'99 Toyota 4Runner. Runnin' down a dream.

[MCObray]

I know exactly what you mean. The previous owner of my 99 had backed over a mailbox, so there was a dent in the left side of the rear bumper as well as one just below the rear window. Most people probably did not notice, but it drove me crazy. My paint was also toast as the previous owner apparently never washed it or waxed it (and left every bird dropping ever dropped on it so that it ate through the paint and made blemishes all over the hood, roof, and A-D pillars). I ultimately sold it because I couldn't stand the thought of putting more time and money into it with it looking like it did. I like to keep my junk as pristine as possible, so it had to go.

I was so close to picking up a cherry 2001 I found with 40k miles on it (in late 2012), but decided against it as I regularly tow more than my 99 was comfortable with.

I love your new ride and can't wait to see what kind of change you make with it. Congrats!

It always bothered me. I like and clean and straight, regardless of the car, boat, bike, etc. So I definitely feel your pain that category. If the body was straight, I don't know if I would have ever sold it BUT, oh well, whatcha going to do.

Thanks for the kind words, and I look forward to actually getting this one out off paved roads.

I'm actually now out of the Subaru as well, and looking for a 3rd gen 4runner. How did you find such a great vehicle? Autotrader?

I was worried about mpg and range, how's yours?

Why no interest in the 4th gen with the 4.0litre ?

Oh nice. I found it by being obsessive. I had a window dedicated to search on Craigslist in PDX, Seattle, Bend, Medford, Salem, etc. Anywhere in the surrounding 500 or so miles. I have found all my vehicles on Craigslist... love it.

I'm at 188 miles, and only at half tank. I don't know if fuel gauge is broke, or if it is the P rated tires, but this tank is doing me a solid. Hopefully I won't run out of gas here in the next 75 to 100 miles. In my previous 4Runner, with 265/75/16 Load Range E tires, I averaged 15MPG-17MPG. Not bad, not good.

No interest in the 4th Gen because I much prefer the sleek lines of the 3rd gen. What a great looking rides these 3rd Gens are... not to say 4th Gens are not. Plus 4th Gens are out of my price range and modifications cost a lot more. A lot of parts are interchangeable with the 3rd Gen, such as 1st Gen Tacomas, Tundras, LCs, etc. And to think about it, i'm a late 90s car guy. All the cars I have owned have been 97'-00' models. What a great collections of years, I tell ya.

 

[rickashay]

No interest in the 4th Gen because I much prefer the sleek lines of the 3rd gen. What a great looking rides these 3rd Gens are... not to say 4th Gens are not. Plus 4th Gens are out of my price range and modifications cost a lot more. A lot of parts are interchangeable with the 3rd Gen, such as 1st Gen Tacomas, Tundras, LCs, etc. And to think about it, i'm a late 90s car guy. All the cars I have owned have been 97'-00' models. What a great collections of years, I tell ya.

I agree Mason, something about the 3rd Gen just makes it timeless. Im a huge fan of the square-ish ridge over the front and rear wheel wells... The 3rd gen is one of my favorite 4x4 bodies of all time. I didnt say this, but I even prefer it over my 80 in that category.

Your new ride looks minty fresh and good choice on the 32" Duratracs. I read about the eBay deal too and wow thats a good price. My vote is you find some 80-Series wheels on CL, they look awesome on the 3rd gen and give you a more stable, and wider stance. Not to mention, more room in between the UCA's with the bigger tires. Stoked for this build to move along. Your Subie was cool but the Runner is cooler! haha

Yah I'm looking forward to my trip. Although 2 weeks gets swallowed up pretty quick when you have such a long drive to get down there! Maybe later in the summer/fall we could meet up and do some camping/wheeling in your area... we'll meet up one of these days for sure!

Cheers

 

[MCObray]

I agree Mason, something about the 3rd Gen just makes it timeless. Im a huge fan of the square-ish ridge over the front and rear wheel wells... The 3rd gen is one of my favorite 4x4 bodies of all time. I didnt say this, but I even prefer it over my 80 in that category.

Your new ride looks minty fresh and good choice on the 32" Duratracs. I read about the eBay deal too and wow thats a good price. My vote is you find some 80-Series wheels on CL, they look awesome on the 3rd gen and give you a more stable, and wider stance. Not to mention, more room in between the UCA's with the bigger tires. Stoked for this build to move along. Your Subie was cool but the Runner is cooler! haha

Yah I'm looking forward to my trip. Although 2 weeks gets swallowed up pretty quick when you have such a long drive to get down there! Maybe later in the summer/fall we could meet up and do some camping/wheeling in your area... we'll meet up one of these days for sure!

Cheers

Great minds think alike... I've got a line with 2 people off Craigslist for the LC 80 Wheels. Now just trying to figure out the best price I can get for the Wheels. If it all works out, the LC80 Wheels will be going on the Duratracs once they're received. I'm thinking of sandblasting the wheels and either go with a graphite or a semi-flat black on the wheels. The LC wheel will look just righhhht... They look great on Hepar's 4Runner, and that's what solidified for me.

