What have you done to your 5th Gen 4Runner today?

Added a bit of whimsy for a hitch cover

 

haha

 

Drove my 4R to another Honda dealer today and bought a slightly used 2024 Hybrid CRV. I’ll use that as my daily driver and the 4R for fun adventures. The CA gas prices suck as you’ve seen in prior posts, so having the hybrid car should help.

While at the dealership, at least a couple of salesmen commented on how nice my truck was. One was even taking pics of it.

And when I was at another Honda dealership yesterday, a few people also said “nice truck”.

They were probably buttering me up so I’d buy a car from them but we all know 4Rs are nice trucks!

 

and eat bugs

 

thats what she said…

 

... way off track for this thread... but....

Not really "extra money" - just costs of living differences.
spoiler it is not the gas station: https://fortune.com/2022/08/09/ener...-fuel-retailers-high-gas-prices-alex-kinnier/

The local tax rate accounts for the price difference(s) from state to state, city to city
For every gallon of gas in California:

• 54 cents in state excise tax: among the highest in the nation
• 18.4 cents in federal excise tax
• 23 cents for California's cap-and-trade program to lower greenhouse gas emissions
• 18 cents for the state's low-carbon fuel programs
• 2 cents for underground gas storage fees
• An average of 3.7% in state and local sales taxes

"Local governments are the ones that are really making out well because they are getting a percentage-based tax," Langley pointed out. "It's not a flat excise tax."
He added that this percentage-based tax can be a boon for cities, to ostensibly pay for things like road repair and maintenance.

The third largest state, California, has roughly 60% of the land mass of Texas and a corresponding 60% of the road miles. California has 386,604 total road miles crisscrossing the state, including 25 interstate highways and a whopping 318 state highways. That is a LOT of road maintenance.

Some reference data:

• Texas: Boasts a vast road network, with 654,923 total road miles.
• California: Follows closely with 386,604 total road miles.

As of March 30, 2025, the average gas price in Texas for regular unleaded fuel is $2.74 per gallon, which is 5% lower than the national average of $3.12.
Having the refineries right in the state really helps for transportation costs.

Texas overall:
Tax Marginal Tax Rate Effective Tax Rate
Federal 22.00% 9.33%
FICA 7.65% 7.65%
State 0.00% 0.00%
Local 0.00% 0.00%

California:
Tax Type Marginal Tax Rate Effective Tax Rate
Federal 12.00% 8.58%
FICA 7.65% 7.65%
State 6.00% 2.96%
Local 0.00% 0.00%
Total Income Taxes 19.18%

Texas has a Gross State Product (GSP) of $2.709 trillion as of 2024, making it the second-largest economy in the US after California
California's total net worth is estimated at over $6 trillion, with a significant concentration of wealth in coastal areas, particularly the San Francisco Bay Area, where the average zip code has a net worth exceeding $450,000 per resident.

helpful: https://www.mylifeelsewhere.com/cost-of-living/california-usa/texas-usa

TLDR: gas is "more expensive" in California but as a whole the residents also make "more income" than other states.

 

California Department Of Tax And Fee Administration

State Tax Rate For Fuels

‘excise tax’ and ‘state tax’

California to increase gas 65 cents in 2025

Most unsettling is this…

Get ready for $7/gal folks

 

I got few audio upgrades over the last week:
Morel Tempo Ultra 602 Components Up Front
Morel Tempo Ultra Integra 6.5 Coax Rear Doors
Audio Control 4.300 amp
NVX 91mil deadener in all four doors
Sound is great so far, definitely still breaking in. The sound/environment is hard to describe because I don't much have much experience to compare this to. There are tones and sounds that are now audible in my music that I haven't heard before. The increased frequency range, power, and volume are obvious, but I can tell I am missing the low frequencies. That solution may be coming next.

 

oh yes, I forgot about that. LOL. Reliably informed they’re good protein, only have to eat 100 of em at a time.

 

If the gas money is needed to maintain the roads then what happens when they force everyone into electric vehicles?

 

I reckon when combustion cars go bye-bye, they’ll backfill the losses by increasing control, price, and taxation of electricity. BC Hydro for example is already well on their way in this regard.

 

People better start installing their own solar panels soon.

 

In some jurisdictions drivers of electric vehicles pay an extra couple hundred dollars a year at insurance or tag renewal time to offset what they would being paying at the pump for road improvement fees.

 

Ordered a set of these. Passenger front door speaker is blown and while I’m no audio enthusiast, these got great reviews.

 

Move to a VMT type of fee schedule:
https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ipd/tolling_and_pricing/defined/vmt.aspx

 

I resisted the urge to buy wheels and tires for almost 2 years but stumbled on a decent deal for wheels and tires (and free alignment) so I jumped on it. Lock Offroad Baja wheels. Falken AT4w (SL) in stock size. Amazing how much bigger the Falkens look v.s. the Dueler HT tires.

 

Hitched a ride home on a bigger Toyota truck (Hino). Alternator crapped out completely on the highway

 

awe man!!! :-(

 

Aaargh..

 

If I'm gonna eat a hundred of something, it's far more likely to be Goldfish or Cheetos.

Or pushing back against The Man.

More of Big Gov nosing into our business... "Hey, citizen, how many miles did you drive? Prove it. We want to tap into your odometer... here's a handy OBD2 plug-in for you. You'll never notice it's there. Nothing to worry about..."

Ugh.

 

I'm not sure what your budget is, but Trail Grid Pro sells a complete Kicker speaker kit. They sound amazing, even without an amp hooked up to them. I have this setup in mine (with an amp) and it really rocks.

https://trailgridpro.com/products/kicker-8-speaker-4runner

 

Has one of the best serving sizes out there!
Think it’s like 55

side note:
Could care less bout that stuff but I have always found the 55 to be a big kickindatazz to other snack stuff…also, on topic, but been a minute…Fritos bags were ALWAYS fuller

 

got home from a long work day.
cherry blossoms just started blooming, only two weeks out of the year. so I took a picture.
the wife wanted sushi so I had an excuse to take the 4r for a rip. trippy rain clouds tonight. that’s no filter.

 

2016 lcd tech at its finest. I like it

 

Bummer! What year and how many miles? Any warning signs?

 

installed car seats in the 2nd row.
leaving the 4r to my in-laws.
wife n I fly out to Mexico early in the morning!

 

took this photo today

 

Travel well, and try that Maestro!

 

What amp are you running?