PAGING EVERYONE

[YotaFun]

WHERE IS EVERYONE!?!?!?!?!?

Its gotten so quiet on here the past year....
Andy has been here and there
Bob?
Mike?
Steve?
Tom?

Also where's the Cheese, I know you left your Yotas but you didn't have to leave us?
Fuster, Oh great wise Fuster where have you gone?
Lee's been here and there
Matt?
Jamie too has been here and there
David's been here and there
Same with Chris

AND THATS JUST THE STAFF!!!!

I miss you the regulars, I mean I know we all have our lives to live, heck I find myself on here a little less then usual, but it feels like its been FOREVER

Are you all alive and still doing well?
DO you still have your Toys or think about the ones you had?
Whats everyone been up too?

[04 Rocko Taco]

I'm around. I'm here just about everyday in fact. :hillbill:

[troyboy162]

less people are doing runs and we now have bike tech taking up a 1/4 of the posts lol. im hanging on other wheeling forums these days.

[Obi..]

:) Hey Avy, Hey Chris, I'd stick around but I got a ride to go do and then no staying up late this night, interview/gig tomorrow in the big city.

I do miss everyone chiming in, I know part of it is like alluded to , people having to sell off rigs, etc, stressing over work, money, housing, etc. maybe internet time/access is also a part of that. People should check in though, it makes me getting stuck in drama less noticeable. :angel: I miss everyone's posts, I'd post more but I am on hold with my build until I decide whether or not to do the next step or get a fullsize for family hauling..

Let's hear what everyone's up to!!

[slosurfer]

economy has sucked the past few years which has left no $$ for mods, upkeep, and definitely no trips.....which equals less time with my internet friends that I share all that with

[Seanz0rz]

:good:

school nearly killed me last year, plus getting married, stuff around the house, dealing with maintenance on all the other vehicles and now working on my senior project, i just have no time for the 4runner.

[corax]

I still check in, but I've never been much of a big talker anyway. That, and I've recently put in an application to be part of the 4wd division of a HAM based Search and Rescue org, called Mountain Wave, providing comms and support to other SAR organizations. Oh, and I'm trying to get into Northwest E-Crew who do final sweep and extractions after a rally stage has gone "cold" (in that direction, planning a new bumper with provisions for a winch - gonna try to cover it in fiberglass so I get the light weight of a tube bumper with the look of plate)

[YotaFun]

I agree Chris
Just been little worried of the forums future too...

Just want to make sure old friends are alive and well, Toyota or not

[CJM]

Im here, still read every day or so but dont have alot to contribute really.

Where you been lol, working lots? Havent heard from you in eons.

[4x4mike]

I'm here daily but I'm mostly a reader. For the most part I haven't had time to do mods or much off roading. My family and I travel around the state a lot but it's not exciting enough to post about. Family (2 year old), work (40 hour week) and bike riding (100-200 week) is pretty much the norm but has always been. I'd love to tackle a project or two and when I do I'll budget time to post up.

[YotaFun]

Marc, yup working lots of hours, trying to get somewhere.
I haven't done anything to the 4Runner, I am just trying to get it back to a reliable Mall Crawler state, after thats done I am saving up to move out...

I hate that I too may be falling out of the off-roading scene, its probably the only thing that defines me, but its not a popular scene around this part of the country and moving any farther away from where I am at is not an option...

Such as life, at least we are all alive and breathing and taking care of ourselves

[Marc P]

I still check in, but after getting rid of Goldmember I am not wheeling. I have been on R/C forums more recently.

[Robinhood4x4]

I'm still here and check in a couple times a day. I haven't been doing too much off roading ever since moving out to AZ. Plus, right now it's the off season since it's so hot here. This might change once my friend and I get his FJ40 up and running, but that probably won't be until the first half of next year.

I've also been getting more into competitive shooting and also photography. Facebook is also taking away some of the posts that, just a few years ago, I would have posted to forums.

Tom's been gone for a while now. Once he had his kids and moving to "flat as a board" Iowa where there's no rockcrawling, he didn't have much use for an off road forum. I haven't heard from him in years now.

Anyway, yeah, I'm still here.

[CJM]

I really just put my truck back to stock pretty much,sold my BJ spacers, remove my add a leafs, still have those sweet mickey thompsons with dueler revos in my shed tho. Ever since I ruined my axle shafts and axle housing by making the truck jump some whoops I cant get ahead. Seems one thign after another breaks on me, I mean I do have 212k (and need to do a timing belt/water pump badly but I cant afford it or have time!). Replaced my steering box, ball joints again (2x now in 25k I need to fix the bumpstops! they bent I found from the whoops but again no time!)

