Cali_Rush_Runner's Off-Road/Overland Build

Hey everyone! I’m pretty new to the 4Runner/Off-Road scene but wanted to share the build on my 2022 TRD Pro. This is my first SUV as I came from the sport compact world previously building an 02 WRX. I loved that car, but I’m a big outdoors person and saw Off-Roading as a great way to merge two of my hobbies/interests.

Anyways, my original plan was to build the 4Runner slowly as I gained more experience. As fate would have it, the company I work for afforded me the opportunity to build my truck much faster due to a good relationship with Pit+Paddock (Online Media Outlet). So long story short, we are building the 4Runner over the next month to debut at a local event. We aren’t a vendor here so trying not to cross any lines, but I wanted to share the experience and documentation of the build.

We are officially starting the build this week and I’ll be DIY installing most of the parts myself and getting some help on some of the bigger things. Here is the current build list I have planned.

Build List Breakdown:

Performance

• CSF – All-Aluminum Heavy-Duty Radiator
• AIRAID – Performance Air Intake System
• MBRP – 2.5″ Cat-Back Exhaust
• Pedal Commander

Suspension & Brakes

• ICON – Stage 7 Suspension System w/ Billet UCA
  Kit Includes:
  • Billet upper Trailing Arm Kit
  • Billet Lower Trailing Arm Kit
  • Ext. Travel 2.5 VS RR CDCV Coilover Kit
  • Billet UCA DJ Kit
  • Rear 2″ Spring Kit
  • Rear 2.5 VS RR CDCV Pair
  • Rear Adj. Track Bar Kit
• PowerStop – Z36 Truck & Tow Brake Upgrade Kit

Wheels & Tires

• Titan 7 – T-AK1 Forged Off-Road Wheels - 17×8.5 et-8
• Nitto – Ridge Grapplers - 35x12.50R17LT

Exterior

• WESTiN – Pro-Series Front Bumper
• WESTiN – Pro-Series Bumper Round Bull Bar
• RIG’d – UltraSwing™ Hitch Carrier
• RCI – TRD Integration Skid Plate
• RCI – Transmission Skid Plate
• RCI – Transfer Case Skid Plate
• Gobi – Roof Rack w/ Ladder

Lighting

• KC HiLiTES – Flex Era® 3 Ditch Lights
• KC HiLiTES – Flex Era® 3 Fog Pocket Kits
• KC HiLiTES – Cyclone V2 LED – Rock Light – 6-Light System – Amber – 5W Flood Beam

ACCESSORIES

• ARB – Single Motor Compressor Kit
• ARB – Tred Pro Recovery Boards
• ARB – Touring Aluminum Awning w/ Light Kit

How she sits today:



I’ll be posting weekly updates on the progress. Hope you all enjoy

 

Curious why you are replacing the Fox shocks? Could get different springs for the additional height

 

Dude this is such a dream build! I love the new Lime Rush color! I can so get on board with a special edition limited color model. We have the same grill insert also! Hope one day I can afford such brand new ones!

 

Welcome to the forum Christian.

 

Sorry for the slow reply. The main reason is to fit the Tires.

 

So I wanted to post a quick update. We've been working away each week trying to get everything done before May 1st. Last week we were able to get the Airaid Intake + TB Spacer, Pedal Commander, and Gobi rack installed.


I'm pretty happy with the Intake and TB Spacer. Obviously nothing crazy on the power gains side, but you can feel a little difference in the midrange. The induction noise is so much better though. You can actually hear the engine now which makes me happy.




I don't know how many of you guys run a throttle response controller, but I think it's one of my favorite upgrades. I'm not a fan of the stock throttle response and 100% recommend giving one a try if you haven't yet.



The new rack is awesome. Definitely happy with how solid it feels and I think it'll give me plenty of storage space to haul stuff around.


I'll post more pictures and updates soon. I just wish it wasn't like 100 degrees this week.

 

Sorry for the lack of updates. It's been crazy at work on top of the build. Here are some updates from the last couple weeks.

So two weeks ago we got our CSF Radiator, MBRP Exhaust, and Westin Front Bumper + Winch installed. The front bumper looks awesome in my opinion and one of my favorite upgrades so far. I don't know how many of you have cut your bumper yet, but I was shitting my pants when I started.


Bumper & Winch Install:





Radiator Install:





Exhaust Install:




I'm really happy with the exhaust. Really nice rumble without being too loud. Also you can definitely see how much clearance it was made with the smaller muffler and turn down tail pipe. Should keep us from dinging it up easily.

