Project 4Runner Backcountry Part 7

Project 4Runner Backcountry Part 7 Rear Three Quarter

One the hardest parts of conceiving a project vehicle is to figure out what gear will be part of the project, and finding a place for it all on the build. On Project 4Runner Backcountry, we knew we would be a carrying a ton of gear and wanted enough cargo capacity and gear stowage to be self-sufficient for up to a week with two people on board.

To meet that goal, we would need a way to carry extra fuel and water, as well as run a proper full-size spare. Other important elements to the 4Runner buildup were recovery gear storage, on board air, and a Fridge Freezer (what, you’ve never had ice cream on the trail?).

ARB’s Fridge Freezer is a crowd-pleaser, and unlike cheap 12-volt “coolers”, the Fridge Freezer is a true refrigerator/freezer that can keep beverages and food chilled—or frozen, without the hassles associated with sloshing ice. Recently redesigned, and now with four sizes in the line-up, the Fridge Freezer is always a draw on the trail. All Fridge Freezers benefit from a robust patented hinge design, front opening lid with EZ latch, drain plugs for easy cleaning, electronic temperature settings, internal LED lighting, and handles that are strong enough to be used as tie-downs. All models are powered by a Danfoss compressor and boast industry-leading efficiency. For example, once down to temperature, the 50-quart unit in Project 4Runner draws less than one amp per hour from a 12-volt power source. It is even equipped with a battery protection system, ensuring your battery has enough power to start the vehicle.

For our onboard air needs, Power Tank outfitted the 4Runner with a 10-pound C02 tank, along with a beautiful aluminum mounting bracket. We are big fans of Power Tank’s CO2 systems, and love the fact that they can air up our tires or run our air tools. With 33-inch rubber, our 10-pound tank should last us entire wheeling season, and because of Power Tank’s SuperFlow regulator design, airing up is faster than ever.

For fuel or water, we chose Expedition One’s stackable and patented Geri Cans. These cans are made from high-strength polymer plastic and hold four gallons of liquid. The versatile design can withstand 800 pounds of gear stacked on top of them.

With a goal in mind and products in hand, we headed to Off Road Evolution in Fullerton, California, to make our ideas for the 4Runner a reality. Check out some of the cool solutions we came up with to carry all of the gear, and see how we added functionality and user-friendliness to our 4Runner.

We worked with the team at EVO Manufacturing to come up with this prototype rear carrier system that would meet our goal of freeing up space under the vehicle and allow us to run a fullsize spare tire. The carrier swings open in two halves, and we chose to run a stack of three Expedition One Geri Cans on one side and our spare on the other.
We worked with the team at EVO Manufacturing to come up with this prototype rear carrier s
The arms mount and rotate on these wings, which are attached to the frame and stick out through holes cut in the stock bumper cover. The beauty in this design is that the stock bumper cover remains intact, giving the 4Runner a more finished look.
The arms mount and rotate on these wings, which are attached to the frame and stick out th
EVO Manufacturing created this cool holder for our Expedition One Geri Cans and license plate. Relocating the license plate also necessitated us using an ORO LiteDOT Plate Light to keep the plate illuminated at night.
EVO Manufacturing created this cool holder for our Expedition One Geri Cans and license pl

The ORO LiteDOT wiring harness passes through the Geri Can and uses a Weather Pack connector, which makes it easy to disconnect the wiring when we need to access the cans.
The ORO LiteDOT wiring harness passes through the Geri Can and uses a Weather Pack connect
Here is a look at the passenger-side carrier arm, which holds our matching spare tire and our CB antenna.
Here is a look at the passenger-side carrier arm, which holds our matching spare tire and
The carrier arm is held closed by a friction ramp and secured with a latch and pin. This design makes for a rattle free experience and still allows the hitch to be used for towing or as a rear extraction point.
The carrier arm is held closed by a friction ramp and secured with a latch and pin. This d

In the cargo area, we used Toyota’s trick slide-out cargo tray to mount our Action Packer boxes, 10-pound Power Tank, and ARB Fridge Freezer. This keeps the heavy items secure and allows us to fold the middle row for all of our soft gear, like sleeping bags and duffels.
In the cargo area, we used Toyota’s trick slide-out cargo tray to mount our Action Packer
One of our favorite products for storing gear is the durable Rubbermaid Action Packer box. These heavy-duty boxes are invaluable on the trail, and SWAG Off Road manufactures this slick aluminum Baja Bin. The Baja Bin mounts to any vehicle and securely holds up to two 8-gallon Action Packers.
One of our favorite products for storing gear is the durable Rubbermaid Action Packer box.
Also mounted on the 4Runner’s cargo tray is ARB’s Fridge Freezer. Our 50-quart model, seen here in the protective transit bag, can hold up to 72 12-ounce cans and is guaranteed not to waterlog your food like a traditional cooler.
Also mounted on the 4Runner’s cargo tray is ARB’s Fridge Freezer. Our 50-quart model, seen

Here you can see the Power Tank mounted in the cargo area with the regulator facing out, making it easier to use the bottle from its mount. However, the mount is designed so that the bottle can also easily be removed, making it portable enough to service other rigs.
Here you can see the Power Tank mounted in the cargo area with the regulator facing out, m
After our very first shakedown run in the 4Runner, we learned that the factory Toyota Harness was too small of a gauge to properly power the fridge. ARB combats this issue with an optional heavy-gauge fused harness that connects straight to the battery.
After our very first shakedown run in the 4Runner, we learned that the factory Toyota Harn
We installed the ARB harness and put the outlet in the cargo area near the other factory outlets. Now we never have to worry about power to our fridge again.
We installed the ARB harness and put the outlet in the cargo area near the other factory o

Another way we expanded our cargo-carrying capability is by installing a Trasharoo bag on the spare tire. Now we can pack out whatever we packed in, without carrying any trash inside the cabin. It also has plenty of pockets for the things we need easy access to on the trail, like tools and toliet paper.
Another way we expanded our cargo-carrying capability is by installing a Trasharoo bag on
The one drawback to our rear carrier arrangement is that the backup camera is now blocked. We may address this issue in the future by moving the camera to a new location.
The one drawback to our rear carrier arrangement is that the backup camera is now blocked.

SOURCES
EVO MFG. N/A AK 714-870-5515 www.evomfg.com	Off Road Evolution 1829 W Commonwealth Avenue Fullerton CA 92833 714-870-5515 www.offroadevolution.com
Trasharoo 3309 E. Miraloma Ave. Suite 108 Anaheim CA 92806 714-854-7292 www.trasharoo.com	Off Road Only 1441 Iglehart Ave St. Paul MN 55104 651-644-2323 www.offroadonly.com
Expedition One 2675 Industrial Drive Suite 101 Ogden UT 84401 801-627-2921 www.exp-one.com	Swag Off Road Oregon City OR 97045 541-915-2775 www.swagoffroad.com
Power Tank 2214 Babson Dr. Elk Grove CA 95758 209-366-2163 www.powertank.com	ARB USA 720 SW 34th Street Renton WA 98057 866-293-9078 www.arbusa.com