New guy - 99 4Runner

Hello! I made a deal with my daughter when she was 14 and had some questionable friends: Get to 18 years-old without kissing a boy and I'll buy you a car. She made it to 18 watching her friends make stupid mistakes instead of being in the middle of it. Mission accomplished. I paid up 3 months before her 18th birthday.

I'm a Land Cruiser guy normally, but when it came time to pay up I thought we'd go a little more economical. She wanted something that would take her camping, into Utah's back country, and get her through the snow and up the icy hills in Logan, Utah where she'd be going to college. After driving a Subaru that I thought was pretty good she said, "I could drive that I guess. Just one question: can I drive over curbs in it?"

Well, I compromised: more than a Subaru, less than a Land Cruiser, and reliable and safe enough to put MY daughter in. Enter the 4Runner. "Bruce" came to us 3 years ago with 182,000 miles and a bit of a leak from the rear main seal. Otherwise he was in great condition. I've not had to do ANYTHING to this truck in 3 years other than routine maintenance.


The suspension was a little saggy so I got an OME Medium lift from Cruiser Outfitters and put on a set of Land Cruiser rims with 285 75R16's. The ride is a little stiff if you don't love trucks, but we do, so it's great. When it's loaded for a trip it's very nice. The back spacing on the LC rims brings the tire just to the outside of the wheel well and I think they look great.


We've had it out several times on the trails and I'm always impressed with it.



I'm now at the point there are some things failing and I need some help. She's willing to work on it a little, but it's not her passion, and she's pretty busy with a full load at school as a biology major. I Iove to share what I've learned, I'm hoping you do to. I'm looking forward to my time on the forum!

 

Welcome aboard, both you and your daughter. What a great story! - Ted

 

Thanks! Right now I'm working on non-working window motors and something rattling in the back hatch. I've got a new switch to put in when she comes down this weekend from school. We'll see how it goes.

Where do people get EWD's and FSM's around here?