[yonah]

I remember routing remote port hoses on my previous Tacoma build. I had to be meticulous with the cuts on the hoses or else they’d leak at the press-in fittings. Other times, I’d discover the importance of using strong hose from a reputable brand if you’re going to run them under under the vehicle. I’d have to soapy-spray all over to find the leak, and then remove and re-run a new length of hose for that segment.

You’ve clearly gone the wiser route by running all the hoses inside the vehicle.

If you’re looking for an excuse to find somewhere to install a small tank, run some more hoses, and be the most recognized minivan in the drop-off line, I recommend checking out the Grover 1910 Stuttertone. 😝

I installed two sets of Hella Sharptones on my previously owned Tacoma. Not as powerful as an airhorn, but they screamed. Two Sharptones are loud - I had four and also kept the OEM horns installed, so I had a total of six total horns behind the grill of the truck. This symphony of horns really cut through the road noise on the highway.

Definitely one I regret selling... such a great truck! Can't beat a clean Toyota.

 

[Sienna.Guy]

Should’ve done it this way to begin with.

 

[yonah]

View attachment 71077
View attachment 71078
Should’ve done it this way to begin with.

@Sienna.Guy again, thank you so much for sharing the part number for this harness. It may take me a few months, but I’m going to give the rear kick sensor retrofit install a try. Just need to find the time to pull everything apart.

 

[wradar]

thanks for the detailed post. On a platform that doesn’t get a lot of mods these detailed posts with pictures are an amazing resource.

How you liking the WeBoost? As much as I want one I’ve had mixed results with previous models.

We had a WeBoost in our Durango when we lived in Alaska, and it did a great job in keeping signal usable in one particular stretch of the road where there was always a dead spot. 19/20 times it would drop a call there without WeBoost, but with it I don’t remember losing any.

 

[yonah]

Kaspen Metalworks Hydroflask/Tumbler Cupholder

Because the Sienna doesn’t have enough cupholders 😂 I contacted Kasper Metalworks - a CA fabricator that offers custom aftermarket metal cupholder options for various vehicle makes/models. Here’s the Kaspen storefront on Etsy:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/KaspenMetalWorks

After some back and forth, and some measuring on my end, we decided that their Toyota RAV4 2019-2024-specific cupholder should shoehorn into the 4th Gen Sienna’s front inboard passenger footwell and mount via the front passenger side seat mounting bolt. Here is the ‘19+ RAV4 cupholder product page:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1623114920/

I received the cupholder in the mail and mocked it up; however, the cupholder’s arm was too short to clear my aftermarket Amazon-sourced lower dash tray and I felt it encroached a little too much into the passenger footwell. I took some more measurements and found that a 3.5” longer arm (in conjunction with the already installed 1.5” Desert Does It Seat Jackers) would clear the lower dash storage tray.

Here is a link to the Seat Jacker install completed a few months ago:

https://www.siennachat.com/posts/472400/

I mailed the cupholder back to Kaspen and after a month, they mailed back a custom ‘19+ RAV4 cupholder with a 3.5” longer arm. This allowed the cupholder to sit higher and tuck more inboard, closer to the vehicle’s centerline.

Here are the photos of the Kaspen Hydroflask cupholder installed (excuse the dusty/dirty interior - we use this Sienna daily ). I did edit this thread and update the photos as once I finished the install; I realized that the cupholder interfered with the glovebox door when it swung down into the open position. To remedy this, I gently pulled and bent the arm/bracket to clear the glove box door while still positioning the cupholder in a location that did not interfere with the passenger or dash trim.

The cupholder is tucked into this position really well. It's hard to see in the photos, but there is a ~1/2"-3/4" gap at the front of the unit between it and the plastic trim of the lower dash.

One modification I made to the cupholder was the installation of a little 1.5"x1" black rubber bumper pad on the bottom portion of the unit (visible in the above photos). This bumper was sourced at my local Ace Hardware store. I slightly pulled the cupholder up and installed the bumper under it, the downward tension of the arm then allowed the bumper to rest on top of the lower dash storage tray. This resulted in a much more planted unit that did not bounce around when holding two fully filled (heavy) flasks/bottles. Without this pad, I noticed the cupholder bounce slightly when going over bumps in the road. Nothing detrimental, but it was a little annoying/distracting and likely the result of the leverage induced by the 3.5" longer mounting arm.

