To junk, sell, or part?

[Darren]

I will be replacing my 2002 in a couple of months, as I no longer trust it off-road. I've had issues the past four years or so with the upper front strut mounts tearing, which get welded back together. The driver's side has done it three times and the passenger once. It is now a case of Whac-A-Mole with the driver's side. It has seen far more than normal abuse in its full life of ~330,000 miles and 677 nights camped in with very frequent trips, all of which included dirt. If I were to keep it, I would need to have the mount torched off and get one from a donor vehicle welded on, or have a custom mount fabbed up, but I am not taking that path at this stage in its life.

Anyway, I am mostly content with getting the minimum amount back from a junkyard (presumably $500, but I don't know what they might offer), however my Duratracs on there are in good shape, and I have a couple of ARBs in the diffs, which I suspect are of some value. It would still work okay as a street rig, even though it's not set up for that, so I suppose I could still try to sell it. Mainly, I just wouldn't want the next potential owner to be faced with the mount issue.

The other option would be parting it out somehow. I'm not sure how I'd go about doing that if I ended up selling the tires, though I do have the original tires and wheels it came with that I could have re-mounted. Having the diffs opened up while it sits on the street doesn't sound ideal either.

So, what would you do, or suggest?

 

[Stick Figure]

I am probably dumb enough to try and fix it myself, but I have spare vehicles, and welders and stuff here lol.

If you really are done with it I would put a very honest ad on here, and the local craigslist explaining the issue and what needs to be done to correct it and a reasonable price that would make you happy as well as give you a good feeling about not screwing the next guy over with a project truck. There are plenty of people out there that would love to get there hands on it and have the skills and patients to put it back together. Seems a shame to send it to scrap when you read threads on here about people doing frame swaps lol.

 

[Tyler James Inc]

I'm curious- are the mounts breaking due to rust, or just straight abuse? That is some serious abuse, especially if it's not rusted.
I'd be interested to see where they break, and pictures of the damage.
I'd have to agree with [MENTION=28064]Stick Figure[/MENTION]
Post it up for $1500- being completely honest with the mount damage. Depending on how beat the rig is inside and out, it might still be worth it to someone to part it out.
If you have the means to part it out, I would probably go that route. I would think the ARB loaded diffs alone(with wiring and compressor) would go for $800 a heartbeat.
Really hard to give a good answer without seeing pictures of the rig.

 

[T4R2014]

Just noticed that join date... then I realized that you own that 4Runner. I probably found your website over ten years ago now on that Top4Runners page. Shame to see it end like this. I would make an honest ad explaining the situation.

 

[IBallEngineer]

In the right hands that truck has a whole new life ahead of it. Frame swap first, then some love, and it's golden. Hate to see it parted out!

 

[Sean K.]

Me, I'd slap a solid axle in it and plate the frame.....

If that's not something you want to undertake (nor would be the plating/welding/fab to make new strut mounts)....then I'd consider selling it with full disclosure of the issues or parting it.

I wouldn't give it to a junkyard....I'd sell it to an individual for cheap to part it if that's an option you're considering and don't want the hassle of parting it yourself.

 

[gamefreakgc]

I'd part it out if you're ready to let it go. I parted out a 2002 (there's a lot of expensive parts on it like the brake booster and computers) for over $3,000 and that was a 2WD that had been in an accident. Yours has all sorts of off-road goodies on it that will sell very, very fast.

Ebay is the way to go if you have the patience.

 

[legokcen]

If you were closer to me, I'd buy it from you for that price. If the interior is in decent shape, it would be good parts.

Those trucks are rare, or the ones that are found are 2WD. With what you have, be honest, and I'm sure someone will want it.

 

[Darren]

I appreciate the input, gents. Thank you. I honestly did not know there could be much of a market for it with its condition, though it does have the hood scoop, which may very well be worth more than the other stuff combined! It sounds like selling is the thing to do, but parting it could be also be worthwhile. I think I'll go for the quicker and easier method, plus it can live on a bit longer that way. If I am willing to sell it for a virtual complete loss at a junkyard, you can be rest assured that I will be detailed in my descriptions to an interested buyer.

Tyler, while I do have some rust, it is not bad, and I believe the breaks to be purely from abuse. You have no idea how many sunrises and sunsets I've chased down at speed (always aired down at a comfy ~14 PSI) from rocky shelf roads or other forest roads. Actually, I don't know that I know either! Suffice it to say, it has seen an incredible amount of dirt and rock, washboards and dips. Heck, even one trip over the road to the Racetrack in Death Valley is enough to do any truck in. Even still, I am surprised these have been failure points. While I have been inactive on forums for the better part of 10 years, I have not come across anyone else who has experienced this. For illustrative purposes, here are a couple of pics:

Driver's side from last September. Previous 2 tears were in outside middle.

Passenger side, 2013. Tear on front side and the top.


T4R2014, yep, that would be me (and mine). This 4Runner has been very much like a leg or an arm to me and will be quite tough to part with, but I have to draw a line somewhere, and my trips can't take a back seat. Wherever it goes, that person will have to keep me updated.

 

[poleclimber63]

With patience, you'd probably get a greater return but, If you have limited space, I'd sell it.

As several members have said, explain the issues and someone will buy it and put the time into getting it road-worthy again. The skill and ingenuity here is always amazing---- hopefully, if you sell it, a member of this forum buys it--- and he posts the resurrection--- that would be a great thread!

