After a decade of Jeep ownership and two rigs that took me across the country and deep into the Southwest backcountry, the Red Baron was gone and it was time to start over. The search for the next 4Runner overlanding setup began, and the answer turned out to be sitting on a dealer lot I was only visiting out of curiosity. If you want the full backstory on everything that came before Finn, that is all in the previous post in this series.
Why a 4Runner Instead of Another Jeep
The honest answer is that I considered going back to a Jeep Wrangler and moving everything over from the Red Baron to a newer one. It would have been the path of least resistance. But after a decade in Jeeps I was ready for something different, and the 4Runner kept coming up in my research as a platform that checked every box: genuine off-road capability, significantly more interior space, a smoother and quieter highway ride, and a reputation for reliability that is hard to argue with.
I was at a local dealer to look at a couple of Wranglers when I noticed a few 4Runners on the lot. After running the numbers on cost, monthly payment, and what I was actually getting for the money, the decision made itself. The ink was signed. The 4Runner overlanding setup era had begun.
Why the Name Finn
With the dark tinted windows, black wheels, and that front grille, it looked like a Stormtrooper from the moment I drove it off the lot. Only one name made sense: Finn. The Stormtrooper who switched sides and joined the Rebellion. We are not the bad guys in this story, so it felt right to side with the force rather than the dark side.
The name stuck immediately and has required zero explanation to anyone who has seen the rig.
The 4Runner Overlanding Setup: What Changed First
Finn came with aggressive mud tires that were impressively loud on the highway. Those were the first thing to go, replaced with a set of All Terrain tires that strike a better balance between off-road capability and road manners on longer drives. After that came the side steps, roof rack, and rooftop tent.
The clamshell tent had actually been purchased before the Wrangler died. It sat in my driveway for several months waiting for a vehicle to go on. When Finn arrived, it finally had a home.
The Interior Build: Platform, Storage, and Sleeping
With the exterior sorted, attention turned to the inside. The second and third row seats came out entirely, opening up a surprisingly large cargo area that most people never take advantage of in a 4Runner. In their place went a custom built platform with integrated storage underneath.
The platform serves multiple purposes. It is the primary sleeping surface for nights when weather or campsite conditions make the rooftop tent less practical. It doubles as a workspace for days on the road when I need a surface to write or work from. And the storage underneath keeps gear organized and accessible without having to dig through a pile of equipment every time something is needed.
The build also means the rig is genuinely stealthy when needed. With the platform in place and the rear window covered, it looks like an empty cargo area from the outside. For overnight stops in places where a rooftop tent would attract attention or is not permitted, the interior setup handles it quietly and comfortably.
What Comes Next
The 4Runner overlanding setup is still evolving. There are additions and modifications in the works, and each trip out teaches something new about what works and what could be better. That is part of what makes building a rig for this kind of travel interesting — it is never really finished, just at a different stage of the journey.
If you want to see where Finn has been taken so far, the adventures archive has the trip reports. And if you are thinking about building out your own overlanding rig or are curious about what overlanding actually means, the overlanding definition post is a good place to start.
If you missed part one, Evolution of My Adventure Rigs is where it started. The Overlanding Gear section has the specific kit that goes in the current rig. The newsletter is where I share the extra stuff: rig updates, finds, and trip notes that do not always make it to the blog. Subscribe on Substack if you want to follow along.
