What’s up, guys!!
I just wanted to give you a quick look at the current status of our 2025 TRD Off-Road Premium build. Some things are about to change this upcoming wheeling season, and before we jump into that, I wanted to share what I think is already a killer setup. Although there are quite a few mods on the 4Runner, it’s relatively simple: portals, armor, a front locker, and a few lights.
As it sits right now, this is my daily, and it drives incredibly well both on and off-road. There is more than enough power in the i-Force Max to turn the 37″ Firestone Destination M/T 2s around town and at freeway speeds. I genuinely love this new 6th Gen 4Runner, especially on portals.
If you have not driven a truck on portals, it’s an unbelievable experience. This is my second build on portals. My first portal-axle-equipped rig was a 5th Gen 4Runner. You can see the build overview here. One of the biggest benefits of portal axles in general, outside of the ground clearance and gear reduction, is just how well they handle on the road. They handle/drive amazing on-road. I would not be on my second set of portals if they didn’t perform well on-road. This is my daily driver, and I want it to be comfortable. And portals provide just that, comfort on-road with incredible capability, off-road.
Without any more, let’s jump in. This wasn’t meant to be a long post, just a build breakdown of how the build sits now.
Build Overview
- Platform: 2025+ TRD Off Road Premium
- Drivetrain: iForce Max Hybrid
- Axles: 74Weld Portal Axles
- Armor: Dissent Off-Road
- Rack: Prinsu Pro
- Front Locker: Eaton E-Locker
- Suspension: ARB OME MT64 & Dobinsons
- Wheels: Lock Off-Road Mojave
- Tires: Firestone Destination MT2 37X12.5R17
- Lighting: KC HiLiTES
- Overland Storage: Air Down Gear Up
Portal Axles
There’s a big misconception that adding portal axles to a late model Toyota, like a 4Runner or Tacoma, is going to hurt the on-road driving experience, but that’s not the case. Portal axles are a lift at the wheel hub, so they don’t change your suspension geometry, which means the vehicle still drives like it would from the factory. The on-road feel really comes down to the suspension you’re running, not the portals, so a factory suspension with Portals will feel factory (just higher off the ground), while something softer like ARB MT64s or King Shocks will drastically change the driving characteristics. At the end of the day, you’re gaining ground clearance and gear reduction without sacrificing how the vehicle drives on the road.
For more information and photos of the 74W portals on the Rubicon, take a look at the Portal Party recap thread on 6G4R.com.
For a full review of the new Gen2 74W portals, take a look at this post.
Suspension
The image above is still running factory TRD OR shocks with a Peak Suspension 2.25″ spacer lift in the front and a 2″ spacer rear, but I have since upgraded to the ARB OME MT64s. The MT64s are a very soft, comfortable shock on the road… almost too soft with the sway bar in the front disconnected. I can feel a bit more roll than before with the factory shocks.
- Shocks: ARB Old Man Emu MT64
- Upper Control Arms: ARB Old Man Emu UCAs
- Rear Links: Dobinsons extended upper and lower links
- Rear axle pushed back 1 inch for 37” clearance
Wheels & Tires
Running 37″ Firestone Destination M/T2s on Lock Off-Road Mojava machined face simulated beadlocks. In the coming months, we will be upgrading to a set of new Lock Off-Road Trail one-off beadlocks, and I can’t wait to show you guys these wheels when they arrive. They’re one of the best-looking beadlocks I’ve seen in a long time. If there is enough interest in beadlock form, Lock Off-Road may bring them into production.
Lighting
- Primary: KC Highlights Flex Era 4
- Ditch Lights: KC Highlights Flex Era 1
- Roof Rack: Prinsu Pro + Agency6 grab handles + Star-Batt Starlink battery box
- Light Bar: KC Highlights Pro6
- Headlights: AlphaRex NOVA OG Style Alpha Black
Armor & Protection
In the coming months, we will be upgrading to the Dissent Off-Road dual swingouts for a spare tire and a few overland mods on the swingouts.
- Front Bumper: Dissent Off Road High Clearance mustache delete
- Rear Bumper: Dissent Off Road High Clearance
- Winch: Smittybilt X20
- Fairlead: Agency6
- Recovery: Agency6 bronze shackle
- Rock Sliders: Dissent Off Road
- Skid Plates: CBI Off Road
Exterior & Body
The exterior is super simple, with a nod to the 1st Gen 4Runner.
