I would not attempt that trip in an IFS vehicle. Although it would be a cool way to one-up the Heep mantra "trail rated" by making a Toyota "CONGO RATED".

awesome trip. i only got through page 24 before my work shift ended. ill have to pick it back up tomorrow.

I doubt that there is any vehicle that could make it through the DRC besides the 70 series LC, with a possible exception for a convoy of well built 80 series LCs. I say this for a few reasons. First, you could never reasonably carry enough spare parts for your vehicle to survive a constant pounding over a distance similar to covering a loop Texas, Colorado, and New Mexico. A good strategy would be to drive in a convoy of trucks with the same parts, so the load of spares could be split between the trucks. The 70 series LC is the only vehicle in that part of the world that is supported with spare parts. Second, the 4th gen 4Runner lacks the cargo carrying capacity to complete the expedition. Their truck weighed in at 4 tons with all their gear. The 4th gen will be squatting with only half a ton payload. The weight of the 4 batteries they needed for the trip would be a third of the available payload. Add food for two months. Add gear for camping for two years (remember this was but a small part of their trip). Add 400 pound for driver and co-driver. No available payload left for spares. Third, the fact that a 4th gen would stick out so much would be bad ju-ju. Its one thing to drive a vehicle that is used by the UN, another to be a foreigner driving a flashy vehicle that none of them have ever seen before. You would get robbed at the very least, if not killed.

This trip took them 40-some odd days with an average speed measured in the single digits due to severity of terrain. ANY vehicle submitted to that amount of punishment will break, probably multiple times. New 4Runners, IMO are too modern / complicated to be easily repaired in the feild. One can carry spare sensors, but at some point the spares load will become excessive. Any parts not carried would take weeks or months to get there. Some parts are best sourced locally, and 4th gen 4Runners arent local there.

So my answer is a definite "NO" but it would be cool if someone proved me wrong.

^I agree with Mr. Leary 100%.

Not that other vehicles could not physically complete the obstacles they had to....no other vehicles could make that "trip" as a whole. Amazing story. He should put it in book form and make some $$.