Quote:
Originally Posted by beklemmung
I live in an apartment and don't have a decent space to do any work (or space in my apartment to start storing tools).
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I started that way too, on the 23rd floor of an apartment building in Washington DC... with just an open parking lot for vehicles. I did a ton of work in that (and other) parking lots, just doing what I could wrap up in a couple hours. I was never hassled despite lots of talk about being hassled online. That was before I knew anyone/met anyone who was in any better of a situation, within a year I was renting a room in a house and had an actual garage, and several friends had places with off-street parking and/or garages.
As for the tools, you'd be surprised what little you need in the way of tools. I worked as a professional wrench (motorcycles) with just a 3-drawer "Rally" box (typical small hand-held thing). 5 screwdrivers, combo wrenches from 8mm to 19mm, 1/4 and 3/8 sockets and ratchets, and 3 or 4 different pliers. Sometimes having a different tool will make a little easier/faster, but rarely is it needed. I suspect you could have the lions share of the tools needed to work on the 4runner stowed IN the 4runner, in the cubby on the back passenger side.
When you start buying tools, don't buy "kits" (sockets and wrenches excluded), just buy what you need to do the job you want to do. Buy the best you can afford... no clue what the "quality home mechanic" brands are these days as I bought into Snap-on for 50% off (deal they extend to those in trade schools, or Did extend at one time) decades ago.
Point I'm trying to make is where there's a will, there's a way. You don't need a ton of tools, or a special space, to do the types of things a new mechanic will be doing. Especially with the 4runner, where you can easily slide under it without lifting it off the ground.
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'99 Limited 4x4, Millenium Silver ~
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