Thatbassguy's financially irresponsible build and record of where all of my money went

I forgot to update this thread. They found an o-ring out of place. My guess is sloppy installation. It's back running, and they're reimbursing my tow bill. I didn't even have to ask. I'm very happy with Don Jacobs right now. They owned and fixed their mistake.

 

Good to hear! It’s not often I’ve visited toyota service departments in need, so it’s good to know where the good ones are. That includes the ones that recognize and take care of their own mistakes.

 

Agreed!

 

60K oil change, tires rotated, air filter done.

 

60k on a 2019.. impressive!

We just hit 45k on our 2016 that we hardly use since wife began working from home.

 

What's funny is that I don't drive mine to work either. So, I'm averaging 2000 miles a month on a vehicle I only drive on the weekends. I do a lot of weekend road trips.

 

Sounds like you’ve figured out what’s important in life. Get out and enjoy outdoors!

 

Yup! The city is too busy. I'm definitely getting my money's worth out of this thing.

 

Good for you!

I’ve been getting my two kids more interested in the outdoors. Every weekend they’re like “dad where we going this weekend?”

 

That is awesome! It was my parents that got me into the outdoors and fishing.

With how wrapped up we all are in are computers and phones these days it's really great that you are getting them out of the house like that!

 

I stopped at Performance Off-road Thursday afternoon for a quick suspension inspection. Ball joints and bushings all look good.

I can't say the same for my gas tank skid. I think it's time to get a real skid back there before I puncture the tank.



The rest of the skids are still paying for themselves. Aside from needing a fresh coat of paint, they're holding up well.

 

Thanks for the reminder to buy skids for the GX haha

 

Just don't buy SOS.

 

Why is that?

 

I had fitment problems. And it seems that their customer service has gone in the crapper recently.

 

Good to know.

I just got the rear hatch ladder and RIGd swing out installed. Adding sliders is another thing to add some weight to the damn thing haha.

 

The good thing about armor is that it's weight down low, where it can actually help with stability. Armor has been one of the best investments for me.

 

I tagged along on a car cruise with some good friends this weekend. It was backroads across southwestern Wisconsin. We stayed in Prairie Du Chein Friday night and Wisconsin Rapids on Saturday.

I tried my best to keep up but fell behind a few times. I found that I get about 10 MPG when I try to hang with them. I got about 16-17 when I took my time.












The Sonoma needed some exhaust work.

 

Just… DAMN!! That’s one fine-azz 4Runner!!!

 

I just read through all 17 pages of this build. This is awesome! As a fellow MGM a owner, I definitely love what you have done with your ride!

Mine is definitely a work in progress but I am deployed to the Middle East right now so will have to wait for a bit to get things started. Here is the link to my introduction and goals for my 4Runner: https://www.4runners.com/threads/he...ere-but-live-in-el-paso-tx.22419/#post-283547

I’m looking forward to seeing what you do next. This is such a great build thread!!

 

Thank you! I'll be checking in on your build.

Thank you for your service!

 

As some of the Wisconsin crew already knows, I'm currently in the process of moving. In the process, I found a little project to keep me occupied this winter. My parents bought me these VMPS Tower II's when I was a sophomore with the agreement that I would pay them back. I'm pretty sure I still owe them most of that $1085.




I used them until around 2003 or so, and by then cats and dogs had done a fair amount of damage to the grills and our Rat Terrier puppy must have thought they looked like fire hydrants because he constantly used them as such.

The MDF is de-laminating and the veneer is peeling back in spots. Also, the foam on the two upper woofers and the slot loaded passive radiators need replacement.

I hooked them up on Sunday and played them for the first time in nearly 20 years. The tweeters all seem to not be working. I'm not sure if it's a wiring issue, or somehow all 6 drivers are blown.

Still, I was instantly reminded of how amazing the low frequency reproduction was. Looking at them, you'd imagine that it was excessive. But, it's actually very controlled as well as it is powerful.

I love these speakers! I can't wait to restore them to full function and blast the shit out of them like I haven't done since they were set up in my Mom's living room!

 

I had a similar project recently with a pair of Klipsch speakers I bought new in Japan in 1987. Nice to get them back to good order again along with an upgrade or two! Refinished the exterior (thankfully no delaminating) and upgraded the crossover and tweeters.

 

So going way back in this thread you had the THULE MOAB basket. I'm running the same one currently so now that you've had an opportunity to run multiple ones what are your overall thoughts

 

I really liked the MOAB basket. I mostly replaced it because I wanted something bigger.

 

I still have my old stereo system from college as well. It’s boxed up in a closet but I just can’t convince myself to get rid of it.

 

Yeah I wish it had a slightly different fairing on the front but overall I like it I'm considering welding a few extra bars on the side to make it a little more useful. As much as I like the idea of getting a completely different rack I don't know how much I would truly use it

 

It's interesting how we can get attached to things.

I was an audio nut as a teenager. I am still very fascinated by speakers and audio equipment. I came across a VMPS ad in the back of Audio Magazine in the early 90's, and I had to have them mail me brochures because the internet wasn't really even a thing yet.

I was looking at their smaller tower speakers (Mini Tower ii I think) but the salesman at the dealer my Mom drove me to offered a deal on a demo pair of Tower II's for $1000 ($300 off). I'm not sure how I convinced my Mom to buy them, but I really got her money's worth out of them back in the 90's!

I'm listening to them right now.

 

It was a quality rack, for sure. I believe they offered an extension for them. I'm not sure if they're still making them, though.

 

No they change them years ago but there's enough out there could probably track one down I was unaware they made an extension