James Watts
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4Runner Build

A 2001 Toyota 4Runner SR5, built up for the trail with extended-travel suspension, lockers, armor, onboard air, and a rooftop tent.

  • 4x4
  • Off-Road
  • 3rd Gen 4Runner

My trail rig is a silver 2001 Toyota 4Runner SR5, a third-generation truck with about 135,000 miles on it. It has been modified pretty extensively over the years, and it’s an ongoing build.

Front suspension and steering

Front suspension on the lift: Radflo coilover and remote reservoir, SPC upper control arm, and gusseted lower arm

  • Radflo 2.5” remote reservoir coilovers with Eibach 700 lb springs
  • SPC upper control arms
  • Total Chaos uniball lower ball joints and heim tie rod ends
  • Eimkeith lower control arm gussets and limit strap tabs, with limit straps
  • Total Chaos cam tab gussets and spindle gussets
  • Taco Tab cam eliminators
  • Durabump bump stops

Rear suspension

Rear Radflo shock on an FGB outboard mount, with the coil spring and tubular links behind it

  • Radflo 2x12” remote reservoir shocks on FGB outboard mounts
  • Toytec HD springs
  • Durabump extended bump stops
  • OPT Off Road tubular links
  • Toytec stainless extended rear brake lines

Wheels and tires

The 4Runner on a forest road, on Fuel Rush wheels and DuraTrac tires

  • LT285/70R17 Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac tires on 17x9 Fuel Off-Road Rush wheels

Traction and onboard air

Onboard air tank in the spare tire well, on its fabricated mount next to the solenoid enclosure

  • ARB Air Lockers, front and rear
  • ARB compressor feeding a 2.5 gallon air tank in the spare tire well, with a mount, solenoid enclosure, and skid plate I fabricated for it

The onboard air tank skid plate and mount on the welding table during fabrication

Armor and recovery

Climbing a rocky trail with the Shrockworks front bumper and PIAA lights

  • Shrockworks front bumper
  • Shrockworks rear bumper with swing-away tire carrier
  • Shrockworks rock sliders
  • Warn M8000 winch with Yankum synthetic line, wireless remote, and the controller relocated under the hood on 1/0 gauge cables

Rack, tent, and awning

The 4Runner on the beach with the rooftop tent packed on the roof rack

  • Gobi Stealth roof rack
  • CVT Mt. Shasta EV Stargazer Summit rooftop tent
  • ARB awning

Lighting

  • PIAA 580 driving lights
  • PIAA 510 fog lights
  • PIAA H4 headlamps
  • LED dome lights

Engine and drivetrain

Engine bay with the 3.4 litre V6, Airaid intake tube, and Odyssey battery

  • Airaid MIT intake tube, with the intake silencer removed
  • B&M inline transmission cooler
  • Odyssey PC1500 battery
  • Mobil 1 5W-30, Royal Purple differential and transfer case oil, and Amsoil synthetic grease

Audio and communications

  • Pioneer DMH-W4660NEX head unit
  • Kicker KSC6704 and KSC504 speakers
  • Yaesu FTM-400D dual-band VHF/UHF amateur radio
  • Uniden Bearcat CB radio

Interior and odds and ends

  • Dash-mounted ScanGauge
  • WeatherTech floor and cargo liners
  • Plasti Dipped grille and fender flares