O, 1985 Toyota SR5 4WD Truck, rest in peace forever. My first truck was an '85 solid axle 22R with 5-speed manual. Not very fast at altitude, but means more to me than any other vehicle in the world, past/present/future. It is currently in Toyota heaven. About three years ago, the truck was still in just about perfect shape and running great. My dad put over 300k on it without any problems, having bought it from a Boulder Toyota employee and Longmont volunteer firefighter. He gave it to my cousin, who also had an 89.5 4Runner SR5 V6, and we shared it. It was to become the first truck I would own. But, sure enough, right around July of 2004, a punk-ass kid stole it and completely destroyed it. He ran it at about 70 mph face down into an irrigation ditch on the side of a field. The engine, gearbox, and clutch were still good, but that was about it. Body sprung. Cab bent. Frame bent. No longer roadworthy. The front end was still fine, as it had a special black brush guard bolted straight to the frame, basically the same as the one in Back To The Future. Overall a wonderful little red truck. Recovering it was one of the most tragic and sad days of my life. I loved it so much, it was shock at first to lose it, then grief. I thought about restoring it at first, but it was just too far gone. I didn't want to part it out either, because that would have just brought back all the sad memories. My cousin sent it to the crusher, where it was crushed and cremated in a very hot furnace. A good theme song I played at the "funeral" was "Don't Let It Show" by The Alan Parsons Project. The song still makes me cry a little whenever I hear it, as it reminds me of my first love.

VIN was 4JTRN something.

 

wow........

 

So let me get this straight, you crushed a -complete-, solid axle, in perfect shape other than a bent frame 1985 truck because "you couldn't bear to see it torn down"!? Did it ever cross your small, self centered mind that some people are trying to save their own trucks from worse and could have used the parts? That your -loss- could have helped others?
You sir, are an over-emotional moron, and you do not deserve to own a vehicle other than a damn scooter ever again.

Asshole...

 

Uh, name calling out of line. Yeah I thought the same thing about the parts, but you know what... It is (was) HIS truck and he can do whatever he pleases with it.

You seem to be the over emotional one. I think you owe the OP an apology.

Edit: ROACH maybe you missed this page... see #2 *click here*

 

Bunta, tragic loss, my condolences. Is that truck in that movie a straight axle? I don't know, but my truck has the same body style, so that would be shared with 84-85 as well.

 

Yes, Marty's truck is a solid axle 22R-E. Mine was just like that except for no Xtra cab or EFI. And it had the 6-potato style chrome SR5 wheels, as I like to call them. As for the offensive individual, take your anger and ridiculousness somewhere else. I'm not offended, but others might be. If something like this happened to any of my trucks now/in the future, I would definitely restore or part out. It was just that particular one that I couldn't. And yes, this is the United States of America, and I can do whatever the hell I want with my own truck, thank you very much.

 

ouch man......i hope that was a joke......not cool.

anyways. tragic story man, it brought a little liquid into my eyes.

 

A solid axle and you're wondering why I'm angry!? Its true, you can do whatever you want with your junk in America. But, as a member of the enthusiast community, you're expected to hold yourself to a higher standard and set an example. You could have contributed to the greater good, yet you chose to think of only yourself and your "feelings". If everyone here just crushed their unused parts, we wouldn't have the hobby that we all enjoy. That's like not checking the donor box on your license in my book.

I stand by my comments, and I am not changing a thing. Mods, do what you want, but no one should be condoning what this person has done.

 

I KNOW why you were angry. Hopefully no hard feelings in the end though.

 

I kind of have to agree with what was said above, how could you just throw away perfectly good parts ?, yes, i know its your truck and you can do what ever you want with it, but you could have not only made some money on all the remaining good parts, but wouldn`t it make you feel good in a way knowing that parts of your truck are living on while being used on another truck ?. thats kind of how i feel when i go to pic n pull and find parts for my truck that would otherwise end up being crushed, but instead of that happening they find new life in my truck. im sure others feel this way also.

 

come on now guys. i think we all agree that it's a shame that this truck got crushed. what's NOT ok is the way that RALLYROACH said what he said. now i don't really want to get in the middle of this, but the name calling and such is not appropriate. for god's sake man, Bunta was just telling a story. that's just my .02........

RALLY: your insensitivity and ignorance is not appreciated.

 

Lol shouldn't you be posting over on Pirate?

I have crushed and sent out more Toyota vehicles than anyone could ever imagine. I have crushed an 87 SR5 electric window 4runner with a straight body. Granted, its just my job. But still. Lay off the guy sheesh. If you dont like it, why dont YOU go buy all the straight axle rigs then you can control the market.


That being said, perhaps better things could have been done with the rig. Even if you give the rig to a wrecking yard for free, some people could use the parts for their rigs.

Better to educate for the future than knock him for what has already happened and cannot be changed in the present.

 

thats what i'm tryin' to say.

 

Well at least the truck died doing what it was meant to do....extreme off roading. I hate to see good live axle trucks get wasted....

 

Roach are you really serious about this? You are all that mad? You must really not care about your vehicles. I know that my truck is one of the greatest things in my life as Buntas was, you all just dont understand how sentimental our trucks can be to us. The paint on my truck is horrible and I still get pissed when a bird ****s on it. It was his truck and he can do whatever he wants to it. If he wanted to set it on fire and put it on a raft and send it to the norse gods, its his decision, there still are some SA trucks out there waiting to be found.

I mean I would have loved to have some of the parts off that truck, but I applaud this guy for doing what he thought would be best for him. He paid for it, so its not really selfish. You are the selfish person for thinking that you deserved anything off that truck. In fact I hope that you dont find any of the parts you wanted off that truck, just because you are aself centered man and put your needs in front of everyone elses!!!

 

Not trying to be aggressive but FOR GOD'S SAKE, AS I'VE SAID TWICE ALREADY: if ever the same thing happened to one of the trucks I own now/that I will own in the future, I WOULD restore or part out. You have to open your eyes and READ what people are saying.

 

Beautiful truck, 1989toy4wd. I like it. And yes, I will be buying many solid axle trucks in the future. And I really applaud you all for getting it correct. Axel Foley's Nova does not have axels, it has axles. Thank you for that. (Corvettes, Camaros [old], Novas, Impalas, and Chevelles were all great cars). My dad had a Chevelle SS. But back on topic.

Most of you can see where I was coming from on this, and I appreciate that. Thank you. No truck or material thing or otherwise will ever mean more to me besides maybe my future wife.

 

I plan to make a video as soon as I build my authentic (to the old one) red '85 truck from the Yota Yard, with me as the driver up at Montezuma. Music will be a suite of Petra's "Road To Zion" and "Grave Robber", and finishing with Elton John's "Fanfare/Chloe". I'll post the link as soon as it's done.