Transforming Twice: Overlanding Journey from 4Runner to Tundra

Toyota Transformation—Twice

I’ve never considered myself an “overlander.” I’m more of an avid fly angler who has found, over the years, that good fishing spots seldom have comfortable hotel accommodations nearby—or at least one that a fly shop owner can afford. I’m also old enough to cherish a cozy place to sleep when I travel, far away from rattlesnakes and other critters, preferably with a soft bed.

My first “build” was out of necessity, as the pressures of running a business and being a caregiver were taking their toll. My 5th gen 4Runner became my escape pod, allowing me to venture out in the afternoon to catch the evening hatch once my commitments were checked off and then stay for a leisurely camp breakfast and some fishing before heading home in the late afternoon. I found the James Baroud rooftop tent I had acquired comfortable and easy for a solo adventurer to deploy.

Of course, the more time you spend outdoors, the more things you find that make your visits to the wild places more enjoyable, like food. Adding an Engel refrigerator was the next step in a slippery slope that soon had me designing a slide-out galley and adding more “comforts” to my gear list. Then came bumpers and a winch, just in case. This, of course, required readdressing the suspension on the 4Runner and all that entails. Before you could say “What’s an overlander?”, I was driving one.

Icy Ending

This story would end here if not for a fateful day in 2022 when an ice storm cut short the life of my trusty 4Runner. My cautious plan to park at the top of the icy hill that led to my new home and walk was dashed when the rig started sliding towards a head-on meeting with an old cedar tree at the bottom. I had chosen to ride it out with no influence on the speed of the descent and only minimal on the direction. I was able to avoid two parked cars, but the end came far too soon for the 4Runner. I extricated myself, surveyed the damage, and knew our adventures together had come to an end.

The 4Runner had taken over seven years to bring it to a level of competence and self-sufficiency that allowed me to navigate the back roads and dusty trails comfortably in search of angling opportunities. I knew that this time, I’d need to cut the development time considerably if I wanted to enjoy the adventures we had already marked on the calendar. I say “we” as I had divorced and remarried, and my new wife shares my passion for angling and the outdoors. She had found the rooftop tent manageable, but if there was room for improvement, she was all for it.

Three days after the crash, I was in a Toyota dealership looking at options and a platform for the next fly fishing adventure vehicle. I settled on a 2023 Tundra and pulled a few strings to beat the long delivery time that accompanied ordering a new truck with the features and in the color I wanted. It was delivered 30 days after the crash. Sometimes it pays to know the right people.

In the meantime, I took a leap of faith. I ordered a Four Wheel Camper Project M topper even before the truck arrived at the dealership. My research suggested this was the best option for our needs; a queen-size bed, plenty of room for gear, and relatively light. Then, I laid out a list of “improvements” I thought would be required based on my experience with the 4Runner. I researched auxiliary power units, storage options, lighting, heaters, mattresses, awnings, and almost anything one would need if spending 2 to 3 weeks on a vehicle-based adventure. I also studied how others had “improved” their Project M campers, spotting a few “dos” and some definite “don’ts”.

While I understand the concept of a camper. when I’m off the beaten path, I simply want a comfortable place to sleep and a safe place to haul and store my gear. Of course, there are some creature comforts that, if they fit, why not?

Vision Materializes

Once the Tundra was in the driveway, the vision started to materialize. I dropped Griz off at Wanderlust Overland for a Prinsu roof rack, CBI skid plate, running boards, and auxiliary lighting upgrades and to have the Goal Zero Yeti 1500X wired to the charging system. The Goal Zero unit would run the lights and fans in the camper, plus power the Engel refrigerator I was able to salvage from the wrecked 4Runner. I also added a fuse block to handle any other power needs. Having the fuse block mounted when it came time to have the Project M installed made wiring the camper to the power source easier.

The Prinsu roof rack and CBI skid plates may seem like unnecessary expenses, but I would argue differently. The roof rack provides an air deflector to improve the camper’s aerodynamics. At the same time, the skid plates protect the transfer case from damage and the catalytic converters from theft. The rack also provides a mounting place for my auxiliary lighting and storage for traction boards. These items needed to be installed before the camper arrived, as installation afterward would be impossible or at least inconvenient.

The Project M was scheduled to arrive in May, so I took the opportunity to schedule a week-long fishing trip into eastern Oregon for the middle of June. Unfortunately, the camper didn’t arrive until three days before our departure. I worked feverishly to have all the pieces in place and pre-fitted to simplify the final installation. We left on schedule and lacked for nothing on our first shake-down outing. Still, I was making notes and planning improvements.