I removed the snorkel and patched the fender for now with red duct tape lol.Just got sick of it and since I wasnt doing any offroading why do I need it? Did get alot of compliments on it tho for some abs piping sticking outta the fender! Got a good fender I need to paint it too. Working on finding an axle, cause I about fixed everything wrong on the T100, might as well put an axle in at this point. The T100 still runs well, even tho my #2 plug blew out on me last year (hasnt since I fixed it thank god!)

Still have the F250 I bought last year that needs an engine (or perhaps heads IDK Im sick of thinking about it and it just sits anyways). I got out of offroading b/c its to danged $$$, theres not many places to really go unless you drive far and daily driver offroaders just didnt work out for me lol.

Im into quads now, it breaks well it isnt cheap but its cheaper than the truck. Plenty of places to ride and got quite a few friends into it. Nothing like being able to jump thru the air 40 ft and land too lol. Real sense of accomplishment when you dont fall and wreck too. Quite fun to ride imho vs the truck and I dont worry so much about it since if it does break its not like I need to use it tomorrow to go somewhere.

Other than that working for a landscaper and scraping by, going back to school this fall as well. Not sure wtf Im gonna do when school starts, will probably have to pick up a part time job or soemthing since I cant work regular hours with school schedule.

Bout it really.

[X-Tool Pimp]

Im here and still alive :hillbill: but I only check the boards a couple times a week in the off season

[Osiris]

I am posting more now that I can work on my project. Took a good year to get set with the new job and move which took over a year to get. Now settled and can start with mine and everyone bails. How typical. Bastards! :P

Yeah, I miss fuster to see how to do a build right. But there's still a lot of custom stuff done on here and it's still better than TOF with its High Schooler what is the biggest tire I can run questions!

Well, hope some of the old guard and new guard chime in to give good advice on what I'm doing.




I hate that I too may be falling out of the off-roading scene, its probably the only thing that defines me, but its not a popular scene around this part of the country and moving any farther away from where I am at is not an option...

Such as life, at least we are all alive and breathing and taking care of ourselves


I am trying to get my 4Runner set to go out with the Northeast Toyota Crawlers. They are having a Takeover run in PA on July 23-25 weekend. They are having it at Rausch Creek Off Road Park. Sadly I won't make it there, but you should check it out if you can. IntrepidYota is in the NTC club too, but he has stopped since he has hurt his back. PM me if you want the link.

[oly884]

I'm around and have been keeping tabs on the forum for the usual funny business, haha.

I've been busy with the house, life, all that fun stuff.... but try to check in. Nothing incredibly new to report with the truck other than the re-gear. Still getting out with the camper, road trips, what not. Perhaps I'll do a post one of these days highlighting my last few trips. Lots of photography, but just haven't sat down and gone through all of them.

[04 Rocko Taco]

I think a mian reason of the falling off is the economy. With the state its in, then its hard for even the more affluent among us to to justify mods, and major trips. The further down the economic ladder you go, the worse it gets, people have to sell thier rigs for one reason or another, and you wind up with not a lot of people with not a lot to say.

I , personally, have been SO busy for the past year or so with trying to get settled after the move to TN, and a new job, and the wedding coming up. Maybe after the wedding, when things settle down, I can get back to doing it right.

[some_odd_girl]

Sounds like a lot of people are really busy! Photography, search and rescue, families... all good stuff! I know full well I'm not a 'veteran' member, but I've stopped hanging around because I don't have a rig, and the threads that have had the most life lately have frankly been kind of boring to me. :P It'd be nice if I had more to talk about on here, my summer has been quite boring!

[L33T35T Tacoma]

I'm around. I've been itchin to go wheelin, but gas is expensive! I'm definitely looking forward to Pismo, though. I haven't done any type of 4 wheeling since last year's Pismo! What a shame.

[Cebby]

I'm trying to lurk more - 3 kids in sports is killing any available time (and available money come to think of it).

Just had to dump a bunch of $$ into my 2 DD's, so been focused elsewhere. I miss you guys though!!!

[CJM]

I think its just summer and everyone is busy doing stuff. Course money is also a hard to come by thing these days for many, whatever I make tends to go back out. Its killing me cause I keep finding killer deals on atv parts I want/need and keep buying junk. IDK wtf Im gonna do when school starts again, cant landscape with the schedule I have.

[Crinale]

i have been checkin in here and there.. but it kinda depresses me to be honest to be on this forum.. since im parting out and selling my rig. Been spending more time on my other forum with my euro/show car friends.

