How to Prepare Your Toyota 4Runner for Overlanding

Now that we’ve covered why the 4Runner is a solid base for overlanding, let’s get into the top modifications for a capable overlanding build. 

Suspension and Drivetrain

Some of the most crucial areas to upgrade your 4Runner are the suspension and drivetrain; after all, you’ll spend most of your time on the trail! Overlanding requires travel to remote areas; in most cases, that means trekking across unpaved dirt roads, water crossings, rock sections, and other challenging obstacles to reach your campsite. 

Regarding suspension, the best option is a lift kit or leveling kit, and we aren’t referring to cheap coil spacers and worn factory shocks. Especially with travel to remote locations, you’ll want a capable suspension setup, like the Eibach PRO-TRUCK 2"-3" Adjustable Lift Kit or Icon 0 - 4" Adjustable Coilover Lift Kit. These kits feature everything necessary to lift your 4Runner, including heavy-duty, application-specific dampers and lift springs, providing maximum articulation, ground clearance, tire clearance, and overall off-road performance. 

Depending on how often your overland and the caliber of terrain you navigate, you may also want to consider upgrading your 4Runner with locking differentials, like the Yukon Zip Locker. Lockers ditch your 4Runner’s factory open or limited slip differential for a locking unit, tying the axles together at the push of a button to drastically improve traction off-road. Lockers come in automatic and selectable variations; for more information, check out our Locker Guide on RealSource!

Wheels & Tires

Aftermarket wheels and tires aren’t just for style, though they certainly help! Wheels and tires are on this list for a few reasons, the most crucial being traction. Oversized all-terrain, mud-terrain, and hybrid tires, like the Toyo Open Country R/T Trail, feature deep tread lugs, aggressive sidewalls, and far superior puncture resistance than comparable highway tires, ensuring maximum grip and durability on the trail. 

Aftermarket wheels are a worthwhile addition to oversized tires, as your 4Runner’s narrow factory wheels don’t leave much room for any sizes wider than stock. With an 8–9 inch wide wheel, like the Method 705, you can run far wider tires to increase traction. The 705 also features Method’s proprietary Bead Grip technology, allowing you to air down to pressures typically only possible with a beadlock wheel.

Bumpers and Body Protection

Your 4Runner is bound to incur a couple of scuffs, scratches, and dings on the trail. While aesthetic body damage is unavoidable (think of them as battle scars), it’s essential to guard your 4Runner against serious body and frame damage with the appropriate body protection, like heavy-duty bumpers and sliders. 

Heavy-duty bumpers, like the Fab Fours Hidden Winch Mount High Pre-Runner Front Bumper, offer a few benefits, including body protection, accessory mounting, and aesthetics. This bumper is manufactured from heavy-duty steel for exceptional impact protection, includes mounts for a winch, auxiliary lights, and recovery shackles, and provides your 4Runner with rugged aesthetics! 

Sliders, like the N-Fab TrailSlider Step System, protect your 4Runner’s rocker panels against impacts and abrasions, preventing damage that could misalign the doors and subject the rocker panels to rust and corrosion. Sliders also function as steps, making climbing in and out of your 4Runner a breeze, even after installing the lift kit and oversized tires! 

Lighting

Issues and delays happen, and when they do, you’ll want the proper lighting to illuminate the trail ahead, ensuring a safe trek to your base camp. At RealTruck, we carry all the top off-road lights, LED headlights, and tail lights for maximum light output and visibility, even on the darkest trails. 

And once you arrive at your destination, who wants to set up camp in the dark? Products like the RIGID Industries 360-Series A-Pillar Light Kit and Baja Designs Grill Light Kits offer exceptional output using high-efficiency LED chips, casting plenty of light to pitch a tent, start a fire, and get dinner going.  

Racks & Exterior Storage

While your 4Runner has plenty of storage space in the cab and cargo area, you can never have too much room for gear, tools, and recovery equipment! Outfitting your 4Runner with a roof rack and auxiliary storage is a worthwhile investment, allowing additional space for accessory mounts, storage bins, and even rooftop tents and awnings! 

Roof racks typically require a base rack system, like the Rhino-Rack Backbone, securing to your 4Runner’s roof or factory rails, and accessory mounts, like Rhino Rack Pioneer Accessories, allowing you to mount various tools, equipment, and even ladders for easy access to your supplies! 

Interior Storage, Organizers, and Protection

With all the time spent navigating dirty and often muddy trails, your 4Runner’s exterior isn’t the only thing that can take a beating. The interior, including seats, carpets, and cargo area, can incur countless stains, rips, and tears from routine abuse on the trail. Rather than accepting the wear and tear, protect your interior with premium floor mats and seat covers, like Husky Liners WeatherBeater Floor Liners, and Covercraft Carhartt Seat Covers!

Keeping your interior organized is a must on long trips, ensuring all of your tools and supplies are easy to locate and access. Products like the Covercraft Carhartt Seatback Organizer feature a streamlined design and multiple pockets for organization; as a bonus, the seatback organizer also protects your 4Runner’s seat backs against wear and tear. 

Winches & Recovery

Every experienced overlander/wheeler knows that it’s not if you’ll get stuck, but when. Whether you chose a poor line up an obstacle, powered through a deep stream, or snapped a tie rod on a rock section, it’s always best to have ample recovery options, like winches, straps, and shackles. 

Winches, like the Warn VR EVO 12, are the ultimate addition to any off-road vehicle, allowing you to pull yourself out of, over, or across a challenging obstacle. Of course, you’ll need the proper recovery gear to match; why not pick up a comprehensive kit, like the Warn Heavy-Duty Epic Recovery Kit? And for added traction, nothing beats traction boards, like the Rugged Ridge Traction Recovery Kit. 

Tents, Awnings, & Camping

Of course, the journey is only half the battle with overlanding. Once you reach a remote, flat location, it’s time to set up camp! To ease your setup after a long day of wheeling, consider investing in quality camping gear, like the Smittybilt GEN1 Overlander Tent. The Overlander tent is the perfect addition to any overlanding 4Runner, featuring a lightweight aluminum frame, durable 600-denier ripstop polyester construction, a weather-resistant rainfly, and universal mounts that attach to most roof racks and bed racks! 

Campsites aren’t only about sleeping, however; you’ll also need a location to relax and enjoy some food and beverages. For protection from the sun and rain, you can’t beat a quality retractable awning like the Thule Hideaway. This product mounts to most roof rack systems and features an easy-to-use retractable design. Lastly, to keep your food and beverages cool, we’ll always recommend a quality cooler, like the Pelican IM 30QT ELITE. 

With all these additions, your 4Runner will be beyond ready to hit the trails and set up camp. Be sure to contact our knowledgeable sales staff for all other general questions, product inquiries, and assistance.