Survival / Camping / Outdoor type mods, post them!

[soj1057]

Hey everyone, I’m always looking at the various interior and exterior modifications people make to their 4runners to make them better for camping, survival, event shelter etc... I thought we could start a thread and share some ideas and show off our work? Or even links to other sites that feature 4runners in the wilderness lol.

I’ll be posting some of my gear boxes soon as they are complete.

 

[GhostRing]

Not to drive traffic away from T4R, but Expedition Portal also has some great info on vehicle-dependant activities and modifications.

I myself need to start looking for a "Dual Batteries for Dummies" write up

 

[soj1057]

Not to drive traffic away from T4R, but Expedition Portal also has some great info on vehicle-dependant activities and modifications.

I myself need to start looking for a "Dual Batteries for Dummies" write up

Yeah Ive been on that site a lot lately, as I was building my storage boxes, its great. I was hoping to see more 4runner inspired goodness though lol. I hear you on the batteries, thats my next project now that I have a place to bolth the inverter! These are exactly the types of projects I was talking about .

 

[snivilous]

I don't really have much compared to the recovery/search-and-rescue based guys, though that's kind of what I want the 4Runner to be is a recovery vehicle for the mountains where I live.

I have a 20" LED bar in front and then two 30" bars on the sides and they are meant for camping and actually had helped a lot. Usually I drive right until it gets dark and have a habit of having to setup camp in the dark, so all that actually works out well.

I have one of those car starter/inverter/compressor battery boxes off of amazon and used it a few times. It's really nice to not have to pull out jumper cables, just pull the portable power out and hook it up.

I have one of those flat box tool kits with the two fold out doors with full wrench, star, allen, screw drivers, metric/english, etc. I have a 4lb hammer, WD-40, degreaser, a full crimp tool set and electrical tape and 20' of 14 gauge wire, shop towels, that citrus smelling hand shop hand cleaner, a box of brownies (legit), a 34mm socket or whatever is needed to pull a CV (though I don't have spare CVs...). Then four ratchet straps, bungy cords, a 6' and 10' tow strap, a kinetic recovery strap, a 22 caliber Henry Survival Rifle and ammunition and cleaning kit (the rifle unbolts and slides into the stock which is waterproof and floats as well as holds three magazines of 8 rounds), 5 gallons of water, a sleeping bag, a hi-lift, duct tape, flares, winch, jumper cables, hitch clip assortment, CB radio with 4' antenna, fire extinguisher, survival knife, lighters/matches, etc.

I think that about covers what I have besides some miscellaneous other stuff. I have a 3'x1.5'x1.5' plastic box in the back of the truck that holds everything minus the water jug, power unit, and tool case. And the toolbox and plastic box are strapped down to the rear mounts with two of the ratchet straps. Essentially everything I buy at school to fix things that comes up gets thrown in there. I figure it's enough stuff where I can survive for an extended period of time if I get stuck somewhere, and then plenty of items to get me unstuck or signal someone. This is all the stuff I carry with me all the time.

The one thing I'm really missing is spare gas cans, but I don't want the truck to smell like gas. I might get some low profile cans or if I get a rear tire carrier then will mount them. Dual batteries would also be nice and soon I'm gonna get the tools so I can weld with batteries on the trail and lockers next year. Love to hear what other people run so I can add!

 

[criera]

Not really a mod per se but im really loving the fold down table on my rear swingout. Great for a quick lunch on the trail.

Also for those who have rear mounted spares, check out the trasharoo spare tire trash bag.
Welcome
Great for stinky diapers, firewood, muddy recovery gear, or whatever you want to stuff in there.

 

[JD914]

I'm installing an inverter for my newest, most important mod to date... Single-cup coffee maker! No more getting out of my sleeping bag in the back of the warm Runner and into the cold to get my percolator going in the mornings!

 

[soj1057]

Not really a mod per se but im really loving the fold down table on my rear swingout. Great for a quick lunch on the trail.

Also for those who have rear mounted spares, check out the trasharoo spare tire trash bag.
Welcome
Great for stinky diapers, firewood, muddy recovery gear, or whatever you want to stuff in there.

Very nice Criera! I am jealous of your swing out tire carrier! We 2nd Gens are kind of SOL on that right now but I hear 4xInnovations will be coming to our rescue soon!

 

[GhostRing]

[MENTION=97561]soj1057[/MENTION] If you are ever in the Bend area, I am trying to get back into the fab game (was building rally cars etc. '01-08) and could perhaps get a bumper going for you?

 

[soj1057]

[MENTION=97561]soj1057[/MENTION] If you are ever in the Bend area, I am trying to get back into the fab game (was building rally cars etc. '01-08) and could perhaps get a bumper going for you?

For sure man! I have a brother in Bend actually. I was thinking worst case scenario if I cant find what I am looking for I could always purchase the bumper for the runner and maybe we could just built onto that? when I get to work tomorrow Ill PM you what I am thinking about buying and see what you think we could do and how much you would want?

