This video is part of my 4Runner build series as I prepare for longer adventures with Blaze.
This isn’t really just about installing a roof rack. It’s about building toward something bigger.
After spending a year traveling in my self-converted Ford Transit camper van, I learned that eventually you stop building for aesthetics and start building for function. You start paying attention to the small things that create ease, reduce friction, and make life on the road feel a little calmer.
This roof rack is the beginning of that process for my 2025 4Runner.
Future plans include:
- Solar panels
- Cargo storage
- Traction boards
- Longer road trips
- More time outside and less time reorganizing gear
I’m trying to take what I learned from life on the road and build something lighter, simpler, and more off-road capable.
Follow along with the build series:
✓ Bed platform build
✓ Side steps + gratitude video
✓ Roof rack install
⬜ Drawer build
⬜ Michigan trip preparation
⬜ Life on the road
Michelle and Blaze 