Recent content by ToolmanJohn

Very good towing rig Aside from the fact that VW doesn't recommend using a weight distribuiting hitch at all ( a lot of people still do anyway , I personally don't need one) , this vehicle can PULL... Cruise set at 70mph, the transmission stays in 8th at 1800 rpm unless I am on a steep...

I bought one Pulled the trigger on a 2013 Touareg Sport TDI... After having it for 2 weeks and 1000 miles, I can say, damn, it's nice. WHY is Toyota stupid about importing diesels, or even building them here instead to get around the tarifs?? Enjoyed the 4runner for all ten years of...

Wish I was in Cali I will be putting my 2003 4runner Limited V6 4wd up for sale early next month, but I live in Connecticut. It'll sell for around $11k-12k. Dealership wanted to give me $7000 in trade. HA...

Well it was a close one. My 2003 4runner V6, although still running great and no real issues, is 10 years old, and not a great highway tow vehicle, 10-11mpg (for small travel trailer) at 60-65 mph. The 4runner is consistant at 16mpg mixed, for the area I live, many hills , not much highway...

Someone beat me to it, but yes, your stock V6 crossmember mounted receiver cannot use a WD hitch, and is NOT recommended for a sway control setup either. You would have to install a full frame mounted receiver (class 4). Around $200 if you do it yourself ( I did last year so I could use a...

Just chiming in This is a heavy vehicle. And where the rubber meets the road is the ONLY way to get better traction. Engine braking won't help at all if there is ice, or extremely slippery conditions. No traction is NO traction. The BEST solution for low traction are the anti-lock brakes, and a...

Here's my new one for 2013 2013 Specialized Stumpjumper FSR Expert Carbon 29er . Old picture. The bike is currently a 1x10 drivetrain and I love it.

Wasn't a real leak It turns out it was never a leak. Just the oil spray from the WD-40 I had used (admittedly not a good test). After a couple months there still wasn't any sign of more oil. I'm glad, because removing the driver side valve cover appears to be a lot of work removing the bits...

Wait for trouble If you have checked the OBDII computer and there are no codes for failed O2 sensors, why spend money and time on it? I have never heard of a pre-emptive replacement of O2 sensors. If one goes bad, replace it. Your truck won't be ruined by having an bad O2 sensor for a while...

I think my biggest obstacle with any SUV diesel (Jeep, VW, BMW, Audi) is the entry price. They are all well north of $45k - up to $65k... Imagine, a $50,4995 Jeep Summit , diesel.... It is a Jeep. I won't pay that much even if it's a Toyota. And right now, Toyota has no comparable diesel...

I almost exclusively use the 4LO when backing up to my travel trailer, because I can crawl it into position very accurately, even on an incline. I also use 4LO to store my trailer in the back yard up a steep hillside, I would rip up the yard in regular 2wd or 4wd. I also use 4hi when it...

Same for Jeep GC Motor is extremely good by all accounts. It's also going into NATO forces small diesel vehicles. Manufactured by VM Motori in Centi Italy. Not built by Chrysler or Fiat. Gale Banks Engineering in California is doing power upgrades on this exact powerplant, and it might be up to...

You should try and keep it close to parallel. Just measure to the top of the trailer hitch, and measure to the top of the 4runnr reciever hole . Depending on the hitch ball size you require, you can get close with a calculation for the type of drop bar or rise bar you need. If it's off an inch...

Fixed a very bad "clunk" in the front end this week. It started quite suddenly with no leadup at all. It happened only when quickly turning lefy/right back and forth with the steering wheel. so I knew it was related to something in the front end. When I got home from work I jacked the front...

Yes, the 5th generation 4runner have no V8 option, it was dropped for 2010 I think. The V8 almost always came equipped with a side frame mounted reciever, and they have a higher tow and tongue weight capacity than the rear crossmember mounted V6 version. The V6 version is NOT recommended to...