Hello,

First off, I would like to thank everyone here for all the contributions to the forums. I have been surreptitiously perusing the forums for over a year and have benefited greatly. I have hit some deeper stages of my 4runner outfitting and I’m starting to have some specific questions I want to ask, so I felt it is time to register.

A little history, as it is clearly a progression to here. I’m a middle aged married man with two high schooler’s. When the kids were little, I had a Tundra and with a travel trailer and we traveled to more national parks than I can even remember. That migrated to a sequoia and trailer, but as the kids got bigger we started doing some tent camping and I started pushing the sequoia a lot more. I got a 4x4 taste of that in Death Valley in 2012. We ended up going to Death Valley for a week at a time for the next 3 years straight, doing Titus canyon several times, Marble Canyon, Aguereberry Point, Death Valley/Big Pine Road (Eureka Dunes), Skidoo, Race Track road several times and all the other places just any car could go. I always saw all these other 4x4 roads on the park map and was getting very curious about them.

Well in November of 2016, the Sequoia tranny took a dive on us with 140000 miles on it, on our way to Yosemite. We weighed fixing it or getting another vehicle. We decided on a black 2016 trail edition with the rear slide out tray (it was actually hard to find one). We picked it up in December. We picked a 4runner over a jeep because we wanted a capable vehicle and the space for the kids with gear.

Here is where the forum really started helping me. All my subsequent decisions to the 4runner would be based on your experience.

I put some BFG K02’s on her and planned the maiden outing. Over Christmas break 2016, we went to Death Valley and did Titus canyon, the Racetrack and for my first real test, we went down west side road and up Johnson Canyon. I have to say I was in a completely new world; we got up the alluvial fan of baby heads no problem and into the canyon. But it was getting boulderish and I was smacking the bottom every now and then. My wife was nervous and I was a little unsure, so I made a management decision. I turned around about a mile from the end of the canyon and headed back down. Since I was new to this, I felt great that I pushed my driving but didn’t put me or my family is a spot with out recovery gear or knowledge of how to solve some 4x4 problems.





I had read a lot on the forums and these tidbits stuck out to me; armour the vehicle and learn how to drive it. I got an RTIC and created some tie-down points on the sliding tray to strap everything down. I selected RCI full aluminum skid plates and RCI Sliders. For recovery situations, I got a hi-Lift with lotus attachment, hi-lift base and wheel hooks. I learned how to use it safely and practiced it multiple times in the driveway. I also got some Maxxtrax, recovery straps and shackles.





In the spring of 2017, a 4x4 club in the bay area held a 4x4 class up in Hollister hills 4x4 area. It was awesome and I learned sooooooo much. They taught me to do things that I did not think were possible by looking at the obstacle or situation. They went over winching, recovery, angles, hill climbing, lockers, tire placement (rubber on the high side to keep the middle off the rocks) and water crossing do’s and don’ts. Not only do they show you, they make you do it. Mainly, just check your ego at the door. They said it’s a game of inches not feet and don’t break your shit doing stupid shit and get yourself stuck. So glad I took that class.





Summer of 2017, my daughter and I did a week camping trip to Moab. We camped the first night in Great Basin NP and then on to Moab. We did Shaffer Trail onto Potash on through to Moab. We camped in Canyonlands NP on the White Rim but could not complete the loop because of a high water crossing at upheaval bottom (thank you 4x4 class, we waded through the water as taught and found it waist deep and to deep for my vehicle set up). We drove to Chicken Corners (awesome and scary at the end). We went into Arches NP via Willow Flats road and north up to Tower Arch. All in all, I was very happy with the off road driving we did and the challenges we faced. I know there is a lot more marque 4x4 drives to do in Moab but it was a great first time for me and I will go back. In this area we saw literally nobody on our trails, what a way to experience the area. We left the area, camping at Natural Bridges and driving Moki Dugway before heading back to California.









In the fall of 2017 I went to Hollister Hills again to explore more and practice my driving. Great place to learn and I will spend more time there.

