Mods round two; Overland Prep

Keith_PDX

Keith_PDX

New member
This weekend I got the Baja utility rack installed along with my new James Baroud
Evasion Evolution RTT. I am very happy with how it turned out! The dark grey color is by no means a match but I like the way it contrasts. I didn't want white and black just seemed too hot and potentially a pain to deal with UV & scratch wise.

I can't say enough for 99 West Off Road, great shop and people to work with. If you're local to Portland I recommend giving them a look.

The best part is my girlfriend is VERY excited to give it the shakedown test next weekend.

Let me know what you all think.

CKSyGYy.jpg

1KdOtjo.jpg
 
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Roof rack and RTT

It looks great. I like the hard box enclosure. That will stay very clean on dusty roads and rain. I take it that's the flat Utility Rack from Baja.

I like it and I don't really like RTT's that much. I have a couple of really good tents I like. They're better in strong winds because I can guy tie them down 6 or 8 ways. I've camped in the desert when some pretty severe winds have come up.

Edit: I want to see the RTT opened up. How big is it? How do you get up inside, etc? I may have to travel up to Portland.

I like those tires you got.

BTW, I just ordered my T4R TE in magnetic grey today. Expect it in about 10 to 12 weeks
 
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nice looking rig

been a few good threads on expo about those RTT seem really well designed etc...
 
I'm looking at a build very similar to this. Nice work!!! I like that you lifted just enough, but still low enough to use the stock front UCA and keep a decent alignment.

You are also one of the only builds I've seen that use a 255/75R17 ST MAXX.

How is your mileage with the lift/tires/rack/tent? Inquiring minds want to know!

Keith_PDX said:
This weekend I got the Baja utility rack installed along with my new James Baroud
Evasion Evolution RTT. I am very happy with how it turned out! The dark grey color is by no means a match but I like the way it contrasts. I didn't want white and black just seemed too hot and potentially a pain to deal with UV & scratch wise.

I can't say enough for 99 West Off Road, great shop and people to work with. If you're local to Portland I recommend giving them a look.

The best part is my girlfriend is VERY excited to give it the shakedown test next weekend.

Let me know what you all think.

CKSyGYy.jpg

1KdOtjo.jpg
Click to expand...
 
Thanks guys. I will get some pictures of the tent opened up on the T4R later this week. There's lots of pictures on the international and USA site if you want to check them out before I get to it. Plenty of room for two people. I will probably do a review after the long weekend.

I am very happy with the tires but again, I just got them. More info to come after the four day weekend.

Gas mileage impact from tires seems to be negligible at this point. RTT's impact? Dunno yet.
 
Looks great, and another Portlander :) We should all go do a overland exploration trip. Look forward to the review.
 
Keith, how did you decide which JB model to purchase? Their website doesn't allow easy comparison of the 6 available RTTs, and some look very similar. I emailed their distributor, OK 4WD but haven't received any additional info.
 
catastrofe said:
Keith, how did you decide which JB model to purchase? Their website doesn't allow easy comparison of the 6 available RTTs, and some look very similar. I emailed their distributor, OK 4WD but haven't received any additional info.
Click to expand...

Check out the international site above, I also found some PDF downloads that were helpful. The best was seeing them in person.


All of the Discovery, Explorer and Evasion are the same size. They use the same bottom half base. The Grand Raid is much bigger, too large for a T4R. Now all you need to decide is if you want a full roof lift or a clam shell design. I went full lift as it felt roomier and has bigger and more windows. Once you figure that out ask yourself if you want to store stuff on top of it. The Explorer and Discover Extreme (and Grand Raid) have a different molded top on them that allows storage. The bad side of those models is that the struts are designed to hold 125 pounds of stuff on them, so if you don't have stuff on them they become much more difficult to pull down. You also lose some interior space with that lid design. I could not see my self storing anything up that high so those models you're not on my list.

Everything else on them is the same to my eye.
 
Just returned from Overland Expo. Your tent would've been worth it's weight in gold there, so you are off to a good over landing start. I have the same tires as you, but in 255/80, and they did fine at 40 lbs.

Our camp site:



The road in and out:

 
I heard it was a mess this year, snow, then rain, etc.

I love the idea of a tent. I'm doing a project for Tepui actually, and a tent may be heading my way, only issue is I can't get that damn thing on my roof rack AND into my apartment's garage. Time to move I guess!

The biggest thing I realized I needed from the last desert trip was a winch/recovery boards, as we got stuck in sand a few times.

Also, a hi-lift because I had to borrow one off my friend's Taco once or twice.
 
I am fortunate to have 8' garage doors! I clear with 4" to spare. :) My garage has 11' ceilings so I built a hoist to lift the tent on and off. I will get a picture of that up when I do a proper review. Definitely have to put some thoughts into the logistics before purchasing one.
 
Keith_PDX said:
I am fortunate to have 8' garage doors! I clear with 4" to spare. :) My garage has 11' ceilings so I built a hoist to lift the tent on and off. I will get a picture of that up when I do a proper review. Definitely have to put some thoughts into the logistics before purchasing one.
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7' clearance here in the Pearl District, also from Portland based on your user name, and it's a tight fit with my gobi rack and light bar. So no way in hell a Tepui is making it in. I wish, it'd be a wonderful addition. I already get snide looks from the Priuses.
 
LawnDart said:
7' clearance here in the Pearl District, also from Portland based on your user name, and it's a tight fit with my gobi rack and light bar. So no way in hell a Tepui is making it in. I wish, it'd be a wonderful addition. I already get snide looks from the Priuses.
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I like how I see over the Priuses and my lights hit them in the rear view mirror when ever I go through downtown Portland ;-)
 
Kotrin said:
I like how I see over the Priuses and my lights hit them in the rear view mirror when ever I go through downtown Portland ;-)
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My last car was a 2001 VW Golf. So it was like, "WHOA I'M DRIVING A BATTLESHIP!"

But yeah I love that top shell you've got. I really dig the gray. Had Toyota offered the TRD Pro in gray/silver I'd have done that.
 
Rtt

Are there any Baja Racks or any utility racks that are flat for that matter that attach to the standard roof rails without taking them off?

Also, looking at the Foxwing Awning vs the Sunseeker from Rhino Rack - anyone have experience with these, what do they like and don't like?

Putting my 16 T4R TP through the gamut right now.
 
Keith_PDX said:
....All of the Discovery, Explorer and Evasion are the same size. They use the same bottom half base. The Grand Raid is much bigger, too large for a T4R.
Click to expand...

Keith, thanks for the pics and report about the James Baroud tent. I'm thinking of getting one too to put on a 2016 4Runner Trail and just wanted to ask you if you really think the bigger Grand Raid XXL would not work well on a 4Runner?

I need as much room as possible for a family of 3. The Raid is about 64 inches wide, which is about 8 inches wider than their standard tents. So that means it would hang over the sides of the 4Runner by about 4-5 inches on each side. Too much overhang for driving one uneven trails, or turns you think?

I asked James Baroud about the Grand Raid with the 4Runner, and they didn't raise any red flags, but that probably doesn't mean much!

Thanks!

Helmut

P.S. Do you notice much wind noise on the highway with the tent?
 
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