It has a been a long time, and I honestly have nothing meaningful to add regarding my 4Runner. About the time of my prior post above I received these, but have not made time to install them.
We were evacuated a few weeks back due to the CA lightning fires in our area. The 4Runner was packed with stuff, including that fridge/freezer, and it once again worked very well for us, including in the hotel room off of 110v. While evacuating, I was interviewed by the news at a local high school and when aired that evening, prompted tons of calls, texts and emails from family, friends, colleagues and neighbors, past and present. A chaotic time became even more so with all of the reach-outs.
4Runner-related, while parking at the hotel, I forget that my ham radio antenna was up (just a tad under 10’). A tree branch bent it backwards. Thankfully, by design, the motorized mount gave and the antenna itself did not bend. I simply need to readjust it to vertical, and that remains on the to-do list. The ham radios worked great as I was able to keep-in-touch with my wife in the family car using a 70cm simplex frequency.
Likely what prompts this post is my sale of the original mats last night, three of them. Not sure what I did with the driver one. Maybe it was in bad shape and I threw it away, I don’t remember. I kept the rear mat though. Thirty bucks for the three. The guy I sold them too met Timmy The Toolman somewhat recently at a local Pick-n-Pull. He was not aware of this forum, so I course recommended it. Some might remember that I keep a running tally of factory parts sold, wondering if I might hit $2,000. Just need $350 more as I’m now at $1,650:
$400 - Leather Front Seats
$50 - Factory Stereo & Amp
$75 - Cargo Privacy Cover
$50 - Skid Plates (2)
$150 - Rear Bumper
$25 - Spare Tire Crank
$200 - Front Bumper
$50 - Roof rack cross members
$50 - Front bumper carrier
$75 - Trailer hitch
$100 - Front shocks
$350 - Wheels/tires
$25 – Front brakes
$20 - Intake silencer tube
$30 – Mats (three, no driver)
BTW, I sold those Cadillac horns sometime back, but that and other items like that would not make this list though.
Outdoor projects have consumed much of my time in recent months. The bocce court won’t happen this year, but I got a lot other stuff done though. Currently I’m working on a gazebo and I just finished the concrete footings last night. I will let them cure a full month, keeping them moist, before drilling (Tapcon anchors).
Not exactly an outdoor project, but I updated our “back-up” 12 volt solar wifi system. We have three wifi networks, with the initial one in the garage, off the grid. It drives 24/7 a combo modem/router (18 watts). It, like most modems and routers, operates at 12 volts. I kept two 125 ah marine deep cycle alive for over 12 years (reconditioning with distilled water and Epsom salt). Finally decided to get new batteries (3), solar panels (two, 100w) and update the controller. Nice knowing that the internet, at least one of our wifi networks, will be up when the power goes-out, and for many years to come...
Some good news to report in this otherwise difficult 2020. The stock market recovery treated me well. I sold a position that permitted me to pay-off the mortgage with the proceeds. A 30 year loan paid-off in seven. A great feeling. In Aug, my employer announced the need to reduce costs by $1B. As is often the case, headcount would be a means to get there. I was offered an early retirement package. I had not planned on such until a year later at the soonest, more ideally 2-3 years later, for sure before our little ones began high school. After plenty of number-crunching I concluded that I can swing it and I accepted. I will remain with my employer until just after the New Year, helping with a transition. I will likely seek employment, in some form afterwards, but not sure exactly.
Back to the 4Runner, short of fixing the ham radio antenna and installing those front links, I don’t envision anything being done the remainder of this year. House projects and post-employment preparations will consume available time. I have not updated my resume in many, many years, as an example. Hope this finds everyone well.
Oh, sometime back, I found this little guy sleeping under the 4Runner on a hot day..
