My Name is John and I drive a Corolla

[jandrews]

Most of the time, anyway. It's actually a 2003 Matrix, it has almost 180k on the clock, and it's been painfully reliable:

Anyway, that's what I spend most of my time in.

However, earlier today I met a friend for lunch at Harrison's in Burlington, NC, driving my other Toy:

And someone left a ONSC business card under my wiper.

So I came home, lurked around the site a little and I'm intrigued. I don't have an LC, but I'm a big fan of what they are, what they can do, and what they mean in the 4x4 world. I myself would like to pilfer a used LX450 from someone some day as another toy...

So, I see the yearly dues. Sell me...is ONSC worth the yearly cha-ching? And despite reading the stickies I couldn't find an answer...what's the due money go to?

Looking forward to chatting with everyone on here

 

[96Cruiser13]

Harrisons is awesome.. Chicken Teriyaki kabobs!

 

[jandrews]

Funny you should say that, that's exactly what I had. The double platter, of course

 

[96Cruiser13]

thats what i always get... And you have to get the double... Gotta love Greek food...

 

[GarnerFJ40]

John,

Good questions, where does the money go? As of right now, we really don't spend a lot of it. The club chips in for the group camp sites at our quarterly Uwharrie trips, our Meet and Greet once a year, and the Christmas Dinner Get Together. We also use some of the money for a philanthropy event once a year, last year we did some landscaping at a Veterans Housing complex in Durham.
We're an easy going bunch, from first time wheelers to very experienced. Families are welcome, and we usually try to include everyone in our outings. We're not your typical bunch of yahoo's! Best thing about membership is that if you need work done on your truck, it'll mostly just cost you the parts and the beers for us to do it!
Join us for a year, and make it to some of our events, you'll be hooked. Check out the schedule in the sticky section and see what you can attend.

 

[FJinTegaCay]

Run while you still can! I’ve found that this group's addictions are contagious!!!

You'll find yourself wanting to modify your perfectly good rig, spending money on some ridiculous deal a fellow member offers on a part you don't need or worse yet, purchasing some old FJ40 that needs work.

You’ll soon be avoiding your old friends to spend time with guys in the club or modify your rig and will waste hours of your valuable time following build threads, going on trail rides and in the toy aisles looking for Matchbox cars.

 

[jandrews]

Run while you still can! I’ve found that this group's addictions are contagious!!!

You'll find yourself wanting to modify your perfectly good rig, spending money on some ridiculous deal a fellow member offers on a part you don't need or worse yet, purchasing some old FJ40 that needs work.

You’ll soon be avoiding your old friends to spend time with guys in the club or modify your rig and will waste hours of your valuable time following build threads, going on trail rides and in the toy aisles looking for Matchbox cars.

Not too worried about that. My Taco is already a money pit. If you want details, there's a ton of info and pics/videos here:

It Begins: Miss Blue - Tacoma World Forums

The most recent project is regearing with high-strength gears. I blew the stock rear diff a couple of weeks ago putting the truck through next to nothing. This model of Tacoma has rear diff strength problems. I've lost confidence in the stock Toyo gears and am upgrading.

The Truck:
2009 TRD OffRoad 4x4
Double Cab/Short Bed
4.0L V6
5 speed Auto
Tow Package

Dealer Installed @ Delivery:
TRD Cold Air Intake
TRD CatBack Exhaust (Hacked over axle)
Tube Steps (Sold)
Interior Lights
Bed Extender
Rear Spring TSB

Exterior/Appearance:
Grillecraft Upper and Lower
Color matched grille surround
Black Headlight Mod
Shorty Antenna
Front Window Tint Match
Debadged
Mudflap Delete
Painted Engine Cover
Tacoma World Sticker

Interior/Protection/Comfort:
Wet Okole Seat Covers Front & Rear
Wet Okole Console Cover
WeatherTech Floor Liners Front & Rear

Functional/Useful:
EGR in-channel Vent Visors
Extra D-Rings in bed
Pop n Lock Locking Tailgate Handle
Locking Gas Cap
VSV Isolation (De-tick mod)
6000lb drop bar/hitch ball
Bed Mat
Garmin Nuvi GPS
Cobra 25 LTD with Wilson 1000 direct mounted in roof
Bed Bars/Rack

Recovery Gear:
Coming Soon

Armor:
ATO Rear High Clearance Bumper
ATO Front Skid Plate
ATO Transmission Skid Plate
ATO Transfer Case Skid Plate
ATO Gas Tank Skid Plate
ATO Hybrid DOM Weld-On Sliders
(Install Details)

Powertrain:
Relocated Rear Differential Breather
09+ Tranny TSB
Custom Y-Pipe/Exhaust re-route

Suspension:
Total Chaos 1" Uniball Upper Control Arms
Icon Vehicle Dynamics 2.5" Remote Reservoir Front Coilovers
Icon Vehicle Dynamics 2.0" Remote Reservoir Rear Shocks
Wheeler's 1.5" Add-a-Leaf
Wheeler's SuperBump Bumpstops Front and Rear
U-bolt Flip Kit