We are also doing a YouTube series on the build if you wanna check it out.
https://youtu.be/BA7FGoQ-7pc

 

Nice! I like that front bumper. What lightbar are you going to put in there?

 

Originally I had planned to use a 2 Row 20" bar form KC. However, I didn't check the dimensions for the height so it wouldn't fit. I picked up a 20" Slim Single Row from Cali Raised to go in there.

 

Liking the build!

 

Update time. This is from about a week and a half ago presently. We got our lights, Skid Plates, and onboard compressor installed.

I've always been a big fan of KC when it comes to lighting. Ran into a few snags on the installation though. While the Ditch Lights, Fog Lights, and Rock lights went on really easily, the light bars were a big of an issue. Gobi says their rack fits a 40" light bar, but it turns out that isn't completely accurate. The brackets they include fit a light bar that overall is 40", not a bar with a 40" measurement for the actual lights. So we had to do some fabrication work to get that to fit. As I said in an earlier comment, the 20" bar I picked up from KC didn't fit in the bumper because I didn't realize the opening was meant for a single row. So I ended up having to order a 20" single row bar from Cali Raised.

Went with a Switch-Pros SP900 to control it all.









Here's a quick snap of the front end with all the lights installed.


Skid Plates were pretty easy to install. I went with RCI partially because they have an option for keeping the stock TRD front plate. But I've also heard really good things about them. I know there's some debate about Aluminum vs Steal, but I spoke with some of the guys over there and they assured me the Aluminum versions would put up with any abuse from the type of off-roading we'd be doing.


Air Compressor was another easy install. Since we replaced the stock intake we had a lot of room in the engine bay. So I decided to tuck it away in there. Tested it out really

 

^^^Great update! Awesome additions to your T4R!!

 

Man, keep getting busy. More updates from the last couple weeks. Finally got the suspension installed. I took the truck to RPM Off-Road Garage here in SoCal for the install as I wasn't up for quite this big a job and it needed a major alignment after anyways. They did an awesome job and it's a whole new rig now.

I went with the Icon Stage 7 kit. If you're looking at suspension upgrades I'd highly recommend the Icon parts. The quality is just phenomenal and install looked pretty straight forward.









Also got the Viper cuts and Body Mount Chop done to make sure we don't have any rubbing issues with the 35's.








Didn't get a lot of photos of the finished work as I had to leave the shop before it was complete but I'll post more soon.

You can see more of the work in our video we did though if you're curious.

https://youtu.be/yPhMhLvT6q0

 

That Westin front bumper is CLEEAAAANNN.

Now I want to see some videos of this thing in action!

 

@angelboltlake21 we'll actually be making one tomorrow and Saturday and should have it ready next week

 

Great write-up so far! Looks like a nice build.

 

Man, I've been so bad at keeping this updated.

Here are some pictures of the wheels and tires that went on a few weeks ago. Titan 7 T-AK1's (17×8.5 -8) with Nitto Ridge Grapplers (35x12.5 R17)






We also upgraded our pads and rotors while we were at it. When with a set of PowerStop pads and rotors.




Last but not least we got our Rock Sliders installed.


I'll have photos from our first off-road trip and recent show up soon.

 

Im digging the wheels

 

Here are the photos from our first off-road trip. Truck did really well and I was super happy with all the upgrades we did. The limiting factor is still definitely my driving skill and experience, but I definitely have a lot more confidence in the truck with everything we've done.

 

Got a few good shots of the truck in action or stopping mid action but not as many as I was hoping for. We had a little too much fun driving and forgot to shoot everything.

 

First off, the photography with your build is just amazing! Thanks for sharing them.

Easily one of my favorite 4Runner builds, hands down. But to do it with LR, just a cool build

 

Appreciate it @Cousindeagle. All the photography was done by CRVN. Amazing photographer and we're really lucky to have him as our creative director.

Glad to have a fellow LR lover here

 

photography is amazing, what kind of camera are you using ??

 

@19_TRD_4runner thanks! CRVN does all our photography but he shoots on a Sony A7iv

 

where did you take all those shots?

 

@munit85 we went out to Cougar Buttes near Johnson Valley.

 

Since everyone seems to be enjoying the photos, here are the rest from that day

 

Dang talk about a dream build!!! Great work and great photography!

 

Absolutely amazing rig!!