I’ve been looking for an off road vehicle for a number of years. Casually browsing online listings and forums. I’d had my heart pretty set on a vintage Land Cruiser. Specifically a 1989 FJ62, preferably with a 5 speed manual transmission. However, when I got serious about acquiring and building out something, I decided that a modern, more reliable platform would be the intelligent choice. I then began the search for a 4Runner. I looked first at the 2020 models. I test drove a 2020 TRD Off Road Premium. I ruled this model out for a couple reasons. Primarily, because the 2020s come with Toyota Safety Sense standard. I’m not a fan of complicated electronics. I don’t want my truck telling me if I’m diverging from my lane or there’s someone in my blind spot. I don’t want it to stop for me if there’s an object in my path. I feel that the reliance on sensors makes people worse drivers. I want to be an active participant in piloting a vehicle. Additionally, any modifications, lifts or suspension upgrades or bumpers, etc mess up the safety sense. I’d rather have a more stripped down platform. And that’s what I found in a 2019 TRD Off Road. It has a real key instead of push button start, no sunroof, no safety sense and yet it has all the off road capabilities that make it such a strong, genuine off road vehicle. It did come with KDSS which I was initially leery of, but upon further research, it seems that KDSS is pretty well liked and problem free. By now most after market parts can work with or around the KDSS.
Also, buying a used vehicle feels better when it comes time to do installs and chop bumpers. Making cuts on something pristine feels wrong somehow. And when you find just the right vehicle with only 13,000 miles on it? Giddyup!
So, on the menu for this rig. Upgraded wheels and tires, new suspension, bumpers front and rear, roof rack, interior sleeping platform, possibly a dual battery setup and auxiliary solar and compressor. We’ll see. My goal is to have a truck where I can bug out and be off the grid and self sustainable for multiple days at a time.
Looking forward to the new adventures.