4Runner SUV Camper Tour | Couple and Dog Overlanding
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- čas přidán 21. 10. 2021
- #overlanding #suvcamper #vanlife
Start at the beginning of your journey! Living In Our SUV Episode 1: • We Quit Our Jobs to Tr...
We're Roman and Julia. We've been living out of our 4Runner for the past 3 months while travelling across Canada!
We're excited to give you a tour of our micro home and inspiration on how you can set up your own SUV camper. Unlike many we've seen... we did NOT build our own platform. We didn't have the skill, time, or space, so we worked with a contractor on building our vision. We did a lot of research before settling on a design, however there were still both design and workmanship flaws that we hope you can learn from.
Hope you enjoy!
🎥 Cinematographer: Roman Kremianski
👩🏻💻 Editor: Julia Lee
Instagram: romanandjulia
Email: hi@romanandjulia.com
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Amazon Faves (US) www.amazon.com/shop/julialee
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If you have any questions about the platform or suggestions on modifications, let us know below!!
thanks for the video, are you running stock tire size?
Yep stock tire size
Where did you get the drawers made? So I can avoid that builder..
I feel like they could have used better material, no way that drawer was gonna last with that weight on those cheap rails, should have used a track system with a roller setup, would hold hundreds of pounds
We do everything on stock suspension and tires too, very capable vehicles
🍻
Your drivers side rear drawer shouldn’t fall out if you pull it all the way out. Most slides I’ve seen have tabs on the sides of the runners to release the slides to allow them to come all the way out.
Passenger side drawer, pull it out and shave off some excess plywood (it’s very thick) if you can get access to a planer, belt sander or router. Or, at the least, remove the drawer runners and remount them a few mm higher.
Umm, for future versions, there are many ideas but my ones are to store water in a water bladder on the floor behind the front seats. I carry up to 110 litres but don’t have a fridge in that position. My fridge is down where one of you have your feet but in my rig, there isn’t the space to tuck it into the corner.
I no longer use the drawers I made, I use plastic tubs and slide them up into where the drawers were. I can fit more gear in there.
In my older rig, I use a cargo barrier so I can stack thing up higher, it’s not something I’ve seen on your side of the pond.
Julia describing her various frustrations with the wooden box in the trunk was the most entertaining thing I’ve seen today : )
You guys did a great job planning and organizing for your trip! Thanks for the tour of your vehicle.
Thanks Brian 😊😊😊
Agreed. That was worth the watch.
The wood drawer, use snowboard wax and it will help out a lot
This is probably the most entertaining (while informative at the same time) walkthrough I’ve ever seen! Thank you!
Glad it was helpful, thanks Daniel!
Enjoyed your video, thanks for sharing! You have some great ideas. I have a 2021 4Runner. Replaced the roof rack with one by LFD, made an extendable canopy of nested metal pipe, and built a platform for the back that can be extended into a level bed when the seats are folded down. I use plastic totes for storage realizing that drawers, etc take up too much space. A good laugh when you worked with your drawers. Happy trails!😀🎄
Oh my God, the fight with the drawer was hilarious
This is so cool. Getting a 4Runner In January for this exact purpose!
Also the issues with the drawers suck but these are the things you'll both remember and laugh about years from now.
Thanks Roman! The 4Runner is a beast, we're so happy with it. Enjoy!!
Thanks for showing the reality of how difficult it is to crawl from back to front. Appreciate all of your honest info. Best wishes.
Thanks Karen!
Love the videos guys! So surprised you don't have way more subs. Keep it up! Looking forward to the next episode.
Thanks Steve!! 🙏
100 best walkthrough...love the sarcasm and truth bombs. sorry about the wonky build elements...that's a bunch of patootie...it should have been built right. I built mine and I deal with the wonkyness but when you pay someone it should work right. Cheers.
Ugh…this was super useful and helpful. Sorry you have to del with such headaches. First i thought it was due to cheating out of the sliders instead of paying the high price for quality ones (which is part of it) but then seeing so many other issues shows it’s not just that alone but rather a slew of issues. Thanks for not glossing over it! This was a great video and i look forward to ore from you guys!
Thanks Erich!! If it were one issue we could let it slide (no pun intended lol), but yes unfortunately there were a handful of problems 😞. If you want something done right...
Maybe that whole box setup broke because it’s too heavy?
Love where you two placed the fridge!
Get a 270 freestanding awning and you will never go back with that type of awning. It will be one of your most favorite purchase
I just stumbled upon your channel. Love your video and your honesty. Cheers
Like the video. To bad about your drawer set up. hopefully you can get things straightened out. I also live in my 4runner short tearm. Have fun.
Love the video. keep it up!
Love the walkthrough! Thanks
niiiiiiice setup!!! looking forward to the next videos.
