Ric's 99 Limited

[RichardLee]

Alright, so after settling in to my new role as a SUV driver (which took some getting used to after always driving cars), I have found peace.

I like sticking out from all the shiny new little crossovers and giant ridiculous Suburbans and Escalades that have invaded the streets around here.

I do miss the gas-mileage and the handling of my 98 Accord, but I find the 4Runner to have just the right amount of everything- size, power, handling, road manners, and of course it's outstanding 'off the beaten path.' It's also sweet for hauling around my dog Bernie, who loves the extra room. It's nice to be able to travel with him and still have room for more than one other person.

I'm a young music teacher by day, and am not exactly rolling in money to be spending on modifying my truck. However, I do plan on making very good use of the fact that I drive a fun and reliable 4x4. So, my contribution to this forum will be this thread, a place for me to share pictures of what fun things I can find to do with my stock T4R. I've already posted a couple different things, but from now on I'll just add to this instead of starting new ones every time I take a day trip.

Btw, I've been on here a lot lately, checking out what you all do to/ with your rides. This is addicting...


The first pics are from my trip driving my new 4R home from Michigan, the next are from the Indiana Dunes.

 

[RichardLee]

A couple more from the Dunes and a couple of a snow day cruise with Bernie.

 

[rdgt4r]

How do you get your girl to get on the roof!? mine wont even get out if its dirty around the truck haha.

Nice truck and we look forward to your Mods and helping you out. By the way we have an intervention team in case you start to go overboard with the goodies.

 

[RichardLee]

Last week I put on a black grille. The next day I painted the front emblem factory-matched Imperial Jade Mica.
Got a shot of the Pioneer head unit I swapped from my Honda. I think I'm sticking with the factory green on the dash. I'm starting to like it.

 

[RichardLee]

Now here it sits, ready for action. I'm not 100% sure I'll stick with the current grille/emblem scheme. I'm thinking of painting the grille matching green and the emblem black pearl. I could use some feedback regarding that if anyone cares to offer some.

I like to take pictures (if you haven't noticed) and I like to go places, so I will probably be adding to this thread again soon.

Keep on keepin' on,

Ric

 

[RichardLee]

How do you get your girl to get on the roof!? mine wont even get out if its dirty around the truck haha.
Nice truck and we look forward to your Mods and helping you out. By the way we have an intervention team in case you start to go overboard with the goodies.

She hopped right up there! She said she wanted to make sure it was tough. I've gotta watch out for that one...

Thanks for the offer to help.
It's also nice to know I have a place to turn to if I ever need it. It's good to know about the intervention team. Someday I may be contacting you about that...

 

[brian2sun]

Good thread idea. That's cool you teach music too. I was a music major (string bass). I'm old though, I graduated in '01. haha. I still play bass in a kick ass rock band though.

 

[Qyota]

Good thread idea. That's cool you teach music too. I was a music major (string bass). I'm old though, I graduated in '01. haha. I still play bass in a kick ass rock band though.

I played string bass for about 11 years growing up. I miss it, but I don't know what I'd do with a full size spruce top sitting in my house!

 

[redbeard]

I bet your dog is a LOT happier, he must have been miserable in an accord.

 

[brian2sun]

I played string bass for about 11 years growing up. I miss it, but I don't know what I'd do with a full size spruce top sitting in my house!

Mine is standing in the corner of my living room and everybody always wants to touch it. haha that sounded funny. I play electric 90% of the time now just because it's so much easier to deal with, but ithe stand up makes a nice piece of furniture if you have the space for it. The 4runner is wonderful for carrying musical equipment around!

 

[RichardLee]

I bet your dog is a LOT happier, he must have been miserable in an accord.

He is! In the Accord, he took up the whole back seat (head out one window, tail out the other) and couldn't even turn around. Now he's got all the room he needs, even when the back seats are up and he just gets the cargo area.

