Yeah, I was so pissed that I went to the PD headquarters the next morning and gave the on-duty sergeant an earful. I told this gal that it's a bad sign when a pro law enforcement person like myself is upset with the policing practices of a municipality. I explained the officer obviously knew we weren't from their town and weren't familiar with the areas where the speed limit drops to 20 mph. It was around 8:30pm and there wasn't hardly any other cars on the road nor were there any pedestrians. It was actually a mix of businesses and residential so not clearly an area where reduced speed would be expected. You think you'd be safe from a ticket driving 27 mph, but I was wrong on that one. I ran into a retired firefighter that worked in Los Angeles but now lived in Idaho. He told me he was pulled over a lot until he got rid of his California plates.

Anyway, enough about the Ketchum police force. I did visit those hot springs and my girlfriend and I enjoyed them for a while. They were right off a fire road that we drove down to access some trails. But, I don't remember talking to anyone about 4runners while I was there. It must of been another 3rd Gen enthusiast.

I have to admit I love buying tools. I think I have a tool buying disease just like others on this forum do, @LittleCaesar being one of them. If I think a tool will make my wrenching life easier, I'll buy it. I got by with very little as a kid with my crescent wrench, vice grips and channel locks. It's nice having lots of tools to draw from now to make a job that much easier to accomplish. Why struggle when you can just go back to tool box and pull out another tool that will work better. Some guys that wrench with me are in amazement when I keep pulling out more tools and finally find the one that works for us.

I understand, don't happen to agree but I understand. For awhile I made my living spinning wrench, bought the specialty stuff as needed but I don't have duplicates (meaning I don't own ratcheting box-wrench as I already owned both box wrench and ratchets ~ too fine of a niche). Even where I was earning a living, the time savings of "easier" didn't justify the purchase or storage price.

But I look at things differently than most and I know it. "Easier" is a luxury, satisfying a "want" not a "need". And for NEW mechanics, knowing that they don't need this Massive toolbox and collection of tools, is important. They don't have to have stubby, regular and lock combination wrenches, in both standard and ratcheting, metric and SAE (12 different "sets"). They don't need shallow, medium and deep sockets in 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 in both chrome and impact versions. "Easier" to a new mechanic isn't something they're going to recognize for lack of experience. Now, I might suggest different than I bought/own (those ratcheting combo wrenches didn't exist when I bought the bulk of my tools), but the lions share of tools needed will fit in the smallest toolbox you can buy... I'm thinking a jack/stands, oil catch, etc.. as the exceptions.

Of course, the more you do, the more you need tool-wise. But that's not really important to the new mechanic. I'm not going to recommend a shop press to someone who hasn't even changed all their fluids, or replaced brake components...

Ah, I don't really pay attention to user names, glad you found an option. Does that setup not have a mentor-type program? I know that typical "hacker spaces" do (people who know the tools/work, you usually have to take a class from them before being allowed ot touch the tools anyway), you just have to pay for their time/schedule when you're there. The other option is to reach out on here.



That's actually one thing I miss from the motorcycle community, the frequency and availability of "tech days". Weekends when a bunch of people would gather at someones house and work on projects. I've always lived in the boonies away from people, but I've driven a couple hundred miles to lend my skills at a few of those events over the years. I think there's a post somewhere else on this forum (different section) that lists people who are willing to help others in need, sure would be nice to see that mirrored in here too with more of a focus on helping with mechanic/maintenance work. Some of us never venture to any other sections than this 3rd gen (seriously, it's the only part of this whole forum I visit/read).

Yes that's a whole nother discussion. My 3rd gen is sort of a zen garden to me. It's funny because I was just listening to a podcast where they were talking about this stuff and a book called Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. My 3rd gen has a definite esoteric wabi-sabi vibe going.

Lol, sounds like they only read the first chapter or two.... the book has very little to do with wrenching, it takes a Hard left turn from there and gets plain odd by the end. I read it once, decades ago, when I was in college in Bozeman, MT and Persing was going to visit my English prof (a former student) and our class...

Here's a personal prime example of DIY saving time & money.
A Friday afternoon. Wife, kids & I headed to in-laws for dinner in our minivan.
Stop at store, there's a "pop" and the brake pedal goes to the floor. Busted a front flex hose. Rear brakes do still work, so drive ½ mile to in-laws. Buy a new hose and brake fluid. Before dinner is ready the car is repaired. Cost $25.
If not DIY it would have been:
Tow to garage ($). They'll check it our Monday or Tuesday. Quote for brake job ($). They'll maybe have it done by the end of the week, maybe next week.
So one hour and $25 vs two weeks and $200.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Tim I think your right on with your videos if there are some that think they are to long they should just pull a book and go do the repair. My story is similar to yours I to am a late baby boomer and also a retired Fire Fighter( CDf'er you know what that means ha ha). I took all the shop classes in High School and then ended up going to UTI out of High School. I ended up going to work at a Dealer-ship after getting out of UTI after three years I got picked up full time working for CDF.

The amount of money saved by me and the wife is into the Tens of Thousands of dollars if you factor in payments interest, insurance and California Licencing fees. We have owned only two new cars a 1993 Geo Metro and a 2002 Honda Accord EX-L both we drove till the wheels fell off. We currentlly have two 2001 4Runners a SR5 and a Sport model 2wd. One of them has a JDM engine swap and the other I rebuilt the engine. I would not hesitate to drive either one any long distance the wifes SR5 has made 3 Vegas trips and 3 trips to Northern California from Temecula.

Keep up the good work

Are you here just to distribute links to BS sites about weight loss and cat food?

This site is filthy with spammers. Go look at your profile and who’s visited it. 99% will be BS accounts.

Is nothing sacred anymore?