jlstick2's 2002 'CascadeRunner' Build-Thread

[offroadxplr]

I wish Coconino county had a 4x4 SAR team... I'd join it in a heartbeat! But for now, I'll stay on the K9 team. SAR is a really fun way to get out and help community members. Highly recommend joining!

 

[FizzleStixs]

After getting the truck, I was very excited to try it out off of the pavement. I decided that I'd head East on I-90 to Snoqualmie Pass and then take the exit for Tinkham Road. The drive started off great, I was loving the way the truck handled off-road. stopped along the Snoqualmie River to take a few pictures. After a few more miles of driving down the road, it began to get icy, the amount of snow was also increasing. Once I could hear the snow and ice scraping against my skid plate I decided that I'd better turn around. There was a bridge about 90 feet in front of me with what looked like a suitable place to turn around. Just before the bridge however, I got high-centered. For the next 3 hours or so I attempted to dig myself out from underneath, it was to no avail. The snow and ice was too hard, it was trying to dig through concrete. I spent the next half hour assessing my options, I knew my dad wouldn't be off of work for another 6 hours. In desperation, I posted on 3rd Gen 4runner Mafia to see if anyone was in the general vicinity and could offer some assistance. Unfortunately, everyone nearby seemed to be preoccupied. That's when Bonnie (Meema Yota) called me saying that she could come to help if need be. Even though she lives an hour away in Graham, she selflessly hopped into her 4runner and was on her way. About 20 minutes later I received another call from a fellow 4runner owner named Robert, he told me he was also going to come up. Meema and him would be meeting up in North Bend and then convoying up together. About an hour later I saw Robert's built 2nd Gen in my rear view mirrors. He attached his winch up to my tow hitch and 10 minutes later I was out of my predicament. We turned around and headed back down the road, I made sure to keep my speed up so that I wouldn't get stuck again. After reaching the end of the road, we conversed a bit and took some photos. I am so amazed that two complete strangers would take time out their days to come assist me over an hour away. I truly feel that I've made two genuine friends. Lesson learned: NEVER SNOW WHEEL ALONE!

Reminds me of a time when I got my first 4x4. It was a stock 1994 jeep Cherokee with the 6 cylinder engine. I went up some trail with a buddy who had an old carbureted, lifted Toyota pickup. He ended up going through the snow first with me following right behind. Since his truck was so light and he had wide tires he kind of just floated on top of the snow while my pizza cutter street tires dug right through. I got high centered and it was this huge ordeal that lasted 5 hours in the freezing night. We ended up having to trek out to the main road to get a cell signal and call his dad to come pull us out. I ended the night with a broken brake line, cracked front grille, and a very very upset girlfriend who was wondering why I haven't messaged her in a while. Good times.

 

[4runnerflow]

I'm actually just replying to your picture so I can post a thread about my 4runner, but looks good!

 

[jlstick2]

I'm actually just replying to your picture so I can post a thread about my 4runner, but looks good!

Haha, gotta get those 15 posts in! [emoji6]

 

[jlstick2]

I took a trip out to Exit 38 after school today. I headed a little ways up but turned around after I almost got stuck. Overall it was a nice drive and I even gave a hiker and his two dogs a ride back to his car.

 

[jlstick2]

Guess where I revisited today! [MENTION=131636]Stephens.T4R[/MENTION]

 

[Stephens.T4R]

Oh damn it snowed over there again? This weekend those roads were clear. The bottom photo of the first four from 38, Is the turn off for the trail that I went up and looked the most promising. I used to be unable (or unwilling) to try and get over that big gravel hump on the top because I would have high centered on it but I was able to get over this last time and that trail is pretty fun. It has a pretty sick view with the mountain on one side and a drop off on the other that you're driving through. Went as far as I could that way before the increase in elevation saw the heavy rain turning to snowfall and there was some more downed trees so I had to do an Austin Powers turn to get out. Haha

 

[Technoplasm]

I drive a Dorado gold 2002 and it's my first truck too!

I paid 5,500 and it had 75k miles on it. I love this thing.

Soon I'm gonna swap in 99 tall coils and put on 32'' tires. My dad is a Master Diagnostic Tech at a Toyota stealership so he gets discounts on parts. He also drives a 4runner, a silver 2000.