The cupholder secures a full-size Hydroflask (regardless of the bottle’s height - it clears the center console) and a smaller soda can-sized container or bottle. We usually keep a couple of these Hydroflasks in the van and could never really find a good spot to store at least one of them, this modification solves that problem.

The only drawbacks I see with this modification are:

1. It’s a custom-made piece of metalwork, so it’s pricey (but the quality is top notch - it's fabricated completely out of metal).
2. The cupholder’s lower arm does prevent the front passenger seat from fully sliding forward by about ~2”. This isn’t really an issue for us as we do not slide the passenger seat this far forward, but it’s a limitation none the less.
3. The cupholder does encroach slightly into the front passenger footwell, where the passenger’s lower left calf may touch it. After a lot of test fitting and sitting in the vehicle, both my wife and I found that this was a non-issue, as neither of us found that our leg contacted the cupholder (or Hydroflask/bottles) when sitting in the front seat.

To give you an idea of the interference I mentioned above, here is a photo of the seat in its most forward position:

I suppose everything is a trade-off when modifying a vehicle.

*Note - do keep in mind that this custom piece is unique to our van (and I did have to further bend and modify the bracket) - as a set of Seat Jackers and a lower dash storage tray are both installed. If you have one, or neither of these modifications, the '19+ RAV4 Kaspen cupholder may be a direct fit, but I would reach out to Kaspen to confirm the dimensions.

Cheers, 🍻

 

[yonah]

We stretched the Sienna's legs again this past weekend and did a quick two-day family trip to Yosemite NP.

This was our first time visiting the park. The scenery was absolutely breath taking; the fall colors were the icing on the cake. The weather forecast called for snow over the weekend, but the temps were high enough to keep the snow at bay and we only saw some light rain Friday night through Saturday morning. I think the threat of winter weather kept a lot of visitors away, this resulted in a quiet and much less crowded experience.

Here are some photos of the scenery from our trip 😍🏔🍂🍁

 

[yonah]

A few more YNP photos…

This was a nice weekend getaway that didn't disappoint.

---

On the drive into the park, we stopped about an hour outside of the gates for lunch break at the California State Mining and Mineral Museum located at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds, CA. The kids really enjoyed the various crystal and precious metal/gem exhibits, as well as the life-size mining dioramas and models.

Inside the museum's vault there are several large gem stones and gold nuggets. The largest being the Fricot Nugget; described here on the museum's webpage, "...a rare and beautiful specimen of crystallized gold discovered in the American River [California] in 1864. This spectacular 13.8-pound specimen is the largest remaining intact mass of crystalline gold from 19th century California, when these finds were more common but usually were simply melted down."

Fricot Nugget excerpt from raregoldnuggets.com:

Photography isn't allowed in the museum, but there are plenty of photos online of the various exhibits. It's a dated museum, but definitely worth the stop if you appreciate mining, frontier life, precious stones, and history in general.

Here's the museum's webpage:

California State Mining and Mineral Museum Park Property

California State Parks

www.parks.ca.gov

---

Before this trip I installed the OEM Toyota Hood/Bug Deflector and a full set of Weathertech window visors. I'll post some more detailed photos of those modifications in the next week or two.

 

[saidiadude2]

Great pics @yonah
Thanks for the tip about the Museum. Will have to check it out on our next trip.
Yosemite in the fall is amazing.

 

[yonah]

Great pics @yonah
Thanks for the tip about the Museum. Will have to check it out on our next trip.
Yosemite in the fall is amazing.

It's a cool little museum and a great spot to let the kids run around and picnic. I stumbled upon it via Google Maps when I was planning the route.

We have a big Southwestern US (AZ/NM) 🌵🏜 trip planned for the beginning of the year. It should be a lot of fun.

 

[wradar]

Yosemite and the surrounding area are beautiful and provide no shortage of outdoor adventure options.

Regarding the gold part, many of the gold nuggets on display in Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in DC are from the Mariposa and Sierra Nevada region.

