Tellurunner 2007 Build & Adventure Thread

[tellurunner]

As it currently sits...

2007 Toyota 4Runner V6 4x4 Sport Edition

Suspension/Wheels/Tires
Icon 2.5 Adjustable Coilovers (rebuilt 4/17)
Icon 2.5 Remote Reservoir Rear Shocks
Old Man Emu 2897 Extra Heavy Springs
All-Pro Uniball Upper Control Arms (rebuilt 4/17)
Toytec 1" Body Lift
Wheeler's Superbumps
285/75r17 Cooper S/T MAXX
17x8 Konig Six Shooters
Stainless steel brake lines

Armor/Offroad
Insain Fab High Clearance Rear Bumper with swingout
Shrockworks Front Bumper
RCI Sliders
RCI Skid Plates
Smittybilt XRC12 Comp Winch
ARB RD132 Air Locker
Land Cruiser Snorkel

Outfitting/Camping
James Baroud Discovery RTT
Minimalist Fabworks Flat Rack
ARB 50qt fridge
Custom drawers with pull out kitchen
Partner Steel 22" Two Burner Stove
5 lb Manchester propane tank mounted to swing out
ARB Awning 2500/windbreak
ARB CKMA12 air compressor
Trasharoo Spare Tire Bag
48" Hi Lift Jack
TRED 1100's
Teraflex tire deflators


Electronics/Lighting
Off-Grid Engineering Dual Battery System
S-Pod Power Distribution Block
Pioneer Avic D3 DVD/Navigation
Baofeng handheld HAM
Cobra 75 WX ST
FireStik Firefly Antenna
20" Double Row LED Light Bar
PIAA 510 Ion Yellow Fog Lights
Rigid Industries SR-Q Diffused back up lights
LED Interior lights

 

[tellurunner]

So I bought her in Feb 2010 in VA and got a job assignment in SLC, UT later that year. I thought there might be some good wheeling out there So I installed a Daystar lift, 32" Nittos and loaded the truck up and drove across the country. I quickly discovered Moab was only a few hours away and went wheeling as much as I could...and quickly found out how capable 4Runners are.

Porcupine Rim

White Rim

Hell's Revenge

Top of the World

 

[tellurunner]

I also found out how quickly Moab can kick your ass. A blown up CV axle and lots of scratches later, I realized I needed to upgrade my truck to do more than the intermediate trails. My job assignment ended and I had to move back to VA temporarily and I used my time there to do lots of wrenching on the truck and mobilize for another move out west. My buddy [MENTION=112497]VA4Runner09[/MENTION] helped me install an ICON stage 1 suspension and Shrockworks bumper and I got some 285/70 Duratracs to match the lift...

Then came the LED light bar and winch...

And some wheeling at Shoe Creek in central VA on the 4th of July weekend to test out to test out both of our new suspensions and tires...

Some logging trails near Winchester. We quickly found out the mudflaps had to go....

 

[tellurunner]

I missed the West too much, so I quit my job, sold my house and a lot of my possessions, and just started driving with no set destination.

I drove south, saw some friends, visited some random points of interest and camped often.

Camping, fishing and lounging on the Florida Gulf Coast for a few days. Not a soul around. Paradise.

Started west and hit a couple cities, then finally the open skies of West Texas...

Big Bend NP

The Tumble In RV Park in Marfa

The Airstream I want one day. Classic.

I went up through Guadalupe NP and Carlsbad Caverns, checking off boxes on my NP bucket list and finally back into UT. I think i had been on the road over a month, so it was great to be back in a familiar land.

I see you New Mexico

Monument Valley

Valley of the Gods

 

[tellurunner]

Spent close to a week in Moab and Canyonlands camping and running some old favorites like Fins N Things and exploring new ones.

Elephant Hill. Hella fun.

Seven Mile Rim

After a week in the scorching UT desert, I was ready for the cool mountain air of southwest CO.

 

[tellurunner]

I spent a couple days riding around the San Juans and camping near Telluride, where I had lined up a job interview for later that week. If that didnt come through, I was counting on something in Denver.

Yankee Boy Basin

The weather was a bit more tolerable.

Up and over Imogene Pass in a rain/snow storm was not as fun as you might think.

Luckily, I got a great job offer in Telluride and was able to stay. The roadtrip is over, but its amazing to live in this wild, beautiful place and be so close to the best fourwheeling trails in the world. Cheers!

 

[tellurunner]

Been a busy winter working on mods...

Got some goodies in the mail...

I decided to install the ARB compressor and the S-Pod fuse box at the same time. It was all very straight forward and the S-pod gives me the flexibility to easily add accessories in the future very quickly. I didnt have a good setup here to try and install the locker myself, so I dropped it off at Safari Ltd in Grand Junction and they installed it for me and did a nice job.

