Tag: michelle and blaze
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I Planned the Perfect Road Trip, Then Everything Changed
I spent weeks planning the beginning of this road trip—researching trails, forest roads, campsites, overlooks, and all the places Blaze and I wanted to explore on our way to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Turns out, the trip had other plans. After days of delays and last-minute 4Runner prep, Blaze and I are finally on the road.…
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Ready or Not… We’re Leaving
I’ve been trying to leave for Michigan for days… and somehow, I’m still here. 😂 After months of planning, weeks of preparing the 4Runner, delayed parts, missing hardware, and one missed departure date, I’ve reached the point where I just need to GO. There are still a few hours of work to finish, groceries to…
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I Have 4 Days to Prepare My 4Runner for a Month on the Road
In four days, Blaze and I are supposed to leave for Michigan. The problem? My 4Runner isn’t ready. Over the next few days, I’m transforming the back of this SUV into a place we can live, work, and sleep while exploring Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. This is the first episode in that journey—and things don’t exactly…
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I Fixed Everything That Frustrated Me About My Car Camping Setup
In this video, I walk through every modification, why I made it, how much it cost, and whether I think it was actually worth the investment. Whether you’re building an overlanding rig, planning a long road trip, camping out of your SUV, or simply looking for practical 4Runner ideas, I hope my experience helps you…
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I Replaced My 400W Solar Blanket With Roof-Mounted Solar Panels
After selling my van and switching to a 2025 Toyota 4Runner, one of the things I missed most was having (almost) unlimited power. During my first month-long road trip through Colorado and New Mexico, I relied on a combination of a Bluetti AC70, a 12V charger, and a 400W Renogy solar blanket to keep my…
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I Got My Van Stuck. I Wasn’t Making That Mistake Again.
Last year, I got my van stuck in a snowdrift. I was able to get out, but it taught me an important lesson: it’s better to have recovery gear and never need it than need it and not have it. In this video, I’m installing traction boards on my 2025 Toyota 4Runner before my next…
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I Have No Idea What I’m Doing… So I Built This Anyway
I’ve never built a drawer before. During the van build, I helped my dad with cabinet building and woodworking projects, but I was always the assistant. This is the first piece of furniture I’ve ever built completely on my own… and I had absolutely no idea what I was doing. After traveling out west last…
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Turning my 4Runner into an Adventure Vehicle
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…
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The Skills That Changed My Life | 4Runner Side Step Install
For years, I dreamed about building a van and living on the road full-time… but I almost didn’t do it because I didn’t think I had the skills, tools, or knowledge to make it happen. In this video, I’m installing side steps on the 2025 Toyota 4Runner while reflecting on everything my parents — especially…
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DIY 6th Gen 2025 4Runner Sleeping Platform
This is a throwback video to when I built the sleeping platform in my 2025 6th-generation Toyota 4Runner. My setup has changed multiple times since this video, but I thought it was still worth sharing. It is time to get this new rig set up. Because I leave in a month for a big trip…
Michelle and Blaze 