Getting tired of getting stuck in the hunting woods and having to park way far away to avoid doing so, so I checked craigslist around me for an old runner. Not much around but over priced 2nd and 3rd gens. I found one 87,2 door, 4cyl auto, terrible pictures, covered in mud, a real ringer... he was asking 1500. Called him up and he said right off the bat that he'd blown the motor 2 weeks ago mudding, so it's out of the truck and he bought another one to put back in, reportedly with 80k on it, and the price is now 1200. I don't know jack about 22re's and don't know what kind of mess he may have, but assuming the new motor is decent, and the truck is mostly all there, would a grand be fair? He said he half way cut his hand off, gotta love craigslist, so he can't finish putting it back together.

1) stay away from an auto 22re....motor is gutless to begin with and the auto makes it even worse
2) this specific truck does not sound like a good deal. Auto,unknown motor, who knows what else is wrong with it if he killed the motor mudding

Id say keep looking around because any 25-30yr old truck is gonna need some work but you dont really want to fix someone elses incomplete project.
The 22re's are pretty gutless but dam near unstoppable.
Assuming you have no problems turning a wrench a 1st gen could be pretty inexpensive to get into good running order, parts are cheap.
So for me i like 1st gens because they are just plain awesome to look at, parts are cheap, very capable even in stock form.

Continue the search youll find the one sooner or later

10-4, I don't mind turning a wrench at all, I just won't know what's missing from a pile of parts and all those last minute nickel and dime pieces really add up. There's just not much around here for 4runners, hard to come by. I'd love to build some bumpers for it and of course, have a 4X to hit the woods with.

You absolutely need a 1st gen. I mean, come on, the top comes off, what else do you need to know? 1200 is a lot to me for a beat-up mudded truck in the middle of a motor swap, I'd give this one a pass. Normally I'd agree that you want to skip the auto, but that's not such a big deal for a woods/trail truck. If this was going to be a daily driver or roadtripper that'd be a different story.

Below 1000 is certainly fair for a mudded truck - I assume the interior is trashed? Is the body straight? Damage to the sheet metal or a thrashed interior oughta bring the price down to 700 or 800, and unless you're planning an SAS you probably ought to make sure the frame is straight.

It's definitely getting harder to find these trucks in good condition though. Be ready to drive for a decent one. Texas has some great clean trucks.

Why get a 4x4 1st gen...or 2nd gen...classic 4runner.

You will use it mainly for hunting. You don't need nice, new and shinny, and you can throw stuff in the back and not worry about dirt. If you're more than 2 people, you have seats for them in the back too.

The rear is leaf sprung. You can add a leaf....makes ride harder but does give lift, easily for cheap. Or you can just try and cram larger 31" mud tires for example a la Lift-Less method. The 4x4 and mud tires will help with your getting stuck situation. And might be all you need.

Further helping your getting stuck situation is a basic winch mount. On 1st gens they easily bolt right to the front of the frame. You can try to fit this on while retaining you original front bumper without the expense of a plate winch bumper for example. You may need to trim a little of the grill or the bumper. For getting unstuck on hunting roads, a simple 8000lbs winch is probably more than enough to give you an extra tug to pull you out. I don't know what you hunt, but if it's big you can winch your game out of a ditch too, maybe even put up a pulley on a tree branch and you string him up for cleaning.

Plus since you weld, you can use this winch mount as a base for putting some tube and making a bumper out of it fairly quick and simple.

https://www.trail-gear.com/TG/Toyota_Winch_Mount__84-88_Pickup_/i_0_0_4477/_120249-1-KIT.aspx#.VK1QCGdOWM8

The 4cyl differential is easier and cheaper to get a locker into. I'm thinking budget build here. You might not even need this, with 31" MTs and a little winch, but it is an option. After you use the truck you will know if you need or want it. Nice to know you can install this yourself, without spending 1000$ on the locker and 200$ on compressor and 400$ on install cost, like an air locker for example.

