RiFF RaFF's 1993 4Runner SR5 (Honey Badger) Build (Part 2)
LOL! You guys are killing me....
:biggrin2:
(Sorry for the long story leading up to the build, but I feel the history going into it is just as important as where the truck is now.)
Part 2 of the build. I'll call this the best of times, and the worst of times.
A little past history on my love for 4Runners.
In 1987-88 I was stationed at U.S. Coast Guard Radsta (Radio Station) Guam. The best thing about being on Guam was you could buy a Japanese vehicle without paying all the b.s. tariff/import fees. Basically you could get one for manufacturing cost!
So I went down to the Toyota dealer, and had my heart set on a 1988 4Runner SR5. Black on black with all the bells and whistles. This truck was sweet!
Anyway I worked with the dealer, and it was going to be mine for $18,000. So with the invoice in hand I headed home to deal with the 15 hour time difference between me, and my credit union to work out financing.
When I came through the front door my then wife rushed up to me, and broke the news that we were going to have a baby. JOY! SADNESS! My hopes for a 4Runner just when down the crapper.
Jump to 2005, and I finally got my 4Runner! YES!
So from 2005 until 2007 the only time I used my 4Runner was during crappy weather to get to work, or haul stuff in the back. Not much of a life for such a promising trail boss.
May 2007 a test ride on a Goldwing led to bringing it home to stay.
One of my favorite pictures - you can also see my 4Runner in the background ...
2007 was a great year! I was now working as a Network Security Professional with Verizon (with a very hefty pay raise). Robin and I were married in September. We were out riding on the Goldwing every chance we had. Life was good!
Now the bad (or as I call it - the Dark Times).
July 2008 it was a warm night that was perfect for a motorcycle ride home. My commute was over an hour, and part of that was through a nice twisty road on the way. Route 9 through an area we call Shannondale WV.
It was 11:30pm, and I was in the moment - enjoying the ride. I was five minutes from home when I was hit head-on by a drunk driver in a (oh the irony) Toyota Tacoma. I don't remember the accident except to tell the flight nurse my wife's name, our home phone number, and to please tell her I'll be late getting home, and not to worry.
Picture of my Goldwing after the accident:
Picture of me in the hospital. Guys - don't ever drink and drive!
I was in the hospital for over three months. Three weeks of that I was in a coma. Even after I was home there was a lot of physical therapy, more doctor visits, etc. It wasn't a good time. My bosses at Verizon held on to my job for as long as they could, but I had to face the eventuality that I could no longer do my job. Too much head trauma - my short term memory was shot.
So from 2008 until 2011 my 4Runner either sat in the driveway. Due to the amount of trauma to my left leg (the doctors wanted to amputate) I thought I'd never be able to sit in her again. We thought seriously about selling her, but something stubborn in my nature told me to push through to the other side of the Dark Times.
(More to follow - with build pics!)
:yo:
