What have you done to your 5th Gen 4Runner today?

Used to be a period in history when it's acceptable to say that to a woman and not get sued, hauled up to HR etc

 

Yeah, haha, thank goodness those days of guys will be guys wisecracks are over. Even as a little kid back in the day I would cringe over some of the dumb things that guys would say about women.

 

Did the new owner mod

 

Added TRD Pro wheels and the predator running boards to my 2018 4Runner. Next on the list is the roof rack. Don’t roast me for the tires - left the OEM tires as they still have a good 20k left on them. Live in Atlanta and do more paved driving. Will swap out to better tires down the road.

 

Yeah, we are definitely doing the Victory front.... As for the rear I'm still doing a lot of research and I do like the victory, however, I really like the expedition one with hidden handles. I am looking at a couple other ones as well and weighing out cost for swing outs, additions, bolt on's etc. I want to give victory some business because they are pretty active on the forum etc. I am pretty surprised that the interior molle panel I just installed is steel and not aluminum. Just looking at the map light, I can see that the weight from the panel is pulling it away from the headliner without anything installed. I'm going to give it some time in a few trips before jumping to any conclusions but I would definitely prefer the panel in aluminum to save weight and strain on the map light that is not designed for it. It was my mistake however. It is clearly stated on their website that it is steel. I just missed it... Got to excited haha.

 

HOLY LEDs BATMAN!

Installed the MESO LED puddle pods:

 

How was the install? Did you go through the back to access or pop your mirrors then pop out the backside? I need to get mine put in.

 

I installed my RCI steel skid plate. Man that thing is a beast & heavy!

 

It was nerve-racking to do the first one. I ended up taking off the mirror although I ended up finding it unnecessary and did not do it on the other side. The trick to taking off the painted top cover is pushing in on the side housing of the mirror while gently pulling on the painted cover to get past the plastic clasps. I ended up breaking off several tabs on the first side but it all came back together okay. The second side went much smoother once I knew where the tabs were and how to pull off the painted cover (no broken tabs this side). You also have to be careful removing the bottom piece that holds the light housing as it is fragile and comes off kind of weird. Again had much better success with the second side once I knew where to pull etc.

One thing I will say about MESO is the lack of instructions was disappointing. I watched a couple of owner videos on YouTube showing how they did the install but they weren't 100% complete. Overall a pretty easy mod to do, you're just kinda on your own in navigating how to remove parts etc.

I used this video for most of my install guidance:
https://www.youtube.com/embed/92OgmQVQbUA

 

I only know as I've done this on my 2nd runner. Mirror pops out easy as can be. Tilt it all the way in and pull from behind. Comes out in 2 seconds. From there the release tabs are easily accessible so none will be broken
Edit...just watched the video. Like I said the mirror pops right off

 

Ya I've done the Rav4 mirror mod, so I've taken them off. It just takes so much force to do all this.......my rig is brand new and it's my wife's so I dare not mess it up. I may end up doing it this weekend because next week I'm having it ceramic coated and I'd like it to be all done before that.

 

I would need to gather some information about a Nightshade version. First thing is does it have KDSS?

 

I’m about to install a new engine air filter in my 2018 and it looks different than the air filters in my Tacoma’s.

It’s got the normal pleated paper filter, but it’s got an additional white sponge-like pad affixed to the filter as well. Does it sound like I have the correct filter? I don’t remember the Tacoma’s filters having the additional sponge pad on them.

I don’t have my truck with me right now, or I’d go out and check myself. Thanks.

 

Yes, my air filter had that. Just additional filtration.

 

Looks good man!

Thanks for the kind words. We appreciate it!

 

MESO's stuff is awesome I just did his 3rd brake light on my truck and have his dome and switchable map lights.

 

Awesome, thanks much.

 

Nice! I've got ARCLightLED's for my map, dome, and tailgate lights. They're incredible!

 

I’m totally with you on aluminum. I even asked Victory to make me a Strike bumper from aluminum and I’d pay the extra cost but they said it wouldn’t work and needed it’s own design. Weight is definitely a killer and adds up.

 

Nightshade is essentially a blacked out dechromed limited. No KDSS to my knowledge but it does have XREAS. It also has the same huge rocker plastics as the limited. Ever consider selling sliders as a kit with a set of replacement rocker plastics to retrofit the limited and tuck things up a bit? SR5/Trail/Pro all use the same slim rocker plastics, it's a direct swap. I think you'd do well since no one else does it.

 

If we stocked rocker plastics you'd pay a huge mark up, simply because it'd be another middle man and we wouldn't get that big of a discount to make it worth it to you as well as us. If you can get them pre color matched it would also be difficult to determine which colors to stock as the most popular and potentially be stuck with some that will never move.

But to answer your question yes they will fit just have to get rid of the side rocker plastics and swap them to the normal ones or just leave them off. As far as the XREAS looking at it you may have issues with where the center absorbers are located, if you get me some measurements of where they are I can check on that. The lines that run along the frame can easily be manipulated to get out of the way.

 

Not my truck, I was just helping with answers. As for the plastic rockers, that makes sense. None are color matched other than the Limited, they are all just raw black plastic from the factory so color matching is a non issue.

 

My answer was more to open a discussion and be transparent about things because at the end of the day we like deals just as much as ya'll and if we can't provide those plastics at a good enough deal it wouldn't be worth it to ya'll and us. That's good to know about them being all the same, I am not as familiar with all the trim packages, options, and information on the newer 4runners.

 

I just built out the Victory bumper the way I wanted it... $3672 So I guess I will be working some Overtime..... haha. I am also looking at Expedition one ($3184.95) I think CBI is off the list (at $3674.96) and I dont care for their latching system I dont think. Shrockworks is coming in at $2741 but I think it shows a bit. Not at modular either. Anyone have any others I should look at? I am also trying to compile a new 5th gen armor thread to save people some research.

 

Coastal off-road has an aluminum one if you can weld aluminum. Greenlane has excellent aluminum skids and sliders.

 

Just added the black rear valance and rago fab step.

 

how hard was adding that valance? I THINK I want to add some to mine, but the thought of having to take it apart and drill holes scares me.

 

I'll be honest man, cutting the holes was a PITA because on the front I used a drill and cut off wheel on a dremel to make the front holes. The rear bumper doesnt have as much open space to use a dremel in unless you have a cut off tool that you can use it upright. I literally used a box cutter to trace the indentations inside the rear. Other than that, super easy! Just make sure you have the 14 or so clips to fully secure it.

 

BTW if anyone is interested I had the silver TRD OR valances I bought off FB marketplace. I sanded them with 800 grit, then painted them with 4-5 light coats of Trim Black Ultra by SEM and then ceramic coated them with CarPro CQuartz Dlux. The finish has been going strong on the front one for a while now.

 

Did you look into C4fab, SOS, Mobtown, Heftyfab, 4x4Labs, BruteForce Fab, Relentless, all have 4runner rears. For the money you have spected for the Victory you'd be in the same ballpark as some of these others fully built out too. Some of these don't show on their websites, but if you search their name and 4runner rear bumper you'll find them.