Cool build or overkill?

Hello all! So we all love our 4Runners but we all know these trucks aren't too powerful, payload is meh, and towing is decent for a truck-based SUV.

My ORP, imo, is perfect as is but I still have to install my TRD Pro wheels and rock sliders and will do so before the summer months since we do want to do a lot of off-roading here in the northeast. My plan is to carry a cooler, maybe a small stove, and I already have a nice big tent that can fit an inflatable queen size bed. Most we'll camp out there is 2-3 days. I already carry tools and an air compressor. So nothing too crazy or fancy.

However overlanding is a whole nother monster. Out in the wilderness for longer and more remote ofc you need a lot more to live comfortably in a truck. Imo, a 4Runner isn't ideal for an extensive and super complicated build like the one from Yota Xpedition (see below). If I were to do serious overlanding, I'd probably do a TRD OR Tundra or even a PowerWagon since these trucks have bigger and more robust engines and transmissions. I feel like Jeff's 4Runner build will kill the payload and the engine will be even slower and work harder than when stock. It's a cool build, but I'll have to say it's overkill, I would never do that to my 4Runner let alone spend $20k in parts and probably $10k in labor. Rather get a pick-up truck and try to build it for overlanding.

https://youtu.be/XCijADmiCwE?si=b7fLycRDTV_e__7X

https://youtu.be/fLLN1CveNjY?si=1-BKB4EdxRWIT3s-

 

It's way overkill to me, but if that's what you want to spend you your money on... I think the 4runners best point is it's good on the road, and still as good off road for what 98% of people will ever use it for.

 

It's overkill for me, because I wouldn't use all that gear. But if you do that to YOUR truck and use it all, and do so on a regular basis.....then it's money well spent and worth it.

 

I know it's Jeff's money, I get it. Not saying he can't do what he wants.

All I'm saying is this is overkill for our 4Rs. I think it's way over payload and the engine/tranny will suffer from all that weight.

 

So there are at least two things off the top of my head about that 'expensive' build-out:

1. Running a snorkel in addition to a TRD CAI is pointless. The purpose behind a snorkel is to provide potentially better (cleaner) air as well as to mitigate water getting into (and hydro-locking) the engine. Cleaner air meaning if you are doing a lot of dry dirt driving like across a desert where your tires are kicking up a constant dust cloud. Since I always carry a spare air filter in my kit and I don't go into deep water crossings so a snorkel is pointless to me. Save the $400-$800 on a snorkel, $200 on the Sy-Klone and $750 on the TRD CAI...so there's already a minimum of $1,150.00 saved.

2. FYI, C4 makes a great product but they don't provide/ship their bumpers pre-painted (powder coat) so there's an additional $400-$600 expense to consider, and how are you planning on transporting a +160 lb chunk of steel (no swingoouts) to a painting shop then back home or to a fabricator to do the install for you? There are several manufacturers that provide painting at an additional expense but saves you the hassle on the backend of getting it done yourself. Cost-wise, there are lighter (plate) bumper options out there (one manufacturer comes in around 110 lbs but uses a thinner gage steel) and up to $1000 cheaper for just the bumper.

The published specs on say a 2024 Tundra vs 4runner giving the cargo capacity and curb weight being remarkably similar between the two. There are plenty more reasons and I've gone through listings/specs/configurations/builds until my brain hurt for my particular build-out. I believe at this point in my build progress I'm close to $8K (would have saved $1000 - $1500 if I had better timing on some of the larger component purchases). That being said, $20K isn't too far fetched of an all out build cost its just that I'm glad that my particular needs doesn't predicate that kind of direction/cost.

 

I agree. And all that money on lighting, yet no front locker or gears.

Nothing against him, and it's nice to see people into the hobby, but I feel like this build was planned out by somebody that had the money and not really that much knowledge of off-roading or 4x4s. A lot of it seemed to be fluff that looks cool but maybe isn't necessarily that functional.

That seems like an incredible amount of money to immediately sink into a 4Runner, for the total cost he could have got an Ineos or a Rubicon with some mods.

As far as overlanding in northeast, it's not like out west. I don't think you really need to have an "overlanding rig" in the Northeast. I know people that have quite built up overlanding rigs that would be amazing out west, but here in the Northeast they're actually selling them or have also bought trail rigs. For instance, if you're doing the class four roads in Vermont, if you don't live in Vermont, it's nice to have an overland rig to have a comfortable drive there. But once you actually get to the trails, you want more of a trail rig. At stock height in my 4Runner, I hit the skids quite a bit on blue trails in VT.

I guess all depends what your priorities are, and what you consider "overlanding" and off-roading. I actually love the idea of the "rocklander", which is a quite capable off-road vehicle that's also comfortable on the roads. Those tend to be Wranglers and Gladiators, though, small tires and IFS are not really conducive to rock crawling.

 

If I had that much extra money when I bought mine I would have been tempted to do something like that. But then I would probably would have regretted it because it’s a daily driver. I think once it becomes a secondary car, then Im probably off to the races lol. Well, I’ll probably still take it one step at a time, because of trying not to make it too heavy.

 

Overkill

 

Well shit. I should have made a youtube video and started a business to write off my parts. I got 32k in parts on mine and another 8k in stereo stuff not installed. And I don't have a compressor, ditch lights or rear bumper.

Looks like a budget build to me. Poor guy clearly doesn't have an AMEX to max out.

right?

Rubicon? Sir, this is a 4runner forum. Fuck jeeps.

