Ripcord's 2002 4Runner Sport Ed.
- Thread starter 4-Ripcord
- Start date
white toy taco
New member
:spy: :nod: i agree
4ever4running
New member
It would be sad to see you go man, but I completely understand your position. If I had it my way, I would either have a nice DD of some sort and turn my 3rd gen into a pure trail rig OR keep my truck as a DD and fix up a 1st gen to be a trail rig.
89s rule
Member
Hate to see you sell the 3rd gen, best advice I can tell you is to really think it through, I have sold a good many vehicles I regretted selling. Put everything down on paper and be realistic with your #'s.
Someone giving props to the T100 :thumb3: Love mine when I was looking people were selling them with 400K miles for $4K!
Thinking about a DD, when I was looking for a commuter car (before I did the math and it didn't make enough $ sense) I strongly considered the Infiniti G20, great little car with luxury for cheap and they regularly get 30+ mpg
I'd love to see that setup! :eyebrows:
I'm sure it has crossed your mind, if you want to go a little bigger and cheaper ya know there is always the legendary T100....that is if you can still find one that someone is willing to part with. Even if the T is a bit slow, it's much more durable than the taco/4runner from what I have read. Heck the IFS on the T is built stronger than the taco and later on -while saving $ on gas driving a prius as your DD lol j/k- you can use the gas money to go full out SAS on the T or taco. I know you have a strict budget right now, just sayin.
I'd probably be driving a T100 over a modern taco if I didn't have 2 of these -> :baby: to deal with, -I'm still figuring out the whole fatherhood thing- and a nagging wife :yell: that will only allow me drive anything with 4 doors for "practicality and safety", ya whatever lol. In my case, if only they sold 4-door hilux diesels here in the states my life would be complete but I know it will never happen.
ray:
Someone giving props to the T100 :thumb3: Love mine when I was looking people were selling them with 400K miles for $4K!
Thinking about a DD, when I was looking for a commuter car (before I did the math and it didn't make enough $ sense) I strongly considered the Infiniti G20, great little car with luxury for cheap and they regularly get 30+ mpg
rickashay
New member
Well Jim, I can't say I am surprised to see all this action in this thread. I haven't had quite the abundance of mechanical failures you have, but I definitely have had some "bumps" in the road with my build that have put me in a similar situation. Your truck is awesome, definitely was an inspiration for my build, but it's tough to push the limits of your skills and vehicle, knowing you need to drive it to work in the morning.
I think [MENTION=67615]Dirtco[/MENTION] made a good point about just getting out and having fun. However, I think his experience of owning and wheeling hardcore crawlers has enabled him to ultimately define HIS "perfect truck" to get out and have fun with. I think the realization for what YOUR idea of the perfect truck is, comes from those prior experiences. At least that's how I think of it... when I started building my 4Runner I literally thought it was perfect for my needs. I liked the size, it's relative comfort, and size. Fast forward 2-1/2 years, a hell of a lot of camping/4x4'ing trips and the gained experience from that, and your left with my current situation - sold my beloved 4Runner to start over and build something a little bit larger, something that is NOT my DD, and something that has potential to be quite a bit more capable without hacking it up.... I feel yah brother! haha
Exactly what I mean.
IS300's are super nice, especially if you swap a 2JZ-GTE into it, but that won't help your MPG any. FWIW my mom used to have a 04' 1.8T A4 and it was the biggest POS ever! I couldn't believe it actually... The TL Type-S with the A-Spec package are hella nice.
I think [MENTION=67615]Dirtco[/MENTION] made a good point about just getting out and having fun. However, I think his experience of owning and wheeling hardcore crawlers has enabled him to ultimately define HIS "perfect truck" to get out and have fun with. I think the realization for what YOUR idea of the perfect truck is, comes from those prior experiences. At least that's how I think of it... when I started building my 4Runner I literally thought it was perfect for my needs. I liked the size, it's relative comfort, and size. Fast forward 2-1/2 years, a hell of a lot of camping/4x4'ing trips and the gained experience from that, and your left with my current situation - sold my beloved 4Runner to start over and build something a little bit larger, something that is NOT my DD, and something that has potential to be quite a bit more capable without hacking it up.... I feel yah brother! haha
Exactly what I mean.
IS300's are super nice, especially if you swap a 2JZ-GTE into it, but that won't help your MPG any. FWIW my mom used to have a 04' 1.8T A4 and it was the biggest POS ever! I couldn't believe it actually... The TL Type-S with the A-Spec package are hella nice.