Spartan locker install and review

The most pain in the butt issue I've had with my old school 4runner is a no start issue. Fixed it with a solution similar to the below.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/classic-t4rs/119611-final-fix-intermittent-no-crank-22re.html#post1117438

There could be other issues, but the no start issue 10miles into the woods won't be fun. Plus there is a way to jumper the starter too. Look that up, and prepare for it. I actually used spade connectors to my starter, so if my relay goes or something, I can bypass to a jumper cable to the battery and push button switch in cab....like a push button start switch in newer cars while I'm inside. No needing to touch the battery terminals while trying to stick the other end into the starter terminal.

Some also have fixed it with replacing the starter contacts. Do a search for that. lookup starter contact repair . could be either or

....I'll vouch for this. I have an '86 with an auto and it doesn't compliment the already anemic 22RE at all. However, it does fine enough (IMO/IME) at speed (cruising) or mulling around on trails, etc. Passing, getting up to speed on short on ramps, etc. is a different story. That's why mine only sees limited duty a couple of times a month. If I had to daily-drive this thing I think I would shoot myself.

Same old complaints about the a340, if your not willing or do not have the skills to update it. STAY AWAY FROM IT !!! You will only be left butt hurt from spending and never happy with your runner. Thus possibly sending another one to the crusher.

Your in florida so mud is a constant probably, so a manual is some what more forgiving. The auto will heat up. Manual t-case is okay for trails not geared very low, auto t-case is geared lower with tc and trans and will crawl better with more control. Any auto of this gen 86-91 is likely to have issues, some 91-95's were updated by Toyota and run great.

It's all up to you, it's your hard earned cash being spent. Get one that you can be happy with

Well now I can't get a word out of the guy. I guess his hand fell all the way off or something and he can't type. I sure was hoping to find a first gen for under 1500. The only other things for sale around me, for a hundred miles, are 3000$ 2nd gens with 250k on them. I don't want anything but a toyota either. The search continues.

In my case, I'm perfectly happy leaving my '86 in its stock form (a340 and all). ….no regrets in acquiring, maintaining and keeping it. It's in great condition with very few issues. …but then again, I understand its limitations and don’t need/expect more than what it can do. I jokingly mentioned that I would shoot myself if I had to daily-drive it but then I would feel the same way if it had a manual to be honest. Simply too gutless, period. I enjoy it as a “once in a while” vehicle though for errands, hauling, trails, etc. .....no plans on sending this one to the crusher (although I might sell it eventually).

1985 Toyota 4Runner

This is what I was hoping to find, just not the price I want to pay. EVERYONE around with an old 4runner seems to think they're very collectible and prices are high. What should this one be priced at? I'm fine with a beater, as long as it runs, but an all original would be sweet.

talk me into a first gen

All of the above AND because first-gens are the sexiest MoreFunners by far

If I can hear, see, feel and smell it run well, I'd be happy to pay that for an 85.
However, if you do not plan to do hardcore rock crawling, IFS is fine.

That's probably about right for a clean '85 unfortunately, perhaps a little on the high side? Maybe you didn't notice, but they ARE becoming collectible . You'll pay a little more for one with a solid axle, I'd aim for an '86-'89. IFS is better for 99.9% of 4Runner owners anyway.

There's your answer to the question of why these things usually fetch a relatively high price. ;) I wouldn't say they are collectible but they do have an appeal to enough consumers in the market that folks can comfortably ask the prices they do. Frankly, if I didn't acquire my 4Runner the way I did, I never would have bought one.

If you're lucky you might find clean 4Runner from a long time owner who isn't really aware of how desirable they are.

Dang that is a beauty, and pic says it all ! Look at his runner and enough said on why you should get a 1st gen

that price is just about right.
just high enough to leave a little bargaining room, so both the buyer, and seller feel good about the "deal".

in good shape these things are worth a lot.



for $1500 or under you are going to get a beater, that's going to require a lot of work/maintenance to get up to snuff.