Four Wheeler Magazine's Project Toyota 4Runner Backcountry makes its world debut at the 2010 SEMA Sow. This special 4Runner was built as a self-contained exploration rig to take the avid weekend adventurer far in to the backcountry to allow discovery of the roads less traveled and forgotten places in history. The modifications were carefully chosen to enhance the 4Runners signature style and capability without taking away from what the 4Runner is all while maintaining the 4Runner's comfort for daily driver use, if desired.
Starting with an Old Manu Emu (OME) suspension system, consisting
of heavy-duty springs and OME NitroCharger Sport shock absorbers, the
4Runner was lifted approximately 2.5-inches. This not only allowed for
increased load carrying ability and higher ground clearance, but also
made it possible to fit P285/70R17 Falken WildPeak A/T tires mounted to
17x8 Teflon-coated ATX Mojave wheels. Overall, the 4Runner Backcountry
sits approximately 3-inches taller than a stock 4Runner.
To stay with the theme of lone backcountry travel and prevent being
stranded, the 4Runner Backcountry compliments the factory rear locker
with an ARB front Air Locker. However, if the going gets tough and the
4Runner manages to get stuck, a Warn XD9000 winch is at the ready to
self-recover, if necessary. The winch is mounted to an ARB Deluxe Bull
Bar front bumper. Also mounted to the front bumper are two 6x9 KC
HiLiTES HID driving lights.
No backcountry expedition is complete without accommodations.
Mounted to the roof is an ARB Steel Touring Style Roof Rack, which is
used to mount the ARB Series III Simpson Rooftop Tent and ARB Awning
2000. The roof rack is also utilized as a platform for the four KC
HiLiTES 5x7 front facing and two 2x6 rear facing lights. Together with
the HID driving lights, the KC's work together to pierce even the
darkest of nights and provide additional lighting around the vehicle.
Out back, EVO Manufacturing has developed a rear tire and
Expedition One Geri fuel can carrier that moves the spare tire from
under the vehicle to the back. This frees up space for a custom
13-gallon water tank to be mounted where the factory spare used to
reside. The custom water system uses a 12V inline electric pump to push
the water out to a hose that can be used as a shower, as well as washing
dishes or hands.
EVO Manufacturing also developed a set of rock sliders to protect
the body of the 4Runner on the worst trails that an adventurer may come
across away from civilization.
Inside the 4Runner Backcountry, the driver is greeted with a Cobra
CB radio for trail communications and a dash-mounted Garmin GPS as a
primary navigational aid. All of the accessory switches utilize the
factory switch blanks for an uncluttered dash and all of the auxiliary
electrical components are run through an S-Pod power distribution system
to keep them separate from the factory electronics.
The 4Runner Backcountry also features a rear cargo area-mounted
Power Tank on-board air system for airing up tires. Finally, the
factory slide out rear tray carries an ARB Fridge Freeze to help keep
perishable provisions from spoiling.
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Four Wheeler Toyota 4Runner Backcountry Features
- Manu Emu (OME) suspension system
- OME NitroCharger Sport shock absorbers
- P285/70R17 Falken WildPeak A/T tires
- 17x8 Teflon-coated ATX Mojave wheels
- ARB front Air Locker
- Warn XD9000 winch
- ARB Deluxe Bull Bar front bumper
- Two 6x9 KC HiLiTES HID driving lights
- Four KC HiLiTES 5x7 front facing and two 2x6 rear facing lights
- ARB Steel Touring Style Roof Rack
- ARB Series III Simpson Rooftop Tent and ARB Awning 2000
- EVO Manufacturing rear tire and Expedition One Geri fuel can carrier
- EVO Manufacturing rock sliders
- 13-gallon water tank with12V inline electric pump
- Cobra CB radio
- Garmin GPS
- Rear cargo-mounted Power Tank on-board air system
- ARB Fridge Freeze