 

[MCObray]

Heres another small modification I made over the weekend. I replaced in inner fender screws for kiks, as well as clearance issues down the road if they ever were to present itself.
Before:

After:

 

[happyhomemaker]

All those uploaded pictures here look really wonderful! Thanks for sharing. Those 1999 Toyota 4 Runner is so rugged yet stylish mid-size vehicle. It can accomodate five passengers. This is a mid-size sport utility and unique vehicle that I know which is very reliable. According to many reviews that I have encountered, even the interior of this SUV looks great. Good luck to everyone who owns this vehicle! I'm sure it will be worth riding there.

 

[vonguido]

Glad to see you're back in another 4Runner, sad its not another XJ(Followed your build on Cherokeeforum and Jeepforum), however I understand the appeal of the 4Runner. I will be following this closely like all your builds. You go the extra mile(figuratively and literally) to make your builds some of the best around. Keep up the solid work man. Also looking forward to some new off road videos.

 

[MCObray]

All those uploaded pictures here look really wonderful! Thanks for sharing. Those 1999 Toyota 4 Runner is so rugged yet stylish mid-size vehicle. It can accomodate five passengers. This is a mid-size sport utility and unique vehicle that I know which is very reliable. According to many reviews that I have encountered, even the interior of this SUV looks great. Good luck to everyone who owns this vehicle! I'm sure it will be worth riding there.

Thanks! What you stated, is why I find myself in a Runner .

Glad to see you're back in another 4Runner, sad its not another XJ(Followed your build on Cherokeeforum and Jeepforum), however I understand the appeal of the 4Runner. I will be following this closely like all your builds. You go the extra mile(figuratively and literally) to make your builds some of the best around. Keep up the solid work man. Also looking forward to some new off road videos.

Thanks man, much appreciated! It's humbling, as weird as that sounds, to hear those words spoke in reference to the vehicles I have owned and now own. I gain so much inspiration from vehicle modifications, whether it be a Toyota/Jeep/Land Rover/Nissan/etc., so to be able to pick what I like and not like from those modifications seen on these forums is just awesome. I still log on JeepForum a few times a week just for kicks. Lots of good people over there...

 

[MCObray]

Suns out here in Oregon... and well my day just get that much better.

LT265/75/16 Load Range C. Goodyear Duratracs. by Bucky Images, on Flickr

 

[tip]

Nice purchase, jealous of your e-locker! Will be watching this one.

 

[Loubaru]

Got my tires in yesterday! Will probably get them mounted this weekend...Thanks again for the heads up! Even the fiancee agreed that it was a good buy considering the savings.

 

[vonguido]

Not sure if you saw this or not, since you used to have an RTT
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/122653-2014-CVT-Group-buy!

 

[MCObray]

Nice purchase, jealous of your e-locker! Will be watching this one.

Thank you! E-Locker was a must. It goes along the lines, for me at least, that 'I rather have it and not need it, then need it and not have it.'

Got my tires in yesterday! Will probably get them mounted this weekend...Thanks again for the heads up! Even the fiancee agreed that it was a good buy considering the savings.

Yeeeeew! Hope you were as stoked as I was. I love when I get new tread. You're welcome, but all credit goes to a guy off T4R who happen to pass the good word a long. Saved me, as well as many others, mucho bucks!

Not sure if you saw this or not, since you used to have an RTT
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/122653-2014-CVT-Group-buy!

I did see that indeed. Bobby was a great guy to deal with, and I love that there only a 100 miles away in Central Oregon... boy do I need to get out that way some more. Beautiful country. As much as I liked the RTT, it will not be necessary with the 4Runner. Compared to the interior space of the XJ, the Runner has gobs of it! I had trouble just simply packing up the car with the Jeep, not so much with the 4Runner. When I start to get more out and about, I'll simply just be sleeping inside of my Runner. I have a small frame and there is plenty of room to sprawl out and make it my home.

 

[MCObray]

Ok, tires and wheels got mounted today. I initially was on the hunt for some 80-Series LC Wheels, but to my avail nothing was available for the price I was willing to pay. I deferred to the 3-Spoke alloy wheels that I found for a good price off CList. Was it my first choice? No. But staring at a nice set of tires on your porch will make you find something suitable . The wheels are growing on me more and more, and I found some inspiration from KeepExploring running them. The wheels were oxidizing, and I had some left over paint so at 10PM last night, I said the heck with it and threw on a few coats of paint. Running boards have also been removed.

photo 1 by Bucky Images, on Flickr

1999 Toyota 4Runner. by Bucky Images, on Flickr

Side profile. by Bucky Images, on Flickr

 

[mortonm]

Looking good

 

[deadbeat son]

Looks great, congrats on the new shoes!