Help me plan my overland/adventure set-up (long read)

I've been reading through the forums a lot and can't wait to get started building up my new 17' white dcsb 4x4 (auto) TRD/OR 4x4. I previously owned a 12' aclb 4x2, that I had a canvas besttop on with a sleeping platform in the rear, I've always been dissappointed on my camping trips in having to stay on all of the easier back roads in fear of getting stuck somewhere remote where I can't get out.

My long term goal is to have a rugged build to get me to some remote areas for camping and mountain biking. I don't have an interest in rock crawling, but would like a set-up that's not sketchy on moderate 4x4 trails (on a scale of easy, moderate, difficult). Again, I know some guys like to tout about how they can make it through some insane trails with relatively few mods, but the name of the game here is not sucking the seat up my pants because I am pushing the limits far beyond my skill level.

The focal point of my build will be a AT Tacoma Habitat. Long term goal is to do a full build with icons, 285/70/17 tires (probably means I need a re-gear since I've got an auto, F&R bumpers with spare carrier, armor and sliders, carry 10 gal extra fuel, 10 gal water, and a hitch mounted bike rack for 2 bikes. As much as I want to build this all at once, its going to be have to be spread out over over time so I am going to go in stages to get best ratio of fun to money.

Would be great to get some input from fellow board members, please critique this I am interested in your opinions. I am particularly interested on what people recommend for the added weight in the rear while I am on stock TRD/OR suspension... it seems like most do OME dakar leaf springs, but can I do this on stock suspension?

Already acquired or had from previous truck:
-ARB snatch strap and shackles
-Eazy lift jack (4')
-extra tow strap
-fire extinguisher
-first aid kit
-snow chains
-air compressor
-flat repair kit

2017 - Camping
-Tacoma Habitat
-1up USA heavy duty bike rack
-Sliders
-Camping interior that I will build myself using 80/20 aluminum extrusions
-Will be using an ice chest for now
-Upgrade tires on stock wheels to 265/75/16 bfg KO's - gains me an inch in rolling diameter without huge risks of rubbing
-Outdoor shower

Questions: What does everyone recommend on a stock TRD off road suspension if you are going to be carrying some weight in the rear? OME Dakars, any reason why you wouldn't want to run these on stock suspension?

2018 - Suspension
-Skids
-Steel CBI rear bumper with 2 jerry cans and spare tire carrier
-Icon stage 6
-Forerunner TRD pro wheels (black) with 285/70/17
-MaxTrax
-Regear for bigger tires?

Questions: I assume with the extra added weight I will need additional rear leaf packs again?

2019 - Finish the build
-CBI aluminum front bumper
-Winch
-Lights
-Electrical system with secondary battery
-Fridge set-up

 

are you trying to get the AT Tacoma Habitat as like the one from Xoverland? Those things are 9g's you are probably better off going with a RTT and maybe a bed rack with possibly modifying the sides for you mountain bikes. The link for the rack is just a example. There are plenty out there. Shop for tires. Everyone is going with the KO2's but I've heard that they were tremendously fast. ( Just what I heard) General Grabber AT2 or X3 is a also a good choice. With the extra weight you are adding you are going to want to "beef" up your stock springs. Contact OME or ICON or Headstrong and talk with one of their people to get you the best for your build. When adding all of your gear keep in mind where you place all the weight. Try to keep it balanced for rides. Good luck on your build. When you start doing all this document and take pictures and start a build thread. Curious of the outcome.



http://tepuitents.com/collections/2-person-rooftop-tents/products/ayer-roof-top-tent

http://sosoffroadconcepts.com/lp-advantage-bedrack/

http://www.headstrongoffroad.com/

 

I would do the CBI front bumper and winch first. A winch makes a very bad situation an easy unstuck in a lot of situations when you are alone. Beyond that I would just go camping. A TRD OR will go a lot of places that a 2wd truck will not.

