nrlarson0107
New member
Greeting all. I have decided to subject all interested parties to my newest overlanding build. This is taking off a little quicker than anticipated but more on that later...
I was in the process of building a 2003 Mitsubishi Montero that my family has owned for many years but it kept nickel and diming me to death. We bought it about 3 years ago thinking the only issue was a blown motor. I rebuilt the motor and we began discovering all the other neglected issues with the vehicle. While returning from Green Bay, WI on a work trip, the Montero died on me about a half an hour from home. Time to move on...
After a discussion with my wife, we decided it was time for me to finally give up on all my project vehicles (all 3) and buy something that was not a budget fixer. I have always been a project buyer. So this was a little foreign to me! My father had a 1st gen Tundra shortly after they came out. I loved that pickup. It had a comfortable ride, decent power, and decent MPG. With 3 boys an extended cab Tundra was going to be a little tight. I carry a decent amount of equipment, at times, for work so the box was a big benefit but it would have to have a lockable topper. My wife suggested I just get a Sequoia. I really wanted a Tundra but I was having trouble finding a 1st gen Tundra, with no rust, acceptable miles, without giving up my 1st born. Sequoias were a little more realistic in the price category. I agreed to test drive one if my equipment could fit in the back, 3rd row removed, 2nd row seat folded forward. It just so happened that our local Toyota dealer had just gotten one in! The pictures made the vehicle look like it was in decent shape and it was fully loaded. We took it for a test drive and it looked pretty good. One big selling point for me was the second row captains seats. The kids and wife, the dvd player... Never been a fan but that's a forum in and of it self. It had a shock that was on its way out and some other very minor issues but the price was good. I talked them down a little more due to the "needed work" and we purchased the Sequoia.
I give you the Soy-Quoia: (Named by my 5 year old who struggled with the name but we decided we liked his version better)
I could salvage a few items from my Montero. Namely my communications and roof rack. I knew I was going to have to do some suspension work soon. I figured I'd have a couple months and then would have to install new shocks. I planned to lift the front 2.5" and the rear 1.5" at that time and install new shoes to go with the altitude adjustment. I have the self leveling rear which makes things a little more tricky to lift but did some research and figured out a way. I ordered the new shocks for the front and rear, front lift spacers, and a couple other small odds and ends that were not very necessary but I was ordering parts and could convince my wife they were "needed"! I was not exactly sure (still not 100% sure) which route I wanted to go for tires so those would come later. On our first trip out of town, the front left shock gave up the ghost. Crap. I haven't received the new shocks yet and I had to leave for 2 weeks on a work trip.
I left town on a bad shock and headed east for 2 weeks. Due to an impending storm, I headed home a day early and got a hotel room in Rogers, MN. I decided it was better to get a good nights sleep and head out in the morning than try to drive through the night on bad roads. I woke up and hit the road. Or try to hit the road. It was covered in snow and ice. I made it 120 of the 160 miles home before hydroplaning on slush, sending me into the new fancy metal center barricade. Much can be said about driving too fast, over driving your vehicles, yada yada yada. I have driven in some of the worst conditions in the past 20 years, and have never had a single accident! Bottom line is, I was not familiar enough with my vehicle and, having been gone from my family for too long, I was in too much of a hurry. Interesting fact though, the interstate was shut down very shortly after I had my accident.
I give you the barricade modified Soy:
So, here I am... I feel lucky to have not had more damage. It looks bad but it's not as bad as it could have been. I severed a brake line and knocked the crap out of the drivers side wheel. (read have to have an alignment) I have full coverage on the vehicle and will wait to see what comes of it. However, I'm willing to bet the amount we get will pay off the little amount we financed and leave me a very decent amount for my new build.
My biggest heartache was that I had planned to lead a trip up to northern MN on Saturday. This was going to be the maiden voyage, and, judging by the condition, the first off road trip for the Soy!
So... With out further ado, my much accelerated build list:
2.5" front lift (spacers) 1.5" Rear Lift (Slightly custom)
ARB Bull Bar Winch bumper (Designed for Tundra but will fit)
Bilstein Shocks and Struts (Struts will be preloaded to adjust for additional bumper weight)
285/70R17 Tires and wheel spacers (Not Sure what tires yet but will be ordered very soon)
"Custom" roof rack made from ATV Ramp
Communications (need to remount antenna, likely in new bumper)
Rear Mount for Spare (Will be temporary hitch mount but I plan to adapt a 100 Series bumper or design my own with a swing out)
Snorkel (Modified 100 Series install. Already ordered, hasn't arrived)
That's it off the top of my head for immediate installs. More will come as I continue to plan and modify my previous plans for the Montero. Stay tuned for the progress!
