TW's active 4runner builders BS thread

My girlfriend and I have Cali4nia passes this year that get us into mammoth, bear mountain, June lake, and snow summit. It's been a blast but it's 4 hours to big bear and 7 to mammoth. We still try to go a lot.

 

I have always wanted to do night snowboarding. Once of these days I will end up actually doing it. One of the bummer things about CO is that the days are short, most resorts are 9-4 or 5. Would love to go longer some days.

 

Sweet!! They will really make your 4Runner set apart. I finally saw the Beadlocks...the chrome/polished aluminum does nothing against the white. Great choice on the new rims

 

You guys will like CO a lot better. None of those crazy drives unless you want to hit the way out there ski resorts.

 

He's my hero then haha.

Personally, I think when you look at all the different 4runners, the second gen is one of the best ones from a 100% stock status. Its got one of the higher lifts, swing out tire so you can carry 2 spares, smooter suspension (I think at least. Only other one I've driven is a third gen and it didn't cushion as well) and its still got the durability of old school metal- and because I know its coming I'm talking about the body not the 3.0 so shut it

But hey that's my super tired opinion lol

 

Thanks! It's actually a much more machined raw aluminum look than I thought. Not as chrome. They aren't too bad. I just like deal on white.

I'm hoping she gets in there. The only reason we'd move is if she got in. I can work anywhere there is a major city. We have offices in most of them.

 

Honestly the 2nd Gen's style wise aren't bad. They later 2nd Gens look very similar to the early 3rd gens imho. The 99 4Runners had the highest factory ground clearance of the 3rd gens, not sure how it compared to the 2nd Gen though. The 3.0 and gauge cluster are pretty much the only things I don't really like about the 2nd Gen. I would consider one if I could find a nice clean one.

Nice, well fingers crossed for you. Colorado is a great state and has a strong Toyota presence here. Just make sure you change your CA plates pretty fast lol.

 

Wow...4-7 hour drives...that's at least on over night stay somewhere. Long drive but worth it. I think it's great you have a girlfriend to share it with. I was in the Army when I was in Colorado...not married and just running around with the guys. Now stuck in Ohio. Took my wife to the closest ski lodge. I stood in line longer then it took me to get down the hill. Yes hill...not mountain...hill. After coming down twice I kicked off my ski and never been back.

Heck yeah...you could make it out to Vail or Steamboat Springs in that time. Vail is way over rated...bunch of stuck up snobs...and way over price lift tickets!!

 

I agree with you on the Vail part. But there is also Loveland Pass, A-Basin, Copper Mountain and Keystone right off the 70 as well

 

I love the style of the second gen, at least the early ones. They still had the classic "TOYOTA" on the front and look more aggressive. The later ones aren't as nice imho. Lift wise I'm basing that off experience, in the fact that I can crawl around underneath mine on completely flat ground with no jack. I Haven't really seen any others that I can quite do that with. I tried with that third gen I looked at and had no luck. If I find a stock 99 I'll see if I can. On a much less scientific note I've had a few non-4runner people think mines lifted when its not.

What don't you like about the gauge cluster?

 

Oh yeah...copper mountains, Keystone, Brekenridge...all those off 70 is where I lived on the weekends!! Matt was say'n he had a 4-7 hour drive to get to the slopes. Where I lived...4-7 hr drive ...I could visit Vail or Steamboat Spring, which I did just to say I went.

To be honest...Copper Mountain was my all time favorite. It had 2-3 bowls that where Double black diamonds...you could go over on the back side and ski all day long and no see another skier other than ski patrol...what a hoot.

 

I really just don't like how the temperature gauge, fuel gauge ect needles are. It is more of cosmetic thing with me. What is weird with my 3rd Gen is that I am running the stock 265/70/16(31's) and the tires look way to small for it. To me the 3rd Gen is kind of the last of the easy to work on 4Runners.

 

I don't mind it. I never finished it but I made my gauges look sweet before I left CA

 

I forgot you were you down in The Springs so it was a little bit of a drive for you up there. I think all those Ski Resorts are like an hour and half to two from me so not too terrible.

 

It is something minor and not really a deal breaker. Just kind of one of things I don't like. When I was living in AZ, the dealership I worked at traded in a sweet lifted white second gen manual. Almost picked up but they sent it to auction before I could get a price on it.

 

The best looking 4Runner I like...IMHO: is a 3rd gen with an 1st gen Taco's front end! Man, I really love that look. If a deer or another drive pulls out...Bam!! 1st gen Front End Here I Come Baby!!!

 

The big grill Tacoma's are my favorite front end. I have debated doing the swap a few times, looks pretty freaking cool. Not a lot of people have done it, so it would be unique.

 

I've gone so far as to have the local dealership price out what it would cost to do the which over. Using all new Toyota parts was...IIRC, $1200-$1800?? It was somewhere in there. I might have done it but that's when I learned...Taco's never had the hood scoops like the 4Runner did. I had just put on my new hood scoop on my truck....said no way.

 

Hey did y'all hear Toyota is killing the Scion name. This is going to be last year for them?!

 

Do the swap and ship me your hood lol. I wonder if it would be easier to find a pick and pull and try to find the parts. I almost bought an aftermarket 4Runner scooped hood but it was missing the inserts, so I passed.