Gen 3 4runner

The primary goal with the current build is to be able to navigate non-permissive environments to provide aid or service as needed without being a burden on the grid or system. The secondary goal is to use the 4runner as basecamp when traveling and hiking.

The first mod was the winch. The winch is useful for pulling the 4runner out of tight spot or for pulling something out of the way. The picture in the gallery of the mud path was right after a storm and the back of the 4runner sunk down to the running boards. I used the winch to extricate the truck and we used a bunch of wood to allow me to reverse and escape. I also use the winch in my tree work, as needed. The install was pretty straight-forward with a buddy of mine who did most of the welding. Wiring to the battery was simple. As configured, I need to keep the truck running when using the winch so I don’t kill the battery.

The second mod is the auxiliary battery. The secondary battery is wired behind the drivers seat and connected to the primary battery via a battery controller. The battery controller allows an attached inverter to draw power from the secondary battery when the engine is not running. When the engine is running, it will charge the secondary battery only after the primary battery is charged. This is especially useful for overlanding as it allows me to run my freezer and charge devices when the truck isn’t running. In a pinch, I can run the batteries in series to jump start my primary battery should it die and as long as the aux battery is charged.

Install was more complex than the winch.

The third mod is a bed in the trunk. It is constantly evolving. The current iteration has all of our storage underneath a cut-down 4x8 sheet of plywood over the wheel wells with 2x4 stands supporting it. This has not only doubled the amount of stuff we can bring with us, it also is much more comfortable when sleeping in more adverse conditions.