I miss talkin to you guys though, but i don't honestly see myself getting much more active on here again til i have another rig :/

[Osiris]

til i have another rig :/


You do! Says so in your sig.

And Bekah, you can add to the hot chick thread to make the summer less boring.

[Erich_870]

I'm in the same boat as everyone else. No money for mods, spending lots of time with the family and I don't drive my 4runner daily anymore. I have a new job with more of a commute so I only drive it on the weekends.

I'm hoping to get through another round of maintenance and than take the family on a road trip up north.

Erich

[Scuba]

I'm here. Occasionally.

[gabe]

I haven't been on here very much. I never really was. But I still have to say this is my favorite forum. And if I'm going to get on, this is where I want to be. :thumbup:

I guess the main reason for not being on here more is finances sucking and having a 3 year old and 2 1 year olds. Got to keep my priorities straight!

[slosurfer]

I haven't been on here very much. I never really was. But I still have to say this is my favorite forum. And if I'm going to get on, this is where I want to be. :thumbup:

I guess the main reason for not being on here more is finances sucking and having a 3 year old and 2 1 year olds. Got to keep my priorities straight!


Oh yeah, I forgot about you living here now. We'll have to meet up for some :drink: at Dunbar Brewing right down the street from you

Better yet, we should go do Garcia Ridge and then get some grub at the Pozo Saloon :thumbup:

[some_odd_girl]

til i have another rig :/


You do! Says so in your sig.

And Bekah, you can add to the hot chick thread to make the summer less boring.


He needs to change his sig lol

And I'll get right on that, I'll go find some pics of hot chicks for you. Geez, making me do your dirty work. :P

[Obi..]

..And I'll get right on that, I'll go find some pics of hot chicks for you. Geez, making me do your dirty work. :P


Madame Bekah? :spit:
http://us.cdn2.123rf.com/168nwm/dolgachov/dolgachov0901/dolgachov090100050/4097536-dominatrix-in-black-leather-corset-with-riding-crop.jpg
She has stated she's fond of corsets. :rofl:

[some_odd_girl]

If I'm ever that blonde, shoot me. Haha.

[Ric]

Im here, still read every day or so but dont have alot to contribute really.

X2

[jrallan26]

Guilty as charged.... I havent been around in ages.... Ever since my wifes accident, been busy taking care of her. Now I've been having medical issues.... But I'm back!!!! jrallan26 2.0!

[gabe]

Oh yeah, I forgot about you living here now. We'll have to meet up for some :drink: at Dunbar Brewing right down the street from you

Better yet, we should go do Garcia Ridge and then get some grub at the Pozo Saloon :thumbup:


We should definitely meet up sometime. My truck is broke down right now. But as soon as I get it up and running, I'm up for anything.

[slosurfer]

definitely let me know when it's up and running (I'll pm you my number). I might try to hit up Pozo next week, now that the 4runner is back to weekend warrior status and not the DD work vehicle.

[Good Times]

Sorry I've been mia... :( work has taken me away from my hobbies... boo hoo but honestly speaking it's paying the bills and that's the bottom line so I'm not complaining. The truck is definitely getting neglected but I hope to revive it once I get more time to fart around :)

[Bob98SR5]

work, family issues, i can't think of a mod to do, my prime contribution years have passed, life goes on, but i still read daily and check in and post once in awhile.

[Obi..]

Sorry I've been mia... :( work has taken me away from my hobbies... boo hoo but honestly speaking it's paying the bills and that's the bottom line so I'm not complaining. The truck is definitely getting neglected but I hope to revive it once I get more time to fart around :)


Hold it, you finally got a job and didn't come in to post about it and brag? You're losing it man? :D



work, family issues, i can't think of a mod to do, my prime contribution years have passed, life goes on, but i still read daily and check in and post once in awhile.


Bullcrap, you still have plenty to share. Try going out for the weekend and camp a couple of days, share it in a "Mini-Trip" thread. :D

[Good Times]

always have had a job, just a bit more stressful :)

[Lee]

I'm on here pretty often, but like others have said don't have much to share. When I was modding my 08 a bit, I shared all of that at least!!

Lately I have really gotten into biking, obsessively reading about trails and accessories / add-ons and frankly spending too much money on it all... :laugh:

I'm also SUPER busy at work, I have never been so busy in fact... I fly a lot for work (leaving Aug 6th again till Aug 18), and recently got a rather large raise and promotion which has moved me to a new level of responsibility in a more official manner... so now I feel obligated to spend even more time working since failure is not an option for me and success requires my utmost attention!