Boots:
285/70/17 BF Goodrich Mud Terrain T/A KM2
wrapped around 17" 1st Generation Tundra 10-spoke alloys

To Do:
Smoke Tailights
Aeroforce Interceptor(On hand, awaiting install)
Plate front bumper (Ordered)
E-Locker Motor Skid
Audio Replacement
Onboard Air
Extended Brake Lines (On hand, awaiting install)
Shackle flip
Cab mount chop
Spindle Gussets
Regear differentials (Researching)
Additional Front and Rear Lighting
Recovery Gear/Spare Parts
Fullsize 33" Spare

Potentially (Not Sure Yet)
Dual battery
Front locking differential
Snorkel

 

[96Cruiser13]

I see you Trad climb. I go to the new river gorge once a month! Awesome climbs there... You go alot? Pic looks like your setting your own gear, must be a little experienced.. haha

 

[jandrews]

I see you Trad climb. I go to the new river gorge once a month! Awesome climbs there... You go alot? Pic looks like your setting your own gear, must be a little experienced.. haha

Trad, Sport, Big Wall, Ice, Pebble Wrestlin'...I do it all man. I'm a climber, not a specialist. Haven't had a chance to get into alpine stuff or high altitude mountains yet, but it's just a matter of time in my mind.

I've been all over the country the past couple years climbing. On the east coast I've logged pitches in the Gunks (NY), Seneca Rocks and the New (WV), tons of stuff in Western NC (looking glass, laurel knob, moore's wall, stone mountain, rumbling bald, pilot mountain, most all the venues in Linville Gorge, etc).

Last year I spent a week in the Wind River Range in Wyoming climbing the Wolf's Head, and a week in Tuolomne Meadows climbing a lot of stuff, including Cathedral Peak.

This June I'll be in Yosemite for a week making an attempt on the Nose on El Cap.

Spent a couple months in Arizona in 2007 climbing my away around the Prescott/Flagstaff area.

It's funny, I originally bought the Taco to help me get to some of my climbing spots. Then the offroad thing sort of spiraled off of that.

But yeah, you wanna climb some time, drop me a line

 

[96Cruiser13]

Wow.. I'm as jealous as they get. I haven't left the east coast. Been to almost all the NC spots you mentioned, but I'm addicted to the new. It would take forever to climb everything i wanted to climb there
I'm still collecting gear man, you are definitely way more experienced to me.. I was excited when i led a 5.10.. haha

 

[jandrews]

Seriously, drop me a PM or something on here sometime and we can get out and play...either on the rocks, or on the trails...

 

[little_joe]

Hi John, we welcome all Toyota 4WD's, would love to see you and Tacoma at some events.

The value relative to dues is, frankly, up to you. Were someone to pay dues and not attend any events (rides or social), the value would be questionable. However, if you come to any events - rides or social - you'll see tangible value in the amenities and comraderie ONSC provides. I'd strongly encourage you to check us out before becoming a member, I am confident you will get addicted.

 

[jandrews]

I believe I ran into a number of you, including David, out at Uwharrie today meeting some other friends for some wheelin.

Good to chat with you guys, if only briefly.

Also, whoever showed up with that lifted black FJ80 with the ARB bumper - that thing was a badass rig. Nice!

 

[krzyabncanuck]

Yes there was a bunch of us out there.

I seen your rig out there also. Think you have a snorkel on it now right ?

 

[FJinTegaCay]

Good to meet you too. Hope you and your friends has a good time.

We'll be going back to URE Sept. 16-18, a three day, multi-club extravaganza with multiple rides, night rides, family events, and lake activities.

The event is named Logan's Run to honor one of our club members who tragically died earlier this year.

Click HERE for details. I hope you and your friends will consider joining us.

 

[jandrews]

Yes there was a bunch of us out there.

I seen your rig out there also. Think you have a snorkel on it now right ?

Actually that was my buddy and twin. We have almost the exact same truck down to the color. He's snorkeled, I'm not (yet), but it's in the works. Front bumper and 4.56 gears are on the short list - snorkel and OBA after that.

Good to meet you too. Hope you and your friends has a good time.

We'll be going back to URE Sept. 16-18, a three day, multi-club extravaganza with multiple rides, night rides, family events, and lake activities.

The event is named Logan's Run to honor one of our club members who tragically died earlier this year.

Click HERE for details. I hope you and your friends will consider joining us.

Strong possibility on that. We wheel pretty regularly. I'll let them know.

 

[krzyabncanuck]

I did see one snorkeled and one not now that i think back. Old age is what it is . You were at Eldorado outpost then that i seen you then.

 

[GarnerFJ40]

I believe I ran into a number of you, including David, out at Uwharrie today meeting some other friends for some wheelin.

Good to chat with you guys, if only briefly.

Also, whoever showed up with that lifted black FJ80 with the ARB bumper - that thing was a badass rig. Nice!

That was either mine or John's... John's has two extra lights on the bumper and a winch. I had my spare tire on the roof rack...

 

[jandrews]

That was either mine or John's... John's has two extra lights on the bumper and a winch. I had my spare tire on the roof rack...

Can't recall...whoever it was stopped for gas on their way in...