4-Ripcord
New member
I knew you would understand amigo, I love my 4runner but its just not the right vehicle for me right now.
I love the is300, but I really want an awd.
I would also like to hear your input on the A4 more.. I made a thread here: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/all-other-vehicles/143869-sporty-awd-manual-cars-one.html#post1400950
Yes the locker was engaged.
4-Ripcord
New member
Also for those who care I had a hell of a time finding used 4.30 elocker diffs out there. Everything was either an old ad the had gone ignored, or they just sold, or the person I was talking to would flake out. Got tired of it
Just got off the phone with ECGS.. got a big box on the way.
Just got off the phone with ECGS.. got a big box on the way.
SCRunner12
New member
Glad you have one on the way. Sorry it didn't work out with my lead.
4-Ripcord
New member
Yeah it only cost me double what I planned on paying :ybrick:
Dous
New member
Do you want some extra stickers? :frog:
4-Ripcord
New member
of what? ECGS?
Dous
New member
I can get you quite a wide selection of stickers, I will just give you a grab bag worth
4-Ripcord
New member
You work there or what? I always enjoy stickers
I have a HUGE bag of them in my parts pile just waiting for a nice big shiny tool chest to slap them all on.
Dous
New member
You work there or what? I always enjoy stickers
I have a HUGE bag of them in my parts pile just waiting for a nice big shiny tool chest to slap them all on.
I do just so happen to work at ECGS
4-Ripcord
New member
Fascinating. That would be an awesome place to work.
Yeah I'll take all the stickers you want to give me. Take extra special care of that diff
Dirtco
New member
Well, if you have felt this way for a while then it's time to move onto the next project! I just didn't want to see you jump the gun without thinking it through.
Everyone's "Perfect" rig is going to vary, and there's nothing wrong with moving onto a different project. My point was that there is a lot to be said about a rig that you can drive comfortably to the trail and wheel some fun, moderate to harder trails. Once you start talking 40's, full width axles, and hardcore trails the game changes.
Jim, I wish you the best of luck on your next project! Don't take this the wrong way, but I have one word of advise...
Start thinking about a tow rig and trailer now, because your going to need it. Maybe not right away, but you will want/need one eventually. Trust me, been there done that! You can bet your ass if I had a spot to park a tow rig and trailer I would have one hell of nasty rig, most likely a buggy. But I don't, so that is why I built my 4Runner the way I did.
Would you really want to drive this all the way to Moab and back? And that's if it doesn't get impounded somewhere along the way!
madbomber08
New member
Well by the looks of it your decision has been made. Honestly, the 2004-2008 Acura TL is quite sexy if that's the direction you plan on going.
4-Ripcord
New member
Well, if you have felt this way for a while then it's time to move onto the next project! I just didn't want to see you jump the gun without thinking it through.
Everyone's "Perfect" rig is going to vary, and there's nothing wrong with moving onto a different project. My point was that there is a lot to be said about a rig that you can drive comfortably to the trail and wheel some fun, moderate to harder trails. Once you start talking 40's, full width axles, and hardcore trails the game changes.
Jim, I wish you the best of luck on your next project! Don't take this the wrong way, but I have one word of advise...
Start thinking about a tow rig and trailer now, because your going to need it. Maybe not right away, but you will want/need one eventually. Trust me, been there done that! You can bet your ass if I had a spot to park a tow rig and trailer I would have one hell of nasty rig, most likely a buggy. But I don't, so that is why I built my 4Runner the way I did.
I really think its whats best. I want to take my 4runner on things it apparently just cant handle, and it would be so hard to scale back the trail difficulty.. there's no fun in that. And to go to a different truck that I can do those trails on would for sure warrant a DD for when the trail rig DOES break down. I just hate when my damn DD is down for weeks at a time needing major drivetrain components.
I have already been thinking up plans for my own trailer with space for lockboxes and stuff. I would build that myself. I appreciate the advice though, I will remember it.
Unfortunately the TL didnt come with AWD until 2009 and theres no way I can afford that.
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For those who wanted parts.. here you go. I have not listed the yakima rack as I intend to use some of the parts on my next vehicle. Like the snowboard racks and the Q-towers.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/sale-...-trd-supercharger-urd-7th-kit-2-2-pulley.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/sale-t4r-items/143922-4xinnovations-front-bumper-3rd-gen.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/sale-...3920-285-70-17-duratracs-countersteer-xs.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/sale-...d-gens-trade-my-3-ome-lift-your-1-lift-$.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/sale-t4r-items/143917-custom-built-cargo-box-3rd-gens.html
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