[some_odd_girl]

Congrats on the promotion! :)

[calrockx]

What a Good-Ol'-Days-of-UY reunion thread. :)

I haven't even wheeled since I moved to SF in fall 2008. I'm back in LA now, but grad school at USC keeps a guy busy.

One day I'll get back for at least one more trail run in this 4Runner...even just the local Rowher Flats.

[Crinale]

there i fixed my signature.. lol

[some_odd_girl]

there i fixed my signature.. lol


Aww sad day. :(

[Bob98SR5]

chuck,

what are you studying at USC?

[calrockx]

chuck,

what are you studying at USC?


I'm in a new program that's only a few years old, Annenberg Program on Online Communities.
it's a lot of new media, internet marketing, and online communities/social media.
i'm digging it.

[Bob98SR5]

chuck,

sounds pretty cool and right up your alley. how many year$$$$$$$? :P

[Obi..]

So hold it, he'll be getting paid to post like on here, where do the rest of us sign up at? :D (*No spam dude, we got your info! :flipoff: )
~Looks like I won't be playing with you guys at night in chat anymore. New gig starts either this Friday or this Sunday at 5am, means I start the commute around 4am. They want me to be a supervisor, already, Keith, where's that lawn chair and cooler at again? ;)

[YotaFun]

I need to find an automotive job where I can work from how and sit on my fat ass, that would be nice lol

[Obi..]

:D Avy, I think they're called "Service Advisors". :hillbill: Stay wrenching, it's more fun and sane than you all realize. Some part of me might miss the auto and bike industry, but that's the poor guy I no longer want to know. FWIW my territory right now's around Dublin-Pleasanton, CA. If I get the official offer for the Supervisor spot and accept it it'll expand to include as far North as Antioch and as far South-East as Modesto.

Didn't I vow to try to not sell out? :spit: Now I might have to go car shopping and have tinted windows so I don't get a farmer's tan. :gay:

[YotaFun]

I have no issues with it actually, but I am starting to get tired of getting sick from people not cleaning out there damn cars, I am going to start dressing like a doctor about to go in surgery with full arm gloves and all....

[elripster]

Well a few things have kept be busy over the last three years. In March of 08 we moved to the midwest in persuit of gainful employment. My job had me traveling like crazy. When I was on the forums I was on a lot more of the trip planning stuff on the Hummer and upoverland.org. Now I have a 7 month old so that takes up more time and I've gone to the dark side (sold 4runner, bought an 85 FJ60 to restore) so I'm wrenching on the 60 a lot.

However, now that we are back in SoCal and I'm not traveling for work I'd like to get back into life, hit up Pismo, the mountains, all the things I missed so much living in the flatness.

Frank

[elripster]

Also since I have an LC I'm on MUD a lot for the tech.

Frank

[Obi..]

^You said the "M" word. ;) Seen Brandon's 60-restoration (skinner)?

Now go out to the garage and put an alarm and hidden kill switch on the 60 before you end up in one of the threads where I always get to do this :shake:

:thumbup: Congrats on Daddy-Dom, whole other world isn't it? :angel:

@Avy, I know, I try to forget that stuff. It got to the point where the 3 of us w/ seniority would grab 3-4 tags to go "scope" the jobs. If it looked like the neighborhood dump-mommy-wagon or too-much-perfume-and-make-up-gal owned it we'd hand the tag(s) to the b!tches, erm, porters to run through wash n vac first. We got to the point where the owner put a sign out front that if you bring in trash all of it would end up in bags in your back seat so we could perform our job(s). I believe the porters were always sure the silver coins were left to the vacuum. This was at the dealership on the main interstate..by Friday we always had a jar of $ to buy all of us pizza and soda's for lunch. :D
~I won't come close to clearing more than $55k this year, but I'm fine w/ that. More play and family time's priceless.

[elripster]

Kill switch is on the list. I don't drive it much yet and it spends most of it's time in the back yard but that feature is coming. I have already been the victim of truck theft twice.

Frank

[4x4mike]

Hey Frank, it's been awhile. Don't forget, our over on Pirate as well. That's how I know you moved backed. I saw you posting in Bebe's thread. How are you liking the H3?

[elripster]

That H3 is one hell of a truck. It's all truck in fact. It's works so darn well I needed to get a vehicle that needed me so I got the 60. It has the dual lockers and 4:1 t-case gears so with the 35's, which fit with no lift, the real limiting factor is my aversion to body damage on such a new vehicle.

The two trucks compliment each other. The H3 is more of a trail truck. It's actually a very small vehicle. It's about as long as my wife's Vue. The LC is better to load up with a lot of gear and do the expedition thing.

Frank

[4x4mike]

Cool. You need to satisfy oir hunger with some pictures.