The S-pod comes with a switch panel that I fit into the trash compartment above the cup holders with a dremel tool. It's convenient and safe from anyone, including my rambunctious dog, from accidentally engaging a switch.

I also had time to take care of some other misc mods...

All-Pro UCA's

Fit a full size 285/70 spare underneath the truck. It had about 70% tread and I had to deflate it slightly and still only have about 1/8" clearance to the panhard. Oh well. When its flexed, there is actually a bit more clearance. Glad to have the peace of mind of a full size spare.

Finally, I was antsy to test out all the new mods so I took a trip to Moab in February and ran Lockhart Basin. It was a difficult trail and I needed the rear locker a few times.

 

[mattcampos]

sick pics

 

[2014 Warthog]

Some amazing times you've had lately!

I dream of selling everything off and just "Heading out" quite often

My wife might be a bit disappointed in me if I did though...

 

[VA4Runner09]

Time to update this build! Need to show off that trasharoo :trophy:

 

[TeamLord]

In awe of your trail adventure. I think we all dream of hitting the road free as a bird. Thanks for sharing your build and your adventure!

 

[tellurunner]

New mods

Lots of new updates from this spring! First and foremost, I worked with Insain Fab on a high clearance rear bumper with swingout, camp table, etc. I didn't like any of the options out there for 4th gens and thought a custom bumper was the only way to get what I want. It turned out fantastic. Insain did a stellar job and I've put it to use a few times already.

Finished product!

Loaded down

 

[Freyer]

Awesome truck, and amazing thread:hatsoff:

 

[tellurunner]

After the rear bumper, it was time for an overhaul on the rear suspension. My Icon 2.0 shocks blew out after 30k miles and my Icon coils were sagging under the weight of the steel bumper. I picked up a set of slightly used Icon 2.5 remote resi's and Toytec Superflex HD coils. This setup is just about perfect for those carrying 200-300 lbs of extra weight in the rear. :thumb:

 

[tellurunner]

I was up at RCI's shop in April and saw a set of sliders in the corner. Asked them what those were for and apparently they were some of the first sliders they made for 4th gens and the kickout/angle was slightly too much for 4Runners without a body lift. As luck would have it, I had just installed a 1" body lift for tire clearance and so the sliders fit perfectly. Walked away with a brand new set of powdercoated sliders for $150! Thanks Josh!! I had the Shrockworks sliders before and can say the RCI sliders are a much better design. They sit out at least an inch further than SW and with the kickout, they actually protect the door panels from rocks. Plus you can use them as a step. Highly recommend RCI. I might not have these trail scars if I would have had these before...

 

[tellurunner]

Got in on the CVT group buy. I think I was the only one to get a ground tent. It is great. Not sure why more people dont have them, but I really like that you can 1) fit a queen size air mattress with room to spare 2) stand up inside 3) set it up in about 30 seconds and you can leave it set up at camp and not have to pack it up with you on your roof to go run a trail and 4) attaches to most awnings for a really sweet camping setup protected from the weather. All for less than $400. Fits the gf and dog perfectly.

 

[knomadic]

Damn, sick adventure. I love Utah and Colorado. Yankee boy basin, did you summit Sneffles? I just moved to Paonia recently, myself, so many of these pics are of my romping grounds. I just bought my 4-runner so I could go places like this. Now she's broke Can't wait to get her running again. Trying to get my 15 posts so I can start a thread for help with fixing it. Thanks for sharing your pics, very motivating!

 

[trailbikerider]

Very cool story. I'll be moving out west here (Arizona specifically) in the next 5-6 months for the same reasons. There's just something about the mountains that makes it feel like home.

 

[tellurunner]

Damn, sick adventure. I love Utah and Colorado. Yankee boy basin, did you summit Sneffles? I just moved to Paonia recently, myself, so many of these pics are of my romping grounds. I just bought my 4-runner so I could go places like this. Now she's broke Can't wait to get her running again. Trying to get my 15 posts so I can start a thread for help with fixing it. Thanks for sharing your pics, very motivating!

Thanks! I can't imagine not having a 4Runner to explore. I feel like I would have missed out on so many off the beaten path campspots and adventures. Hope you gets your working again soon and good luck in Paonia. I love the western slope of CO!

Very cool story. I'll be moving out west here (Arizona specifically) in the next 5-6 months for the same reasons. There's just something about the mountains that makes it feel like home.

Living near the mountains and the deserts is the best of both worlds in my opinion. Best wishes on the move to AZ!

 

[tedfy]

great experience