To junk, sell, or part?

[audiness]

I have kind of a similar situation, I have an older Toyota ( not my 3rd gen 4 runner) I have had for like 15 years ,odometer stopped working somewhere after 250,000 miles and the thing is just starting to fall apart, It needs to be put out to pasture. The only problem is it runs like a Toyota which means it runs as good as the day I bought it,even though the body ,suspension, and everything else is just about falling apart .I just have a hard time wanting to let go of it because of all the memories .....

 

[ajordan1975]

Sounds like your wheeling has elevated a little. Time to solid axle that rig! :first:

 

[poleclimber63]

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.

Where else did you go in BC? If you came across the Rockies, maybe you were headed to Vancouver? Salmon Arm is a half hour drive from our town. It's at the most Northern extent of the Okanagan Valley--- which, in my opinion, is one of BC's best kept secrets. You are always minutes from a lake, from Salmon Arm all the way to the USA border, some of the best recreational lakes in Canada--- hot and sunny all Summer and warm water to swim and wakeboard in, hence my 17' bowrider! We're also in the centre of western Canada's wine country--- when we first moved here, we were hitting wineries every weekend!

In the Winter, we have some of the best skiing outside of Whistler (2010 Olympics) and several European cross-country ski teams train here locally for the awesome powder plus, and the fact, its never busy. The other great thing is, that from my front door step, we're only a 4hr drive to Banff/Lake Louise, the most spectacular stretch of the Canadian Rockies. We've driven the Icefields Parkway more often than I can count! I never get tired if the trails, stunning scenery, Emerald lakes and glaciers.

Its great how the membership has grown and how members such as yourself have kept up --- I will say the 4th and 5th gen crowds are becoming dominant---- yes our trucks are starting to age-- but they are still extremely capable and there are still lots of guys running them and modding them. I plan on keeping my 98 until it becomes impossible to repair---- maybe they'll bury me in it! OR when gas hits $5 a litre...
I'm a member on the Celica forum and its dying. When I post, I'm lucky to get a response in a week! Some of my posts just go un-answered. Most of the activity there was between 2008-2012 and has dropped sharply since then. Very disappointing. There really is no other community like T4R.org!

Its great you're sticking with a 4Runner. There really isn't much on the market that's stayed close to the original concept like the 4R. When you get you new 4R, maybe you should plan another road trip to Canada--- there are some amazing trails up the Rockies from the border at Wateron National Park up to Jasper and beyond...

Let us know what happens with the stellar blue! (love that colour!)

 

[Darren]

you could get a nice 2wd mom's car with super low miles, and swap it all over.

Nah. I couldn't! That is beyond my skill and patience levels. I get frustrated every time I run into a seized bolt, which is pretty much every bolt!
And to the couple guys who mentioned a solid axle, while that would be fine from the factory if they came that way, I'm guessing that is still a $5,000+ proposition, plus you'd need another vehicle anyway while that work is being done. Regardless, I never thought the 3rd generations were an ideal candidate for those. And, as it relates to Colorado, anything here that you would need a solid axle for, you aren't going to be taking one of these rigs, unless sheet metal and glass aren't important.

Where else did you go in BC? If you came across the Rockies, maybe you were headed to Vancouver? Salmon Arm is a half hour drive from our town. It's at the most Northern extent of the Okanagan Valley--- which, in my opinion, is one of BC's best kept secrets. You are always minutes from a lake, from Salmon Arm all the way to the USA border, some of the best recreational lakes in Canada--- hot and sunny all Summer and warm water to swim and wakeboard in, hence my 17' bowrider! We're also in the centre of western Canada's wine country--- when we first moved here, we were hitting wineries every weekend!

My two trips were purely for the Rockies, but I did take a few day jaunt a bit further west just to see some more country on my '05 trip. From Mt. Robson, I went down to Kamloops, then back to the east. I drove up Mt. Revelstoke and into the Bugaboos, but no other real stops, save for Yoho and Kootenay. BC is a mountain paradise with range after range. So incredibly awesome, no doubt about it! And, yeah, you are located nicely to a lot of cool stuff. All of my trips, whether little weekend outings or multi-week deals, are purely for picture-taking. That whole area is as good as it gets for me.

A couple from along the parkway:

 

[TheDurk]

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.


.

Those factory Goodyears were the WORST tire I have ever had on any vehicle, ever. They would hydroplane in a puddle of rabbit piss. I lived in fear for my life in any rain sprinkle until I ditched them at 30k for a set of Michelin Cross-Terrains. I thought I had been given a new truck. Hate, hate, hate those tires.

 

[Darren]

We were talking about the great Goodyear MT/R, not a Goodyear street tire put on at the factory. Mine came with some sort of Bridgestone Dueler from the factory.