[YotaFun]

Bumping this thread.
I just came across my on UY Calenders and started thinking of when this place was poppin.

I know the economy hasn't been that great.
But I haven't see some faces post HERE in a while, and scarcely on other forums.

a few names that I hadn't thought of in a while.
Doubledown
SAR_Squid79
Tofer (iirc he was selling off his off-road toyotas but I thought he still had is 2wd project)
Xonetruthcrewx
BruceTS
Axleike(didn't he have a 1st gen project going on?)
Randver

thats just a few.

I guess I just don't want this place to die.
I don't want to be stuck going on T4R or Yotatech

Kinda miss the little family we had going on here

[DHC6twinotter]

Bumping this thread.
I just came across my on UY Calenders and started thinking of when this place was poppin.

I know the economy hasn't been that great.
But I haven't see some faces post HERE in a while, and scarcely on other forums.

a few names that I hadn't thought of in a while.
Doubledown
SAR_Squid79
Tofer (iirc he was selling off his off-road toyotas but I thought he still had is 2wd project)
Xonetruthcrewx
BruceTS
Axleike(didn't he have a 1st gen project going on?)
Randver

thats just a few.

I guess I just don't want this place to die.
I don't want to be stuck going on T4R or Yotatech

Kinda miss the little family we had going on here



X2

I haven't seen the following either:

Fustercluck
freefallmarine
callmej
oly884
jnj
scuba

Seems like a lot of people haven't been posting lately. :(

[troyboy162]

IMHO it is dead and I dont like it anymore then anyone else

the old members are dead..none of them wheel and thus no time should be spent trying to revive the past


how to fix it (again IMHO or maybe not so humble lol):
-hire someone to fix the website up or replace it.
-post fun trips
-invite noobs
-post pictures/video of trips
-rep UY by wearing apparel or having stickers.

[YotaFun]

-Lance is working on fixing it up, mind you its not his primary job but he is doing his best.

-I'm all for posting fun trips, I just wish I could get to more here on the east coast, I hope to be going to the NE Takeover as well as the East Coast 4Runner Jambo this year, I will be in full UY gear.

-I do invite noobs as much as I can, even when someone asks me about my lifts or my truck, I tell them to check out UY first for our builds (since I drive a 3rd gen its usually 3rd gen guys)

- Once I get photos I will post more, I will start bringing over trips from my local ttora chapter when I actually go on them to share.

- Sticker is on the back of the truck, Maybe I should order some more to hand out around here as I meet people.

[4x4mike]

I'm in the same boat as I was on page one. Busy with life and family. As it is there is so much going on with that a lot of the trips we don't aren't wheeling trips. I could post a bunch of boring questions or look what I did today kind of stuff but I don't want to be that annoying guy posting crap all the time (anymore than I do).

As far as mods and things to do with the 4runner, I don't have much. Hell I washed it this past weekend for the 2nd or 3rd time this year.

I check in here a couple of times a day when I have a little down time and yes it is dead but I still read everything. This is where I get my reading in. I go to YT, t4r, etc about once a year or when it comes up in a random search. Honestly I don't have time to keep up with any more BS than I run into on a daily basis so I stick to the basic.
A guilty pleasure is the PBB but I just read. Even the tech I read has nothing to do with what I'm doing it's just interesting.

[troyboy162]

Lance cant do it whether its lack of time or what. At this point killing it with fire and starting with a more admin friendly version is probably the way to go.

Avy if we had a handful of members as knowledgeable and active as you then we wouldnt be such a ghost town. The recommendations I listed were aimed at everyone myself included.

I figure not many new members find this place from google, but instead meet someone from the forum on a trip. we dont have enough tech or trips to get search results.

[elripster]

Trips are a good thing to get some activity.

From a tech side many sites have done a great job vetting all sorts of modifications and issues to the point it's hard to ask a question that has never been asked. I try to think hard about just telling folks to search and leaving it at that. Sometimes it's best to give some info to get the discussion going and give a link. So often I see someone new just shot down right away. Although I'd say this isn't one of the sites more known for that it's something to keep in mind.

There is another issue too. Aside from the FJ Cruiser Toyota moved severely towards the mainstream and away from the more enthusiast appealing vehicles that brought so many of us to be Toyota owners. Since so many sites cater to a specific vehicle like just the FJ Cruiser (which pops right up when you google for a forum) the more general sites that have been around a long time can suffer as new owners go to those sites. Fewer older vehicles means fewer folks to go around to the various older forums. I don't know that there is much one can do about it but it's a fact of life. We go where the info is and as our older vehicles die off we search for the hoppin' site it's often not the old standbys unless they had a load of traffic to begin with.

