Chris Petrillo

Adventurer and Enthusiast

"Project Ridge Runner"

The name “Ridge Runner” didn’t come from a play on the 4Runner name, it comes from happy memories of youth and of my parents.  Throughout my life, my parents loved to camp, explore, and my father loved to fish in remote streams and lakes.  Like most, they began their camping adventures in tents, moved through tent trailers, campers and eventually ended up with their dream vehicle, their class “A” motorhome.  I tell you this so that you can fully understand my passion and goals.  Later in my parent’s life, and approaching my high school years, they belonged to a motorhome club called the RidgeRunners.  They enjoyed traveling around the country with their RV club, and solo as a family.  My fathers dream was to travel every scenic road, visit every state and explore every National Park and Forest.  I was his co-pilot along with mom for most of these trips, but unfortunately they were never able to complete their journey.  The have both passed a few years back, and I now have picked up my fathers passion and will do my best to fulfill his dream.  While he traveled on road and camped in RV campsites, my journey will be to see and explore those areas he was never able to reach.   That is my story, now to introduce you to the rig that will take my family and friends on our overland experiences.

This project begins with clear goals and a lot of research.  OK, throw in some optimistic daydreaming and a limited budget, and you probably understand where I was.  My concept was to build a comfortable, reliable, daily driver with real world road manners that is also a fully capable and equipped overland vehicle. To have the ability to comfortably and safely drive to any destination, explore off-road in any climate or geographic location and to carry a full compliment of safety and recovery equipment, survival gear, tools and spares, camping gear and of course family on extended remote excursions, and to return home with the same level of comfort and safety.  Oh yea, I also need to occasionally tow a 21 foot ski boat, haul groceries, take the kids to school and survive the Southern California freeways and urban jungle. I’m not asking much here, just the best of both worlds, with limited or no compromise.

I needed a quality platform for the build that I felt could be reasonably modified, and after extensive research I chose the Toyota 4Runner.  It seems to be the best fit for my criteria.  The build quality, performance and reliability are impressive.  The 4Runner SUV is a perfect size for both worlds and is still based on a truck frame platform.  I wanted the interior space and comfort of an SUV and the ability to carry most of my equipment in the vehicle.  I chose the 2006 Sport 4X4 with V8.  The 260-horsepower 4.7-liter DOHC 32-valve EFI VVT-i V8 producing 306 lb.-ft. of torque, would give the on road and off road performance I was looking for, give the torque I needed for towing, and the engine is efficient and bullet proof reliable.  There are of course other very capable vehicles, but the 4th generation 4Runner properly equipped and with a reasonable starting price, was my choice. 

Mod list – More in progress…. not listed

Suspension
Front
Total Chaos +2” Long Travel IFS system
Total Chaos Lower A-arm aluminum skid
Total Chaos weld-on spindle gussets
Adjustable limit straps
Long Travel 4WD 4340 Axles
King Shocks Coil Over: 8”x2.5” W/Remote Reservoir (18”x 700lb coil spring)
Rear
Total Chaos adjustable rear links: Upper, Lower, Panhard bar
Total Chaos Lower Link Skids
Deaver Suspension - Custom (Variable Rate) Coils
King Shocks 2.5” smooth body W/Remote Reservoir
Drivetrain
ARB Air Lockers Front and Rear
ARB CKMA12 Compressor
4.56 gearing
Armor
Shrockworks Front Bumper
Shrockworks Sliders
BudBuilt Skid Plates – Front, Mid, Transfer Case, Fuel Tank – custom made from 3/16” Stainless Steel.  All Stainless Steel hardware.
Tire/Wheel
Goodyear 275/70-17 MTR w/Kevlar
Stock 4Runner Sport wheels
Electronics and Comms
National Luna Intelligent Split Charger System
Dual Odyssey Deep Cycle Batteries
Pioneer Avic Z3 Head unit Stereo/DVD Movies/IPod Controller/Street GPS
Lowrance GPS for Off Road GPS
Yaesu 2M ham radio
Cobra 75 WX ST
Lighting
2 – PIAA 580 7” Xtreme White Driving Lights
4 – PIAA 520 Xtreme White ATP
Recovery
Warn 9.5XP Extreme Performance Winch
Amsteel Winch Rope
Shrockworks Aluminum Fairlead
Complete recovery assortment of straps, shackles, snatch blocks, etc.
Hi-lift extreme
Additional
Eezi-Awn Series 3 Roof Top Tent – 1400
National Luna 50-Litre Twin Weekender Fridge/Freezer (Stainless Steel)
National Luna Fridge Pull-Out Base
Front Runner Aluminum Roof Rack
Front Runner Dual Jerry Can holder and misc other acc.
Husky Liner Floor Mats… front, passenger, rear cargo