Back to the 4runner fam

I'm back baby!

I have been a little more active over on Tacomaworld but I am back in the 4runner world. Previously I had a 2000 limited 3rd gen with rear locker from 2007-2018. I 3 way traded it with an ex unfortunately when I got my new 2018 Tacoma back in 2018.

That 3rd gen was by far and away the most reliable vehicle I had ever owned or known of. Picked it up with about 80k miles in 2007 for $12k. My friends and family thought I was kind of sucker as similarly year and mileage Cherokees, Durangoes, Tahoes etc were 2-3k cheaper. I had come from compact SUVs my whole life, my first a 1985 Bronco II, later a 1990 Nissan pathfinder.

Over the 11 years the 3rd gen was my primary vehicle I put about 100k miles on it, with the only maintenance being oil changes, tires, and even held off on the timing belt/water pump until 160k miles. I checked it with my mechanic every year and we just kept kicking it down the road, it stayed in great shape with the mild Central coast CA weather. It was a trusty daily driver with trips up the pacific coast to visit family, or out to family property in the eastern sierras. Cracking the sunroof, toss a sleeping bag in the back and my 2 dogs on either side of me, it was an easy setup for years.

Fast forward a few years and I've been a bit of a Toyota hoarder. After my 2018 Tacoma I have also owned/own a 1999 Tacoma regular cab, a 1996 Land Cruiser and most recently, back to my roots, a 1989 1st gen 4Runner.

Here's how she sits now, with only a few alterations since purchasing it back in February 2023




Here's how I picked it up,




My other trucks are fairly modified so the plan is to keep this a mostly stock+ quality of life improvements.

So far that's really been just some refreshing of electrical bugaboos, the alternator crapped out, a new starter (or 2... still chasing 1 last starting issue, I'm thinking bad body ground). I added some aftermarket headlights and an H1 conversion harness because the stock sealed beams were like 2 shining candles on the road.

I added sound deadening to the rear and replaced the old faded and cracked plastic trim panels in the back. I found a fabricator, Freddy Baron, on a facebook group who made aluminum panels, which I had powdercoated a textured grey. I also made a little lockable hatch on the passenger side to keep things out of sight and slightly more secure if I run it with the top off.



I found some original 15" wheels, cleaned them up and had them powder coated and then did something crazy... swapped out the 32" on steelies for 31x10.5s". It's a little nicer holding highway speeds and I think I dropped about 15lbs per corner. She's still not fast with the 3.0 but she gets around just fine.

 

Welcome back

 

Welcome

Nice Toy

 

Welcome from San Diego!

 

Welcome from Wisconsin!

 

Welcome from Arizona!

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

Welcome beautiful rig, I also have a regular cab Tacoma 5speed my 4Runner i know is superior in terms of build and quality to it but the taco is just plain special and sentimental to me plus in my book every man needs a pickup

 

welcome