I'd say get try to generate traffic through more trips and more creation of community. With so many people being uprooted in the pursuit of gainful employment we are probably very well in a rebuilding period. I check the trip planning section and it's pretty thin.

As individuals we can do our part here. If you are going to plan a trip consider not limiting the number of rigs. I did 5 day trips in Michigan's Upper Peninsula with 25 trucks when the limit was supposed to be 20. It had its moments but in the end everyone was glad everyone got to make it and it made for many more friendships. The forum benefited accordingly. Cutting down the number means those folks with less predictable schedules are at a serious disadvantage (I'm often one of them).

Frank

[4x4mike]

From a tech side many sites have done a great job vetting all sorts of modifications and issues to the point it's hard to ask a question that has never been asked. I try to think hard about just telling folks to search and leaving it at that. Sometimes it's best to give some info to get the discussion going and give a link. So often I see someone new just shot down right away. Although I'd say this isn't one of the sites more known for that it's something to keep in mind.

Frank


I agree with you Frank. There is a ton of info already out there. I've only had my 4Runner for 4 years and with it being a '99 a lot of guys had already blazed the trail and documented it. When something comes up that isn't too noob I try to post it on here.

Heck I posted about the replacement bulb in the 3rd gen glove boxes. I didn't know there was one until I was on my back looking under the dash and saw it burned out. I had trouble finding one, stumbled upon the Toyota part number and put it on here. Just little things like that to get stuff here, even if it's been done somewhere else.

[4x4mike]

how to fix it (again IMHO or maybe not so humble lol):
-rep UY by wearing apparel or having stickers.





I knew the birth of my son was going to be something that I'd remember forever. Knowing this I grabbed the first piece of UY gear I could find once the contractions started :hillbill:

I'll leave this picture here. My wife might not want it here but don't worry, you're right, this won't show up in a search. She doesn't care about the wine being in the picture, just her over due belly. The wine was another benefit to a home birth. She only had a few sips but she had been craving it for so long and thought it would mellow her out. It took 2 beers to mellow me out. I'm not sure you can do that in a hospital.

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Gyog1HK2hzc/T6yWBQpo4NI/AAAAAAAAuWk/jGrJRydTJ5c/s800/DSC01429.JPG

[04 Rocko Taco]

We're all still here. Staff is around, but the folks who had the time and for some, the willingness, to put forth the effort to be staff, when we started aren't neccesarily in the same place these days.

I think it is important to remember that all forums ebb and flow, and people come and go. I agree there is not a lot of reason to try and resurrect the past, if members have moved on for whatever reason then that is that.

The thing is to involve everyone who is still here. Get the new guys in here. I think a LOT of automotive sites, be it offroad, on road, racing, imports, etc have taken big hits with the economy, and thats a reality everyone has to deal with.

Also - when we started there was a lot of NEW info to post up, new tech, wiki articles that needed creating, etc. as things grow you run out of NEW tech, when is the last time there was a MAJOR innovation in something for an offroad Toyota?

not to say you cant still make known tech interesting and post worthy, but it really doesn't have the draw factor.

Another thins to remember, look at the sites that havent taken a big activity hit - i.e - Pirate, (in our case) and you see that they have a focus on a lot of crazy one off builds that are really cool, and do things people dont normally think of.

That has never been the focus of UY, we never tried to be Pirate. We didnt cater to the "big boys" or the "hardcore crowd" alone. we watned to keep this site equally friendly and entertaining for the hardcore crowd and the newbs with the stock 4x4's and that is a HARD line to walk.

As, staff, I can tell you that we are open to ideas on improvement, and will do our best ti implement the ideas that we think merit it, but the calls of "kill it off, and start anew" are uncalled for, IMHO.

You would create the SAME rush of activity and cool stuff on the NEW Yota site as we did when UY was born, but it would more than likely follow the same curve of declining posts.

[Seanz0rz]

i have some mods to post up, some that need completing, and some that need starting. I'm in the midst of my senior project as well as 3 very demanding classes. money is tighter than ever, so there's that too.

if you want, i can post about my senior project. it has NOTHING to do with toyota trucks, or automobiles for that matter, but i think it is an interesting topic.

i still need to post up my projector retrofit, and i have some LED projects on the drawing board, and my switch panel that is a day away from being installable. very little time to do these things. come summer, i should have a better schedule to complete some of these items.

[DHC6twinotter]

Looks like I"ll be doing a big road trip coming up. I can do a trip in progress report for it, once I get going. Not sure how much of it will be off road, but I can post something up. Trip should be about 6-8000 miles, although with this being a job search trip, my schedule is very fluid. I'll post a thread about it in a few days.

