Tuba's Build

[its_not_a_tuba]

Hey all. Not long ago I completed a build on a 2007 Xterra and came away feeling like I had made a lot of poor decisions on how best to accomplish a fully off-road capable rig while maintainaing a solid and safe DD that I felt comfortable putting my kids in. Don't get me wrong, the truck was sweet, but at the end of the build I felt like I had created a rig that was more about my idea of what a truck should be and less about what a dad's truck should be. Time to start over...

So with this in mind I set out to take what I learned from that build and apply it to a brand new 2017 Toyota 4runner. My goal with this build is simple; to upgrade the platform to a level that can take my family to anywhere in the Colorado mountains, and reliably get them out, while not compromising daily driver safety. But I also need a rig capable of getting our family up a fairly nasty wintertime road to our home that I've probably had to recover a stuck car out of once a week. To me, that means keeping the added weight to a minimum while still having all the capabilities of a fully built overlander.

So all this boils down to what Toyota says is a safe GVW, which on a 5th gen 4runner is 6100 lbs. Base weight is 4,750 so, after some slim assumptions on camping gear and family weight of ~840 lbs I'm left with a measly 510 lbs of weight for aftermarket parts - which you all know isn't much to work with. Can I build an overland rig on such a slim diet? Probably not, but I am going to try. If I can come in at less than 1,000 lbs of added weight I'll be thrilled. Anyway, here it is in stock condition... let the games begin!

Year: 2017
Trim: Off Road Premium

Suspension / Tires / Drivetrain
King 10+ Front 2.5 Remote Reservoir Coilovers with adjusters
King 10+ Rear 2.5 Remote Reservoir Shocks with adjusters
ToyTec Lifts Super Flex Coil Springs
Front Diff Drop Kit
Total Chaos Upper Control Arms
ProComp 69 aluminum wheels in black with Nitto Ridge Grapplers 285/70s (C rated) tires

Interior
Two ARB Outback Solutions Roller Floor Drawers (RF945)
ARB 50 Qt. Portable Fridge Freezer
Boat Buckle RodBunk Deluxe Fly Rod Carrier
Proclip iPhone mount


Electrical
Shrockworks Dual Battery Kit
Two Optima YELLOWTOP high-performance AGM batteries
Two Blue Sea Systems ANL 300a Fuse Blocks
Blue Sea 7622 ML-Series 500 Amp 12 Volt ACR
Asdomo 12V-24V DC Circuit Breaker
Shrockworks / Bussmann Power Distribution Module
Two DROK Mini 0.28" Digital Voltmeters (one for each battery, installed in overhead console)
OTRATTW Contura V switches
In-cab winch controls (no winch yet though!)

Recovery and Trail Gear
TJM 30’ snatch strap
6’ Tree Saver
Hi Lift 48” jack (stowed under back seat)
BCA Avalanche Shovel (Mounted driver side cargo compartment)
Husky 4.5 lb. Premium Log Super Splitter Axe (stowed under back seat)
Hopkins Snowbroom (Mounted on rear hatch door)
Maglight flashlight

 

[its_not_a_tuba]

I've been spending money like a drunken sailor and parts are arriving faster that I can install them so don't judge, but here's a preview of what's to come...

 

[CSM4runner]

Who owns his own airplane....geez!!!!

 

[its_not_a_tuba]

LOL - Sorry, should've disclosed that in the first post! Not my plane but was at this house and I found it to be a nice photo op. The Mercedes camper van next to the plane was actually way more interesting!

 

[mrblah]

more interested in whats behind the 4runner in that pic..lol

 

[calcrc]

Hey all. Not long ago I completed a build on a 2007 Xterra and came away feeling like I had made a lot of poor decisions on how best to accomplish a fully off-road capable rig while maintainaing a solid and safe DD that I felt comfortable putting my kids in. Don't get me wrong, the truck was sweet, but at the end of the build I felt like I had created a rig that was more about my idea of what a truck should be and less about what a dad's truck should be. Time to start over...

So with this in mind I set out to take what I learned from that build and apply it to a brand new 2017 Toyota 4runner. My goal with this build is simple; to upgrade the platform to a level that can take my family to anywhere in the Colorado mountains, and reliably get them out, while not compromising daily driver safety. But I also need a rig capable of getting our family up a fairly nasty wintertime road to our home that I've probably had to recover a stuck car out of once a week. To me, that means keeping the added weight to a minimum while still having all the capabilities of a fully built overlander.

So all this boils down to what Toyota says is a safe GVW, which on a 5th gen 4runner is 6100 lbs. Base weight is 4,750 so, after some slim assumptions on camping gear and family weight of ~840 lbs I'm left with a measly 510 lbs of weight for aftermarket parts - which you all know isn't much to work with. Can I build an overland rig on such a slim diet? Probably not, but I am going to try. If I can come in at less than 1,000 lbs of added weight I'll be thrilled. Anyway, here it is in stock condition... let the games begin!

That garage is hmmmmmm frucking huge man ! You have nice friends

Gratz on your truck !

 

[its_not_a_tuba]

Making some progress, got the dual battery setup installed. My plan is to do all the wiring for all future accessories at once so new electronics will be plug and play. Still waiting on parts to wire up a bussman fuse block, the switch plate and wiring harness but that will be next for electrical. Also got the bandi mount installed for the twin ARB compressor. Most exciting though is the lift and new shoes go on tomorrow. My stoke meter is redlined!

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[its_not_a_tuba]

Ladies and gents, we have lift off!

Also got the drawers and fridge installed. I’m in wiring hell though... getting everything wired before it actually exists and doing it all right... way harder than just doing it piecemeal as parts come in. It will be so worth it in the end though.

 

[LandCruiser]

Nice clean build.

 

[honda250xtitan]

wouldn't mind seeing noodzzzz of the xterra...Nissans are fun, i miss mine occasionally....mostly i miss all the money i put into it making it a fun truck lol

 

[its_not_a_tuba]

Last weekend I finally finished the wiring harness and the ARB dual compressor install. Best part is the Bussmann fuse box is all properly wired up so everything from here on out is plug and play! Also have the dual batteries with in cab volt meters functioning.


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[brian0128]

How did you mount the shovel and snow broom?