Apex Overland 4Runner Raises the Bar

The Apex Overland 4Runner transforms from overlander to rock crawler.

As the saying goes, “Behind every great man is a great woman.” That could not be truer for Josh and Jillian Schaible, the owners of the Apex Overland 4Runner.

Strength, valor, discipline and determination are characteristics that often shine through in those who serve or have served our country. However, sometimes, it’s not just the person in a partnership who enlists who displays these traits. Those who are left behind to look after the home, family and business might also greatly impact their communities in a positive way.

STEPPING UP TO TAKE OVER THE FAMILY BUSINESS WHEN HER HUSBAND WAS DEPLOYED IN 2018, JILLIAN SCHAIBLE EMBODIES COURAGE, STRENGTH, DISCIPLINE AND HARD WORK.

Stepping up to take over the family business when her husband was deployed in 2018, Jillian Schaible embodies courage, strength, discipline and hard work. She took a leap of faith to step away from her career to run Apex Overland while husband Josh was in the Middle East. This changing of the guard came to be as a way to honor her husband while he was gone. It truly was Jillian’s tenacity and determination that turned it into an opportunity to grow their business.

“As intimidating as it was, I jumped in with both feet. My main goal was to keep this business here for him when he came home after serving our country. Luckily, we were able to grow, and I’m able to do it full-time now that he’s home.”

Hands-on Experience

Running a successful outfitting and fabrication shop such as Apex Overland in Browns Summit, North Carolina takes experience and knowledge – and your own capable, bad-ass rig. The 2014 Apex Overland 4Runner has been a progression build over the six years they’ve had it. It started as an overland vehicle that took the Shaibles on family road trips, off-road adventures and camping trips up and down the East Coast. As the years went by, they pushed the limits with it off road to see how far it could go into rock crawling.

AT A GLANCE, IT LOOKS LIKE A TYPICAL OVERLANDING 4RUNNER—COMPLETE WITH HIGH-CLEARANCE BUMPERS, ROOF RACK AND SNORKEL. HOWEVER, AFTER WATCHING IT MOVE ON THE TRAIL, IT’S EASY TO SEE THIS ISN’T AN ORDINARY OVERLAND 4RUNNER.

Determination Caught Our Eye

We first met Jillian and the Apex crew at Overland Challenge in the fall of 2019. She was determined and feisty, coaching her team to a win and “taking no prisoners” to make it happen. Her passion was evident and her enthusiasm unstoppable.

MUCH LIKE ITS DRIVER, JILLIAN, THE APEX OVERLAND 4RUNNER GETS FEISTY WHEN NEEDED AND ROLLS THROUGH THE BUMPS SMOOTHLY AND EASILY, GOING THE EXTRA MILE.

Flash forward to the next Overland Challenge in Uwharrie, North Carolina, during spring 2021. Jillian was as cool as a cucumber, ready to hit the trail for fun with confidence. Much like its driver, Jillian, the Apex Overland 4Runner gets feisty when needed and rolls through the bumps smoothly and easily, going the extra mile.

What we appreciated most about the Apex Overland 4Runner was that it’s so clean and capable. At a glance, it looks like a typical overlanding 4Runner—complete with high-clearance bumpers, roof rack and snorkel. However, after watching it move on the trail, it’s easy to see this isn’t an ordinary overland 4Runner.

As Jillian shared, “We love the comfort and reliability the Toyota brings, so we modified it to make it a lot more trail-capable so we could have the best of both worlds.” It’s certainly modified to go to places in which most other 4Runners might struggle.

The Build

The suspension on the Apex Overland 4Runner ups the game for this overlander-turned-rock crawler. Apex performed a BMC (body mount chop) to fit bigger tires and a more capable suspension system.

In front are Radflo 2.5 Extended Travel front coilovers, Total Chaos upper and lower control arms, Radflo hydro bump stops, Total Chaos spindlr gussets and cam tab gussets, along with a swaybar delete to get needed articulation.

In the rear, custom Radflo 2.5 long-travel rear shocks with remote reservoirs are paired with Dobinsons heavy-duty, long-travel rear springs, Radflo hydro bump stops, custom Reszfab upper and lower links with duroflex joints, Dobinsons panhard bar and gusseted frame side link mounts. Ready to rumble and conquer all that stands in its way, this 2014 4Runner handles it.

Tackling The Terrain

When a little more “oomph” is needed, the Apex Overland 4Runner obliges: The differential was regeared to a Nitro 4.56 with ARB air lockers in front and rear, and the grippy BFGoodrich KM3 tires (size 315/70/17) wrap around Black Rhino Baker wheels (size 17×8.5 inches) with a -18 offset. Gusseted knuckles were also added to help with steering. The Shaibles also tucked the rear fender wells and trimmed the front fender flares, giving it that appealing, clean look.

