I drove my 2nd generation 4 runner to Butler, Mo last weekend and blessed my oldest son with the continued use of my beloved 4 runner.

I cried as I watched it drive away while I climbed into a rented KIA Spectre to return to Knoxville, TN.

Isaac and his 6 week old son Noah (my newest grandbaby )will have many good times in my old 4 runner in the years to come. Isaac said that I drove all the way to Missouri to restore his manhood. The boy was totally excited that his new ride is modded and a proven capable rig - from his Dad.

I cried as I unloaded my stuff and handed over the keys - the memories of all the fun just kept running through my mind.

Here is a picture of the happy new owners - check out my new grandbaby
Yotatech - meet Noah Staley.





A very bittersweet moment for me - the passing of the torch !

 

and the most sentimental post of the year goes to...

Very cool. Congrats on one account anyways!

 

Hey gramps, nice grandchild

So, what are your plans?
Are you looking into a new Toyota?

 

What - you don't know that gramps bought an 85 4 runner ?

Here man - see for yourself.

 

wow, thats humbling to say the least.

good luck with the '85

 

Nice, good project to work on over the winter season.

 

Wow what a dad, and grandpa, congratulations man.

I hate to pry back the warm fuzziness of this special moment but I gotta say this, LOL. I think you just did this 'cause you had your old runner all tricked out and wanted to start over again from the ground up. (just kidding) I wish I could find a decent 1st gen for strictly playtime.

Congratulations again to you and your sons family.

Almost forgot, do you have any pics of how that toolbox is mounted?

 

Yeah - I did that my myself - let me find the pictures. My 85 is just my play toy - It will evolve over the next few years.



I've got more but I'll have to find them. E-mail me and I'll get them to you in a few days. Docboat2@msn.com

 

Pictures of the tool box mount on the 2nd generation here:

http://community.webshots.com/album/214390246JZDlNb

That toobox is one of my better ideas - I'll miss the added storage for sure.

 

Each generation of the 4runner looks good to me, but the 1st generation is my favorite.

Congratulations on the Grandbaby! I have a 7 month old and my Dad can't get enough of him. He tells me when he comes to visit us now that, "It is nice to see you and Stephanie son, but we came to visit Cooper." I laugh, and let him have all the time he and my Mom want with Cooper.

 

Hey way off topic I have that same shirt your son has, got it at target, wore it yesterday. You son shur knows how to streach a dollar, nice to see that.

Oh and that bumper on the 1st GEN is the beef! Is that ARB? Can you post a pic of that from the front? I'm looking for something for my 1st GEN.

 

You'll find another love soon. Its a great looking 2nd gen sorry you had to let it go.

 

Congrats on the addition to your clan... did you tell your son he has to pass the 2 gen on to his son when the time comes?

 

Hey Doc, thanx for the pics of the toolbox. I am wondering, is that swing away factory, if so do you know if I can get it from the dealer? this toolbox mount is sooooooo sweeeeet!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Very cool Doc. I look forward to the day I can pass the torch of my hard work to my sons...it will make it even sweeter if they appreciate it.

:bigclap:

 

that must be hard, ive never had to get rid of a rig that ive owned for a long time. on the plus side, you got do drive a kia spectra

 

Hey Doc, sorry you "had to" let her go, but isn't it great that she's in good hands? Waaaay preferable to selling to a stranger.

You're going to have fun with that 1st Gen!

 

That swing away tire carrier is the factory mount used on the 1990 and 1991 4 runners - it went away after 1991. I'm sure that you could find one in the bone yard - internal welding may be required ! I liked the tire carrier but with a 31 tire back there, hooking up my boat, camper,utility trailer was a pain. So I bought the hardware to move the tire underneath the bumper.
That also gave me a spot to carry spare front CV axles - I wrapped them in plastic bags and secured to the spare tire - then cranked them up against the bottom of the runner - I carried two.

I found the aluminum box on E-bay - it's actually produced to be mounted on the rear rack of a 4 wheeler - a friend added some plating to the inside for me and the mounting was all figured out by me. I cut the tire carrier portion off of the swing away mount and mounted the tool box. I carried all my recovery gear in that box - Ax, Saw, strap, bottle jack etc etc. All those loose things that would kill you in a wreck - were in the tool box.
The cool thing is that I probably had 200 - 300 lbs in that box and it would swing out of the way without unloading any of the contents of the tool box.

I always received lots of questions about the tool box - people would flash their lights and pull me over to take a look at the way it was mounted. I will miss it !!!!!!!!!!

Isaac and his wife are pastors of an assembly of God church in Butler, MO. My son has made me very proud and he is a blessing to all that know him. He is very unselfish and spends lot's of time with the youth of the church. He is also an accomplished musician - the boy can play anything.

The 85 will eventually be my trailer queen - it is not my daily driver but could be at any time. It is in very good condition. I probably looked at 20 - 1985 4 runners until I found this one. I am driving the 2000 Jeep wrangler in the back ground as my daily driver.

 

I was impressed with the KIA - it drove well with the 4 cylinder engine and averaged 34 miles per gallon on the way home @ 80 miles per hour. The one way charge is significant on a rental car - cost me $129.00 per day. Needless to say - I drove straight home without stopping except for gas.
That's 530 miles !!!

 

The bumper on the 85 is a home made job by the previous owner. It has a Warn 8274 winch that I just rebuilt - new motor, seals, etc. It is beefy for sure ! The 2nd generation was capable rig but this 85 is a BEAST off-road.
I've been to Tellico in it several times now.







Needless to say - I'll have the 85 until the day I die - the kids can fight over it when I'm gone.

Give me a year or two and then you will be impressed !!!!! I have plans man !