Walkaround Wednesday: Jay Fawcett’s 2020 TRD Pro 4Runner Build

Welcome to this week’s installation of Walkaround Wednesday! Today, we’ll be talking to Jay Fawcett, the proud owner of a 2020 TRD Pro 4Runner. The army green paint is one of the rarest colors the 4Runner was ever sold in; Toyota only offered it for a couple of years. As always, we hope you enjoy this feature and find inspiration for your own builds and adventures!

In case you missed last week’s article, we talked to Francis Ngo about his 2020 TRD ORP. If you haven’t already, feel free to check out that interview/feature here.

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Vehicle Walkaround

About:

• Instagram tag: (@918desertjester)
• Location: Arizona, USA

Base Vehicle:

• Year: 2020
• Make and Model: Toyota 4Runner
• Trim: TRD Pro
• Color: Army Green

Wheels/Tires/Suspension:

• Nitto Ridge Grappler Tire – 285/70R17
• Icon Alloys Rebound Wheels, Satin Black
• Icon Vehicle Dynamics Stage 5 Lift Kit
• Icon Vehicle Dynamics 2″ Overland Rear Coil Springs
• Body Mount Chop

Armor:

• CBI Off Road Fab Covert Low-Profile Front Bumper
• Victory 4×4 Rear Bumper w/ Dual Swingout
• Mountain Off-Road Enterprises (MORE) Full Skid Package w/ Custom Army Green Powder Coat
• Angled Rock Sliders

Lightning & Electrical:

• Switch Pros SP9100 Switch System (Install)
• Baja Designs Squadron SAE Auxiliary Light Pod x2 (Install & Review)
• Baja Designs OnX6 30″ LED Light Bar
• Baja Designs Linkable LED Light Bar, 7 pods
• Morimoto XB Headlights w/ Amber DRL (Install & Review)
• Morimoto XB Taillights (Install & Review)
• Morimoto 4Banger LED Amber Fog Lights (Install & Review)
• GoalZero Yeti 1000X Portable Power Station
• GoalZero Nomad 200 Portable Solar Panel
• ODX-AGM34R Battery Extreme Series AGM Battery
• Anytime Backup and Front Camera Kit (Install & Review)

Camping/Cargo:

• Air Down Gear Up Dedicated Rear Kitchen System and Drawer
• Prinsu Roof Rack (Install & Review)
• Prinsu Rear Hatch Ladder
• ROAM Adventure Co. 83L Rooftop Rugged Case
• Overland Vehicle Systems Nomadic 180-degree Awning
• Overland Vehicle Systems Quick-Deploy Safari Ground Tent
• Iceco VL45ProS Fridge/Freezer (Review)
• Rago Fabrication Exterior MOLLE Panels
• Rago Fabrication Interior MOLLE Panels (Install & Review)
• Trasharoo Spare Tire Trash Bag
• Joolca HOTTAP Nomad Portable Hot Shower & Sink Kit
• Joolca Ensuite Pop-Up Shower Tent
• Ignik Outdoors Gas Growler (Review)
• Volie Gear Retention Straps

Recovery:

• Agency 6 Shackler Block (Review)
• Agency 6 Billet Winch Shackle, Black (Review)
• Agency 6 Adventure Mini Shovel (Trail Review)
• Smittybilt XRC GEN3 9.5K Comp Series Winch with Synthetic Cable
• MORRFlate 4-Way Tire Inflation & Deflation Kit (Review)

Interior:

• Kicker Plug & Play 8 Speaker Bundle
• Victory 4×4 Center Console MOLLE Panel (Install & Review)
• Rago Fabrication 12V Accessory Panel Mount
• ICS Fab Dash Mount (Install & Review)
• ICS Fab iPhone Mount
• ICS Fab Dual USB 4.8A Charger
• Midland MicroMobile GMRS Radio

Other:

• Viair 400C Air Compressor (Install & Review)
• Agency 6 Rear Lift Gate Pull Assist Strap
• SD Offroad Mount Tray (Install & Review)
• Cali Raised LED Low-Profile Ditch Light Mounts
• C4 Fabrication Spare Battery Tray, used to mount compressor
• Many of the parts were installed by Off Road Warehouse in Mesa, AZ
• WeBoost Drive Reach OTR Cell Booster (Install & Review)
• Yukon Gear & Axle 4.88 Regear

Tell Us About Yourself. Why A 4Runner?

Hi! My name is Jay Fawcett. I am in the banking industry and I’ve owned my Toyota 4Runner since May of 2022. This is my second 4Runner; I previously owned a 2010 Trail Edition. I chose this trim because it was my dream truck: an Army Green TRD Pro.

How Do You Use Your 4Runner?

We use our 4Runner mainly for extended camping trips and trail excursions. One of the challenges we needed to overcome with our set-up was storage for extended trips. As we planned our rig, we had to consider several cargo solutions, especially the Air Down Gear Up storage system in the rear with a kitchen and tons of storage. We also designed the rig with the intent of using a ground tent so we could still fit in our garage.

Tell Us About Your Build Process.

When we started our build, parts were still pretty hard to get due to the effect the COVID-19 pandemic had on manufacturing. We started with the front bumper, Warn winch, and roof rack. Then, we realized we needed a better suspension and had the Icon Stage 5 Lift Kit and wheels installed. Next, we decided that we needed the rear bumper for water storage and a spare tire.

We chose our parts based on functionality and durability. We did not use one manufacturer exclusively; instead, we chose each individual product based on what we thought would work best for our build.

Do You Regret Any Mods?

The only regret that I have on the build is the front bumper… looking back, I wish I would have opted for the viper-cut wings on the bumper (which can’t be added after the fact).

What’s Your Favorite Mod? Least Favorite?

My favorite mod is a tie between the Air Down Gear Up boxes/kitchen set-up and the Victory 4×4 Rear Bumper. Both of these mods added a ton of functionality to the rig and have held up over countless miles. So far, I do not have a least favorite mod.

What’s Next For Your 4Runner?

Looking forward, I am considering a rear seat delete and a different secondary battery set-up to maximize storage and the amount of time we can spend off-grid. I also plan to add a larger fridge/freezer combo; the 47.5 quart IceCo hasn’t been enough for longer-duration trips.

Final Thoughts

That wraps up this week’s feature and interview! A huge thanks to Jay for sharing this incredible trail-built rig; the army green paint and amber DRLs are really starting to grow on me. Jay clearly chose each modification with functionality and reliability in mind, and the build’s unique aesthetics are a huge plus. For more information on his build, head on over to his Instagram (@918desertjester).

If you’ve got a build of your own that you want to have featured on Walkaround Wednesday, head on over to our rig feature form and fill it out.

Thoughts? Questions? Feel free to throw them in the comments and we’ll do our best to answer them!