Oh also: tfw no rear diff lock

 

[jlstick2]

Oh damn it snowed over there again? This weekend those roads were clear. The bottom photo of the first four from 38, Is the turn off for the trail that I went up and looked the most promising. I used to be unable (or unwilling) to try and get over that big gravel hump on the top because I would have high centered on it but I was able to get over this last time and that trail is pretty fun. It has a pretty sick view with the mountain on one side and a drop off on the other that you're driving through. Went as far as I could that way before the increase in elevation saw the heavy rain turning to snowfall and there was some more downed trees so I had to do an Austin Powers turn to get out. Haha

Yeah it definitely must have snowed quite a bit. If you head up exit 38 and just stay straight, you get to that big Hill, there was a sold 4 inches on it. I headed all the way up it but then wimped out and turned around. I swear I've got PTSD from that last time I got stuck.

 

[jlstick2]

I drive a Dorado gold 2002 and it's my first truck too!

I paid 5,500 and it had 75k miles on it. I love this thing.

Soon I'm gonna swap in 99 tall coils and put on 32'' tires. My dad is a Master Diagnostic Tech at a Toyota stealership so he gets discounts on parts. He also drives a 4runner, a silver 2000.

Oh also: tfw no rear diff lock

Nice man. That's a hell of a good deal. Mine was $10k with 140,000 miles. The prices in the PNW are insane.

 

[jlstick2]

I wish Coconino county had a 4x4 SAR team... I'd join it in a heartbeat! But for now, I'll stay on the K9 team. SAR is a really fun way to get out and help community members. Highly recommend joining!

It definitely is an awesome thing to do. Bring up the 4x4 idea at a board meeting or something! Ground teams always need transportation!

 

[Technoplasm]

Nice man. That's a hell of a good deal. Mine was $10k with 140,000 miles. The prices in the PNW are insane.

Yeah, but in the PNW you don't have rust to limit the life of your vehicle. I'd honestly rather pay 10k in an area where rust isnt an issue than pay 5k in an area where it ruins everything.

5.5k was an insane price even for around here though, every other 4runner for sale in the area had 150,000+ miles and they were asking over 10k for them.

This one was traded in to a Cadillac dealership (likely gonna be the biggest mistake of that guys life. Who trades a t4r for a Cadillac??), and we put a deposit on it the minute they posted it online. The morning after we bought it, the mechanics at the dealership were all angry because they wanted to buy it, and they accused the showroom guy of lying about it being sold so that he could have it for himself! I got super lucky with this truck

Another benefit of living in the PNW- you actually have places to go wheeling. The closest legal place for me is about 2 hours away, and anything closer than that is illegal and regularly patrolled by cops

Anyway, your 4R looks great. I wish I could wheel mine as much as you can though!

 

[jlstick2]

Well, it's been a while since I've posted an update on here. Lately I've been having a really hard time not buying anything to put on my runner. As earlier stated, the deal is that I must pay $3500 before I can make any modifications. Despite this, I'm still having loads of fun in my 4runner! Over the past month or so I've taken a few road trips and camping adventures with friends. I also got to meet "TheGreatHim" down in the Portland area during a dual-organization SAR event. Although my rig may not be the most capable (yet!) , expect to see a lot more adventure and trip pics in the coming months.

 

[jlstick2]

Exciting things coming in the next few weeks! I'm doing a retrofit, I also ordered up a satoshi grill with raptor lighting from SRQ fabrications!

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

 

[Gabskings]

Looking foward to see the upgrade of this truck, I'd like to join a SAR team too in my area!

 

[jlstick2]

Looking foward to see the upgrade of this truck, I'd like to join a SAR team too in my area!

Thanks! I've definitely got big plans for it. I'd definitely recommend joining a SAR team, it's such an awesome way to meet like-minded people and have great experiences.

Sent from my SM-G900P using Tapatalk

 

[jlstick2]

In the past few weeks there has been some good news and bad news regarding the 4runner. We'll start with the good; I put in an order for a Satoshi Grill coupled with LED lighting pods on it. I'm really excited to get this on the truck! Now the bad: unfortunately, after crawling under the truck tonight I noticed my driver's-side inner tie rod boot had power steering fluid on it; looks like a new steering rack is in order for the future. For now I'll probably throw in some Lucas Oil Power Steering Stop Leak to combat it.

 

[jlstick2]

It's been ages since I updated this thread. I am nearing my goal of paying off the 4runner; so close in fact, that I am only $800 away! Once all paid off I will be installing Bilstein LT 5100s with Superflexes in the rear along with Icon 2.5 Extended Coil Overs up front paired with Total Chaos UCAs. It is going to be an exciting next few months and I hope to keep this thread frequently updated. Here's a picture of my only modification so far as I've held off for the most part until it's 100% paid off.

Sent from my SPH-L900 using Tapatalk