...or "I really don't make good decisions, so let's just put it out there for the world to see." But that's a long thread title.
Since I have had this thing since March, and we may be close to some progress, figured I might as well start a build thread. I only joined Mud in March, but I have been lurking for years. I have driven a 3rd gen 4Runner for most of the last decade, lot's of good info here.
My 4Runner was a little unusual, it was a 5 speed SR5 with leather. I purchased it from the original owner, who was a co-worker at the time, with just under 200K miles on the clock. My plan was to use it to pull a trailer and do some occasional wheeling. I then proceeded to drive it almost daily for the next 9 years or so. It wasn't a true unicorn, it had open diffs and I never found the axles to correct that at the right price.
While I drove the 4Runner, the only thing that ever really caught my eye and made me a little jealous was an 80 series Land Cruiser. I could always talk myself down though, they were just too big, and they only came to the US as automatics. Even after the 4Runner abruptly exited my life (see next post), I still didn't immediately start looking for an 80 series. I actually immediately tried to buy another manual 4Runner from another co-worker, but she was not quite ready to sell. Once I realized I was probably going to have to settle for an automatic (the first I have owned in 30 years of driving) I expanded my horizons. The short list became...
GX470
5th Gen 4Runner
80 Series Land Cruiser
100 Series Land Cruiser
Since I wanted something newer than my 98 4Runner with lower miles and in better overall condition, I concentrated on the GX470 and 100 Series for a while. We already have a 5th gen T4R in the family (wife) and the 80 series would have me with a vehicle a year older than my 3rd gen at best.
What I was looking for...
Newer than my 3rd gen (98)
Significantly lower mileage (~325K)
Good overall shape / Few mechanical issues
Lockers a must
Gray or black preferred, don't love white on any of these for me.
Goals for the build...
Honestly, probably 80% of its time will be on road.
It does not need to be a daily driver
More aggressive / built than the 4Runner
I don't do a ton of wheeling, but the next time my friends call and want to do something like Moab or the Mohave Road, I want to be able to hop in and go.
So, let's get started... Remember, this story starts in January of this year (2019), so these first few posts will be backstory / catching up. Some decisions have already been made.
Jason
Since I have had this thing since March, and we may be close to some progress, figured I might as well start a build thread. I only joined Mud in March, but I have been lurking for years. I have driven a 3rd gen 4Runner for most of the last decade, lot's of good info here.
My 4Runner was a little unusual, it was a 5 speed SR5 with leather. I purchased it from the original owner, who was a co-worker at the time, with just under 200K miles on the clock. My plan was to use it to pull a trailer and do some occasional wheeling. I then proceeded to drive it almost daily for the next 9 years or so. It wasn't a true unicorn, it had open diffs and I never found the axles to correct that at the right price.
While I drove the 4Runner, the only thing that ever really caught my eye and made me a little jealous was an 80 series Land Cruiser. I could always talk myself down though, they were just too big, and they only came to the US as automatics. Even after the 4Runner abruptly exited my life (see next post), I still didn't immediately start looking for an 80 series. I actually immediately tried to buy another manual 4Runner from another co-worker, but she was not quite ready to sell. Once I realized I was probably going to have to settle for an automatic (the first I have owned in 30 years of driving) I expanded my horizons. The short list became...
GX470
5th Gen 4Runner
80 Series Land Cruiser
100 Series Land Cruiser
Since I wanted something newer than my 98 4Runner with lower miles and in better overall condition, I concentrated on the GX470 and 100 Series for a while. We already have a 5th gen T4R in the family (wife) and the 80 series would have me with a vehicle a year older than my 3rd gen at best.
What I was looking for...
Newer than my 3rd gen (98)
Significantly lower mileage (~325K)
Good overall shape / Few mechanical issues
Lockers a must
Gray or black preferred, don't love white on any of these for me.
Goals for the build...
Honestly, probably 80% of its time will be on road.
It does not need to be a daily driver
More aggressive / built than the 4Runner
I don't do a ton of wheeling, but the next time my friends call and want to do something like Moab or the Mohave Road, I want to be able to hop in and go.
So, let's get started... Remember, this story starts in January of this year (2019), so these first few posts will be backstory / catching up. Some decisions have already been made.
Jason
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