Nanuk, The build and adventure of my 2016 4Runner Trail edition.

[SFJPhil]

Fall 2015 I finally made the transition from FJ Cruiser to 4Runner. I ordered a 2015 trail edition without KDSS as I knew I would be stripping it all out anyway. I was fortunate enough to strip the FJ back down to stock form and trade in for an awesome deal. The objective of this build was to have a fully ready overland rig to enable exploration of the short weekend type and weeks away during the summer and fall months. With the added space of the 4Runner along with its awesome capability I couldn't be more happy.

Here is a shot with 5miles on the Odometer..

Weekend Trip to the Appalachian Mountains in the comfy new CVT RTT...

Since the day I purchased it I have been fortunate enough to link up with Rock Creek Overland as a team member and here is how he sits today..

Currently Modified with:

Icon 2.5 remote resi HD coils w/ CDC and tubular UCA
Icon 2.5 LT with remote resi in rear w/ metal tech LT kit
Icon rear UCA/ Metal Tech Lower links

Method Race Wheels Double Standard 17"
Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac 285/70/17
Spider trax 1.25" spacers

Gobi stealth roof rack
Life time LED lights
Gzilla designs mounting options

Hidden Winch Mount Specialists Undercover winch mount
Engo 10k Winch
Southeast Overland synthetic winch line
Factor 55 flat link and hefty fairlead

RCI full aluminum skid plates
All-Pro kick out sliders

Iron man dual battery set up with twin yellow tops

4X4 Spod

ARB CKMA12
ARB 50qt fridge

ICOM ID-5100A DELUXE
K-400 Diamond Mount for Antenna

CVT awning and Mt Bachelor RTT
Blue ridge overland equipment attic

 

[texploration]

Looks great! What was the motivating factors in the FJ to 4R migration?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[MaineRunner]

Nice looking 4Runner! What exactly did you cover the hood with? Does it help with the glare? I'm getting sick of the reflection off the hood scoop on my 2015 Trail..and would like to do something similar. Thanks.

 

[SFJPhil]

For me after putting 65k miles on the FJ, I was just ready for something with more storage room and a full back seat. I also did not have a Trail Teams edition (despite only having A-Trac was quite enough for most situations) and I wanted the capabilities of a Trail Edition model. Also the resale value was hard to pass up. The FJ also sitting on 35's severely needed a regear. Starting fresh at 0 miles and a Trail platform to start for a steal of a trade in, I couldn't pass it up.

 

[SFJPhil]

The hood is wrapped in 1080p vinyl, took my brother and I some agonizing hours of tedious application for a DIY job. I have found that it greatly reduces sun glare near nautical twilight (dawn and dusk). I drive my brothers tacoma randomly which also has the hood scoop and the glare that kicks off that thing is brutal. Also with the roof LED bar on it also keeps down the glare.

 

[Roody]

Nice rig, love the transformation thus far.

 

[ExDementia]

Nice! Looks like an absolute beast. Love the vinyl on the hood.

 

[SFJPhil]

One from Top of the World, Utah this past fall..

 

[TacoRunner_]

How did I just learn of this forum? Nice thread J!

 

[SFJPhil]

Haha I have always just read, never posted! Thanks brother!

 

[dorton]

How did I just learn of this forum? Nice thread J!

Haha I have always just read, never posted! Thanks brother!

About time you two made it over here.

 

[SFJPhil]

About time you too made it over here.

Had to keep up with you!

 

[SFJPhil]

This past fall after a six month deployment and the rush to hang parts before Expo East, my girlfriend (now fiancé) and I set out on a two week trip that would change our lives. We drove for 31 hours straight from Raleigh North Carolina to Silverton Colorado to begin our mini overland vacation in the 4runner. We planned to hit Ouray Colorado, Moab Utah up into Yellow Stone National Park, living solely out of the 4runner with RTT, new ARB 50qt fridge, and propane stove.

Rolling off pavement onto the dirt of the trails that disappear into the San Juan Mountains was our first awesome part of the trip. The Appalachian Mountains would never be the same...

We ran a route up to Clear Lake which was supplied to us via Gaia Maps by JD from Rock Creek Overland. It was the first real leg stretch of the trip, which was the plan before hitting MOAB Utah next...

We continued to explore all day and finally found a vacant clearing off the trail to set up camp for the night. Waking up that first morning warm in the sleeping bag with nothing but the the sound of a near by creek and the brisk mountain air after six months away in the total opposite setting was a feeling I will never forget.

 

[SFJPhil]

The ROCK CREEK OVERLAND Team went up to The Winter Safari event in the mountains of Western North Carolina for some fun this past weekend..

 

[Desert Rider]

Beautiful! Spent time in and around Ouray last summer, the best...