An Inside Look at This Family Friendly Off-Road Rig

Like its namesake, this first-gen Toyota Sequoia Ian Lugtu meticulously customized isn’t just big—it’s bold. But unlike the towering trees, this Sequoia isn’t content to stand still. This isn’t just a car build story. It’s a testament to the power of believing in the unexpected, of defying expectations, and proving that sometimes the most epic adventures begin with the most overlooked vehicles. With family in tow, Ian is on a quest for adventure, powered by a profound connection to the automotive world that traces back to his earliest memories. Want to know how he did it? Dive into our interview and get ready to be inspired!

Q. Can you introduce yourself to the readers?
A. Hey, guys! My name is Ian Lugtu, and I was born and raised in San Francisco—the Bay Area. I am constantly chasing adventure with my beautiful wife, our two kids, and our pup, Rocky. When it comes to careers, my wife is an amazing hairstylist, while I am a content creator and diesel mechanic by day. I hope that one day we can leave our careers and be on the road to create inspiration for those who follow our adventures!

Q. What’s your background in automotive customization?
A. Growing up, I had always been around cars and motorcycles. My dad had many cars, and as far back as I can remember, I would always be with him whenever he would wash the car or work on it. Since then, I have had my own share of sports cars and motorcycles, so the automotive world has always been a part of my life. When it comes to automotive customization, I would say there are plenty of factors that have contributed along the way. I always find myself asking questions like, “How could I make this better for the car or the rig?”

Q. Can you share the inspiration behind building your Toyota Sequoia? What sparked the idea and passion for this project? Were there specific qualities or features that stood out compared to other vehicles in its class?
A. I have constantly been around Toyotas my entire life, so choosing the platform for reliability and comfort was an easy decision. We specifically chose the first generation Sequoia because everyone was choosing a Tacoma, Land Cruiser, or 4Runner. The Sequoia, in my opinion, was always Toyota’s underdog, and not many of them were being turned into off-road vehicles. The fact that it is able to seat eight people, has an entertainment system, and Toyota’s reliable 2UZ 4.7L V-8 made the decision easy. We purchased it from the original owner in Danville, California—a place where a lot of people tend to take care of their vehicles. It came with a stack of maintenance records, original window sticker, and all the bells and whistles from the factory! We picked it up with 120K miles on the odometer and a clean title!

Q. What modifications have you made to enhance the Sequoia’s off-road capabilities, and how do these changes contribute to its performance in various terrains?
A. Believe it or not, the stock form of a first-gen Sequoia can handle a lot on its own! However, we decided we wanted to upgrade the suspension and enlisted help from our friend Josh at First Gen Offroad. We started off with a 3-inch front lift and 4-inch rear lift with stiffer springs to handle the full load of equipment and passengers. We had a mix of OME and Dobinsons, but have since changed to the Dobinsons IMS long-travel setup, and it has been amazing! When it comes to suspension and riding around on different terrains, the Dobinsons definitely make a comfortable ride. The suspension just absorbs everything, and we can barely feel it when we are trailing, and oftentimes, we forget how fast we are going on a dirt road because it almost feels normal.

Q. How did you approach the balance between off-road capability and on-road comfort when customizing your Sequoia for adventure?
A. I built the Sequoia with the goal of making it a daily driver and weekend warrior. My family loves being next to a body of water, whether it’s the ocean, lake, or river, and the Sequoia is the perfect ride to make it possible. It fits our whole family and gear comfortably with room to spare. When it comes time to run errands, the real estate of the Sequoia can handle it all! The build was carefully thought out to bring form and function while still maintaining the comfort it was designed for.

Q. Can you walk us through the choice of tires, suspension, and other key components that were crucial in transforming your Sequoia into an off-road beast?
A. When it comes down to our setup, we chose to go with TIS Offroad TT1’s for our tires because of their aggressive look and performance. We are currently running 35×12.50R17 tires paired up with SCS Wheels Ray 10 beadlocks in 17×9 with a -38mm offset to give us that perfect stance. For the suspension, we are running the Dobinsons long-travel IMS setup, paired with PerryParts 3D printed bump stops, Suspension Maxx extended sway bar links, Trailtech diff drop kit, Skid Row Offroad skid plates, and SPC Adjustable UCAs. The 35s are a lot for this heavy girl, so we had to have the rig re-geared for 4.88s with Revolution gears from Premier West in Riverside, California . We also went with stiffer springs from OME to help handle all the load the rig will take, and she does not sag at full load! All that being said, the Sequoia’s weakest point was the lower ball joints, which were still the originals from the factory. We’ve since replaced them with OEM from a friend on the forum and continue to do it in intervals as we have seen and heard too many horror stories.

