bluecollarjock
New member
Hi,
Im a long time 4x4 guy, its the only thing Ive ever driven. Never owned a car in my life, just all full size 4x4 V8 Chevy/GMC pickups and K5s, and Jeep TJs with one Jeep WJ for good measure.
I now live in LA, and I have an 05 Jeep Rubicon, mild lift, winch, bumpers, good wheeling car and beach town car. However it stinks on the highway, gas mileage is bad, I have a long commute starting soon for grad school (80 miles a day round trip), and Im dating someone with two kids and a Jeep doesnt cut it at all. I just sold a sweet 87 GMC shortbed that was cherry, lifted, decked out, but there is not much wheeling for full sized rigs around here, 10mpg didnt cut it with gas prices, and again not practical for a family vehicle.
Ive always admire Toyotas from friends who have owned them and beat the snot out of them. I grew up doing lots of wheeling in old FJ Land Cruisers in Ohio, man they would rot out but we would patch them up and mud bog them to no end. Also many friends had pickups that went forever, and eventually I got my dad a Toyota pickup that lasted forever, just rotted out in the PA winters.
So, budget is tight and I am looking long term for a deal on a 4 Runner, maybe look over the next 6 months to a year, and not pounce on something unless its a great deal.
Im trying to read up on them, and right now what is most appealing to me is the 96-00s with the rear locker. So I imagine that is what Ill be looking for and hoping to get a lower mileage one in decent shape. Then the only modifications I think Id mess with initially are a small 2-3" lift from OME or Toytechs Ultimate lift. Id want to get ATs since this would be my daily driver for grad school, and long family trips with the girl and kids to the mountains. I could use my Rubicon for hard core wheeling trips with buddies, and around town on the nice sunny days.
Im going to look over this site as time permits, but I would really love as much input and advice on shopping for a 96-00 (0r did lockers come all the way until 02?), what to look for, what to avoid, as well to keep it decent as a DD with gas mileage in mind, what kind of small lift and tire size would be best without needing to regear initially. Or would bumping up to a 32" tire be enough to want to regear to keep things optimal, and if so and I had the cash, are any of you guys putting Detroit True Tracks up front or another kind of limited slip, to join forces with the rear locker and make it a butt kicking off roader when you wheel.
Yea, everyone tells me I should get a car for commuting and use the Jeep or another 4x4 for wheeling...but I just cant stand cars, unless youre going to give me a nice old muscle car and a free gas. Otherwise, even though Im in LA, Im used to 4x4s just in case I need to go hunting, wheeling, camping, etc. I guess you can say Im kind of a hillbilly haha....I love 4x4s, and it would be hard to ever keep one bone stock!
What kind of mpg are you guys getting in 4 Runners with what engine, lift, and tire size?
I looked for a while at Tacoma 4 door 4x4s with the locker, and newer 4 Runners, thinking maybe take a loan and use the thing for next 20 years...but Ill be damned, it seems anything newer than a 2003 or so truck or 4Runner, can have 150k miles or more and still be asking in the high teens or $20k range!! Man thats crazy to me!! So Im thinking an older one with the locker would be nice to save a huge chunk of change, as long as that bad boy lasts a long time!
Price ranges that would be a "great deal" for a 4 Runner with the rear locker, and say mileage in the 150k range if I can find one? They seem to vary on Craigslist in the LA/OC area, from cheap to crazy expensive...
Thanks!
Matt
Im a long time 4x4 guy, its the only thing Ive ever driven. Never owned a car in my life, just all full size 4x4 V8 Chevy/GMC pickups and K5s, and Jeep TJs with one Jeep WJ for good measure.
I now live in LA, and I have an 05 Jeep Rubicon, mild lift, winch, bumpers, good wheeling car and beach town car. However it stinks on the highway, gas mileage is bad, I have a long commute starting soon for grad school (80 miles a day round trip), and Im dating someone with two kids and a Jeep doesnt cut it at all. I just sold a sweet 87 GMC shortbed that was cherry, lifted, decked out, but there is not much wheeling for full sized rigs around here, 10mpg didnt cut it with gas prices, and again not practical for a family vehicle.
Ive always admire Toyotas from friends who have owned them and beat the snot out of them. I grew up doing lots of wheeling in old FJ Land Cruisers in Ohio, man they would rot out but we would patch them up and mud bog them to no end. Also many friends had pickups that went forever, and eventually I got my dad a Toyota pickup that lasted forever, just rotted out in the PA winters.
So, budget is tight and I am looking long term for a deal on a 4 Runner, maybe look over the next 6 months to a year, and not pounce on something unless its a great deal.
Im trying to read up on them, and right now what is most appealing to me is the 96-00s with the rear locker. So I imagine that is what Ill be looking for and hoping to get a lower mileage one in decent shape. Then the only modifications I think Id mess with initially are a small 2-3" lift from OME or Toytechs Ultimate lift. Id want to get ATs since this would be my daily driver for grad school, and long family trips with the girl and kids to the mountains. I could use my Rubicon for hard core wheeling trips with buddies, and around town on the nice sunny days.
Im going to look over this site as time permits, but I would really love as much input and advice on shopping for a 96-00 (0r did lockers come all the way until 02?), what to look for, what to avoid, as well to keep it decent as a DD with gas mileage in mind, what kind of small lift and tire size would be best without needing to regear initially. Or would bumping up to a 32" tire be enough to want to regear to keep things optimal, and if so and I had the cash, are any of you guys putting Detroit True Tracks up front or another kind of limited slip, to join forces with the rear locker and make it a butt kicking off roader when you wheel.
Yea, everyone tells me I should get a car for commuting and use the Jeep or another 4x4 for wheeling...but I just cant stand cars, unless youre going to give me a nice old muscle car and a free gas. Otherwise, even though Im in LA, Im used to 4x4s just in case I need to go hunting, wheeling, camping, etc. I guess you can say Im kind of a hillbilly haha....I love 4x4s, and it would be hard to ever keep one bone stock!
What kind of mpg are you guys getting in 4 Runners with what engine, lift, and tire size?
I looked for a while at Tacoma 4 door 4x4s with the locker, and newer 4 Runners, thinking maybe take a loan and use the thing for next 20 years...but Ill be damned, it seems anything newer than a 2003 or so truck or 4Runner, can have 150k miles or more and still be asking in the high teens or $20k range!! Man thats crazy to me!! So Im thinking an older one with the locker would be nice to save a huge chunk of change, as long as that bad boy lasts a long time!
Price ranges that would be a "great deal" for a 4 Runner with the rear locker, and say mileage in the 150k range if I can find one? They seem to vary on Craigslist in the LA/OC area, from cheap to crazy expensive...
Thanks!
Matt