Girl. you are so dam cute and so funny! Loved the honesty and get them glides adjusted. May have to trim the top of the box by the looks of it. Super easy
looks good thx for sharing. deciding between another eurovan or a 4runner for its off road abilities/reliability so really helpful to see peoples builds
I'll have to try that technique for going to the front seat at night, thanks!! Subbed and looking forward to following along.
Why not fix the drawer slides if they're that big a problem?
Enjoyed the video and laughed a few times :) Sorry that you are having so many issues with your drawer system.... I'd be happy to help you fix it but you would need to get your rig down to Miami! ;)
Nice job!
Drawers are heavy probably the main issue
A little tip for the toilet paper, store it in a round Tupperware container. It’s good to keep it tidy and stops it getting wet when going to campsite amenities in the rain.
You should take the hardware from coffee hinge swap out with the kitchen drawer. That should fix that problem.
Really informative!
Thank you!
I think what would really increase the longevity of your kitchen set up is to have it propped up with a bottom pole once fully extended. It's only a matter of time until those hinges no longer function properly due to all of the weight when extended.
We thought about this as we've seen it with other builds, but it seemed pretty sturdy and we didn't have anywhere to put it. The rails are SUPPOSED TO be able to carry hundreds of pounds... but they were also supposed to work properly and that didn't work out lol. Will definitely consider this again, thanks Christopher!
@@romanjuliavlogs No worries. I've been watching you guys for a while now. I'm Steph and Aid's cousin, and I believe you guys used to live in 51EL as well. Curious as to whether you guys looked into purchasing a bean trailer, i'd love to take a year or 6 months and try something similar.
Yes we lived there, I remember! We didn't look into any trailers because we didn't want to invest more money (than the car), since it would be short term and we didn't know whether we'd like it. Haven't looked into Bean but another functional one we've seen is Happy Camper!
One of the best ones I’ve seen 🇬🇧
Thanks Marcel! Glad you enjoyed.
My daughter has a 06 4 runner. I have a 05 Ford Escape Hybrid. I'd love a 4 runner but an explorer would work.
Might wanna think about getting a pedal commander to improve acceleration.
Great job - learning curve (all of it)- the end justifies the means! Are you going to a rooftop tent??
Thank you! No we need the roof for storage so can’t add a rooftop tent.
I need that awning :)
Also lift up on it to pull the drawer out and in
Put a pedal commander on it. You'll love the acceleration. I have a 2020 4runner ORP in midnight black. I keep my pedal commander set to city 3 plus.
Good tip, will look into it, thank you!
Hey guys hope you got your drawer deal sorted out by now, someone handy should be able to inspect those locking points or replace the slides all together. My question is when running this set up and having the tailgate open, how do you prevent bugs from sneaking into the sleeping area? I was thinking about getting a bug light to put outside the vehicle while its open and making sure the internal car lights are off that way they dont have a reason to be interested in going inside the car. My box system is being built locally by my friend so all problems that you are having shouldnt be an issue!
We would bug spray the outer layer of the hatch area and that seemed to help ward them off. We would also set up a mosquito repellent burning coil. It also helped having a 30lb security dog to snap at them. At the end some bugs do sneak in and have to be hunted down manually.
Very entertaining! Who did you contract to build your conversion so I know not to use them lol
Hey there! Loved your tour. I have a 2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser and have just kitted it out this past summer. I haven’t done any long trips, just a few overnighted with my 65 lb goldendoodle. My set up is kinda like yours, but a friend built it for me and I was present for all of it, so no major problems yet. What I really NEED to know is how you manage to pee in the passenger seat. Help a girl out! Thanks so much.
Awesome, congrats on getting your set up built! I'm 5'1 so my method definitely won't work for everyone 😅. I would just have the Nalgene bottle upright on the passenger seat, and I'd basically sit/squat over top of it while facing forward. I had a pee funnel device that I didn't use one time, it was more efficient for me to figure out how to just go straight into the bottle to avoid additional rummaging and clean up. Good luck!
Thank you! I guess it’s all about practice and aim. Lol. Worth it for the adventures.
Jeez!!! You must be a yoga master to be able to crawl like that!
Not a yogi but jiu-jitsu has helped 😄
Thats a 180 not 360. Lol
Lol yes I realized after the video was published. Y'all know what I meant!! 😅
The drawer thing can’t be to difficult to figure out. Hopefully you can get it fixed.
Replacing the drawer slides with higher quality units and swapping the coffee table hinges to the kitchen compartment will make a huge difference to your drawer functionality. Great looking build otherwise.
15:57 noooooo not the headliner!
Greetings! Thanks for the video - we have a 21 TRD OR, as well. Just a heads up - your gear link is not working.
Love the video and the info! When did we start talking liters. I have no idea how many gallons that is? I like the set up. May be WD40 may work to loosen the drawers but you may already tried it.
Thank you! It's liters for us in Canada 😂
@@romanjuliavlogs lol. Yep. Please post more videos as you travel
Did you guys build the wooden compartments in the back?
