Looking for a capable DD with support

[Ahoragi]

Oh yeah, forgot about the salt, good decision!

4 cans should be perfect. I wish the government would just pull their head out of their ass and find a better alternative than salt.

I'm going to assume it's pretty rust free as it sits?

Nothing anywhere on the body. The front underside is pretty much rust free. The rear underside has surface rust mostly on the axle. I would expect that since that's where all the salt gets sprayed when driving. It's nothing serious though. I'll take care of it this spring along with sanding and painting the wheels.

 

[Chris]

Sounds like you found a real gem!

 

[Ahoragi]

These showed up today...

It seems the rear shock installation is a royal PITA. Not looking forward to it.

Tires are here but waiting to mount em on the 4runner before sharing their beauty. My first all terrain tire since 2004.

 

[Chris]

The wife and I are thinking about purchasing a 99-01 4Runner for our second vehicle. We want a family vehicle (something with enough room for us all) that still has enough capability to go off-road. The minivan has tons of room, but I keep telling her how I wish we had something with 4 doors that could go off-road.

All roads lead to a 4Runner. Affordable, body-on-frame, and great aftermarket support and reliability.

A 4Runner with an OME lift, some 32" tires (or 31" if the 32" don't fit), a locker in the rear and a winch, that would be perfect.

 

[Ahoragi]

The wife and I are thinking about purchasing a 99-01 4Runner for our second vehicle. We want a family vehicle (something with enough room for us all) that still has enough capability to go off-road. The minivan has tons of room, but I keep telling her how I wish we had something with 4 doors that could go off-road.

All roads lead to a 4Runner. Affordable, body-on-frame, and great aftermarket support and reliability.

A 4Runner with an OME lift, some 32" tires (or 31" if the 32" don't fit), a locker in the rear and a winch, that would be perfect.

Sounds like a plan. The ARB bumper holds a winch is about $875 and looks pretty good on it. That's where my tax $$ is going.


Oh crap......it's starting again. (telling myself: Leave it stock. LEAVE IT STOCK!!!)



I planned on working on it today but holy cold, it's 3 degrees out there.

 

[Chris]

Have fun with that! I refuse to work on the cars when it's this cold out! If I can't feel my hands it makes it excruciatingly hard.

 

[Ahoragi]

Have fun with that! I refuse to work on the cars when it's this cold out! If I can't feel my hands it makes it excruciatingly hard.

It's actually not bad. I broke a sweat trying to take off the struts. I bought the Kerosene heater into the carport and it got toasty.

 

[Chris]

It's actually not bad. I broke a sweat trying to take off the struts. I bought the Kerosene heater into the carport and it got toasty.

If you've got the heater, that's a game changer. I'll do it with a heater, but without a heater I would freeze my ass off.

 

[Ahoragi]

If you've got the heater, that's a game changer. I'll do it with a heater, but without a heater I would freeze my ass off.

I was going to do it outside but I realized there was ice under the snow and feared that I would slip and fall and impale myself with a wrench so I kicked the TJ out and moved into there. The cold isn't a freezing type cold. It's cold but manageable if you keep moving.

 

[Chris]

I was going to do it outside but I realized there was ice under the snow and feared that I would slip and fall and impale myself with a wrench so I kicked the TJ out and moved into there. The cold isn't a freezing type cold. It's cold but manageable if you keep moving.

Sounds like a wise decision. You might have ended up on one of those "1000 ways to die" episodes.

 

[Ahoragi]

Looks like working on the 4runner is easier than the jeep. Just four bolts and the strut pops off. Turns out the backside of my strut springs had paint peeling off from a little bit of rust. So what should've been a 2 hour replacement ended up taking all day with sanding and painting the springs. I almost ordered new moog springs but the 99 Limited models have taller coil springs than any other 3rd generation year and are side specific so I stuck with em. I know moog just tosses in two of the same springs.

 

[Chris]

Looks like working on the 4runner is easier than the jeep. Just four bolts and the strut pops off. Turns out the backside of my strut springs had paint peeling off from a little bit of rust. So what should've been a 2 hour replacement ended up taking all day with sanding and painting the springs. I almost ordered new moog springs but the 99 Limited models have taller coil springs than any other 3rd generation year and are side specific so I stuck with em. I know moog just tosses in two of the same springs.

No shit, eh? I talked to my wife today and she is down with us getting a 4Runner as the family vehicle to compliment the TJ. I think it's a good idea!

 

[Ahoragi]

No shit, eh? I talked to my wife today and she is down with us getting a 4Runner as the family vehicle to compliment the TJ. I think it's a good idea!

Awesome! Which generation you aiming for? (my 99 is 3rd Gen)

 

[Chris]

Awesome! Which generation you aiming for? (my 99 is 3rd Gen)

3rd gen for sure (my favorite generation). Probably a 99-01!

We want one with a factory locker.

 

[Ahoragi]

If it matters the 1999 year has the 1" taller springs. Aim for a Limited if you can cuz they have all the options.

 

[Chris]

If it matters the 1999 year has the 1" taller springs. Aim for a Limited if you can cuz they have all the options.

Yeah I've been looking at limited models. I believe 2000 and 2001 didn't have the rear locker though, regardless of trim level. No idea why that is

 

[Ahoragi]

So I ran into a problem. Every front strut shock sold on the market includes the two upper bushings and washers....except Bilstein 4600's. They only include a nut and expect you to reuse the factory bushings. Even the 5100's have the bushings and washers. Dealer only carries the bottom small bushing. And because every strut out there includes a bushing there are no aftermarket bushing kits available.

My bushings are trashed so I'm at a standstill till i figure this out.

 

[glwood]

Any particular reason why you chose 4600 vs. 5100? As in, can you return the 4600 for the 5100?

 

[Ahoragi]

Any particular reason why you chose 4600 vs. 5100? As in, can you return the 4600 for the 5100?

I prefer the 4600s for stock ride height and 5100's for lifts. I could swap em but I bought em from Kolak on Jeepforu$ so it would be more of a hassle to swap and wait another two weeks.

I found a set at the dealership. Four bushings, four washers, and two nuts: $75. No thanks.

 

[Ahoragi]

I'm trying to get "into" this 4runner but it's just not winning me over. I'm usually excited about driving the jeeps to work or going places with them but I don't have that desire to drive the Toyota. It's just not fun. I feel like I'm driving an oversized "car" that handles like a truck.

I want to order aftermarket stuff for it but I haven't found anything that I want or need. I mounted bigger tires, Bilsteins, bled it, and got it aligned but there was no excitement afterwards. It's like "so.....".

I'm starting to think it's just not for me or maybe I'm not giving myself enough time to bond. I dunno.......