I was in the process of building a 2003 Mitsubishi Montero that my family has owned for many years but it kept nickel and diming me to death. We bought it about 3 years ago thinking the only issue was a blown motor. I rebuilt the motor and we began discovering all the other neglected issues with the vehicle. While returning from Green Bay, WI on a work trip, the Montero died on me about a half an hour from home. Time to move on...
After a discussion with my wife, we decided it was time for me to finally give up on all my project vehicles (all 3) and buy something that was not a budget fixer. I have always been a project buyer. So this was a little foreign to me! My father had a 1st gen Tundra shortly after they came out. I loved that pickup. It had a comfortable ride, decent power, and decent MPG. With 3 boys an extended cab Tundra was going to be a little tight. I carry a decent amount of equipment, at times, for work so the box was a big benefit but it would have to have a lockable topper. My wife suggested I just get a Sequoia. I really wanted a Tundra but I was having trouble finding a 1st gen Tundra, with no rust, acceptable miles, without giving up my 1st born. Sequoias were a little more realistic in the price category. I agreed to test drive one if my equipment could fit in the back, 3rd row removed, 2nd row seat folded forward. It just so happened that our local Toyota dealer had just gotten one in! The pictures made the vehicle look like it was in decent shape and it was fully loaded. We took it for a test drive and it looked pretty good. One big selling point for me was the second row captains seats. The kids and wife, the dvd player... Never been a fan but that's a forum in and of it self. It had a shock that was on its way out and some other very minor issues but the price was good. I talked them down a little more due to the "needed work" and we purchased the Sequoia.
I give you the Soy-Quoia: (Named by my 5 year old who struggled with the name but we decided we liked his version better)
I could salvage a few items from my Montero. Namely my communications and roof rack. I knew I was going to have to do some suspension work soon. I figured I'd have a couple months and then would have to install new shocks. I planned to lift the front 2.5" and the rear 1.5" at that time and install new shoes to go with the altitude adjustment. I have the self leveling rear which makes things a little more tricky to lift but did some research and figured out a way. I ordered the new shocks for the front and rear, front lift spacers, and a couple other small odds and ends that were not very necessary but I was ordering parts and could convince my wife they were "needed"! I was not exactly sure (still not 100% sure) which route I wanted to go for tires so those would come later. On our first trip out of town, the front left shock gave up the ghost. Crap. I haven't received the new shocks yet and I had to leave for 2 weeks on a work trip.
I left town on a bad shock and headed east for 2 weeks. Due to an impending storm, I headed home a day early and got a hotel room in Rogers, MN. I decided it was better to get a good nights sleep and head out in the morning than try to drive through the night on bad roads. I woke up and hit the road. Or try to hit the road. It was covered in snow and ice. I made it 120 of the 160 miles home before hydroplaning on slush, sending me into the new fancy metal center barricade. Much can be said about driving too fast, over driving your vehicles, yada yada yada. I have driven in some of the worst conditions in the past 20 years, and have never had a single accident! Bottom line is, I was not familiar enough with my vehicle and, having been gone from my family for too long, I was in too much of a hurry. Interesting fact though, the interstate was shut down very shortly after I had my accident.
I give you the barricade modified Soy:
So, here I am... I feel lucky to have not had more damage. It looks bad but it's not as bad as it could have been. I severed a brake line and knocked the crap out of the drivers side wheel. (read have to have an alignment) I have full coverage on the vehicle and will wait to see what comes of it. However, I'm willing to bet the amount we get will pay off the little amount we financed and leave me a very decent amount for my new build.
My biggest heartache was that I had planned to lead a trip up to northern MN on Saturday. This was going to be the maiden voyage, and, judging by the condition, the first off road trip for the Soy!
So... With out further ado, my much accelerated build list:
2.5" front lift (spacers) 1.5" Rear Lift (Slightly custom)
ARB Bull Bar Winch bumper (Designed for Tundra but will fit)
Bilstein Shocks and Struts (Struts will be preloaded to adjust for additional bumper weight)
285/70R17 Tires and wheel spacers (Not Sure what tires yet but will be ordered very soon)
"Custom" roof rack made from ATV Ramp
Communications (need to remount antenna, likely in new bumper)
Rear Mount for Spare (Will be temporary hitch mount but I plan to adapt a 100 Series bumper or design my own with a swing out)
Snorkel (Modified 100 Series install. Already ordered, hasn't arrived)
That's it off the top of my head for immediate installs. More will come as I continue to plan and modify my previous plans for the Montero. Stay tuned for the progress!
