Why This Ultra4 4Runner Build Is Turning Heads in the Desert Racing World

The desert racing community just got treated to something special when Sherpa Motorsports dropped their complete walkaround of their ‘04 V8 4Runner Ultra 4 build. This isn’t your typical weekend warrior setup - this is a purpose-built rock crawler and desert runner that’s been evolving for over three years of hard racing.

Alex Fleming and the Sherpa crew have been beating on this 4Runner in Ultra 4 competition, and the modifications they’ve made tell the story of lessons learned the hard way. Starting up front, they’re running an Addicted Off-Road hybrid bumper that’s been taking a serious pounding for three seasons. What makes this setup smart is how they’ve tied the bumper into their engine cage rather than relying on those flimsy factory frame mounts.

The winch setup screams business with a Warn Zeon 10S Platinum paired with Factor 55 hardware. Anyone who knows anything about racing knows that winch speed matters when you’re trying to make up time, and the Zeon delivers. Those twin Baja Designs LP9 Pro lights in amber aren’t just for looks either - amber cuts through dust way better than white light, and when you’re running flat out through someone else’s dust cloud, every advantage counts.

What really catches attention is their suspension evolution. This truck is now on its third suspension system, currently running the Marlin Crawler RCLT HD kit with 3.5" wider CVs built by CVJ Axles. The front end sports Icon’s CDEV system with 8" coilovers and hydraulic bump stops. The clever part is how they positioned everything - if their limit straps fail, the coilover tops out before the CV binds. They learned to run with this setup from from expensive breakage in the field!

The rear setup tells an even better story with their custom triangulated 4 link paired with outboard 12" smooth body shocks. No rear sway bar might seem odd as almost everyone runs one these days, but with those shocks positioned way out on the axles, they’re getting the flex they need without adding complexity. Sometimes simple works better.

Their drivetrain choices show the balance between strength and practicality that defines good race builds. Up front, they’re still running the factory Toy 8" diff with an ARB locker and 5.29 gears. Seems crazy! Sure, they’ve grenaded a few over the years, but they are mostly holding up to Ultra 4 racing with 35s.

Out back, they stepped up to a Trail Gear Ford 9" with a fabbed housing, recently upgraded with Spider Trax 35 spline ultimate unit bearings. The trade-off is ground clearance for that bigger pumpkin, but reliability trumps everything in endurance racing. You can’t win if you’re broken on the side of the trail.

The interior transformation from soccer mom hauler to race machine is dramatic. Gone is everything Toy, replaced with a full custom dash, PRP Alpha seats, and a proper 2" roll cage. The new S-Pod switch system cleaned up their wiring nightmare and added redundancy - the co-driver switches can be mirrored to the driver’s side without running extra wiring.

Their navigation setup combines old-school reliability with new tech. Two Lowrance GPS units handle the primary navigation duties while LeadNav on an iPad provides audio callouts through their intercom system. This frees up the co-driver to focus on course-specific hazards instead of reading off basic navigation info.

The practical details show this team’s experience. Battery relocated to the rear in a steel enclosure gets weight off the nose and protects it from the sheet metal carnage that happens up front. The 23 gallon fuel cell provides enough range for their racing format while keeping weight reasonable. Their spare tire setup with the Max-Y strap and Pro Eagle air jack keeps things simple and functional.

Even their wheel and tire choice reflects real-world racing priorities. The new Raceline Rhino beadlocks look sharp, but more importantly, they’re paired with Kenda Klever RTS rubber in 35x12.50R17. Kenda might not be the first name that comes to mind for rock crawling, but they’re putting these tires through serious testing to see how they handle race pace abuse.

The aesthetic touches matter too. Their new wrap from Pure Blind Wraps features a Road Runner theme that perfectly captures the desert racing spirit. It’s not just about looking good in photos - a sharp-looking race car attracts sponsors and builds the brand that funds future racing.

What makes this build special isn’t any single modification - it’s how everything works together as a system. Every choice reflects lessons learned from actual racing, not internet forum theories. The Sherpa crew has created something that can handle King of the Hammers rocks and still run desert sections at serious speeds.

This 4Runner represents the sweet spot of Ultra 4 racing - sophisticated enough to be competitive but simple enough to be reliable. After three years of development and racing, they’ve built something that works.

To check out more of this build and (and the products they manufacture), visit sherpaequipmentco.com. Also follow along at @Sherpa_Motorsports on Instagram to see how this build performs when the green flag drops.