The family 4runner build

[Preacherman]

Well I am new here so I thought I would share my family 4runner build. It started when I picked up a 2013 SR5 4x4 late this spring. My family (wife and two boys) love long expedition style road trips. We plan a long two week trip every summer. This summer had us planned for a 3,000 +mile Grand Canyon north rim trip. Last year I built an m416 expo trailer (see link).

M416 hybrid (updated w lots O' Pics) - Expedition Portal

This year I decided it was time to build a better truck to pull it with. Having built several landcruisers I knew I wanted a toyota. So I purchased a shiny new 2013 4runner. Next the fun started. With less than 100miles on the ticker drove it straight to the tire store for new rims and some 265 Hancook AT tires. Here she is with the new tires and wheels..



Then I left for a 600 mile off road trip to BiG Bend to see how she did.



After I got home the 4runner was 1 week old and had 750 miles on her (500 of which was off road miles). After the trip I realized I really need a lift. So I called up toytec and ordered a 2" lift. Here she is with the lift on..



Ahhhh much better.

 

[The Sleeper]

Looks good, what's the mpg like towing that trailer?

 

[Preacherman]

Next up I needed my ham radio and 12v fridge installed. The radio was the easy part. After setting in the runner for an hour or so I finially found the perfect place for the remote head of my ft7900r dual band radio.


With the remote head mounted I placed a small radio shack speaker under the front seat. Then I focused on the rear for the 12v fridge. With no real option for a 12vconstant on the 5th gen I wired an aux 12 v plug straight to the battery with a fuse and 10g wire. One thing I wanted however was the ability to moniter my battery life while setting around camp. Without a dual battery I worry I may be left stranded. So after some thought I wired in this...


Since the plug is 12v constant I ran a switch to the volt meter so I can switch it off. The meter itself uses about 1 amp and I only need it when checking on the status of the battery.

 

[Preacherman]

Looks good, what's the mpg like towing that trailer?

Over the entire trip (3,000) miles I avg 15.7. I was very happy.

 

[Canazes9]

Well I am new here so I thought I would share my family 4runner build. It started when I picked up a 2013 SR5 4x4 late this spring. My family (wife and two boys) love long expedition style road trips. We plan a long two week trip every summer. This summer had us planned for a 3,000 +mile Grand Canyon north rim trip. Last year I built an m416 expo trailer (see link).

M416 hybrid (updated w lots O' Pics) - Expedition Portal

This year I decided it was time to build a better truck to pull it with. Having built several landcruisers I knew I wanted a toyota. So I purchased a shiny new 2013 4runner. Next the fun started. With less than 100miles on the ticker drove it straight to the tire store for new rims and some 265 Hancook AT tires. Here she is with the new tires and wheels..



Then I left for a 600 mile off road trip to BiG Bend to see how she did.



After I got home the 4runner was 1 week old and had 750 miles on her (500 of which was off road miles). After the trip I realized I really need a lift. So I called up toytec and ordered a 2" lift. Here she is with the lift on..



Ahhhh much better.

Nice! Let's see some Big Bend pictures! I've got a trip planned for Thanksgiving...

David

 

[Preacherman]

Next I needed a fridge slide and drawer for my junk. Even though I got the toytec mid/heavy springs I wanted to keep it light and functional. My requirements for a drawer system were:
1. Kind of light weight
2. Fridge slide
3. Safe ( I worry about having a high speed wreck and it coming apart)
4. Uses space wisely
5. Has a special place for maps

After countless hours drawing, thinking and redrawing, I came up with this (pictures are before I put the front drawer plate and the finishing hardware and touches on it)




I was pretty happy but it still needed one thing. I hate stopping for lunch or a snack and not having a place to make a sandwich. When off roading its the small things that make a trip more comfortable. Soooo I built a sandwich staging area...



More to come...

 

[ImOnAPlain51]

Welcome to the forums. Nice SR5! I like the trailer and drawer set-up you built. I see that 60 series (I think that's right?) Landcruiser poking its head in a few of your pics. Dad had a couple of those when I was growing up, we had a blast in them. They were indestructible.

On another note, how's Midland? I got quite a bit of family that lives there and I hear it keeps getting busier and growing too fast...?

 

[Preacherman]

Welcome to the forums. Nice SR5! I like the trailer and drawer set-up you built. I see that 60 series (I think that's right?) Landcruiser poking its head in a few of your pics. Dad had a couple of those when I was growing up, we had a blast in them. They were indestructible.

On another note, how's Midland? I got quite a bit of family that lives there and I hear it keeps getting busier and growing too fast...?

Thanks for the welcome. Yes, that's my fj62 in the back. It's a tank. I am sloooowly trying to get it in shape for a long trip but it is so much nicer to mod a new truck that has no issues. Midland is crazy busy! $100 barrel oil makes for a crazy oilfield. There are about 3x more people here than the infrastructure can handle.