My first toyota was a 98 4runner that I was building up as an overland style rig. Unfortunately, after about 2 years of ownership, lots of sweat, money and time, the 4runner went down s***ty on a rock climbing foray into Mexico. We had just crossed into Nuevo Laredo, Mexico and were driving down a divided highway when seconds ahead we saw a truck swerving through traffic driving the wrong way. With a few seconds to execute, I moved left and the truck narrowly clipped the rear passenger side of the 4runner which caused it to spin, high side, and flip onto the roof. My friend and I immediately unbuckled our seat belts and crawled out. I instantly crawled out screaming and swearing and then came to my sense when I realized there was gunfire being exchanged between Meixco military and the occupants of the vehicle who hit us. My friend and I took cover behind the median and waited for the situation to diffuse.
Long story short, the U.S. Embassy is of little help and if you get into trouble in Mexico, keep the firefighters on your side. Glad we are both still alive to tell the tale.
On a brighter note! Several months back I purchased my new project and favorite vehicle I have owned to date, hands down. On the search for a new vehicle, I was pretty set on finding a 60 series. Being in Arizona, decent older specimens pop up with some regularity. After having missed out on a few, a very clean 1991 FJ80 popped up in a small town next to me unexpectedly. The guy was a cruiser head who already had an 80 and was looking to make a quick sell to fund the purchase of an FJ40 that just came on the market. The deal was too good to pass up and I was soon driving home in my first Landcruiser.
The day I brought the cruiser home. Number 4,918 off the assembly line. Just about bone stock with 142,000 miles on it. Paid $4500. Practically zero rust (typical for AZ), excellent paint (aside from roof), clean interior and engine bay, and a great looking rig all around. Sounds like it was owned by an older woman for the majority of its life, bought at 121,000 by the guy I bought it from. Naming it the BACKWOODS BASTARD as I anticipate lots of time spent getting far back into wild country with this rig.
Only issue I discovered upon purchasing was an issue with the starter. Often, especially when cold, I could not get the starter to engage. It would take minutes of key turning to get it to engage but when it would, the engine would fire. Went in and replacing the copper contacts and the engine has fired at every single key turn for months since then.
Mods/Maintenance To Date
New Brakes all around at 121k
O2 sensors replaced at 121k
Desmogged at 135k
Tension Pulleys Repalced at 135k
Starter Contacts Replaced 147k
BFG KM2 33x10.5x15 at 147k
Diff Fluid change at 149k
Installed OME 850/860 Springs w/ Fox 2.0 Shocks
Rear Sway Bar bump stops
Installed Slee Caster Plate and OME steering Stabilizer
LED interior lights
LED backup lights
Rear Sleeping System Build out
Long story short, the U.S. Embassy is of little help and if you get into trouble in Mexico, keep the firefighters on your side. Glad we are both still alive to tell the tale.
On a brighter note! Several months back I purchased my new project and favorite vehicle I have owned to date, hands down. On the search for a new vehicle, I was pretty set on finding a 60 series. Being in Arizona, decent older specimens pop up with some regularity. After having missed out on a few, a very clean 1991 FJ80 popped up in a small town next to me unexpectedly. The guy was a cruiser head who already had an 80 and was looking to make a quick sell to fund the purchase of an FJ40 that just came on the market. The deal was too good to pass up and I was soon driving home in my first Landcruiser.
The day I brought the cruiser home. Number 4,918 off the assembly line. Just about bone stock with 142,000 miles on it. Paid $4500. Practically zero rust (typical for AZ), excellent paint (aside from roof), clean interior and engine bay, and a great looking rig all around. Sounds like it was owned by an older woman for the majority of its life, bought at 121,000 by the guy I bought it from. Naming it the BACKWOODS BASTARD as I anticipate lots of time spent getting far back into wild country with this rig.
Only issue I discovered upon purchasing was an issue with the starter. Often, especially when cold, I could not get the starter to engage. It would take minutes of key turning to get it to engage but when it would, the engine would fire. Went in and replacing the copper contacts and the engine has fired at every single key turn for months since then.
Mods/Maintenance To Date
New Brakes all around at 121k
O2 sensors replaced at 121k
Desmogged at 135k
Tension Pulleys Repalced at 135k
Starter Contacts Replaced 147k
BFG KM2 33x10.5x15 at 147k
Diff Fluid change at 149k
Installed OME 850/860 Springs w/ Fox 2.0 Shocks
Rear Sway Bar bump stops
Installed Slee Caster Plate and OME steering Stabilizer
LED interior lights
LED backup lights
Rear Sleeping System Build out
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