Q. What challenges did you face during the modification process, and how did you overcome them to achieve the desired performance and functionality?
A. The biggest challenge during the modification process is always going to be the aftermarket support. Now that Sequoias, in general, are becoming more and more popular due to their pricing and increase in demand, they are starting to make more parts for the community! We have added custom fab’d armor that set us apart from other Sequoias and off-road builds thanks to our friend Nick at 80 %  Off-Road in Southern California. We went with a prerunner style front bumper with a skid plate, flat-style rock sliders, high clearance rear bumper with brush guards, and a spare tire swingout with a table. All this done as a tubular setup to help flow with the lines of the rig and still function the way it is supposed to.

Q. How did you personalize the interior to ensure both comfort and functionality during long adventure trips?
A. When it comes down to the interior of the vehicle, storage and organization are key. Knowing where everything is placed and where they go back is very helpful, especially when you have kids. Luckily, the Sequoia has a Toyota OEM entertainment system, and we keep them occupied with DVDs of their favorite movies. We added MOLLE (Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment) panels everywhere from the sunvisors to the back of the vehicle. The sunvisors hold essentials we need to grab quickly, the headrest holds the med kit and the remote for our winch, and the center console MOLLE panel holds our Midland Radios, a fire extinguisher, flashlights, cell phones, and GPS tablet. The trunk has MOLLE panels on the window that connect to a shelf, and we have items such as North Face blankets, chairs, recovery equipment, paper towel holder, showering essentials, and other items. Since we can’t see out of the back window, we have a Wolfbox rear view camera that goes over the stock rear view mirror and gives us a live view out back, and it is always recording the front and rear of the vehicle for that added peace of mind. The dash also has a tilt-meter to tell us our tilt and pitch whenever we are crawling as well. 

Q. What are your comms and navigation systems in your Sequoia, especially when exploring remote or unfamiliar off-road trails?
A. Having navigation such as onX Offroad is definitely a big help, especially since you can record your travels on the map even when offline and are able to download an off-road map and all of its other features. The Midland MXT275 is definitely an awesome radio to have, especially for its reach when paired with the Ghost antenna. We have a WeBoost also, which works great when a cell tower is somewhat near, and it’s able to get you at least one bar to call or shoot out a text when possible. We will definitely be getting a Garmin inReach in the near future, which is a satellite messenger for those areas where we have no cell reception and for emergency situations.

Q. How has the reliability, durability, and setup of the build played a role in your confidence to venture into remote or challenging off-road environments, and what future modifications do you have planned?
A. When building the rig, I wanted it to be self-sufficient if we ever were to get stuck on a trail, and it was only us around. We have helped a few friends and strangers get out of sticky situations while using the winch, Spartan Ropes kinetic rope, or the Rototrax traction boards. The V-8 and the re-gearing definitely play a key role in any situation we face.

The Sequoia has definitely come a long way since we first brought her home in the beginning of 2022. From being a comfortable daily driver taking us to Disneyland, to becoming the fishing and camp rig to remote destinations, campsites, and lakes—she has never let us down. The future mods for this rig will probably be to SAS swap the front, supercharging it, and 37s!

Q. Can you tell us of any experiences or interactions with the Toyota community that have contributed to your affinity for the brand and your specific off-road build? How has the camaraderie among Toyota enthusiasts impacted your journey?
A. The community has definitely brought out a version of myself I didn’t know I had. I even started hosting a monthly meet for the Bay Area for everyone to come out, showcase their rigs, and connect. Whether you were new to off-roading or had interest in it, you were welcomed! I partnered up with my sponsors to donate raffle prizes for the event to help more people come out, and it turned out to be pretty big! I would host it at a friend’s boba shop in Martinez,  California, called Bober Tea, and we would just hang out in the parking lot, meet new people, and win prizes! It wasn’t just catered to just Toyotas, but Jeeps and all other builds were coming through to enjoy, and I have met a ton of new people! This is what keeps me motivated to do bigger things for this community, and the people that have helped me out along the way.

Q. How has the build influenced your overall lifestyle and approach to outdoor adventures, and what advice would you give to someone looking to embark on a similar off-road journey with their Toyota Sequoia?
A. Definitely being a minimalist—that is for sure. Packing only what you need and not overpacking what you don’t. It’s definitely a trial-and-error process, and it took a long time to dial in the specific things we needed for each of our different adventures. My advice to people who have a Toyota Sequoia build in mind is to first start off with the maintenance and then get all the goodies!

Q. In retrospect, what has been the most rewarding aspect of building and owning an off-road Toyota Sequoia for adventure, and how has it enriched your passion for exploration and outdoor activities?
A. The most rewarding aspect of building this rig is the memories I’ll have with my family, while chasing an adventure on an open road. Plus, seeing a built Toyota Sequoia on the road is something you don’t see every day. Every thumbs-up from any adventurer or off-roader definitely puts a smile on our faces!

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