 

[GhostRing]

Sounds good! Let me know whenever

 

[soj1057]

Im still working on some of the box. I still want to carpet it for example but here it is. I spent most of yesterday with a skill saw a dremel and sand paper getting it to squeeze into the grooves and between the wheel wells just right.

 

[Footofgod]

Does this count?

 

[soj1057]

Does this count?

Foot, I cant see your picture from work I bet it counts.

 

[soj1057]

This is the inside. My goal was to be able to have it permanently loaded with things I would need to live off of for up to a week.




My next project is adding an additional battery and an outlet source in the rear. I have also been toying around with adding some solar panels to the roof since I have the unused space there.

 

[criera]

Nice work soj. I noticed youre in OR, where at? Do yo have plans to secure the box to the floor some how? One idea i had was since ive got the spare swingout, using that space where the stock spare used to be. Would be nice to fab a box that utilizes the stock spare tire winch, and having a dual battery setup as well as a compressor, and maybe an inverter or a water tank or maybe some addl storage.

Unfortunately neither my budget nor my fab skills or lack thereof do not support the idea. Doesnt mean i cant dream though right?

Anybody heard of using the spare location in this manner? Ive heard of putting an aux fuel tank in that space but thats about it.

 

[soj1057]

Nice work soj. I noticed youre in OR, where at? Do yo have plans to secure the box to the floor some how? One idea i had was since ive got the spare swingout, using that space where the stock spare used to be. Would be nice to fab a box that utilizes the stock spare tire winch, and having a dual battery setup as well as a compressor, and maybe an inverter or a water tank or maybe some addl storage.

Unfortunately neither my budget nor my fab skills or lack thereof do not support the idea. Doesnt mean i cant dream though right?

Anybody heard of using the spare location in this manner? Ive heard of putting an aux fuel tank in that space but thats about it.

I’m in the Portland area Criera! I am going to use turnbuckle type tie downs, I had to relocate the tie down areas that were on the wheel wells up to the top. I feel like a 4 point connection will keep it fairly secure.

Did your spare rest under the cab or in a space in the cab floor? I don’t have that space, I sure wish I did. I really, really, need a swing out like you have. Right now for long trips I put my 33 inch spare in my cargo rack up top, such a waste of space.

 

[soj1057]

Id love to see what people have done with adding a battery and inverter etc as well if anyone has pictures or tips! Thats my next project.

 

[criera]

I’m in the Portland area Criera! I am going to use turnbuckle type tie downs, I had to relocate the tie down areas that were on the wheel wells up to the top. I feel like a 4 point connection will keep it fairly secure.

Did your spare rest under the cab or in a space in the cab floor? I don’t have that space, I sure wish I did. I really, really, need a swing out like you have. Right now for long trips I put my 33 inch spare in my cargo rack up top, such a waste of space.

Third gen spares are underneath the body behind the rear axle. There is a lil cable winch that sucks it up to the body. Ive heard of people using that space for an aux fuel tank, i believe there is an f150 tank that is supposed to fit real nice. I thought it would be cool to repurpose the lil winch to make the box easily servicable.

Id be interested in seeing your finished project. Im especially curious to see your final tie down setup. I have a cargo box that is strapped down but im not entirely sure it would stat put in the event of a rollover.

Do you Plan to incorporate a sleeping platform with your box? Yet anither item on my ever growing wish list.

 

[soj1057]

Third gen spares are underneath the body behind the rear axle. There is a lil cable winch that sucks it up to the body. Ive heard of people using that space for an aux fuel tank, i believe there is an f150 tank that is supposed to fit real nice. I thought it would be cool to repurpose the lil winch to make the box easily servicable.

Id be interested in seeing your finished project. Im especially curious to see your final tie down setup. I have a cargo box that is strapped down but im not entirely sure it would stat put in the event of a rollover.

Do you Plan to incorporate a sleeping platform with your box? Yet anither item on my ever growing wish list.

Ill post pics as soon as I get it finished. I plan on using 4 turnbuckle type tie downs. Yes the sleeping panel is the next on the list, it should be the easiest part I hope. Then the battery and inverter.

 

[the great him]

Nice work soj. I noticed youre in OR, where at? Do yo have plans to secure the box to the floor some how? One idea i had was since ive got the spare swingout, using that space where the stock spare used to be. Would be nice to fab a box that utilizes the stock spare tire winch, and having a dual battery setup as well as a compressor, and maybe an inverter or a water tank or maybe some addl storage.

Unfortunately neither my budget nor my fab skills or lack thereof do not support the idea. Doesnt mean i cant dream though right?

Anybody heard of using the spare location in this manner? Ive heard of putting an aux fuel tank in that space but thats about it.

thats where i have my OBA(on board air) and where i plan to put my dual spare batteries when i get around to doing that mod. also plan on mounting a winch in that location to for a rear facing winch