QYota and Brian, it's good to know there are some other musicians here in the forum! 4Runners are definitely great for shleping around music gear. I wish I would have had it back in my rock band days. Trying to fit a Marshall half stack, two guitars, and a pedal board in an Accord was a challenge. I might actually try to move an upright piano coming up soon... think it will fit?

 

[brian2sun]

It might fit, it's worth a try anyways! I used to stuff my stand up in my old Honda Civic with all the seats down and half of it in the trunk. People would stare at me at stop lights with this giant headstock next to my face. Ah, the good 'ol days.

 

[techno]

Now here it sits, ready for action. I'm not 100% sure I'll stick with the current grille/emblem scheme. I'm thinking of painting the grille matching green and the emblem black pearl. I could use some feedback regarding that if anyone cares to offer some.

I'll offer some The all back looks a little ebay/aftermarkety to me, especially on the green/silver scheme. I like the painting it green idea.
And good job on getting that midsize horse in the back!

 

[theizzardking]

It might fit, it's worth a try anyways! I used to stuff my stand up in my old Honda Civic with all the seats down and half of it in the trunk. People would stare at me at stop lights with this giant headstock next to my face. Ah, the good 'ol days.

haha that's funny i was a string bass player as well then converted to e-bass in high school for the chicks, but after a while fell back in love with the stand-up........ aaahhh good times

 

[brian2sun]

Wow, that's cool there's so many string bass players on here. There must be something cosmic going on or something. Don't tell me you collect WWI/WWII guns too.

 

[004Gunner]

Your climate control display light is a neowedge B, fyi. I noticed that the left side burns out before the right and I have had this happen with 2 different sets of bulbs.

 

[wdhigh]

Your climate control display light is a neowedge B, fyi. I noticed that the left side burns out before the right and I have had this happen with 2 different sets of bulbs.

Funny, my right side is out. Is it hard to replace?
My climate control is finicky when cold so I picked up a used replacement off ebay last year. Have no idea if it works yet, took a gamble at $150. Figured I was better to try used first since a new one is $1k. New bulbs would be nice for now.

Richardlee, you have a very nice 4runner, really like that color. Missed out on one similar before I found mine, was bummed!
What is the correct way to get the dash apart on a 99 limited to change climate control and cd player?

Saw some write ups on here, but my cupholder/shifter/dash configuration seems different than ones pictured in them. Does the cupholder/shifter part come up first? Tried to remove trim plate one time and stuff sounded like it was cracking so I left well enough alone.


Sorry to hijack by the way!!!

 

[quicksilvr]

haha that's funny i was a string bass player as well then converted to e-bass in high school for the chicks, but after a while fell back in love with the stand-up........ aaahhh good times

Wow, that's cool there's so many string bass players on here. There must be something cosmic going on or something. Don't tell me you collect WWI/WWII guns too.

This is crazy. Bass player here as well.....and I own no less than 3 WWII rifles. I wouldn't say I collect, but still. It seems like bass players have an affinity for 4runners.

 

[RichardLee]

I'll offer some The all back looks a little ebay/aftermarkety to me, especially on the green/silver scheme. I like the painting it green idea.
And good job on getting that midsize horse in the back!

Thanks for the input. I think I'll probably go ahead and paint it green, whenever I have a free day. I pretty much just wanted to see what the black looked like. It's something different anyway. The other option I was considering was to keep the green emblem, but put the chrome grille back on. Maybe that will be plan 'C.'

The midsize horse (lol) is actually half St. Bernard and half German Shepherd. The St. Bernard was his mom who worked on farm with a herd of sheep, and the German Shepherd was a neighbor's dog who would get loose and visit the farm for a booty call. Burn Dog here was my first pick of the resulting litter...

 

[RichardLee]

Your climate control display light is a neowedge B, fyi. I noticed that the left side burns out before the right and I have had this happen with 2 different sets of bulbs.

Thanks 004, I don't usually notice it, but if it starts to bother me, would it be ok for me to hit you up for some advice?

-Ric