Our Alternative Plan for Retirement David and Charlotte

Traveling To New Beginnings

Debbie and I have spent the last 20+ years working in public safety. In 2012, I retired after a 22-year career in law enforcement, and Debbie has been a working firefighter/paramedic for the last 32 years.

Deb and I grew up with a love of outdoor activities, such as camping, hunting, fishing and off-road driving. With this being said, life took over and we couldn’t be in the outdoors as much as we would have liked to be.

After my retirement I struggled with post-traumatic stress injury (PTSI). I had problems with hyper-vigilance, I couldn’t sleep at night due to nightmares and I was unable to go places where there were large crowds of people. This became so severe that I even considered suicide several times. I went to counseling, was prescribed medications and did everything I could to overcome these issues. These things helped me find a somewhat normal life again, but not the peace I searched for.

In 2017 I was invited to my first overland trip, seven days in the Death Valley National Park. About midway through the trip, we were camped at an old talc mine located near Hunter Mountain. As I sat behind my rig watching the sun set, I had a feeling of calmness come over me. It sounds kind of corny, but it felt almost spiritual. For the first time in a very long time, I wasn’t watching everything and everyone around me, I was just there in the moment. This time in the desert inspired me to go farther and stay out longer, chasing the sense of peace I had found.

We chose our 2015 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4X4 because of Toyota’s inherent reliability and I have always loved the 4Runner platform. I’ve had Toyota vehicles all my adult life and to be honest I’m a Toyota guy!!

Our rig is my daily driver, but she has been built for a specific purpose and this purpose is when Debbie retires, we will be transitioning to a full-time overland lifestyle. We officially started building our rig in November of 2017 and it is still ongoing. When I began thinking about what modifications I wanted to do, the list seemed extremely daunting, to say the least. I decided to let our trips tell me what was needed, not just what I wanted. It is very easy to go out and buy thousands of dollars of needless parts and accessories. This process has served us well, because there has been very little that we have changed out on our build.

Luckily for 4Runner owners there is a very robust aftermarket support network out there. This abundance of aftermarket support is a double-edged sword, so whenever I decided on a new modification, I would research the different products and absolutely would not purchase something because it had a cheaper price tag. What I’ve learned throughout my life is generally, you get what you pay for.

“Buy once and cry once” for a lack of a better term.

On about 99 percent of this build, Debbie and I have taken the built, not bought approach. We have made the decision to save money by doing all the installations ourselves. Our vehicle is regularly maintained by Deb and I as

Photographs:Gene Pascua- IG: dffrent_allroad

well. We feel this approach has given us a much better understanding of both our vehicle and its capabilities. I have fabricated many of the small items myself in an attempt to further save money for other modifications. Some of these include antenna mounts and our iPad navigation mounting system, converting our ARB fridge slide into a tilting slide, and doing the FJ Cruiser transfer case conversion myself.

The number one favorite thing about our rig? Wow, that’s a hard one. I suppose if I had to choose, I guess it would be between the ARB air lockers and the Long-Range America auxiliary fuel tank! No, sorry ARB, it has to be the new auxiliary fuel tank. This was a game-changing modification in my book. I say this because I am a fuel freak. If the fuel gauge hits a quarter tank, I’m getting nervous and trying to find a filling station. Well, that feeling is gone for good now. With this modification we have the ability carry 47 gallons of fuel. I have to say it is an awesome feeling to just push a button as you drive and watch your fuel gauge rise back to full. Thank you “Long Range America!” The biggest challenge to this build was what type of rig did I want to build. Was it going to be a straight overland rig or something like a rock crawler? I truly love the overland aspects but I really like doing the harder trails as well. What I came up with was truly a rig that has the ability to take us almost anywhere we ask her to.

I get asked all the time, “Are you finished building it yet?” and all I can do is smile. As far as the absolute needs category goes, the only thing I still need to do is spindle gussets. Our girl is super-heavy now and Toyota spindles are well-known for failings. I want to deal with this possibility before we have a trip destroyed. Once this is done, I’m pretty sure our girl will be pretty much bulletproof.

If it’s about “wants” then that’s another story. What I would like is to install a Marlin Crawler “Taco Box.” Why, you ask? Because “Marlin Crawler” that’s why. Then some RCV axels and good headlights! 4Runner headlights are the worst!!

Deb and I have done overland trips in almost every state in the western United States, but I have to say the most epic trip we have done thus far was this past August. We completed a monthlong trip through the Pacific Northwest. This trip included the Washington State Back Country Discovery Route, the Washington State coastline, Oregon State coastline, California coastline, numerous national forests and state parks, and culminated at Dillon Beach, California, before we headed home.

As far as when we transition to full-time, we don’t have a locked-down plan yet. 2021 is going to be a very busy year. Our tentative plans include all three Overland Expos, the Great Continental Divide and the Trans American Trail.

