"I'm going to drive this thing into the ground." I've said that a few times since purchasing my 2015 Toyota 4Runner Trail edition. That vehicle has been with me for 169,000 miles and many adventures as I've crisscrossed the nation. Of the cars I've owned in my lifetime, this one has been my favorite and it is right where I want it to be in terms of accessories, gear staging, and configuration for what I do at Fieldcraft Survival. While I've spent plenty of time in the woods and slept in bear country, I wouldn't say I'm much like Goldilocks aside from feeling like this 4Runner is the perfect bowl of porridge. Unlike some dedicated overland rigs you'll see at expos or the highly modified rock crawlers flat bedded to trailheads, this vehicle is my daily driver. I didn't want to make it look too customized to blend in with other cars in parking lots. Since I've been asked about my 4Runner in multiple podcasts and at events, I wanted to provide an overview, bumper-to-bumper, of all the modifications I have made.

Front Bumper

My front bumper is from Southern Style Offroad. I purchased it in 2017 and it houses a Warn Zeon 8000 lb winch. When I lived in CT, my local garage was in Bristol, Rick's Automotive. They mounted it for me and spooled the synthetic line onto the unit. The bumper mounts directly to the frame, and cutting the plastic bumper was the only modification needed to incorporate it into the vehicle. The winch is hidden from sight except for the fairlead and the Factor 55 winch flat link for use with soft shackles. This setup is secure, low profile, and helps me address self-rescue concerns if my Maxtrax boards are not enough. Even though I spent a pretty penny on this setup, I haven't used it all that much. It has become one of those accessories I'm happy to have, but I haven't needed it more than a handful of times. I know that bumper is as solid as a rock, and it will help me push with my vehicle if I ever need to. Hopefully, I never have to.

Interior

Inside the cab of my vehicle, I have a collection of Cali Raised LED accessories. Some of those accessories were purchased and others were provided by that company. My center console has a MOLLE Panel that helps secure a flashlight, important documents, and a tourniquet holder. The rear of the vehicle has an upper rack that allows me to utilize the space above the view of the rear window, and that is where I store recovery rope, tree straps, and other accessories. The side rear windows also have MOLLE panels with assorted pouches, a Pelican case with medical gear, a fire extinguisher, paper towels, and potable water. The vehicle's interior is also equipped with a couple of security boxes. One of those boxes from Boss Strong Box is in the center console and the other is a drawer system that takes up most of the rear cargo area. While a vehicle is not meant to be a holster or case for your firearm, when I travel with them, these secure spaces give me peace of mind stopped along my route to training.

Misc. Exterior

Working from the front of the vehicle to the rear, you'll notice a few differences from a stock 4Runner. I have BF Goodrich K02 Tires on stock rims. I have yet to decide if I'll swap out my stock rims and spare tire, but recently, Mikey Hernandez asked me what else I have left to do. That last modification is more cosmetic than anything else, and I don't need to purchase new rims for any additional benefit. Recently, Jon W. from our Fieldcraft NC Fire Base helped me install a set of KC Hilites Flex Era 4 ditch lights to the A Pillar of my vehicle. These lights are incredibly bright and are positioned to illuminate the sides of the road to the front of my vehicle. I still have to purchase the dashboard toggle to fit the switch flush in my vehicle; for now, it is only tucked under the steering wheel in a sub-optimal way. The only other exterior modification made to this vehicle, perhaps the first from years ago, is the Thule roof rack system. Since I was 16, I have carried canoes and kayaks on my vehicle. Thule has been my go-to rack system. The load bars are one of the most used accessories, and I've hauled everything secured to them. Currently, I have a Thule basket mounted to easily hold folding tables, bags, and the like when traveling around the country.

Rear Bumper

The very rear of my vehicle is where you'll find the RIGD Ultraswing attachment. This hitch-mounted tire carrier let me relocate my rear tire from underneath my vehicle. It also provided a location to mount a Rotopax 2-gallon fuel container. The extra fuel gives me approximately 30-45 miles of extended range if I run out of fuel. The spare tire on the rear of the vehicle also gives some protection, however, you will want to define it, to prevent contact with other nearby vehicles. When a longer trip is planned, I attach a Trasharoo to the rear tire to keep the vehicle's cab from stinking as the garbage starts piling up. Other attachments can fit on the RIGD Ultraswing like a table, but I can easily pack a small folding table in the meantime.

The Future of this 4Runner

When I lived in Utah for the past couple of years working for Fieldcraft, I put on over 25k miles each year. In Utah, there is no such thing as a short drive. Here in North Carolina, I'm only 3.2 miles from our firebase. Since January, I've only driven about 3k miles, and I'll most likely drive less than a quarter of the average distance in Utah by the end of this year. Toyota just released the new body style of the new Tacoma, and I assume the 5th Generation 4Runner will soon be replaced with the 6th Generation next year or the year after. I want to drive my vehicle to the ground but I also know there will be a flood of newer lower mileage 5th generation vehicles on the market as soon as the new 4Runner comes out. Since I have all the accessories for that body type, I plan on pulling most of the accessories off of my 2015 and putting them in the newer used or pre-owned vehicle I pick up. I don't need the latest and greatest vehicle; I just need a reliable and proven one. My 2015 has been practical and a great companion and there will be plenty of memories made with the next just like there were with this one.