So yesterday evening me and my roomates were taking my hounds to the local conservation area to do a little rabbit hunting. About 1/4 from our destination my front driver side wheel BROKE off... I think it blew out a ball joint causing everything else to fail, but I'm not sure yet. Needless to say we slid across the pavement, down a small ravine and were stopped by a healthy oak.
Now comes the fun of getting a new rig. I originally was thinking about getting an 05+ 4 door taco, but the more I think about it I think something like a civic to use as my commuter and an older Yota pickup to wheel/fish/hunt/etc might be my smarter choice. What do you guys think? Also, anyone around here know of any solid older trucks up for grabs? I would need it to be reliable enough to take to our farm in the northern part of the state for hunting trips and to be able to pull my trailer and a couple quads from time to time.

Also plan to have all the upgrades off and the stock stuff back on so should have some 3rd gen goodies up for sale in the next few weeks.

 

Sad to hear man, I know and I think most of us know how that goes.

Hope you get a nice good rig to replace

 

Man that sucks!!! sorry to hear about that. I'm assuming you and your buddy are fine?

I'll keep my eyes peeled for a rig, but you're about the 3rd person thats asked me about a rig just today... I've got my shell for sale, and I know of a 4runner that might be for sale in a couple months, but thats about it...

 

Sorry to hear,

I have never driven or rode in a newer toyota so i cannot comment on a new Tacoma.

I personally wanted to get a small car for Daily Driving, but at the moment i can't.

 

We all walked away from it unharmed. Me my two roomates and all 4 dogs where in the runner at the time.
Whats odd is that I had gone down to Toyota on my lunch break on Friday to wander the lot and see what they had just out of curiousity and now here I am having to find something else.
I've got about a 50mi round trip drive to work everyday, so buying something fuel efficient makes the most sence for the work week, but I really don't know what to do for a play toy. Gota be able to get myself, dogs, etc to the middle of no where from time to time.
I'd really like to get a newer 4 door Tacoma but the payments and insurance just aren't so appealing

 

Was the 4Runners part of Toyota's ball joint recall? I know my dad's Sequoia got new ball joints on Toyota's dime. Maybe if that was the problem they'll make you a good deal on a new one

There're good and bad points to having a 2 vehicle system. As economical as it is to have a cheap/fuel sipping car and a old/reliable pickup, sometimes it's just nice to have a good pickup truck.

 

I agree with hans on that one... it also cuts down on maintenance costs, insurance costs, and taxes...

 

For a dd i'd look into a tercel (96+) or a Corolla GTS from the late 80's. Good fuel economy but the GTS is more TRD friendly.

 

I didn't know about a ball-joint recall... I did have my tie rod end and wheel bearing replaced on that side within the last 6 months and was told by the shop that did it that my ball joints were fine. My insurance guy said he would be getting in contact with them...
I'm so torn on what to buy as a replacement. If I buy something newer it's gona be a 05+ 4 door Taco. Looking like thats going to run me $15-20k. For that I can get a good commuter and a nice wheeler of some kind and still have money left over to pay off things like my sportbike or quad... But that shiney new pickup sure would be nice! Ahhh decisions decisions!!

 

why not pay off all your debt and get a nice relible first gen 4runner with a 22re good on gas!!! and killer loooking .get a nice 85 you can spend 7-10g and get a really well taken care of rig... maybe even put a brand new lce 22re in it for that price!!!

 

I looked it up, the recall was for 01 and 02 4Runners, so yours isn't included. I hope your insurance guy was kidding... it's BS like that which drives $90/hour labor rates at dealers. If they didn't touch it, it's probably not their fault

 

So my insurance company is giving me $7200 for my runner that had 200k on the clock, plus I get to keep all the aftermarket stuff thats on there now. Thats honestly alot better than I was expecting to get. So unless I end up finding something that my goodies will work with the extras that are listed in my sig for the runner will be on the market in the next couple weeks

 

Going to go look at a 87 pickup after work. Guy says motor was rebuilt with 30k on it after rebuild and 33's. Asking $2300
Sound good to you guys?

 

yup...

 

Sure sounds good, but what does it look like?

After you check it out, post up some pics and your findings.
Anybody can make their ad sound too good to be true

 

So I ended up purchasing an 07 4 door Dodge Ram with the 5.7 Hemi... Not exactly what I had in mind but for a little over $8k under blue book I couldn't say no. And so far the fuel mileage has been within 1mpg of what I was getting out of the runner and I have a warrenty....

So to the part you all might care about... ALL the extras I have for the runner will be on the market within the next week or so. Just a heads up for the locals, anyone interested let me know and I'll give you dibs before it goes out to the rest of the yota community.

 

For those who may be interested, can you post a list of what all you have and a rough estimate of what you'd want for it?

 

I DONT have prices on any of this yet. I'm thinking roughly half of what retail on them is what I'll ask, but that will depend on the condition once I get them off the runner. My next day off is Wed the 29th so hopefully I'll start dispursing things then, will also be able to do pics at that time.

-Donahoe adjustable coilovers 0-3 inch adjustable lift. Have about 40k on them since rebuild.
-OME 890 rear springs with about 40k on them with OME N86C shocks. One of them has about 40k on it the other less than 2k (broke one and got a replacement under warrenty)
-Black and Tan Wet Okole seat covers front/rear. Some wear but still in good shape.
-SS front diff drop, adjustable, panhead bar, and rear extended braided brake line to make things work with the lift.
-Eagle Alloy 058's (16x8) w/ 265x75x16 Nitto Terra Grapplers. Tires have less than 2500 miles on them (also have spacers to clear the front brakes for those with the 16" package)
-Front calipers/rotors/pads all with less than 1000 miles on them. Got the best ones Oreillys had to offer.
-The warn uprights got bent, but the winch plate and headlight guards are still strait and solid.
-K&N air filter


Thats all that I can think of off hand that I've been allowed to take...

 

Buy a 1st gen 4Runner with a 22RE. You're fuel economy would be amazing. I've got 26 mpg in my heavy 2nd gen on the highway. Fix it up, and you have a classic vehicle, with low maintenance and great fuel economy.

 

26 is amazing. I've had 3 1st gen 4Runners and 25 mpg has been my best tank ever, and that was drafting a Suburban. I normally expect 20-23 mpg on the highway, which is absolutely pathetic for a 116 horse 4cyl engine. I'm guessing his Hemi truck can hit 19-20 on the highway with 340 horse on tap. I love 4Runners, but it ain't for the fuel economy!