 

Recovery is almost always one of my first mods. Try to figure out how to do the winch first. After that, I move into protection. Skids, sliders, etc. The camping stuff you can do out of your bed or on the ground until you get to that point. I'm not sure how much I'd want a receiver mount bike rack. It's going to take a pounding back there. Not only from a departure angle standpoint but through the stress of off-road travel. Extra fuel is usually a lower priority in the States, but it depends on where you are going.

 

Just a fyi...4runner pro wheels are 17's not 16's. What about doing a gear swap? Factor in that the truck already has bad low end torque with all the extra weight and over size tires, a gear swap might be a good idea. Anywho... I'm excited for you. I plan on turning mine into a overlander as well.

 

Thanks Brokinarrow,

Yes the cost is certainly high. I guess I should have mentioned that one of my reasons for purchasing this over a RTT is that I plan to do an around-the-world trip (similar to the motorcycle movie "Long Way Around", though on a different route). It will involve multiple continents and I think the AT habitat will be more practical if I am living out of my truck for 1-2 years. Some of the more traditional camper set-ups are just too heavy for what I want to do, but it would be nice to have a small galley which isn't possible with a traditional RTT.

Nevertheless, what you recommend is a big struggle for me because you can save a lot of $$$ with just a regular RTT set-up.

Thanks for the feedback!!

 

Goodpoint evilfij, maybe the FB and winch makes sense to do earlier on.

 

Whoops, wheels, I knew that but my brain didn't communicate that to my fingers as I typed. Fixed that in my first post. Re-reading that it does beg the question of why I would go through the hassle of buying tires twice if I might not use them to the end of their life. Maybe I wait to do tires until I am just ready to go to a bigger size.... or I just stick with 265/75/16 or 265/70/17 with a more mild lift of ~1.5"

Another good point I've been following some of the gear swap threads and it seems like most people, except for a select few, are pretty happy with the new gearing. If I would have done math ahead of time that might have swayed me to the MT for lower gears stock.

 

Overland_odyssey, how about replacing the fuel with water storage for an outdoor shower? If I ever expect to need a extra fuel its not that big of a deal to throw a jerrycan somewhere for a specific trip. Having a shower seems like more practical use of that weight.

It seems like this guy in the picture below has a pretty stout set-up for a receiver rack, I wonder if this would help some of the issues you highlight. Thanks for the input, looks like I need to look more into the bike situation.

 

When all said and done you and I will likely have similar builds for similar purposes. I can only advise that you invest with recovery first. I always regear and do recovery systems first because even stock you can have a great time and get yourself out of trouble. Even our daily drivers have winches installed for when something happens.

I'm not sure about stock shocks on the rear leafs but I plan to either go will AllPro expedition leafs or Dakars with the AAL. I have been looking hard at the OME BP-51 which come with Dakar leafs and I would just add on the extra leaf.

With added weight I plan to regear as well. I typically do this before the suspension changes because it's one of those upgrades that I very much dislike paying for and I can't do it myself.

Off Grid Engineeringn makes great dual battery setups. Check them out!

I also recommend an MT tire over an AT. An MT will out perform an AT in every situation that's not pavement. Rock, snow, sand, mud are handled way better by MTs. Can look into BFG KM2s. If you intend to do everywhere and handle most situations an AT will bog down somewhere and it will suck. Trust me on the MTs.

 

All-pro makes a bed rack that goes around canvas softopper so you can mount a RRT. I just got a softopper and will be getting the cage once I have more $ for the RRT. Im going this route to save weight. I have dakar leafs and can carry around 800 lbs of gear with very minimal sag. I would recommend the winch and recovery gear first if you like going alone.

 

That bike rack is AWESOME. I'd love to know more about it. I'll always pick more potable water storage over fuel. Like you said, you can always throw a fuel can in when needed.

 

its a 1up. https://www.1upusa.com/bicycleracks.html

 

Subbing for input.

I have similar plans for my build. As others have said, my route is recovery and protection before anything else though. Skids/sliders/winch/air set up, etc...