Michael and Debbie Lee Auburn

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RIG MODIFICATIONS: 2015 TOYOTA 4RUNNER SR5 ENGINE:

• Toyota 1GRFE 04-11 4.0 Liter V6 • Drive Train: • ARB twin compressor CKMTA12, steel braided air lines, air lockers front and rear

Revolution gears (4:88) • FJ Cruiser manual transfer case conversion

Safari Snorkel • Fuel Storage: • Long Range America 24-gallon auxiliary fuel tank suspension: • Front/Rear: King 2.5 Extended travel, adjustable remote reservoir coil overs, with 700-pound coils / King 2.5 Extended travel, adjustable remote reservoir shocks • SPC adjustable Upper Control Arms • Total Chaos stock length Expedition series lower control arms • Overland Custom Designs adjustable sway

Bar End links • Califabrication adjustable heavy duty upper & lower control arms, adjustable heavy duty pan hard bar • Old Man Emu 998, 980 pounds rear coil springs • Timbren active off-road bump stops • Overland Custom Design adjustable links sway bar end links • Air Bags: Firestone 4135 Coil Rite air coil assist

BRAKES:

• Stop Tech Slotted rotors • Hawk Heavy duty truck brake pads

WHEELS/TIRES:

• Wheels: Black Rhino / Reno / Bead locks / 17x8.5 / 3.5 BS / -30 Offset Tires: B.F. • Goodrich 315/70/R17 KO2 All terrain • Bumpers/ Armor: • Front: Demello Off-road three hoop full coverage bumper • Rear: Brute Force Fabrication dual swing out bumper Armor: • RCI Off-road engine, transmission and transfer case steel skids • Califabrication Rock Sliders

LIGHTING:

• KC Hilites 50-inch Gravity Pro6 LED light bar, fog lights, dual Flex ditch lights, 28” chase bar, C2 Scene lights, Cyclone rock light kit

ELECTRICAL:

• SPOD HD 8 Circuit accessory management • Redarc BCDC 1225 DC/DC charger, Tow Pro

Elite break controller • Odyssey group 34R 55 AH battery • National Luna dual Battery monitor • 12 circuit fuse block (rear of vehicle)

INTERIOR:

• Boss Strong Box 4Runner Overland Draw

System • Goose Gear T4R plate system W-100% rear seat delete • Expedition Essentials T4R accessory dash mount • ARB large fridge freezer slide • Dometic CFX3 55- liter fridge/freezer

Frontrunner • 10-gallon floor board tank • Ram Mounts I-Pad mounting stand Apple

I-Pad II (Navigation) Communications:

COMMUNICATIONS:

• Yeasu FTM 400XDR dual band Ham Radio • Cobra Electronics 75 WX ST 40 channel CB radio • Garmin Outdoors InReach Explorer Plus • WeBoost RV OTR fleet cellular phone extender • Diamond NR770HB dual band ham antenna • Firestik CB radio antenna

RECOVERY EQUIPMENT:

• Smittybilt XRC 9,500-pound winch w/ synthetic line • 10-pound Power Tank Co2 tank • Agency6 Fair lead Agency6 Billet Winching shackle, Adventure mini shovel, Mega mount

Hi Lift jack 40 inch • Echo 355T chain saw with 16-inch bar • Council Tools large axe, Council Tools 16” camp axe

ROOF RACK/ACCESSORIES:

• Frontrunner Slim line II full rack Rhino • Rack 270-degree Batwing Awning • Weboost RV OTR Fleet antenna • Maxtrax traction boards • Full Size Shovel Expedition • Essentials 10-pound propane tank mount • Quick Pitch Shower unit • Northbound Expedition GARB, chainsaw carrying bag

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Dobinsons Off-Road Suspension Options

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TRAVEL RESPONSIBLY

Travel responsibly on land by staying on designated roads, trails, and areas. Go over, not around, obstacles to avoid widening the trails. Cross streams only at designated fords. When possible, avoid wet, muddy trails. On water, stay on designated waterways and launch your watercraft in designated areas.

RESPECT THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS

Respect the rights of others, including private property owners, all recreational trail users, campers, and others so they can enjoy their recreational activities undisturbed. Leave gates as you found them. Yield right of way to those passing you or going uphill. On water, respect anglers, swimmers, skiers, boaters, divers, and those on or near shore.

EDUCATE YOURSELF

Educate yourself prior to your trip by obtaining travel maps and regulations from public agencies. Plan for your trip, take recreation skills classes, and know-how to operate your equipment safely.

AVOID SENSITIVE AREAS

Avoid sensitive areas on land such as meadows, lake shores, wetlands and streams. Stay on designated routes. This protects wildlife habitats and sensitive soils from damage. Don’t disturb historical, archeological or paleontological sites. On water, avoid operating your watercraft in shallow waters or near shorelines at high speeds.

DO YOUR PART

Do your part by modeling appropriate behavior, leaving the area better than you found it, properly disposing of waste, minimizing the use of fire, avoiding the spread of invasive species and repairing degraded areas.

Overlanding has something for everyone. From campers to offroad enthusiasts. There are miles of trails throughout the US to explore, the only difficulty is deciding where to go after packing up your vehicle.

As off-road and outdoor recreation grows in popularity, so do the impacts on public land and trails. Tread Lightly! works collaboratively with industry partners, public land agencies and off-road enthusiasts to maintain access to these places by promoting minimal impact recreation. Supporters of Tread Lightly! practice environmentally responsible outdoor recreation by adhering to the T.R.E.A.D. principles, an outdoor ethics messages that promotes minimal impact recreation on land and water.

If every trail user takes the time to learn how to be respectful and responsible, it can make a huge difference on our public land and trails. Do your part, support Tread Lightly! and it's mission by becoming a member at treadlightly.org.