In my last story, I wrote about my two old Jeeps, some of our adventures, and how we got to today. To give you a better idea of the timeframe for those events, they occurred over the last 10 years. Fast forward to today, and you have probably guessed what vehicle was chosen as my newest adventure rig.
I had considered getting another Jeep Wrangler and moving everything from my old one to the new one. However, I just felt time for a change. I went with a 4Runner because it would give me quite a bit more room, a smoother and quieter ride on highways, and they look cool. I was visiting a local dealer to look at a couple of Jeeps, and they had a couple of 4Runners on the lot. Based on cost, monthly payments, and the creature comforts, the ink was signed, and here we are. Introducing Finn.
Why Finn, you ask? With the dark tinted windows, the black wheels, and that front grill, it looks like a Stormtrooper. Only one name came to mind, and that was Finn. The stormtrooper switched over to be a part of the rebellion. I did not feel we were the bad guys in our story, so it was better to side with the force than the dark side.
When I got Finn, he had some big mud tires that were incredibly noisy, so those were the first things to be replaced with some All Terrains. From there, the side steps, roof rack, and tent.
The clamshell tent was purchased prior to the Jeep dying. It had set in my driveway for several months before being installed. While waiting to install the tent, I set out to build the new interior. I removed the second and third-row seats and built a platform with storage. This allows for not only storage but a place to sleep/work if I end up in a place that requires me to stealth camp or the weather is not great. Here are a couple of after-shots.
If you would be interested in a post about the build-out, let me know in the comments. Also, if you have questions about the build, I would love to chat with you about my build or any other aspects of truck camping and spending time on the road.
And as always, happy trails and stay adventurous, my friends.
Remember to find trip reports, favorite stops, and more on my substack. I also post quite a bit on Instagram as well. I would love to connect with you there and see where your adventures take you.
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