Jake's Solar Octane Build and Journey

After driving my 2007 SR5 to almost 400,000 miles it was time for a new ride. After some searching I found and purchased a 2023 TRD Pro in Solar Octane with just under 20,000 miles. I've been wanting this color since I saw it first announced.

Some how I let a friend talk me into driving to Key West Florida since the 4runner was already in the lower 48 states...

So first stop on the way was Leslie Gulch:

And then I stopped by @4runnerlifestyle to grab a few things to upgrade along the way


I also took the opportunity to take a detour to Swing Arm City


Driving through Colorado it was an unbelievably light snow year so stopping by Loveland pass was easy and beautiful


I drove to just outside Kansas City where my friend had retired to from Alaska and installed the Caliraised Molle panels and upper shelf I grabbed at @4runnerlifestyle on my way through


And with that it was time to park it for a few weeks

 

A few weeks later my daughter and I flew down to Kansas City to grab the car and road trip with my friend to Key West


By that time my sherpa Rack and a few other things had arrived at his place so we spend a few hours that first evening installing everything including one of my favorite mods: the Meso customs dual color interior lights. As a photographer who does a lot of aurora and astro stuff having the option for red light is amazing


This is also where I found the first problem that I hadn't noticed when picking the vehicle up from the dealership. Someone (not the dealer) had installed a power lift gate which I planned on removing anyway because it's just one more thing to break at -40f and I hate how slow it is to open and close.

Whoever installed it did the crappiest job I have ever seen. They cut into all the weather sealing and protective rubber grommets and gaskets and didn't bother to seal it back up AND the top of the rear lift gate was rubbing on the paint. They also didn't install the rear switch in the hatch so the only way to close it was walk around to the driver seat and push the button there. What a shit show. If I had noticed this I would have looked for a different rig to buy. At first I thought it might be kind of nice but the trip from Oregon to Missouri quickly changed my mind.

I let the dealership know but of course they haven't been willing to help and honestly it's on me for not noticing before signing on the dotted line. Oh well time to order the parts to put it back to stock and fix this shit show.

Pic of the rig with the new sherpa rack and Pelican since I didn't take any photos of the installation

then it was driving to Key West:

and finally after a couple days and a few thousand miles

 

After Key West my Daughter and I headed west to get to Las Vegas where I dropped the rig for another few weeks till I came back for some work and to start the drive north to get the rig home to Alaska.

Installed the 180 Awning I had been able to get along the way and we hit up White Sands:

and then drove to Page AZ and Vermillion Cliffs on the way out to White Pocket

And that's where the story is so far. In a few weeks I fly back to Vegas for some more work and start the drive home.

Ill be adding some more mods like off-road lighting and RTT etc along the way.

 

Those shots with your orange truck standing out against the grey mountains and sand are awesome - almost like youre on the moon!!

 

Lookin Good! Welcome from Denver!

 

Welcome. Amazing road trips so far.

 

Great story and photos so far - welcome from the mountains of CO!

Driving up to AK is on my bucket list, so I’m eager to see your posts about the drive home.

Cheers

 

Great color and Great pictures
Keep it up!

 

Welcome from Wisconsin! Sounds and looks like your having a blast with the 'pretty orange Toyota', very nice.