THE BUILD
I started this build with the idea that it'd be just a mild expedition setup. I don't plan on doing any heavy wheeling, but most of the mods are planned around being as capable as possible while still being mild mannered and retaining factory reliability/drivability. With that in mind, don't expect anything crazy here
Just trying not to throw more money at this thing.
CURRENT MODS
Engine
TRD Cold Air Intake LINK
AFE Pro Dry S filter LINK
Interior
Custom cargo drawers
Dual USB plug in center console LINK
Antman Flashlight Mod- Surefire P3X Fury Tactical LINK
5K LED Interior Lighting
Husky Weatherbeaters
Canvasback Cargo Liners
Customized RAM Mount w/ Proclip Vent Clip for iPhone LINK
Hard-wired Dash Cam LINK
Zulu Tactical Window Visor Organizer
Armor/Recovery
Demello Triple Hoop Front Bumper
Shrockworks Front Plate Bumper
BAMF Bolt-on Rock Sliders LINK
RCI Full Underbody Skids
CBI Rear Bumper- Dual Swing Out LINK
Warn M8000-S
Factor 55 Flatlink/1" Fairlead
Exterior
Bajarack Spy Utility Rack
Eezi-Awn K9 2.2M Rack w/ 40mm legs
RAV4 Blind Spot Mirror Retrofit LINK
Low profile XM antenna mod LINK
ARB 2000mm Awning LINK
ARB Awning Room
Maggiolina Airlander Roof Top Tent (SM)
Weathertech In-Channel Vent Visors
Satin Black 3M 1080 Roof Wrap
Electrical/Lighting
40" Single Row LED light bar on K9 Rack
Xenon Depot HID kit w/ Philips 4300k bulb upgrade
Adventure Trailers Solar Plug mounted in hood cowl trim LINK
Renogy 100W folding solar panel LINK
Odyssey 31-PC2150 Group 31M Deep Cycle Battery LINK
National Luna Single Battery Monitor LINK
Truck Fridge/Indel-B TF51 w/ Wagon Gear hinge flip kit LINK
Tacomapros Bussman Relay Box LINK
OTTRATTW Switches in center console
ARB Twin Compressor OBA system LINK
Blue Sea Dual USB 4.8A in center consoleLINK
Suspension/Wheels
Front TRD suspension swapped for Bilstein 6112, set at 2.5" front lift
Rear TRD 5160 stock shocks w/ Toytec Superflex 2" lift springs
King 2.5 Extended Travel fronts w/ CDC adjusters and 700# springs LINK
King 2.5 rear shocks w/ CDC adjusters and longer rod ends LINK
Total Chaos UCAs
Icon Overland rear coil springs
Timbren Active Off Road Bumpstops
BF Goodrich KO2 34x10.5x17
BF Goodrich KO2 285/70/17
SCS F5 Jet Black 17x8.5
Nitto Ridge Grapplers 305/70/17 (34x12.5)
Spidertrax 1.25" Wheel Spacers
No-Loss Valve stem caps LINK
Comms
Full Size CB (Bearcat 980SSB) in center console LINK
Firestik 2' CB Antenna
Diamond K400 3/8C on hatch
Hustler CB Quick Release LINK
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
2017
Death Valley NP (CA)- 04/2017
Joshua Tree/Berdoo Canyon (CA)- 04/2017
Black Rock Desert (NV)- 03/2017
2016
North Rim of the Grand Canyon (AZ/UT)- 11/2016
Expedition Portal Article
Mojave Road (Mojave, CA)- 09/2016
Eastern Sierra Mountains (Bodie/Mammoth/others, CA)- 09/2016
Signal Peak/Eagle Lake, Tahoe National Forest (CA)- 08/2016
Joshua Tree/Berdoo Canyon & Prewitt Ridge(CA)- 05/2016
Prewitt Ridge/South Coast Ridge Road (CA)- 04/2016
Joshua Tree National Park (CA)- 03/2016
Crater Lake National Park (OR)- 01/2016
2015
Jedidiah Smith Redwoods State Park (CA)- 08/2015
Vancouver and Victoria, BC (Canada)- 08/2015
Portland/Seattle from San Diego (CA/OR/WA)- 08/2015
Broke camp the following morning
Took the scenic route down from South Coast Ridge Road
Someone said something about drifting this turn
Every so often we had to stop to admire the views
Rig came out plenty dirty
Did the ball mount come with hardware to attach to the proclip?Ram Mount for iPhone
I wasn't too exited about drilling into my dash to get a RAM mount to work, and wanted the phone nearby to use for GPS.
I ended up purchasing a Proclip interior vent clip and using a AMPS ball adapter plate to attach to the RAM mount. The Proclip clips into the air vent plastics vs. the air vents themselves for added stability. It's proven to be pretty rock solid, and I don't have to worry about losing my phone while offroading or hitting trails.
Parts used:
Proclip Air Vent Clip- http://www.proclipusa.com/dashboard-mounts/vehicle/toyota/4runner/2010.cmsv
AMPS ball mount adapter- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0059EN7L6/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
RAM Mount- https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C7B2NV4/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
[MENTION=144375]dot_tom[/MENTION] reminded me I need to give the thread some love. I haven't really updated this since 2017, lol.
Not much has happened to the truck over the past year, mainly went out and used it. Did only a handful of longer trips. My goal for 2019 is to try to change it and do smaller trips more frequently, and maybe leave the camera back home.
Here's some of my highlights over the past year.
Mojave Road- 02/2018
Started 2018 with a shakedown run in the Mojave Road in preparation for Baja. I made some changes to load carrying on the truck, including a new base plate cargo platform from Max (@mtn4rnr) and changes to the rear CBI bumper. This would allow for a more functional setup while reducing weight.
I ditched my drawers right before Wyoming/Colorado back in 2017 while waiting to do a rebuild. But I liked the weight savings so much we decided to make it more permanent.
I relocated my propane tank to the back of the truck and also modified the rear swingouts a bit to hold Maxtrax and solve a few fitment issues. Milogen Fabrications in Milpitas does great work.
Baja. Thousands of Miles of It. (04/2018)
We did over 2500 miles in Baja on dirt, most of it on dirt over about 2 weeks. Drove all the way to Cabo and partied with the wives/gfs who flew in for the weekend. Drove all the way back up. Camped on the beach, went clamming with locals, drank too much tequila. Had a blast. If you want to catch more, the full write up was published in UN12 Magazine, Issue 003.
Eastern Sierras- Tread Magazine Shoot (08/2018)
Took a drive to the Eastern Sierras, Trona Pinnacles, and dipped into DV a bit for a photoshoot for Tread Magazine. The 4Runner was featured in Issue #1 of Tread YOTA Magazine.
Eastern Sierras- Toyota Feature (11/2018)
Took Toyota USA on a short camping trip in the Eastern Sierras again. Got to catch the first snow fall of the season. Our story was featured as a Toyota Owner's Story on Toyota FB page. I sound stupid but here's the vid from Toyota:
Toyota USA - Toyota Owner Story: Victor | Facebook
Baja. Again. (11/2018)
Went to Baja...again. This time to watch the Baja 1000. Spent a few days camping on both coasts (Gulf of Mexico and Pacific). Woke up to bikes going full throttle right along the coast. Had racers stop into our campsite just to tell us we had an epic view lol. Pace was a lot more relaxed this time. Friends flew in the night before the race and got to catch trophy trucks almost hitting triple digit speeds right next to our campsite.