 

[Sienna25AE]

A few more YNP photos…
View attachment 71371 View attachment 71372 View attachment 71373 View attachment 71374 View attachment 71375 View attachment 71376 View attachment 71377 View attachment 71378

This was a nice weekend getaway that didn't disappoint.

---

On the drive into the park, we stopped about an hour outside of the gates for lunch break at the California State Mining and Mineral Museum located at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds, CA. The kids really enjoyed the various crystal and precious metal/gem exhibits, as well as the life-size mining dioramas and models.

Inside the museum's vault there are several large gem stones and gold nuggets. The largest being the Fricot Nugget; described here on the museum's webpage, "...a rare and beautiful specimen of crystallized gold discovered in the American River [California] in 1864. This spectacular 13.8-pound specimen is the largest remaining intact mass of crystalline gold from 19th century California, when these finds were more common but usually were simply melted down."

Fricot Nugget excerpt from raregoldnuggets.com:
View attachment 71379

Photography isn't allowed in the museum, but there are plenty of photos online of the various exhibits. It's a dated museum, but definitely worth the stop if you appreciate mining, frontier life, precious stones, and history in general.

Here's the museum's webpage:

California State Mining and Mineral Museum Park Property

California State Parks

www.parks.ca.gov

---

Before this trip I installed the OEM Toyota Hood/Bug Deflector and a full set of Weathertech window visors. I'll post some more detailed photos of those modifications in the next week or two.

I had been in Yosemite once during the late 1980's. Magnificent till the last drop! Some of your pictures takes me back that day vividly. Your pictures are magnificent. For those that have never been to Yosemite, seeing it in person is even more magnificent!

P.S.
I have the same OEM Toyota Hood/bug deflector and full set of Weathertech window Visors too. How do you like them? Installation was a pain with the hood deflector. The stick on rubber spacer are coming off while remaining between the deflector and hood.

 

[Sienna25AE]

As it’s been about a year and nearly 15k miles since I installed the rear power distribution system, I took a few minutes yesterday and gave everything a good visual inspection. My goal was to verify that there were no issues (connections that had loosened, wire looms were still in place, etc.).

Link to the original installation write-up:

Traveler - The Family Hauler/Roadtrip Van

Current photos: Jump to modification list: Traveler - The Family Hauler/Roadtrip Van —- Greetings, Starting up a modification thread to track and share my tinkering, thoughts, and family adventures with our new kid hauler, road trip vehicle - a 2023 Sienna AWD Platinum. Background. I’m a...

www.siennachat.com

All was good. This system has been functioning 100% as designed with zero issues since the install last spring.

While I was in there, I added some more wire loom sleeving and Velcro tape to clean things up a bit, but otherwise, left things undisturbed.

Some current photos of the power distro system:
View attachment 68320 View attachment 68318 View attachment 68316 View attachment 68315 View attachment 68319 View attachment 68317

—-

I’m also considering installing a small, flexible 100-120w flexible solar panel on top of the Packasport rooftop cargo carrier. Then running a wire harness (with a quick disconnect) from the roof rack down the back of the van to a small Victron solar controller next to starter battery. The endstate would be a modest solar system that would trickle charge the starter (AGM) battery to deliver sufficient capacity to keep the 12v fridge powered indefinitely in sunny weather. It sounds like a fun little project that I may undertake in the future, and I believe there is enough room next to the battery to mount the solar controller.

More on that in the future if I decide to follow through with the concept.

Yonah. been a while I visited you in this thread. My question. What is the piece you are using on the positive end of the battery to connect more "things" directly to the positve post? I have an issue of having one (currently 3 and not sitting too well) too many things attached to the positive pole directly.

Please see picture below:

Another question. Where is that post where you modified the center mount rear stop light for it to strobe? I can't find it in this thread. I need to buy device and the plugs you used to modify it. Thanks in advance.

 

[yonah]

Yosemite and the surrounding area are beautiful and provide no shortage of outdoor adventure options.

Regarding the gold part, many of the gold nuggets on display in Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in DC are from the Mariposa and Sierra Nevada region.

No kidding. I did not know that. I visited the Smithsonian a couple of years ago and probably saw the nuggets you're referencing. Very cool to know the backstory.

