Hello everyone. I bought a 2001 4Runner LTD 4X4 in March of 2004 with 78K miles on it. It now has 87K miles. My wife bought a 2001 4Runner SR5 4X4 with approx. 60K miles on it in Sept. 2004. They are both stock with no mods and are in good condition (I have not run any maintenance records on either vehicle). My main question is: How many more miles do you guys think we can get out of these Runners before having to start spending money on major repairs? What types of preventative maintenance should we consider doing to extend the lives of the Runners?

Additionally, what types of mods should we consider for moderate 4wheelin?

Also, does anyone know of any 4wheelin' clubs in the Austin, Texas area?

Thanks in advance,
Michael.

 

Greeting Michael,
You'll get a lot more mile out of them if you take care of them and maintain them, especially tuneups: plugs, wires,cap,rotor,fuel filter, air filter, rotate tires, alignments......! For moderate 4 wheeling, my personal opinion is: tires, lift, shocks, and so forth, search around you'll find what you need right here! Other mods for 4 wheelin' include: lights, rock sliders, fuel inj. perf. kit, headers, lockers, ......! Be careful, I can go on and on and you'l spend and spend and spend! Good Luck~!

 

Listen to Nunsa. I always love the day I pay off a Toyota, because they are one of the few vehicles that you can drive for years after they are paid off. Your vehicles are still verrrrrry young. Don't even think of getting rid of them until sometime after 200,000 miles, if even then (I have 223,000 on my '95. Drive 'em until they break, fix 'em and drive them some more. They get cheaper with every mile. Unless you really like the idea of a car payment.

As for mods, drive it, wheel it. After you wheel for a while, you'll figure out if you need to modify it or not. (Pssst....can you keep a secret? Most mods are more for our egos than anything else.) A stock 4Runner is pretty capable.

 

Timing belt and water pump at 90k, besides that just regular maintenance and you'll go well over 200k.

 

Mods are nice, but be careful b/c they're like a can of Pringles-once you start you can't stop!

 

If your looking for wheeling clubs, head on over to the TTORA board (www.tacomaterritory.com/forum) and I'm sure some guys from your area would be glad to help you out. I think there's also a local Texas board as well.