ... more like a 1.5" gap and the bumper was slanted. So the passenger side bracket I had made was intended to bring the passenger side up level with the drivers side. The passenger side bracket was fab'd at 1/2" offset to the other one.

The problem was, I'm not a designer and never gave consideration to the location of the outer side of the bumper being bumper 2+ feet away from the bracket or frame post and so 1/2" at the frame is more than 1/2" at the far side. So I'm lucky it ended up where it is. In fact, it was touching the plastic around the fender until I removed the ARB spacer at the top of the passenger side and replaced it with 3 HD washers so it was like an 1/8" or even 1/16" narrower at the top of the bracket and then torqued that topmost bolt to suck the top of the passenger side bumper in and effectively pull the passenger side down to where it sits today.

You can sort of see what I'm describing in this pic. Notice the top bolt isn't using that ARB spacer?
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/ARBRelocationbracketinstalled3100_5.jpg

EDIT: I also added a washer to the center bolt which allowed the top to pivot ever so slighly inward, but enough for the bumper to drop down to the current gap of perhaps 1/3" inch.

Any way, I had a 3rd bracket made to match the drivers side just in case I totally goofed. I could at least get the passenger side back to the original 1/2" offset to the drivers side, but a larger gap would exist. I'm happy with this setup.

[AlexJet]

Funny, my ARB was and is perfect match to the fenders with 1/4" gap from the begining.
Another thing is that winch power. Think twice, you had 5 bolts on each side working on "tearing off" (not side force for breaking), now you have 3. The only thing holding the force of the winch is the tread. Have you checked the specs for your bolts? What load they hold on langitudinal axis? You should have 10000lbs / 6bolts + 25% for side-to-side winching + 25% reserve. Each bolt should hold 2600lbs. I'd go with 3000lbs bolt. Does your bolts will hold it?

[Yabedude]

The bolts used are also used in the construction of 20' Caterpillar loader buckets. I don't have the 'grade' handy, but they are strong industrial strength. I'll find out the grade, but they're an 8 or better (if there is such a thing). I have extra so I'll post a pick of a bolt head (later) as that contains the spec stamp, right?

[FJCcrawler]

that sweet nice job on the lift and brackets:bigok: it's too bad you were suckered in by the ARB bumper instead of the shrockworks:idisagree

[AlexJet]

that sweet nice job on the lift and brackets:bigok: it's too bad you were suckered in by the ARB bumper instead of the shrockworks:idisagree

There is nothing wrong with ARB. It's good product and as Shrockworks they are compiting with each other. I like ARB design better then Shrockworks, but weight is better in SW then ARB.

[FJCcrawler]

There is nothing wrong with ARB. It's good product and as Shrockworks they are compiting with each other. I like ARB design better then Shrockworks, but weight is better in SW then ARB.

yeah it's not bad but you have to admit it doent look as good as the SW and it also has the factor that it weighs a ton more than the SW :iagree :idisagree

[Yabedude]

It's that same old adage ... beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I was concerned about the plastic fenders in 2003. Thought they were a little weird looking, but hey ... it's a V8 in a 4Runner so who gives a hoot! Still, I'd look over at the new Chevy Avalanche's and think, "geez, I hope mine (fenders) looks better than that. Those (Chevy) plastic fenders look like sh.it!" Shortly after I bought the truck, Toyota had decided to paint them the same color as the rest of the vehicle. Dang! I should have waited, I thought. That change in subsequent 4Runners made me even more concerned that I'd have an ugly duckling amongst the (new) swans. However, today I have a very unique vehicle in this neck of the woods and I get compliments weekly from passersby. I quite like the look of those fenders today and the ARB adds to the look as do the American Racing wheels, SW bolt-on sliders (that I had to weld on cause they didn't fit) and eventually a rear bumper that will be just as tough as the ARB. No regrets and no worries at all.

Anyway, I didn't buy ARB because of the fenders or the look. I had posted elsewhere that ARB beat SW to the line and I ordered one that very day they were announced -- after waiting for 2 to 3 years for anyone to have a replacement. Ever see the underside of an OEM bumper that's been crossing steams, rivers and ditches? It's not pretty! So, I have no regrets with regards to this ARB bumper as it does what its intended to do and I'd buy another tomorrow.

[Yabedude]

As I mentioend back at the beginning of this thread, the body lift really messed up the look of the Borla exhaust pipes, so that's now been corrected.

Before:
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/2003%204Runner/100_55152.jpg

After:
http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff1/yabedude/BorlaModifiedFor25InchBL100_5831.jpg

I also had the tips tucked in a bit more than spec. This pic doesn't do the thing justice as it's taken from beneath.

[BADOOGA3000]

What do you think about instead of doing the brackets and everything like you did, just using something like a black rubber liner or something similar to fill the gap? Or would that pretty much defeat the purpose of the body lift?