The California State Mining and Mineral Museum really provides some perspective regarding the early pioneer life and treacherous conditions in those mines. It's cool to see these little museums are still out there. It was run by what appeared to be a little skeleton crew of CA Parks rangers who were very enthusiastic about showing us around.

I had been in Yosemite once during the late 1980's. Magnificent till the last drop! Some of your pictures takes me back that day vividly. Your pictures are magnificent. For those that have never been to Yosemite, seeing it in person is even more magnificent!

P.S.
I have the same OEM Toyota Hood/bug deflector and full set of Weathertech window Visors too. How do you like them? Installation was a pain with the hood deflector. The stick on rubber spacer are coming off while remaining between the deflector and hood.

Yeah, the hood deflector install probably took me three hours to knock out. I spent 15 mins just cleaning the hood to make sure I was providing the best conditions as possible for the 3M adhesive pads / rubber bumpers to attach. I haven't noticed any shifting of the rubber bumpers, but they have faded from black to a chalky grey color from UV exposure.

To be honest, I wasn't sure about the hood deflector's aesthetics at first, but it has really grown on me. It ties in really well to the window deflectors and I think the added gloss black of those two products really adds a sporty look to the van. I haven't noticed bug guts on the windshield, so maybe it's fulfilling its purpose.

Thanks for the reminder, I really need to get some photos posted of the OEM hood and Weathertech window deflectors. Life has been a little busy as of late.

Yonah. been a while I visited you in this thread. My question. What is the piece you are using on the positive end of the battery to connect more "things" directly to the positve post? I have an issue of having one (currently 3 and not sitting too well) too many things attached to the positive pole directly.

Please see picture below:
View attachment 71528


Another question. Where is that post where you modified the center mount rear stop light for it to strobe? I can't find it in this thread. I need to buy device and the plugs you used to modify it. Thanks in advance.

1) those devices are Toyota-specific aftermarket battery terminals by SDHQ - pricey, but the quality is top-notch, they are plug-n-play and are an easy/clean way to add accessories to your battery. I did add a longer bolt and spacer to the positive terminal which allowed me to install a double-terminal MRBF 2 fuse block from Blue Sea.

Product link: SDHQ Built Complete Billet Battery Terminal Kit

Photo of the terminal - the aforementioned elongated bolt and additional fuse terminal is highlighted yellow:

Link to the MRBF 2 fuse terminal: MRBF 2 Terminal Stud Fuse Block | West Marine

2) Here is the link to the Brake Light Pulse (BLP) module install: https://www.siennachat.com/posts/466112/

 

[Sienna25AE]

No kidding. I did not know that. I visited the Smithsonian a couple of years ago and probably saw the nuggets you're referencing. Very cool to know the backstory.

The California State Mining and Mineral Museum really provides some perspective regarding the early pioneer life and treacherous conditions in those mines. It's cool to see these little museums are still out there. It was run by what appeared to be a little skeleton crew of CA Parks rangers who were very enthusiastic about showing us around.



Yeah, the hood deflector install probably took me three hours to knock out. I spent 15 mins just cleaning the hood to make sure I was providing the best conditions as possible for the 3M adhesive pads / rubber bumpers to attach. I haven't noticed any shifting of the rubber bumpers, but they have faded from black to a chalky grey color from UV exposure.

To be honest, I wasn't sure about the hood deflector's aesthetics at first, but it has really grown on me. It ties in really well to the window deflectors and I think the added gloss black of those two products really adds a sporty look to the van. I haven't noticed bug guts on the windshield, so maybe it's fulfilling its purpose.

Thanks for the reminder, I really need to get some photos posted of the OEM hood and Weathertech window deflectors. Life has been a little busy as of late.



1) those devices are Toyota-specific aftermarket battery terminals by SDHQ - pricey, but the quality is top-notch, they are plug-n-play and are an easy/clean way to add accessories to your battery. I did add a longer bolt and spacer to the positive terminal which allowed me to install a double-terminal MRBF 2 fuse block from Blue Sea.

Product link: SDHQ Built Complete Billet Battery Terminal Kit

Photo of the terminal - the aforementioned elongated bolt and additional fuse terminal is highlighted yellow:
View attachment 71592

Link to the MRBF 2 fuse terminal: MRBF 2 Terminal Stud Fuse Block | West Marine

2) Here is the link to the Brake Light Pulse (BLP) module install: https://www.siennachat.com/posts/466112/

Thank you for the links.

