See if you can find an old-skool Smittybilt tube rear bumper. They show up occasionally on Craigslist.
Confession of a die-hard Land Cruiser guy......I bought a Trekker and I love it.
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c2dfj45
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Exactly what I have been looking for. I could make one but then it would need to be chromed. The cut down 4 runner bumper is really cool.
What I originally envisioned was this:
The cut down 1st gen 4Runner bumper sectioned 4". I really like this one as it matches the front bumper and sits pretty tucked up.
WOW this trekker looks awesome. So cool. Thanks for sharing
c2dfj45
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Disclaimer. I am NOT a stereo guy at all. They have caused misery over the last 20 years of being in the car business because of the usual shoddy work that seems to go hand in hand with them. In any event, I'm thinking ahead to stereo stuff(I tend to obsess over all the parts of a build all at one time)....the Trekker has got this cool old Toyota radio in it....no knobs unfortunately so that needs to be addressed so it looks halfway normal in there. It gets power but no display. Found a place that can restore the Fujitso units so it will go to them. Found a couple of knobs that I can make work I think....if not, I'll find a parts radio.
We have a left over hidden audio unit, Mark 3 - Hidden Bluetooth audio, stereo & radio for almost any vehicle., from a build that I might install. Will give me bluetooth and allow me to use the OEM radio to control things. Buying some fiberglass kick panels with a bump out that will have room for a small set of speakers. This will get me some sounds, leave the dash uncut and look stock. If it works, out, it will be great.
It's amazing to me that things like this are still in the truck after 38 years....totally antiquated but oh-so cool.
We have a left over hidden audio unit, Mark 3 - Hidden Bluetooth audio, stereo & radio for almost any vehicle., from a build that I might install. Will give me bluetooth and allow me to use the OEM radio to control things. Buying some fiberglass kick panels with a bump out that will have room for a small set of speakers. This will get me some sounds, leave the dash uncut and look stock. If it works, out, it will be great.
It's amazing to me that things like this are still in the truck after 38 years....totally antiquated but oh-so cool.
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1981 Toyota Trekker Rare Trekker SUV! The Forerunner of the 4Runner! | eBay
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they discuss how the Trekker came to be here
c2dfj45
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Been doing a lot of cluster refurbs lately.....this one turned out really well. Something very satisfying about them when they are all cleaned up. In the Cruisers we do LED bulbs but I just put in new standard wedge bulb in this one....didn't want to change it too drastically from OEM.
That looks great!
I either need to stop looking at this thread... or just send you my truck and bank login info.
I either need to stop looking at this thread... or just send you my truck and bank login info.
c2dfj45
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Installed a new shifter bushing and put a boot on the truck. Boot was on Amazon of all places. Fit perfect....well...kind of. Took a little work with some contact adhesive. Looks way better and shifts about a million times better. The shifter bushing was long gone. Just a pile of black goo.
c2dfj45
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Been busy with customer trucks....haven't been able to spend a whole lot of time with the Trekker...but that doesn't mean I'm not thinking about her. Ordering parts to redo the doors....inner/outer felt seasl, window runners, small corner pieces. The doors need some love but before I start on them, I like having all the pieces I need to redo them.
Mud flap on
Was able to get a license plate light on.....the body was drilled for something like the light we used. Old dumb bumper had lights in it for the tag. Since that got pulled...no plate light. Once the bumper goes on, it won't look like such an after thought. It's a standard bulb too....no LED non-sense on this old truck. It appears there were a couple different styles of lights on these trucks....this one showed up on a couple. Works for me.
AND....exciting part......the Trekker sticker is back on the truck. Feels more complete. The hatch is really crooked on this truck...1/2 out. No idea if and how I would fix it since the whole top flexes. I'm thinking it's just one of those "unique" things about this truck. Or most of these trucks.
The stripes were on straight but really accentuated how crooked the hatch was. Easy solution. Remove stripes. Chances are I will be doing a brown/copper/silver stripe at some point on the body so I may do a new Trekker logo then. Might do something custom back there with stripes to match the other stripes. The Trekker stripe didn't really match anything. Go figure.
Stripes are cool but I didn't like how crooked it looked.
Mud flap on
Was able to get a license plate light on.....the body was drilled for something like the light we used. Old dumb bumper had lights in it for the tag. Since that got pulled...no plate light. Once the bumper goes on, it won't look like such an after thought. It's a standard bulb too....no LED non-sense on this old truck. It appears there were a couple different styles of lights on these trucks....this one showed up on a couple. Works for me.
AND....exciting part......the Trekker sticker is back on the truck. Feels more complete. The hatch is really crooked on this truck...1/2 out. No idea if and how I would fix it since the whole top flexes. I'm thinking it's just one of those "unique" things about this truck. Or most of these trucks.
The stripes were on straight but really accentuated how crooked the hatch was. Easy solution. Remove stripes. Chances are I will be doing a brown/copper/silver stripe at some point on the body so I may do a new Trekker logo then. Might do something custom back there with stripes to match the other stripes. The Trekker stripe didn't really match anything. Go figure.
Stripes are cool but I didn't like how crooked it looked.
Nice truck! Do you have a link to the boot?
I had this radio in a rig I once had. Had an electronics place remove the internal amp chips it had and replace with a preamp out for an amp since I didn't want to cut the dash. I was running an Alpine 6 disc changer back in the day with 6x9 pioneers in the front doors. Had a Phoenx Gold amp. Wasn't perfect but sounded pretty good and kept a factory look.
Any lines on the plastic kick panels or chrome drip moldings?
What did you use to polish the cluster?
Since you are running ifs hubs/spacers in back? for the factory rims some short chrome front hub ornaments from a late 80's IFS truck may fit.
Keep the posts coming!
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c2dfj45
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Here's the boot I used...
Amazon product ASIN B00ISF4H76
Good idea on the radio mod....way beyond my comprehension. I'm just hoping to see a display when it comes back and that some kind of sound comes out of it. Ha. Supposedly this week they'll have an update. Going on 5 weeks that they've had the unit. Time to start pressing them.
This is what I'm using for kick panels and mounting the speakers....no cutting the doors for speakers....although I think my doors were cut at some point...which is why the door panels are so crappy.
I use this for my plastic polishing. It's great stuff.
Amazon product ASIN B002UCYRZU
For sure on the chrome covers for the hubs...just haven't gotten there yet. Still need to figure out the IFS changeover. I'm guessing that allowed for better rotors/calipers and the wider stance. Must be a pretty standard upgrade.
c2dfj45
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Scored a pretty neat piece today.....all the factory AC stuff out of an 1980 truck at a pick-and-pull lot a few hours from us. Got all the dash stuff, under hood stuff.....all of it. Except the condenser....that was already gone. No biggie on that though. The 80 had a different AC control panel but a while back I had bought one for my year....so we should have it all.
Wow. That’s a helluva score! How many junkyards did you have to call/crawl to find that? I’d think they’re pretty rare.