I went C4 lopro and full skids. Glad I did. Buddy of mine has RCI sliders and the paint job is class action lawsuit territory. Started coming off immediately. And I did have to haul everything to a place to powered coat. Took multiple trips.

 

How does it drive with all that gear?

 

That build doesn't seem all that special or crazy. I also think those prices are inflated so really all those parts don't equate to 20k imo. I slowly added things as i felt I needed them and have ended up building it up quite a bit, but every mod is well utilized and not just throwing money blindly.

I considered something like a tundra or something bigger, but it would not be able to fit on a lot of the trails I go on, and not be able to make a lot of the sharp turns going up those trails. I already get Colorado pinstripes on the 4runner, so anything wider would be gouges or getting very close to the cliff edges.

Overall I am very happy with the 4runner and as I have it now, it does everything I need it to well and I can camp comfortably with it and have stayed off-grid for a week with no issues and never felt lacking anything. Not to mention still having toyota reliability.

 

How does it drive with all that added weight?

 

I have about 500 lbs static added weight on it before adding the hitch carrier, RTT and gear. As I added more weight I upgraded the suspension so it handles it just fine. I don't daily it with my Rigd hitch carrier or RTT though. Not that i daily it anyway, but when not camping i remove those things to save some weight/parking length. I do have a magnuson on it though which helps. I still get 16 mpg and 15 mpg when loaded.

I currently only use it for driving in bad weather, camping/fishing/hunting, and to haul stuff which equates to about 5-7k miles per year. I drive a different car daily.

 

Is the total weight mentioned in the video?

 

Nah, but based on all that I imagine it's gotta be somewhat close to 1000 lbs... that's why I'm questioning if this is a bad idea because it would kill the payload.

 

Ok this makes sense to have this type of set up if its more of a weekend toy.

My ORP is mostly a weekend vehicle, but sometimes use it for commuting. I think in the future if I ever want to get into overlanding I would just get a beater 4R or a truck.

 

I don't think that is 1000lbs worth of weight. I would estimate maybe ~500-600 lbs added weight. It doesn't have full armor.
maybe 160 for front hybrid bumper/winch, 240 for rear bumper and 120 for sliders. lets say 50-100 for the rack and lights etc.

I have front hybrid, winch, rigd hitch carrier, sliders, full steel armor, supercharger, dual AGM batteries, ARB dual compressor, fridge, rack and lights etc and still estimate my added weight around 600 lbs.

 

I still use it regularly if there is snow on the ground or lots of rain, and it is just fine to drive, even before I had the SC. I live at altitude so my elevation range I drive is between 6500-12000ft as well when I camp and no issues.

My other car is nicer so I don't want to drive it if there is any possibility of more than a dusting of snow/ice/mud accumulation lol.

 

Being that YotaXpedition built it for their business I imagine it may swing as a tax write off?

 

So, I have to ask, what kind of engineer are you (you drive trains bro?)

 

Supposedly Jeff got them the parts, not YX.

 

Industrial

 

Interesting. I honestly have a hard time believing they didn't somehow classify this purchase as a "advertising and marketing expense."

I certainly would have

 

Little slower but that's probably the 33's. I want to go 34's. If I did I would regear.

I need to reflash it. Also want to supercharge it.

 

That's a nice build! But the term overlanding is blown out of proportion.

 

Cool build, but overkill for most people.

 

I think so as well. I honestly think this whole "overlanding" term was made by marketing folks to sell, sell, and sell. It's great for American manufacturers, but in turn off-roading became a super expensive hobby rather than something that was "cheap" for most. That's why I said, all I need to do is install my TRD wheels and rock sliders and I'll do off-roading and camping using my $200 tent... no need for all the fancy shmancy things.

 

It's a matter of perspective and expectation. Seven to ten days in the wilderness for me means 60-70L of gear and provisions, about a third of that being food and a day's water. I can get to my jumping off points with good tires, some tools, and basic recovery gear and sleep comfortably in back if I don't want to sleep on the ground.

 

I think it's a cool build. Not everyone gets into a 4Runner for the same reasons. Clearly it would be overkill for what you have planned with yours. I grew up in New England and to me the best things to have there were a good set of mud terrain tires and a steel front bumper with a winch. We were constantly getting stuck in the mud and the abundance of trees made it easy to winch out of a jam. Now I live in CO and it's a completely different animal here when off roading. As for whether or not the 4Runner can handle the mods? It absolutely can which is why it's such a great starting platform to work from. If someone is worried about payload or towing capacity then they clearly have another purpose in mind for a vehicle and should look at possibly something else. The powertrain and drive train can handle up to 34" tires and easily a 3" lift before considering things like a re-gear etc. I watched the videos and in my opinion the only things I see as a waste are the headlights/tail lights, and the ladder. To me those are just for "looks" unless you have a RTT then the ladder makes sense. Lastly, no one buys a 4Runner for its performance or fuel efficiency, these things are bricks on wheels.

 

It’s just like anything else that gets to certain level of popularity. It gets to a point that these kind of mods become standard if you want to have “an overlander”. Nothing wrong with it. It’s the same reason you can sell Ferraris that are essentially race cars. Doesn’t matter that you’ll never race, they’re cool in their own right.

However, if you do intend to use a 4runner off the beaten path and camp in it in an “overlandy” fashion, it’s probably best to measure your mods carefully so they don’t get in the way. As cool as the bumpers, lights and roof rack are, there’s real potential they won’t work well in somebody’s actual use case.