1. I do plan on modifying the brake light. The plugs, where did you get them?

2. The yellow highlighted section of the positive terminal. I see the SDHQ link show only the terminal block below the yellow highlighted part. Is that yellow highlighted part an OEM part from the original terminal or am I miss seeing something in the SDHQ link?

I have pre-wired the battery directly to the positive terminal for charging / jumping purposes. See this link detailing my mod: https://www.siennachat.com/threads/...or-battery-maintainer-trickle-charger-rear-jump-start-access-point.77505/page-2

@fibber2 expressed in my thread that it might not be a good idea to attach loads directly to the battery posts after what appears to be "sensors". What are those things that appears to be fuses at the positive terminal posts? What are their purpose?

 

[yonah]

1) Check the BLP install write-up I linked in this thread. The Chinese vendor that sells the OEM connectors is linked in the write-up. These connectors are direct OE fit and allow you to jump the third brake light harness without any permanent splices.

Link: https://www.siennachat.com/posts/466112/

2) The highlighted part is a longer bolt I installed to allow the install of the additional double fuse block. The SDHQ terminals arrive with all of the hardware that you need to install them, so if you buy that kit, you’ll be good to go. I simply opted to swap in the longer bolt to suit the electrical demands of the system in my van.

I’ll provide a more detailed post later in the week (when I have a bit more free time) with a photo or two that will better answer your questions.

 

[Sienna25AE]

1) check the BLP install write-up I linked in this thread. The Chinese vendor that sells the OEM connectors is linked in the write-up. These connectors are direct OE fit and allow you to jump the third brake light harness without any permanent splices.

2) the highlighted part is a longer bolt I installed to allow the install of the additional double fuse block. The SDHQ terminals arrive with all of the hardware that you need to install them, so if you buy that kit, you’ll be good to go. I simply opted to swap in the longer bolt to suit the electrical demands of the system in my van.

I’ll provide a more detailed post later in the week (when I have a bit more free time) with a photo or two that will better answer your questions.

Thank you. Will be looking forward to your post.

 

[yonah]

Thank you. Will be looking forward to your post.

I believe you're referring to the fuse assembly that attaches to the positive battery terminal (circled in yellow below).

Regarding the attachment of auxiliary loads, I don't think you'd assume any risk attaching a wire via a ring terminal (or similar) to the battery post - as long as that circuit has its own fused link. However, I think a dedicated fuse block would be a much cleaner and easier system to maintain and operate.

Here is another product I recommend by Blue Sea Systems for that purpose:

Product link: https://www.bluesea.com/products/5024/ST_Blade_Battery_Terminal_Mount_Fuse_Block_Kit

---

I hope this helps.

 

[yonah]

Packasport Voyager (Black) (System 90 XP) - Rooftop Cargo Carrier

A couple of years ago I found a used Packasport on FB Marketplace that was placed in storage since the '90s and required some serious elbow grease and time to restore.

Photo of the previous Packasport resto project:

More info on the refurbishment of this cargo box can be found here: https://www.siennachat.com/posts/444681/

The Voyager product page via Packasport's website: Voyager - Bulky Cargo Carrier - 212791

---

Packasport offers several models of varying lengths, widths, and heights, but I like the Voyager model (formerly known as the System 90XP) due to its increased height and shorter footprint; it's designed to hold bulkier items (like strollers, pack-n-plays, etc.) and fits the roof racks / clears the rear hatch on both our Sienna and RAV4.

Since restoring the white Voyager, I have been searching for another one (via the secondhand market). The search has taken some time as the Voyager seems to be a lower-volume production unit and used examples tend to surface less regularly. However, recently I found another Voyager that was gently used for a great price. Beyond some superficial scratches, gelcoat oxidation, and a dry-rotted seal, this box was in great shape and worth the long drive to pick it up.