[04 Rocko Taco]

I'm looking forward to it Dan!

[troyboy162]

I say kill it because apparently the coding is a pain in the ass to post front page content to and other simple things like embed videos. We are at a lull and this would be the time to make a switch to something less labor intensive. save the good tech we do have and swap it to something that can work with little to no input until the forum is back on its feet. WE all like this forum but from an outsiders perspective (aka the new members that will keep this going) you gotta admit its pretty ghetto. A fancy auto updating portal (front page) and the ability to show youtube on the pages was fancy back in 2002 when I made a forum. I have to believe that's pretty standard now and we are just stuck with Simple machines forum due to the ease of migrating the database.

[DHC6twinotter]

I think the really annoying log-in glitch should get fixed. I probably sound like a broken record about the issue, but it's really annoying when a post I type gets deleted because the log-in time expired. I put up with glitch because I love the forum (best there is!), but for a new guest, this would be very frustrating I think. If I was new and kept losing posts, I wouldn't bother posting here anymore.

I know I can click the check box to stay logged in, but it seems many people don't notice it or assume their post won't get deleted if they time out.

I like how the i8mud website works. If I time out, it lets me log back in without losing my post. I just log back in and post what I had written.

Other than that, I love the site. I like the small group feeling here, but I think it's getting a bit too small. :D

I thought about doing a timing belt write-up, but not sure I'm really a person people want to follow for mechanic advice. :laugh: :hillbill:

[4x4mike]

I agree Daniel. If I have a reply or post more than a few sentences long I right click and save my text before hitting post. I lost a few posts a long time ago so it just became habit. In fact I do on most forums even though some appear to auto save every 15 seconds or so.

Mud is good but I don't like how they don't have auto preview. I'm a skimmer and like pictures and hovering over the thread title for an auto preview is nice.

I say do a write up on your timing belt. It's something all of us will have to do before too long. I've got 137k and should do it even though it has a sticker saying it was done not long before I bought it. I fact out of the near 40 4runners I looked all most had timing belt replacement stickers with a not so old date. I was convinced the guys had a roll of those stickers and would put them on the cars to help a sale.

[paddlenbike]

This board is not very active but it is my favorite. It's not traffic that brings me here, it's the people. Many of you I know in person, where other forums it's just like facebook--a sort of fake online friendship.

I haven't done a whole lot to the 4Runner but honestly there is no reason for me to just throw money at it, the truck does exactly what I want--and that is drive me places comfortably while taking me on the trails I want to run.

I wouldn't mind a few more posts--heck, even if its just home improvement or regular life stuff. Regardless, I have plenty of hobbies and things to keep me busy but I still check UY every day...

[CJM]

Life just got busy for me, work alot, go to school and such.

I also got out of wheeling b/c I only have 1 truck and cant risk damaging it anymore than it already is (I aint throwing NO more money at it anymore unless its a maintenance item!).

I got into quads, much faster paced, easier and cheaper to fix and quite enjoyable.

[Bob98SR5]

i caught this thread a few days ago, wanted to respond. like others, life has caught up with me. been going thru a separation, had a 2-3 yr experiment w/ a biodiesel mercedes, now a 76 bmw 2002. moved to a different city, gas prices shot up like crazy, etc, etc.

i remember back when i was a mod at YT, i had a lot more time. was working from home so i could mod it more than i ever could these days with this site.

for you youngin's: time to hand over the reigns to you guys with more enthusiasm and more time than us old farts (41 yrs here). i have done all that i want to my truck and right now, its all about maintenance (198K). me, steve, a dude named tom and i started Pismo 4RJ a loooong time ago. Look at it now. membership on YT for west coasters blew up as a result of all the contacts we made there. Time for you 20 somethings to get your organizing hats on and start organizing trips.

i would agree with one post stating that SMF is not the best. while lance and select others have taken the lion's share of coding, server costs, etc duties, as i understand it, SMF is not very admin friendly. moreover, and ive said it to the chagrin of my fellow forum owners/mods: i absolutely hate this dark grey and red color scheme. it has driven my eyes crazy since day 1 and if there's one thing i'd change about this site, its this color scheme. its great to be different but not a the expense of legibility. perhaps as others have suggested, get a new forum software, everybody chip the fuck in, and change the forum software to something that novice admins can work with.

[Obi..]

