All things Overlanding thread
- Thread starter el_kab0ng
- Start date
jjrraass
New member
Family Friendly Overlanding
Hey guys. Uncleboobers and I just posted a new video highlighting our trip to Moab with our family. All activities are family oriented and tolerated. Gemini Bridges trail and Willow Springs Road out of Arches National Park. Watch our videos, subscribe and tell us what you think. Thanks for watching
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uAnCNHHmEhM" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Hey guys. Uncleboobers and I just posted a new video highlighting our trip to Moab with our family. All activities are family oriented and tolerated. Gemini Bridges trail and Willow Springs Road out of Arches National Park. Watch our videos, subscribe and tell us what you think. Thanks for watching
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uAnCNHHmEhM" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Last edited:
INFAMOUS 9
Junior Member
Overlanding
I know there are other forums out there on this topic but I would much rather stick to the T4R group for a little help. I have had my 4Runner for a couple of years now and have been stalking the forum every now and then but I've really taken an interest in Overlanding. I have been digging into a few sites for local trails and trips and now I want to take another step forward. My question is what mods and steps do you recommend for a beginner? I've recently upgraded my suspension to an Icon Stage 2 with bigger tires to follow so what should be my next step? Dif-breather kit? Light bars? Changing out the air intake? Any help would be appreciated.
I know there are other forums out there on this topic but I would much rather stick to the T4R group for a little help. I have had my 4Runner for a couple of years now and have been stalking the forum every now and then but I've really taken an interest in Overlanding. I have been digging into a few sites for local trails and trips and now I want to take another step forward. My question is what mods and steps do you recommend for a beginner? I've recently upgraded my suspension to an Icon Stage 2 with bigger tires to follow so what should be my next step? Dif-breather kit? Light bars? Changing out the air intake? Any help would be appreciated.
jjrraass
New member
Wow. That is a tough question. Honestly, all I can do is tell you my progression. My family and I took our first trip to Wyoming with the 4runner in stock configuration. I wanted to see what we needed/didn't need. I realized that I wanted better tires and some clearance. I went with the Icon stage 2 as well because I wasn't racing Baja and wasn't sponsored by Icon so anything more just didn't make sense at the time. So, first upgrade was 33" tires and the Icon stage 2. Next, we also realized that we were traveling very remotely and gas stations were not easily found or where there was suppose to be a gas station it had closed. So, extra fuel and water rolled into the fact that I didn't want to carry my spare under the car, because I knew that we would do some rock crawling in Moab, plus I wanted to have a Hi-Lift jack for multiple reasons, led me to purchase a rear bumper. We went with CBI but all of the manufactures have nice products. The one thing that my wife said she really wanted was a fridge. So, happy wife, happy life. We bought the ARB 50 and I built a custom cabinet for the back of the 4runner. That summer we travelled to Moab, Durango, Medano Pass etc... I can tell you that the fridge for longer trips, especially with children, is priceless. That trip we realized how crammed everything was in the back of the car and the back seat so I purchased a Gobi rack after extensive research so that we could put stuff on the roof that is occasionally used for emergency like tools, pull strap, chairs etc... Its an evolutionary process that is pretty individualized. The one piece of advice I can offer is, the 4runner is extremely capable stock, go on longer trips and borrow gear if you can, that will help you see if you want to purchase something or realize that you need something. The last trip to Utah we realized how important extra dispensable water is for showering, washing dishes etc... So, this trip that we are going on in June I will have a Jerry carrier for my roof rack and bring an extra 10 gallons of water etc...
THIS ^^^
Like owning an AR-15, you're going to want to Barbie up your T4R for no good reason other than to feel like you're 'more capable'. This is an expensive presumption as the T4R in stock configuration used as an overlander is VERY capable.
How you use your T4R on a regular basis should take precedence over a single trip when it comes to preparation. If you're the Ronny Dahl type and driving all over Western Australia on logging trails every weekend, then sure, you'll need about $5-10k more in upgrades to make that possible (which, by the way, is OFF ROADING and not OVERLANDING).
