It's been fun.....

ARK_SWAMP_RIDER

ARK_SWAMP_RIDER

New member
I love my 4th gen, but I've also been thinking about getting a "trail" rig and using the 4runner for daily driving only (and an occasional hunting trip). I happened across a great deal on a 88 pickup over the weekend and pulled the trigger. I'm unsure at the moment what I'll be doing with my 4th gen and the mods, I've been considering going closer to stock for better ride, handling, and mpg's. I'm not going anywhere, that's for sure, but my 4runner "build" has pretty much come to a close. I'll be slowly working on the pickup for the foreseeable future. Here's the new rig, it's mostly stock as far as I can tell except 31x10.50 all terrains and custom rear bumper.



 
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Nice truck! Stop in the Classics section from time to time and let us know what you're up to with it, it's practically identical to a 4Runner anyway. If anyody gives you any guff, just run over their toes or something.
 
build the 4th gen to be the best tow/recovery vehicle for your new off-road toy! If/when you do wheel the pickup I'd take the bed off and store it. Those beds are worth a lot undented as most of those trucks just got used as beater work trucks. A buddy I've wheeled with has a similar pickup and hated the fact he left his on after all the dents it has seen.
 
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Nice truck. I have also been considering an older trail rig. The 4th gen is still used as a family car, and I think a beater would be more fun anyway. I woud rather laugh about damage and drag it out of the woods then worry about my nice runner all the time. Im thinking about a 1st or high mileage 3rd
gen runner. It would be cool to take the bed off your (new)truck and make an exo cage for it.
 
that is a tidy little truck. So rare to see one that hasn't been over run with rust and dents.

a cage on the back would look awesome.

lol I was just thinking it's almost a shame to put that truck on the trails, its in such good condition.
 
Thanks guys! It isn't quite as clean as the pics show, definitely not something "too" nice to use. I do plan to take it easy and keep it in good shape, but if/when I do get damage from the trail it'll be much better on this than my 4th gen.

I've had BAMF sliders on order for my 4th gen since February, they haven't been built yet. Talked to Jerry this morning and he's gonna make me a set for the pickup instead. I'll be replacing tires soon, just can't decide what just yet. Other stuff will come with time.
 
The title worried me there for a sec, I thought we were going to loose our resident suspension expert. Glad to see your keeping the 4th gen.
 
If I had a house with extra space I'd probably put the search on for a nice first gen 4Runner with the removable top. those are almost unicorn status around here but such a nice little vehicle.

T4ROTM makes me want one.

cant wait to see what you do with the truck.
 
Red said:
If I had a house with extra space I'd probably put the search on for a nice first gen 4Runner with the removable top. those are almost unicorn status around here but such a nice little vehicle.

T4ROTM makes me want one.

cant wait to see what you do with the truck.
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There's one close to where I live, a little beat up, with I think 32's or 33's and Sparco's in place of the factory seats, he's got the top of now for summer. Makes me almost want to get one too!
 
BlackWorksInc said:
There's one close to where I live, a little beat up, with I think 32's or 33's and Sparco's in place of the factory seats, he's got the top of now for summer. Makes me almost want to get one too!
Click to expand...

Only ones I see around here are either heavily modded for the trail or complete junkers that need engine rebuilds and a ton of body work. could make a nice project vehicle out of one though.
 
Haha....I don't believe in that J word you speak of.

My dad has a 87 that I've started fixing up, was actually at my dad's putting a lift, ball joints, tie rod ends, and some other miscellaneous parts this past weekend and saw this pickup on my way home. I've always wanted a 1st gen 4runner, actually test drove one a few weeks ago. It was in much worse condition than this pickup and more money, not to mention it was an auto and couldn't get out of it's own way. I finally decided that since I drive a 4runner and wife drives a Camry, another 4runner didn't make sense and we'd be better off with a truck, so when this one popped up I jumped on it.
 
Congrats man! That's my dream trail rig right there! Lift that shit! At least get the sagg out of the rear!! Keep us updated.
 
I'm right behind you with this. I have just a few more things I want to do then I will have a good tow pig/ weekend wheeler. I want to build a track day road car or get into bike track days. The 4runner will do perfect for hauling either of these and once I'm done I wont sell it due to boredom.
 
For those that are interested, here's an update on the pickup. It's pretty much where I want it to be, will eventually do a suspension upgrade and rear locker. Nothing extreme as I do plan on being able to daily drive this as needed.

Since purchase:
Zuk mod to help rear sag
31x10.50 Mickey Thompson MTZ's
1" Body lift
BAMF sliders

Before:
IMG_20130512_144255_885_zps73f7f0b2.jpg~original


After:




 
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KidVermicious said:
Diggin' it. That little beauty is almost too purty to wheel!
Click to expand...

i agree!!! very nice find!
i kinda went the other way from my '88p/u that i've wheeled for about 10 years to building my 3rd gen. for me it was more about being able to fit the kids and gear in it. but i still love my truck although my wife keeps bugging me to get rid of it to fund my runner project. that's like asking a guy to put down his dog for no apparent reason!

anyway, good luck with your build. the one thing you will love about that truck is that parts are easier to find and waaaaaaay cheaper!!!:cheers:
 
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