Interestingly, this box was listed by the original owner, and it was used as a stock photo on Packasport's webstore - which I thought was a cool detail. Photos from Packasport's Voyager product page: Voyager - Bulky Cargo Carrier - 212791

Stock photos of the box:

The resto work on this box was much less involved than that of my other Packasport. These boxes are constructed from fiberglass and gelcoated like a boat hull or traditional truck camper shell. Over time, if the gelcoat is regularly cleaned and waxed it will fade and oxidize, which is what happened to this box (although it was very minimal as this unit was only a few years old).

To bring back the shine of the gelcoat, I purchased Meguiar's 3-in-1 gelcoat restoration kit.

Product link: Amazon.com

I didn't get any great before and after photos, but the kit from Meguiar's did a great job cutting down the surface scratches and oxidation. After the surface was restored, a half dozen coats of wax were applied until a mirrored finish was achieved.

After polishing/waxing:

Then it was time to remove the old weatherstrip seal. The old cracking/dry-rotted seal left behind a grey residue from the adhesive tape that secures it to the lip of the box. I used my 3M decal removing wheel to quickly peel off this residue and laid down a new weatherstrip and secured it with a new locking pin rivet (both sourced direct from Packasport).

And that was it. Here are a couple photos of the black Packasport Voyager mounted on the Sienna.

I think the gloss black gelcoat matches the van better than the white finish of my other box. I'll likely keep the white box and mount it on our RAV4 when needed.

 

[yonah]

Final sunset of 2024 🌅🍾🥂

 

[yonah]

Michelin Defender 2 Tires (235 /60 R18 XL)

We're preparing for another cross-country move and after driving the Sienna for two years / 25k miles with the OEM tires (Bridgestone Turanza LS100 (235 /60 R18 SL)) I decided to upgrade the van's rubber. With a large family, all of our luggage/gear, fridge, roof/hitch cargo boxes, etc. the Standard Load (SL) rating of the Turanza's wasn't the best fit for our use case. For our road trips (when the van is loaded heavy) I found myself slightly over-pressurizing the tires (especially the rear tires by 3-4 PSI) and still they felt very bouncy and the van sways/body rolls more in turns than I'd like.

I'll also mention that the suspension upgrades, including the front Sumo Springs and rear Firestone airbags, have really emphasized that the Bridgestone Turanza tires were the weak link in the van's ability to safely/comfortably carry a heavier payload.

More info on the suspension upgrades here:
Sumo Springs (front coil spring application)
Firestone Coil-Rite 4155 Airbags

To replace the Turanza's, I purchased a set of Michelin Defender 2s in the OEM tire size (235 /60 R18). The big advantage with the Defenders is their stiffer sidewalls and XL load rating. I also like the more aggressive sidewall tread and overall aesthetics. I have a set on our other Toyota (an AWD Hybrid RAV4) and have put about 30k miles on those tires and they ride and have performed flawlessly.

Product link and stock photos of the Defender 2s (from America's (Discount) Tire - where I purchased the tires):

Discount Tire | Tires and Wheels for Sale | Online & In-Person

www.americastire.com

Here's a brief comparison of some selected technical specs of the Turanza LS100s and Defender 2s:

*Note: the Turanzas are the left column and the Defender 2s the right column.

Load Index:

• Bridgestone Turanza LS100 (Left Column): 102
• Michelin Defender 2 (Right Column): 107

*The load index indicates the maximum load that each tire can support. A load index of 102 means that the Turanza LS100 can carry up to approximately 1,874 lbs, while a load index of 107 indicates that the Defender 2 can carry up to approximately 2,149 lbs.

Load Range:

• Bridgestone Turanza LS100 (Left Column): SL (Standard Load)
• Michelin Defender 2 (Right Column): XL (Extra Load)

*Load range refers to the tire's ability to carry a given load at a specified pressure. SL-rated tires, like the Turanza LS100, are designed for standard loading conditions, whereas XL-rated tires, like the Defender 2, can handle additional load and/or higher inflation pressures, making them suitable for heavier loads or vehicles.

Here are some photos of the tires mounted on the Sienna:

Since installing them earlier this week, I've put about 100 miles on the Defender 2s, so I cannot provide any long-term feedback, but I'm already very satisfied with this upgrade. The Defenders have really firmed up the van's ride and handling; the steering responsiveness and braking have also vastly improved. I'm really looking forward to installing the Stowaway2 hitch cargo box and testing out the ride improvement in that configuration - more to come.