I thinkbthe drawer are putnin the wrong way thats why the cutting board is in the wrong spot😅
Put a piece of carpet under the cabinet drawer pull out and it will slide right out
Thanks for the suggestion Shandele, but it's already RIP at this point 🪦
So what brand of drawers are these so I don’t buy them?
Would you drive your ride to Mexico and back or is that too big of a trip. I have a 2015 SR5 that I love, and would consider, but probably the gas prices would inflict heavy damage!! lol.
That would be an advanced trip, we barely survived our own country. And we're out of budget. If you end up doing it, def document it for us to see!
Just curious.. How did you guys end up mounting the awning using factory roof rails?
We didn't, we swapped out the factory roof rails for the Thule Wingbar Evo 150 (60")
OMG I love this lady
Did you remove the rear seats in the 4runner to make room for your fridge?
Yes we did! Needed all the space possible.
Just watching, and maybe it’s all worked out now, but…re: the drawer system: were you not able to take it back to them (or point out the cutting board snafu before you left the pick up spot?) or anything? Seems like terrible customer service if they refused…
How do you mount the awning? I have 21’ Venture with stock Yakima roof rack.
We sold the stock Yakima roof rack and bought crossbars and the awning from a shop that also installed it for us as part of the service.
OMG I love this video. So funny and honest. +1 Sub! You website is down. Whats the name of the window bug nets?
Appreciate it! Site is down for maintenance. Here is what we got: www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00YQO4X4U/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=15121&creative=330641&creativeASIN=B00YQO4X4U&linkCode=as2&tag=romanandjulia-20&linkId=30c0e4dccd3de144758ed614f9298277
@@romanjuliavlogs sweet ty.
okay, so soon i am going to need to move into a vehicle, but i wont have a full build. what do you use to keep your dog cool, what safety procautions do you take for your dog so that you feel safe leaving them in the car alone in case you need to leave for an hour or two?
Hey Rayne, we never left our dog alone in the car for longer than a very quick grocery shopping trip with the windows cracked open, and more often I (Julia) would stay in the car while Roman shops. Unless you have some sort of set-up that allows you to safely run AC off an external battery while the engine is off, I wouldn't leave your dog in the car for more than a few minutes in the summertime - a lot of risk and potential danger in doing so.
@@romanjuliavlogs thanks for your response! I do work at a vet, so I was hoping you had more info on gear to keep my pets cool in the summer, but off to research!
The water jug is way to heavy to be in the front ….when you were pushing it back you can see where it’s so heavy in the front and that’s both slides. I bet the person didn’t use the proper weight for the slides. hope y’all can make it better for yourselves 💜
What sear covers are u using up front?
We don’t have any
i never want to sleep in the car .i alway bring a tent
How do you handle food in your car in bear country?
All the fresh food would be in the fridge which is air tight, and we'd have some non-perishables in the wooden drawers. We would always sleep with the windows a crack open, but never ran into any issues with wildlife. Maybe the smell of our dog helped keep them away too? And we always had our bear spray handy if needed.
I wouldn’t be able to sleep with your sleeping arrangement. I mean the height (or lack thereof) would give me claustrophobia
If you do want to improve throttle response, get a Sprint Boost V3. The Pedal Commander is inferior. I bought both and kept the Sprint Boost V3. The PC won an award for package design which does nothing for TR. Of course, if you want to continue with the theme of those drawers, get the PC.
I'm just wondering why all these issues with your drawer set up weren't identified and then corrected by the person who made it. At the very least, put thin Teflon pieces under the pantry drawer to allow for easier sliding. Why you even allowed that gargantuan piece of crap to be installed, especially when you didn't get what you asked for is beyond me.
Get a Pedal Commander and you’ll fix the crap acceleration
Thanks for the tip James!
I would ask the company that made the box to fixed everything that is not working... you didn't payed for a crappie job...
Was it the weight that broke your drawer? I take it back to the person who built that crap and demand it to be fix. Any warranty on the workmanship that was crap?
The drawer itself was too thicc which certainly added to the weight. When we brought some issues to the contractor, he advised us he didn't take this project on for the money and the final build is as is. Not even kidding. Lesson: work with professionals who specialize in the type of work you need done.
😂😂😂😂”It’s Kinda a hunk of Shi….edit,edit,edit!😂😂😂😂😂
15:58 that hurt my soul.
LOL we were forced to become numb to it but it did hurt
Right. I was like WTF. Learn to use some tools and fix your problems, or just live with it. You could add struts to you lis to hold them up.
Tents are dirt cheap, why sleep in a cramped car?
Not everywhere is a tent campground. BLM land is sleeping in the vehicle land.
Oy vey... this video should get a trigger warning in the title 😨 so stressful lol damn
😂
Get a camper don’t ruin the 4runner😂😂😂
😅😅😅
Jeeps are cool but nowhere near as comfy & reliable as the Runners
The Jeep people will come for you after reading this comment
Shouldve just went for a Tacoma or Higher.