314Runner’s 2023 ORP Build

June 12th, 2025


I was wandering around Harbor Freight grabbing some cheap tools for my off-road tool bag and stumbled across their “Roadshock” brand of light bars. With an ITC coupon I got a 22” light with a harness for $80.



I knew I wanted to stealth mount it, but the cheapest mount I could find was almost $200. So instead, I made my own for about $50 worth of materials from Home Depot



Cut out parts of the lower grill to allow more light to shine through.



Final results. Not bad for an afternoon and $130

 

July 3rd, 2025

Been looking forward to this weekend for a long time. Excited to ditch the factory suspension.

 

July 4th, 2025

Suspension is on! Alignment scheduled for Monday.

 

July 7th, 2025


Installed Dobinsons GS59 nitro-gas struts, Dobinsons 300 front lift springs, Dobinsons 359 rear lift springs and JBA Off-road STD High Caster UCA. I cannot believe the difference in how it handles on the road. The nose-diving when braking is gone, I've noticed less wheel-hop going over bumps, and it feels more planted on the road.

 

July 11th, 2025

Knowing I’ll never be able to fit a swing-out in my current home’s garage, I was browsing FB Marketplace and found a SET of Addictive Desert Designs spare tire carriers for a price so low I’d be stupid not to go pick them up.

I my overall goal moving forward is protection, improving ground clearance and improving my approach and departure angles. So I started by relocating my spare to inside the cabin by bolting the ADD carrier to my slide.




Also did a slight exhaust chop and relocated the trailer connection harness stuff



Overall result

 

July 22nd, 2025

Took a trip out to Windrock Park just outside of Knoxville, TN to give the 4Runner its first real test. The new suspension performed great. The skids and trail rails definitely came in handy. I’ll also be cleaning mud out of nooks and crannies for months to come.

 

July 22nd, 2025


Scooped up a waterproof case from Harbor Freight during one of their sales for about $20. Fits all of my GoPro and Insta360 gear perfectly. The bonus was repurposing the extra layer of foam to help secure the hard-shackles. I noticed they bounced around a lot on this last trip, but other that everything else back there stayed secure.

 

Looking good sir! Very nice work.