The first item to address was the suspension. While the Project M is relatively light, my custom slide-out kitchen salvaged from the 4Runner and our other gear, made the TRD springs sag under the load. An upgrade to the rear springs and sway bar was needed. I texted Micheal at Wanderlust Overland on the drive home and planned a visit the following week.

Having done my research and having a relatively knowledgeable understanding of suspension from my racing days, I settled on Dobinsons springs as a starting point, as they offered several options for the new Tundra. Wanting to “kick the can” of new shocks down the road a bit, we opted to upgrade the rear springs, sway bar, and bump stops before addressing shocks. These improvements helped keep the tail from dragging, but the truck was not the most “responsive” when fully loaded. One long road trip to Yellowstone had me returning to Wanderlust and planning a shock package. We settled on the Dobinsons MRR 3-way adjustable shocks front and rear, with updated coils for the front end. After some “tuning,” I am able to drive the truck now, not ride it. The ability to adjust the suspension for load and use is a plus.

Addressing the camping part of the rig has been fun. I added a roof rack on the camper to hold our River Quiver fly rod carrier and a 100-watt solar panel, adding to the power supply and rod-carrying capacity. I also bolted on a 270-degree Major Shady awning from Yakima, and a shower stall from Joolca. Then, a diesel heater was added, making colder nights more comfortable. Like I said earlier, why not?

Time for Long Road Trips

So, with the truck working as it should and the camper equipped for adventure, the only thing to do now is put some miles on it, so we have.

Most of our long road trips are in the fall when fishing conditions and weather are somewhat predictable. This year, we opted to venture out in the early spring to do some fishing in Nevada, but mostly visit friends and tour the wonders of Utah. I had never spent time in that state, but I wanted to see the national parks and hike some of the breathtaking trails.

Pyramid Lake, our first stop, is located on the Paiute Indian reservation—just a short drive from Reno, Nevada. The lake offers anglers the opportunity to fish for Lahontan cutthroat, a species that was almost extinct before a remnant population was discovered. Now, thanks to tribal and state efforts, the lake has a thriving fishery for trophy Lahontans.

Camping at Pyramid requires a special tribal permit and adhering to a few rules. Still, it’s pretty simple, very peaceful, and extremely beautiful. The fishing is, well, fishing. Beautiful camping weather is not excellent fishing weather, so the fish we encountered we had to work for. Early morning and late evening offered better conditions, and I was rewarded with a personal best Lahontan of 13 pounds. Camping-wise, it couldn’t have been any better. Light breezes and comfortable temperatures allowed us the chance to slow down and enjoy just being there, but after a few days, it was time to move on. With no weather front scheduled to move through the area, we broke camp and headed for Utah.

‘Home Is Where You Park It’

The most significant advantage of an overland build is you carry your home with you, and can go to some incredible locations. As the t-shirt says, home is where you park it. So, finding accommodations between Reno and St George never crossed our minds. We fueled in Tonopah, sped past the world famous but mostly scary Clown Motel, and headed off into the tumbleweeds.

I recently added the new Garmin Tread navigation and satellite communication unit to the rig. I pulled up a list of possible camp spots from the iOverland app built into the unit, but in the end, I navigated to the perfect spot using the detailed map. (I did share the location on iOverland, so look for Tumbleweed Flats if the Clown Hotel doesn’t interest you). While I’m still getting used to all of the features of the Tread, it served us well on this trip overall.

Utah was incredible, and we enjoyed the national parks and a few breathtaking hikes, including a white-knuckle stroll up Angel’s Landing. The chains bolted into the rock for guidance should serve as a warning to those with an aversion to heights. For those unconcerned with gravity, I suggest a pair of well-fitting leather gloves to help keep you on the path.

While we spent a few nights as guests of our friends in St George, we found plenty of boondocking opportunities in the area but we really wanted to do some fishing. With cold temps and snow forecasted along our planned route, we checked our weather apps and headed for the Owyhee River in eastern Oregon.

The Owyhee River is almost considered home water for most Boise, Idaho, anglers, and we had landed during spring break. Prime camp spots were filled with RVs, most with Idaho plates. We crossed the river, followed a muddy track to a flat spot near the water, and popped up our Project M. Trout were already rising in our camp water, so we grabbed gear and hit the water. Over the next several hours, we had some of the best dry fly fishing of our lives, with Brown Trout rising to our tiny flies. As darkness fell, we returned to camp, enjoying the comforts of our new  overland vehicle and planning our next adventure.