- TRD Pro grille
- Custom heritage-inspired livery based on the 1st Gen 4Runner
- NYTOP carbon fiber fender flares
Interior & Storage
- Drawer System: Air Down Gear Up
- 50/50 split
- Dual cutting board sliders
- Top cutting board
- Sleeper platform on the passenger side
This is a somewhat low-profile system that works well with the hybrid platform and maintains usable cargo space.
Engine Bay & Electrical
- Compressor: ARB Brushless onboard air
- Mount: SLEE Off Road ARB ECU relo compressor bracket
- Switch system: Cali Raised LED 6 circuit + KC Highlights tray
- Hybrid 12V Relocation: Dissent Off-Road 12V system relocation kit
Final Thoughts
As the build sits now, it’s been an amazing off-road rig and daily driver.
The only things really missing are a set of beadlocks, dual swingouts from Dissent Off-Road, and a few other bits to really take it there.
Let me know if you guys have any questions.
Cheers.
Can you say the total cost of the build so far ?
About $45k ish on top of the truck.
Probably lame, but my favorite aspect is the color and the stripes! My first 4Runner was an ‘88 with that exact color scheme.
Not lame at all. lol. The graphics are super simple, super subtle, literally a replica of the 1st gen. No brands, no other decals, just a few subtle stripes. The light grey on white goes pretty hard, too.
Amazing build! So sick. That Dissent front bumper is 🤌.
I do find it funny that the people pushing portals to the public say how easy an upgrade they are with a set of 37’s. Like you’re just good to go after throwing them on, when you actually either have to move the rear axle back an 1″ with the 6th gen or put a JD Fab lower pivot kit on the front of the 5th gen to accommodate the tires.
Yeah, you need to accommodate the 37″ tires regardless. Portals, JD Fab Pivot kit, and pushing the axle back 1″ is the recipe, and it’s the best 5th Gen I’ve ever owned/driven and wheeled. I’ll die on that hill. So much so I’m pretty much doing the exact same 5th Gen next with a few tweaks; bigger/better steering rack, PS pump upgrade, and maybe 38″ tires. I wish more people could test drive some of these trucks to understand just how impressive they are on and off-road while being this simple on portals. The price of portals sucks but it really is the difference between hanging in there with the SAS boys or getting hung up on everything IFS can find…. which is usually everything on a factory 9″ of ground clearance.
Good article Brenan, You built this puppy to last & great selection of Armor.
Not mentioned much but the small gas tank is not making others happy or the lack of shocks under the front hood either. What do you not like about this 6th Gen?
I loved your 5th Gen Stellar Built video on YouTube, what has become of that monster? I would love to see more videos & news on it.
What I don’t like about the 6th Gen 4Runner? Man, that’s a good topic for a post. There are too many items to list here, but overall, the pros outweigh the cons. The 5th Gen portal build is still around; we’ve just been spending a ton of time and energy on the 6th Gen lately. I actually have another 5th Gen 4Runner build coming up that’s going to be pretty spicy. Be on the lookout for this next one.
I am glued to this monitor waiting for it to Drop. I love that video & it was fun to watch you & Stellar Built having a good time with it. At the end of the build, Dmitriy asked you what is next on the build the 5th gen on Portals & you did mention regearing. Did you want to go bigger than 37’s on 5th Gen? If so, HOW BIG??? The JD Fab Kit, was it worth the effort? Asking from Experience, you may want to look at SOLO Motorsports Lower Control Arms. Their design is unique such that it give additional clearance & it moves the forward axel one inch. All of this & no welding 🙂 What are your thoughts on that?
Thanks for taking the time to responding to this question and go and finish up on another 5th Gen Portal video!!
For the next 5th Gen we’re building, we’ll end up on 40s and likely regear to 4.56s (1.22 portal reduction x 4.56 regear = 5.56 final output), which, when paired with a supercharger, would be a great middle ground for a dialy/crawler. I wouldn’t be opposed to running a set of Solo arms. Solo makes great products. I’ve run a handful of their stuff. If you’re 100% against welding a pivot kit on your truck, then this is the move. Other brands I would question, but Solo has a killer reputation.
Yeah I do agree, I am rocking a set of the Solo Motor Sports Lower Control Arms that was professional installed by @kpoffroad (Tanner & Mike) they are the best and they have the best service in Pomona Ca.
My Rig is purring like a cat right after the “Alignment”. Seeing your 5th Gen on 40s is unheard of and rocking the portals would be amazing.
This is just exciting thinking of your 5th Gen on 40s & thanks for the Re-gearing equation. I am currently regeared at 4:88 on 35’s and will have to drop back to OEM prior to the portals.
\\ Hence the next year portals upgrade.
Get it done already!