Friday, September 7, 2018

A Look at Outworld and Their Toyotas by Chris Cordes

A while back, I was browsing through Instagram when a 2000 4Runner popped up in front of me. I had seen this awesome Toyota several times now, and I felt like I need to learn a little more. As I dug deeper, I learned that it was one of three builds for a company called Outworld. Besides running an awesome Instagram page, which you can view here, they had a website packed with trips, build details, and just a hint of information about their group.
“Outworld is an action sports project devoted to a life outdoors.  Regardless of the season or sport, we are on an endless hunt for moments that take our breath away.”
 That sounded right up our alley, so after a brief conversation with Weston Miller, one of the founders, we set up an interview to discuss trucks, travel, and everything that makes Outworld tick.

I’d like to start by asking you to tell us a little bit about Outworld, and the people behind it.

Outworld is a motorsports/action sports passion project 10 years in the making. I started out as an independent builder of a 1997 4Runner and slowly accrued partnerships with some of my favorite brands. A few years ago, I purchased a 2000 4Runner, enlisted two of my best friends, added two builds to the garage, and established Outworld. We’re all lifelong action sports enthusiasts, and the trucks play a pivotal role in facilitating many of those trips. Our goal was highlighting the whole picture and how those individual passions are all intertwined.
All three of us have our own careers, and this is a great opportunity to mix business with pleasure.  Matt is a creative services director by day, and the knowledge and gear he brings to the table are essential. Ben is in operations and management which has certainly brought some better structure and character to our work. My background is in sales and marketing, and I utilize every tool in my arsenal to represent the companies who support our mission.

So Outworld is about far more than just four-wheel drives, it’s about pursuing all of your outdoor passions. Do you have any favorites, and how do they play into the way you overland?

Absolutely. Outworld represents all the ways you can choose to enjoy the outdoors. For us, there’s no feeling quite like hopping in a fully loaded rig— camping and recovery gear, mountain bikes, snowboards. The empowerment, freedom, and possibilities at your fingertips in that moment is what drives us.
One of my favorites was a quick weekend trip in June 2017. The weather was in this sweet spot: nice warm beaches but still snow in the mountains. It was a 48-hour blur of surfing, snowboarding, downhill mountain biking, off-roading, hiking, camping, and even some natural hot springs. I think that’s a guiding philosophy we share—challenge yourself to get the most out of each trip.

There are plenty of vehicles that could help you reach the places you love. What made you choose the three you did, and how have they performed so far?

It’s no secret we love Toyota. Our 2000 4Runner has been the staple build, but the 2007 4Runner and GX470 have come a long way and are just as capable. Though the platforms are different, they have common design elements tying them together like ARB bumpers, Toytec Lifts, Total Chaos upper control arms, CBI Off Road Fab armor, Gobi roof racks, and sPOD powered lighting. Of course, we’ve been die-hard believers in General Grabber from the beginning, so we run their tires on every one of our vehicles.

4Runner

 The 2000 4Runner is our feature build. For these 4Runners, a 2- to 3-inch lift and 33-inch tires are the ideal setup. Center of gravity, component stress, and fuel economy were sacrificed in favor of aesthetics, but the goal was mixing the best looks and stance with performance to create an iconic build. We’re very happy with it right now but have been contemplating a kind of 2.0 reimagining where we really take it to the next level.
Powertrain
Suspension


Armor and Accessories

Wheels & Tires
Power
Extras

2007 4Runner/2005 GX

The 2007 4Runner and 2005 Lexus GX470 are very similar, and if the 4Runner were a V8 they’d share a common chassis and drivetrain. These two rigs were built to accommodate luxury, comfort, and capability and offer all three in spades. I’d like to get the 2000 4Runner there, but for now, they’re the cush rides, and the 2000 is the workhorse.

2005 GX

Powertrain
  • 4.7L V8 (2UZ-FE)
  • VVTi
  • Full-time AWD with center differential lock
Suspension
  • Toytec Lifts BOSS 2.5-inch front coilovers
  • Total Chaos upper control arms
  • Toytec Lits 1-inch differential drop
  • Metal Tech airbag-to-coil conversion
  • Toytec Lifts Superflex rear coils w/BOSS shocks
  • Toytec Lifts bumpstop extenders
  • Toytec sway bar relocation bracket
Armor and Accessories
Wheels & Tires

2007 4Runner

Powertrain
  • 4.0L V6 (1GR-FE)
  • VVTi
  • Center differential lock
Suspension
  • Toytec Lifts BOSS 2.5″ front coilovers
  • Total Chaos upper control arms
  • Toytec Lits 1-inch differential drop
  • Toytec Lifts Superflex rear coils w/BOSS shocks
  • Toytec Lifts bumpstop extenders
  • Toytec sway bar relocation bracket
Armor and Accessories
Wheels & Tires

You’re based in Southern California, but do you have a favorite part of North America to explore? What about a favorite part of the world? Perhaps it’s the same place?

The southwestern US will always hold a special place in my heart. The Eastern Sierra is one of my favorite spots, and there’s no denying the magic of Utah and Colorado. You could spend years in this corner of the country and still have a long bucket list remaining. World-class snow, surf, deserts, mountains—it’s the outdoorsmen’s mecca. Admittedly, I’m behind on my global travels. I’ve often traded those bigger trips for more of the smaller ones, but I expect that to change soon.
 Everyone has a dream trip. What would yours be?
Shipping the trucks to Amsterdam for a one-month loop around Europe, ending back in Amsterdam to ship them back. So much history, unbelievable terrain and culture I’ve been dying to experience. Skiing in Switzerland, mountain biking in Austria, dispersed camping in Italy, flooring it in the slow lane in Germany—the list is endless. I’ve never been one for tour buses, and I can’t think of a more ridiculous plan to explore. It’s the Outworld way.
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