For the rest of us (weekend warriors), about the most we'll ever do is take our T4R onto unimproved roads while getting from point A to point B (rather than making our own trails), in which case the stock vehicle is perfectly set up already.
jediwebdude
New member
Nothing else. Just go travel. Start out light. As you experience trips, you'll figure out what you need over time.
Liquidmantis
New member
While I definitely agree with the "Test and see what limits you" approach, and it's been my approach, I'd also say you can do a little bit to prep depending on what you plan to do. Diff breather is a very cheap, very easy "insurance" mod if you think you'll be doing any water crossings -- not just puddle splashing. Likewise sliders are insurance if you start getting into rocks. Those were literally the first two things I did, other than better tires, before first testing my 4R with a trip to Ouray (too early to do much, but that's another story...) I got some use out of my sliders, and it may have been because the sliders reduce your clearance a bit, but the peace of mind was nice.
After those items, I upgraded the stock skids because I did a helluva number on the stock ones on that Ouray trip. Then I ran the 4R for a while to see if bumpers limited my approach or departure angles. So far they haven't limited my mild trail runs, although I have used my receiver hitch as a skid... So I added a slimline front bumper just to mount a winch, as I have needed recovery, and I like self-reliance and also deal with snow a decent portion of the year.
Chuckles89
New member
I would definitely spend the $20 on diff breather extensions, then hit the trail and see what you really need
Liquidmantis
New member
I'm heading out for a week or so in UT in a couple of weeks and I'm planning on three jerry cans of water. What carrier are you planning to use with the Gobi? I'm working on figuring out if I'm going to lay them down on the rack or strap them down in the cargo area and displace storage bins to the roof.
atchcraft
New member
This is my suggestion as well. The rear diff breather is very cheap and easy. Sliders are a big one for protection and will cause a lot less anxiety in rocks. I’ve done a lot of wheeling, in a lot of capable rigs and the stock 4Runner really impressed me. Go out and enjoy it!
yotaguy674
New member
I can appreciate the work it took to make this, but I couldn't take the narration. The chicago accent was like nails on a chalk board. :sorry:
I don't know if they were serious or not but great video man, you did a good job on it and I really enjoyed it. :clap2:
jjrraass
New member
Thanks. I'ts nice to hear a compliment. We don't post our videos to make money on YouTube like a lot of people. We just want to encourage families with younger children to get in their 4Runner and go explore. It seems a lot of the videos on YouTube don't show kids or they have an endless amount of resources and time. We want to show that regular Joe's like us can still have an awesome vacation on a budget and with limited time. :thanks::thanks::thanks::thanks:
RAD4Runner
Senior Member
Second that^^^, and many people spend too much money and time on making the "perfect" vehicle, they don't have time to use them - LOL!
Look at these less than perfect 4Runners in perfect wild and beautiful places - not the mall or soccer practice
...
RUINED ADVENTURES
DEFRAG (Home on the Highway)
Last edited:
Chuckles89
New member
I'm taking my old beater truck from Tennessee to offroad in Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana this July and then do Moab in December :guitar2: The goal is to hit 300k by the end of the year!
No fancy ARB awning or RTT, just some plywood older than me made into a sleeping platform and a homemade awning hahaha
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/149534540@N03/40480117715/in/dateposted-public/" title="DCN_1405m"><img src="https://farm1.staticflickr.com/896/40480117715_147b27bf29_b.jpg" width="1024" height="683" alt="DCN_1405m"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Last edited:
jjrraass
New member
That is how my over landing started. Of course, I don't think it was called overlanding back then but my wife and I use to take a trip every summer. Sometimes to the southwest, sometimes to northwest in my 1999 4runner. We put 200K on that thing and loved every minute of it. That 4runner was stock and packed to the brim. Took a beating but never left us stranded. Now, my 2015 has big shoes to fill.
RAD4Runner
Senior Member
Way to go!; the more you know the less you need.
I'm working on quick attachment for my homemade awning. It is "L" shaped and not hard-mounted, so it always covers the tailgate and can quickly switch between left or right side coverage depending on weather conditions.
See Grapes of Wrath? Some old-school overlanding there.
Attachments
Last edited:
jjrraass
New member
Man. Check out that roof rack. You think that was an original GOBI?
