With chassis and drivetrain parts shared with the Land Cruiser Prado and Hilux Surf, this 3rd- Gen 4Runner has the potential to be an excellent global overlanding platform. Additional bragging rights include the reliable, powerful, and relatively lightweight 5VZ engine and well-thought-out inside living space.
A great deal of money has been invested in this 4Runner’s suspension system. The build includes performance components such as ADS shocks, and the owner, Zac, designed the system to compensate for the vehicle’s payload with revalved shocks and 700-pound-per-inch front coil springs.
Although pop-tops are ubiquitous on Troopies, these conversions are rarely found on North American spec 4x4s, least of all a 3rd-Gen 4Runner. This unicorn in the wild could be the perfect fit for those seeking a small but nimble truck to explore their own backyard and beyond.
From Zac:
“I built this camper to be able to access remote campsites and explore for extended periods comfortably. It’s a four-season camper for two packed into a 4Runner. There is a countertop to cook [on] in inclement weather and a Webasto heater to stay toasty when it’s 5°. And when you’re dusty from a few days on dirt roads, you can stop and enjoy a hot shower using the truck’s heat exchanger hot water system.
What I like about this camper is the use of space, modularity, and size. Building a rig like this has made it so easy to get out and stay out. The truck has been all over the west [spanning] many dirt and highway miles. Black Rock Desert, Death Valley, Great Basin, the Oregon outback, the Sierras, and the Cascades.
I have meticulous maintenance records for this vehicle dating back to dealership purchase. Nearly everything has been replaced with an OEM Toyota or performance part (no expense spared).”
Specifications
1998 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4×4
3.4-liter V6, 5-speed manual transmission, and 4.10 gearing
Yokohama Geolandar G003 255/85R16 mud-terrain tires (5,000 miles)
Aluminum Champion radiator
Marlin Crawler heavy-duty clutch kit
ADS 2.5-inch coilovers with reservoirs and adjusters (700-pound coil, valved for weight)
ADS 2.5-inch rear piggyback reservoir rear shocks (valved for weight)
SPC Alignment front upper control arms
Toyota spindles with new Koyo bearings and Total Chaos spindle gussets
Toyota front lower control arms with Eimkeith lower control arm reinforcement and strut tower reinforcement
Rokmen heavy-duty rear lower control arms
Rokmen adjustable panhard bar
Metal Tech 4×4 rear upper links
Coastal Offroad front bumper with fog lights and side markers
ComeUp 9.5RS synthetic winch with Factor55 ProLink shackle mount
True North Fab rear swingout, tire carrier, and propane mount
Viair 450C compressor plumbed into a chuck on the front bumper
Pop-Top Conversion and Camper
Pop-top: Roofnest Falcon rooftop tent with standing room, space to cook during inclement weather, configurable mattress for sleeping and standing (88 inches by 48 inches total)
Norcold 12-volt fridge/freezer
16-gallon filtered water tank
Flojet 12-volt pump
Transom shower
Primus Tupike stove
Webasto Air Top 2000 STC gasoline heater
Heat exchanger hot water system
Lockable storage
ARB 2500 awning (with a custom bag)
Zero Declination shower tent
Interior ceiling lights on dimmer switch
Exterior flood and scene lighting
Arctic Tern rear awning window, bug screen, and shade
100-amp-hour Battleborn battery
Victron Energy Orion TR30 alternator charge controller
Victron Energy MPPT 100/20 solar charge controller
Victron Energy BMV 712 battery monitor
12-volt outlets and USB (Blue Sea Systems products)
2,110-watt Sunpower solar panels
This 1998 Toyota 4Runner is listed for $38,000 and is currently located in Reno, Nevada. Check out the vehicle specs via the original Craigslist classified ad, or check out the build-on by following @tierra.expedition on Instagram.
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