The fact you've been a member since 2002, it sounds like this truck has stories!

Are you considering another 4R?

 

[T4R2014]

Hard to forget that built Stellar Blue Sport Edition sitting on the original Goodyear MTRs. It's a little piece of 4Runner forum history. If you were closer I would be so interested. Too bad Manhattan is so far from Colorado.

 

[Unner]

Please don't part or sell that truck to a junkyard. If you truly are done with it and don't want to try and fix it there is someone who would be willing to try and fix the strut mount issue, or cut them out and go solid axle.

 

[rkntoy]

Please don't part or sell that truck to a junkyard. If you truly are done with it and don't want to try and fix it there is someone who would be willing to try and fix the strut mount issue, or cut them out and go solid axle.

This. I always need more projects. Just like many on here.

 

[gamefreakgc]

With patience, you'd probably get a greater return but, If you have limited space, I'd sell it.

As several members have said, explain the issues and someone will buy it and put the time into getting it road-worthy again. The skill and ingenuity here is always amazing---- hopefully, if you sell it, a member of this forum buys it--- and he posts the resurrection--- that would be a great thread!

The fact you've been a member since 2002, it sounds like this truck has stories!

Are you considering another 4R?

Yeah space is a limiting factor though. I have an RV pad on the side of the house that is perfect for a truck or two to part out so maybe I'm lucky. If I were parting out that 4Runner I could get $4,000 plus with all those parts. Does take 2-3 months to sell it all though.

 

[Darren]

The fact you've been a member since 2002, it sounds like this truck has stories!

Are you considering another 4R?

Yeah, Doug, some great stories and even better travels, no doubt. Looks like I came just north of you through Salmon Arm during a 6-week trip in 2005. Made another 4-week trip to the Rockies there in 2007. I must, must get back.

I believe I was one of the first handful of folks who signed up here after this forum opened, but it was run amok with urban cruisers with the new 4th generations for a couple of years. 4x4Wire and YotaTech had the main crowds. The tables have turned.

And, yes, I will be staying with the 4Runner platform. There is no other option for me. Just waiting on the '17s to arrive. I'm not looking forward to the increased bulk on the trail, giving up my AWD and manual seats, but they do have some plusses. I wish mine would've held out until September for any news, but that is not to be.

Hard to forget that built Stellar Blue Sport Edition sitting on the original Goodyear MTRs. It's a little piece of 4Runner forum history.

Oh man, what I wouldn't give to have the version 1 MT/Rs back! Those were the best (for me). Actually, my spare is one of these and basically brand new. Should put it in a museum someplace. Much better than the current ones, though I do rather like the DuraTracs.


I should mention to anyone that might come along and have some interest in the coming weeks, before the first reply was made here, I did receive an inquiry. I went over the above and a number of other details, including pictures, and they are still interested. If that were to fall through, I will post it in the classifieds here first when the time comes. Again, thank you all for the suggestions.

 

[gamefreakgc]

4x4Wire and YotaTech had the main crowds. The tables have turned.

Yeah whatever happened to YotaTech? When I had a '91 it was super active and lots of helpful members. But a few years ago the forum went dead so I moved over here for help & advice.

Hope you can get a new 4Runner that's been as good to you as the first!

 

[T4R2014]

Why not just find another 3rd gen? You could swap the parts over.

This forum used to be so weird 15 years ago looking at old posts. A bunch of these new lowrider 4th gens with chrome stick-ons. Yotatech used to be ok until Corey cut some deal and sold it off to that Waskilly Wabit baboon. At least I think that's how it went. I remember one guy on 4x4Wire with the silver 2000 Sport that had that aluminum front bumper.

 

[Darren]

I could do another 3rd generation, but it would just about have to be blue at this point, and we know how common those are! I did explore this briefly just to see what was out there, color notwithstanding, however I had settled in on the current ones a few months back, and I'll hope to get another 15+ years out of one of them.

Does Corey not still own YotaTech? Like I said earlier, I've been inactive for quite some time without a need to read or post. Popping over there once or twice a year, I had noticed it was pretty dead, but I didn't realize something at that level may have changed.

Jeff (the marmot) is whom you speak of from 4x4Wire. He's the man, and one of the originals, as far as builds go! He is a friend, though we seldom communicate. He helped me install my original suspension back in 2002, and I helped him with a new gas tank since he had mashed his old one in a good bit by that point. I have a hard time wrapping my head around that 2002 was 15 years ago. Feels like 8.

 

[Tinigunner11]

Don't junk it!!:sobbing: It breaks my heart every time I see a new 4runner in my local yard. Everything is worth something to someone. I live up just south of fort collins, I'd even be willing to come take a look at it if you decide to sell it. I'm always looking for a project!

 

[SnowLizard]

As you've been around for a while, you could go for resurrection... and fix all pieces as you go....


you could get a nice 2wd mom's car with super low miles, and swap it all over. shoot, you could even help costs by parting the 2wd... color wouldn't matter as you're keeping yours. but you can snag all the better parts, like seats.

sounds like it has served you well, just hate to think you've given up on it... but at the same time, those new ones do look really nice.

btw, you could go limited on the new ones, they have full time AWD and can lock center diff, then add your arb's and you're set. only sucks they don't go in 2wd. and the limited has the 3rd row option...