Your name: Matt CollinsLocation: San Diego
Nickname: Meatball
Make & Model: Toyota 4 Runner Trail Edition
Year:2016, Automatic
HEST products: HEST Dually Long, HEST medium and large dog beds.
Critical dimensions for your bed platform: Hest Dually Long inside of a GFC Superlight Tent mounted on a Gobi Stealth Rack.
Length: 90"
Width (at narrowest point): 50"
Height: Wedge shaped. Plenty of room for two adults. Dogs sleep in back cargo area of 4runner on their HEST beds.
Is this your daily driver or getaway car?
On your average weekend adventure, what is the gear set up you bring with you? How did you navigate gear storage needs into your rig set up? How did you navigate gear storage needs into your rig set up?
Recovery gear is number one. No point of going someplace if you are just going to get stuck. We keep it pretty basic. Simple camping grill, vintage aluminum table, some headlamps and solar string lights, bluetooth speaker and some beers. With a baby and two dogs, everything fits like a Tetris game.
Any cool custom details you’re proud of?
Made a post-less awning for the 4runner for less than 50 bucks.
Coolest place you’ve taken your rig to?
That's a tough one. We have taken this rig to surf spots in Mexico to snowy mountain passes in Death Valley. However, the most challenging, but equally fun trip was when my wife and I recently did a 3500 mile trip up the entire Pacific coast, crossed over Washington, down through Idaho and Oregon and through the Eastern Sierras with a six month old and two Baja sheperds. Camped above the clouds, next to rivers and the ocean, on dry lake beds, in sand dunes and in mountains. Ate our body weight in dirt, sand and smiles.
Any projects in the pipeline to get the cruiser even more adventure ready?
4wd 4runners are adventure ready right off the showroom floor. Wishlist project would be a supercharger on this engine. Not a lot of power coming out of the engine when you start adding tents, bumpers, armor, dogs, etc. to the platform.
Biggest challenge in your build out?
Costs. Nothing is cheap on these things and I strongly believe that if you are really going to use it, then invest in the build.
Tips for others looking to do the same to their vehicle?
Really figure out what you want to use it for and go from there. Good tires and suspension can take these vehicles pretty much anywhere with confidence, and obviously sleep on a HEST mattress.