December 2017, time to go and do the things I always wanted to do in Death Valley. We started by staying in Alabama Hills. From the north we dropped into Saline valley and camped at Upper Warm Springs. Then we drove up into Hole in The Wall and camped there. Then we drove to the Chloride Cliffs (really the best view of the WHOLE valley, even better than Dante’s View). On our way out we camped in Monarch Canyon. My driving and reading of the situations ahead of me is getting much better. Still smacking the bottom sometimes, even with a good line though.









It was during this DV trip that my wife asked if I wanted to lift the 4Runner. I knew it was now time to lift it. After much research, I decided on a King’s lift. In April 2018, I purchased the lift and had it installed. I must say it rides so plush now.

Next up is dreaming of Mojave Road, The Sierra’s and more Death Valley roads like Steel Pass. With the new exploits ahead of me, it puts me in research mode for solar, additional lighting, a different roof rack, 2nd battery, winch, rear bumper and front bumper etc. etc. etc.

I’ve gone down the rabbit hole haven’t I. My wife hasn’t said I need help yet so I must be OK.

Thank you

All I can say is wow and great pics!

Nice, thank you for sharing.

Dang man, that has to be one of the most well written posts I've ever read. Thanks for sharing! Question, where do you get your information for the trails and such?

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Hey thanks.

I would pick a place I wanted to go, then I would search this forum. Many people have driven them and shared their experience. I would copy what they said about the trail and put it in a word document for reference. I would create little folders with maps of area, camping rules, and trail descriptions. I found these folders to be helpful each day before heading out on a route to just reaffirm my game plan.





I watched you tube videos of the trails to see if it was something within my ability and for what I will see on the trail.

I used the Gaia app on my phone. I would download the area topo, satellite and Gaia maps making sure they reflected all the 4x4 roads. I would search the internet for any already driven tracks mirroring my trip, download those gpx files and lay them on the maps (it is so helpful when your dealing with a hundred spur trails and 5 trail connecting intersections).



For example, this is chloride cliffs in DV, black was my trail, red was available trail. It just keeps you going in the right direction or makes you more confident to try the spurs knowing you can back on track.



Buy some books and read, they really helped me understand the history of what I wanted to drive and sparked my imagination. Like right now I want to do some of those old wagon trail migration routes up in the lassen area



Some people probably take less planning, that's cool for them. I have other people to care for with my driving. So I just try to know where I'm going with a plan.

None of these were my ideas and mostly gleaned from this forum.

I like that storage system you have.

After 3 week long trips and about 20 air downs and ups. This is what I feel.

First trip since the lift. The kings and the ome rear spring are working out fine, especially when loaded. Drives like a champ on the highway getting somewhere. Handles great in the NF roads to get somewhere else.

I am noticing a lot of mutual respect on the road out there. I got several waves and hi signs from Tacoma, fjcruiser and 4runner owners out there doing the same thing I was, having an adventure.
Thanks for that.

[QUOTE=sf4rnr;2978519]Hello,

I had read a lot on the forums and these tidbits stuck out to me; armour the vehicle and learn how to drive it. I got an RTIC and created some tie-down points on the sliding tray to strap everything down. I selected RCI full aluminum skid plates and RCI Sliders. For recovery situations, I got a hi-Lift with lotus attachment, hi-lift base and wheel hooks. I learned how to use it safely and practiced it multiple times in the driveway. I also got some Maxxtrax, recovery straps and shackles.




I use those same "really useful boxes"! Durable, low profile, and lock into eachother well to prevent sliding around (even without straps). That size perfectly fits (2) deep in the cargo space when you set them sideways.

Nice thread, Im in SoCal and will probably be doing some similar trips this summer! Thanks for the inspiration

Awesome ride and awesome pics! thanks for sharing.

what a great thread! thanks for posting!

Great stuff thanks. Will for sure be looking into that 4x4 class tou mentioned. Sounds like fun!

Runner

Welcome to the forum, lot's of great resources and peeps here. I've been lurking for 18 months or so!

Thanks for sharing!

Inspirational and informative! Thanks for the post and information... I really need to get out there with my 4Runner more, especially now that I'm single.