No off-road or overland rig is complete without proper armor: The Shaibles’ 4Runner sports CBI Offroad steel bumpers in front and rear. The rear CBI Offroad swingout holds the CBI dual jerry can holder and tire carrier. An LFD Offroad full-steel skid plate package protects the belly of this beast, while RCI rock slickers give it additional protection. For extra peace of mind, the Shaibles also added Metaltech link skids and FJ Toyman shock skids.

Lighting It Up

The Apex Overland 4Runner is equipped with lots of lighting that’s been installed in a very understated way. This ensures that Jillian and her family arrive and drive safely on dirt in the dark, whether it’s at a campsite or to run trails.

NO OFF-ROAD OR OVERLAND RIG IS COMPLETE WITHOUT PROPER ARMOR: THE SHAIBLES’ 4RUNNER SPORTS CBI OFFROAD STEEL BUMPERS IN FRONT AND REAR.

Up front on the Front Runner Outfitters Roof Rack is the Apex Overland 43-inch light bar with a matching 27-inch Apex Overland light bar in the grill. Baja Designs fog lights, ditch lights and rock lights round out it out. The rear has Baja Designs rear bumper lights and LED winchline backlight, coupled with a 6-inch Amber Apex Overland rear dust/chase light.

The Shaibles also added subtle personal touches to the Apex Overland 4Runner to make it stand out in a crowd. A custom front emblem delete up front complements the Toyota TRD Offroad hood swap and LED headlights.

Putting it Through its Paces

The Apex Overland 4Runner is not just a rolling billboard; it was the family’s adventuremobile over the years until their recent addition of a Toyota Tundra. It hits the road on many family road trips and overlanding adventures.

… AS THEIR NEEDS WITH THEIR VEHICLES EVOLVED, THEY PUSHED THE CAPABILITIES OF THE 4RUNNER TO DO MORE AND GO MORE PLACES.

Jillian fondly remembers the summer before their son was born. Josh, Jillian and their daughter spontaneously took a week to travel. In true adventurer form, when they woke up each day, they’d decide where to go. They explored western North Carolina waterfalls, eastern Tennessee caverns, Virginia and Kentucky and Breaks Interstate Park, eventually landing in Virginia Beach.

Sharing Their Knowledge

It’s having experienced the excitement and joy of off-grid adventure travel that brought about Apex Overland.

“The whole passion behind Apex Overland is that we want to help other people do something we’re passionate about too,” Jillian explained. “We understand the mechanics of the vehicles, and we can help explain it to others in a way so that once they get out on their own, they feel self-reliant; and they feel as if they can go out on these adventures and do it for themselves so they can have these experiences and live life to the fullest.”

Much like the Apex Overland 4Runner, the capabilities and talents of Jillian Schaible shine through when pushed to the challenges. After she took over the business when Josh was overseas, she met those challenges and pushed harder to grow the business to make her husband proud. Similarly, as their needs with their vehicles evolved, they pushed the capabilities of the 4Runner to do more and go more places.

As business continues to grow, we look forward to seeing what’s in store for this North Carolina shop. Jillian and Josh will surely be putting their stamp on some incredible builds, and you can bet that Tread will be there to see the amazing work they create.

Follow Jillian Schaible’s adventures with her family on Instagram: @jillianlschaible. To also see more from Apex Overland, follow @apexoverland.

 UPGRADES

2014 Toyota 4Runner

Engine: V6 4.0L

Suspension: Radflo 2.5 Extended Travel front Coilovers; Total Chaos UCAs & LCAs; Radflo hydro bump stops; Total Chaos Spindlr Gussets; Total Chaos Cam Tab Gussets; Front swaybar delete (front); Custom Radflo 2.5 Long Travel Rear Shocks with Remote Reservoirs; Dobinsons Heavy Duty Long Travel Rear springs; Radflo Hydro bumpstops; Custom Reszfab Upper and Lower Links with duroflex joints; Dobinsons Panhard bar; Gusseted frame side link mounts (rear); body mount chop

Wheels & Tires: Black Rhino Baker 17×8.5, -18 offset; BFGoodrich KM3 315/70/R17

Interior Accessories: TRD Offroad full interior swap; Garmin Overlander; Front Runner Wolfpack boxes on custom rear plate; Rugged Radio; Midland CB; X2 Power Group 31 AGM battery with LFD Offroad Battery Tray

Exterior Accessories: Custom front emblem delete; Toyota TRD Offroad hood swap; LED Headlights; 43” Apex Overland light bar on roof rack, 27” Apex Overland light bar in grill; Baja Designs fog lights, ditch lights, rear bumper lights and Rock Lights; 6” Amber Apex Overland Rear dust/Chase light; Baja Designs LED winchline backlight; Warn Zeon 10k S; CBI Dual Jerry Can Holder and Tire Carrier on swingouts of rear bumper; CBI Offroad Steel Front and Rear bumpers; LFD Offroad Full Steel Skid Plate Package; RCI Rock Sliders; Metaltech link skids; Fj toyman shock skids; Custom tucked rear fender wells and trimmed front fender flares; ARB Safari Snorkel; Front Runner Slimline Custom Length Roof Rack