"Will wrench or mod electrics, etc for UY donations!"? :angel:

;) Stop using age as an excuse Bob, or I'll pull out the injury trump card. I'm 39 myself..LOL. I'll agree on the time, budget, and projects bit b/c any $ I would have coming out of my settlement's pretty much already spoken for with our house purchase, etcetera. Maybe that is where the whole 20 yr/old bit about "Never trust anyone over 40" comes from b/c our priorities do change once over 36 or once you have 2 kids.

I will confess though that my job does tie up a lot more of my time than I anticipated (Market Manager/Rep for the bottom half of the S.F. Bay Area, that said I could stand to help more here and post things I normally would have elsewhere to help the cause.

[Obi..]

I do throw some love at Wimpy every so often lately. :D

Got a new dash pad in.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-u-O70k7wBao/T45AgjT9cVI/AAAAAAAAA7c/X6JPRDbTGtw/s912/IMG_0504.JPG

Some new JDM Tokico's.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ydq31Z4D-8c/T7hq3dhHhAI/AAAAAAAABEE/imTGy89VtQU/s912/IMG_0002.JPG

Also I'm waiting on Toyota to ship in the last of my body mount kit since I got the last of the one's that were stateside by my guy putting it together from about 2 or 3 dealerships and warehouses worth of inventory. I'm hoping to get them installed before the 1st of June since I'll be heading down to Shaver/Huntington Lake and could stand to wheel some of the more open trails near Dusy and the backtrails behind the ski resort.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-aHEDw7hCDHs/T7hq3bMmX0I/AAAAAAAABEA/XUMZmqEuENM/s1024/IMG_0004.JPG
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Tk6HMlrNLsU/T7hq3LHQS2I/AAAAAAAABD4/HD0Yp3VhUjg/s1024/IMG_0001.JPG

[Crinale]

I just got curious and looked at our Member List... I sorted it by date joined newest first, and it took 19 pages to find a member with more than 100 posts; she joined in August of 2010! The next one was on page 32 and joined September of 09.. I don't know how, but we need to get more new people involved, almost all the "active" members (with only a few exceptions, such as myself) are the original member base of this forum software from 2007.

If we don't do something, this forum will die into obscurity completely :( and this is my favorite Yota forum for the knowledge and friends I've gained here.

[04 Rocko Taco]

We are currently working on some updates and possibly switching forum software.

Looking forward to getting more active members back here!

[Obi..]

So what you're saying is we've now also scared the girls off as well?


WTF Bekah, POST UP!!

*Agreed on all points above, I'll say that what t4r.org's Nor-Cal members did with the Presidio Get-2-Gether recently was a good boost for their local side. The fact that someone not only went to the trouble of cross posting the event throughout most boards, but then took it a step further and somehow got someone to convince me to go was impressive. We have the Pismo Jamboree, but overall I think perhaps the lack of smaller community based events has hit activity hard. You'd be surprised at how well a simple "Wrench-a-Thon and BBQ At My Place" will work and you'll always attract eager friends to get involved.

[Obi..]

As a point of interest(?)...

I'd presented the idea of member referral cards to [WEBSITE-X] and got completely shot down. The biggest slap in the face for the most part wasn't the forum trolls, but [WEBSITE-X's] own staff partaking in shooting it down. That tells you something about things overall.

Things need nurturing to develop. Maybe we should start trying that here? I ain't ashamed or scared of plopping referral cards on people's windshields or driver window sills. :)

Let me see if I can get John (ViperGRHD) to sign up this week here. Then each of you has to go out and get some lost sheep to come back or get a new person to sign up.

I'll happily invest some dedicated time here again, I'll even openly admit, I thought the grass was greener elsewhere and overall it was a bit more lush (yes, pun intended) but definitely not to the level I see we have here (potential).

STEP UP WITH ME HERE. IT'S NOBODY'S PROBLEM BUT OURS. IT'S OUR BED, AND WE HAVE TO SLEEP IN IT. If nobody's doing the WIKI, I'll handle it again.

[Seanz0rz]

ill start posting more content when i get a chance. got some work that needs to be posted up, and a trip that is coming up that will be posted as well.

also want to start doing some cheat sheet guides to common field repairs, etc.

shane, the idea of cards is great!!! someone give me a design and I'll print some on my home printer. i have a huge pack of good quality printable business cards left over from my tech support days.

[Obi..]

Mr. Rubinoff's logo FTW IMHO. Print it on a black or dark gray background. (*Provided there isn't a layout switch planned to go with some new software.*)

UltimateYota.com
[IMAGE ]
"Nice Toyota!! :D You're invited to come and join the party!"
Referring Member's Name:____________________________________

Even better run a derivative of the above added wording in place of the "Profile" "Messages" "Etc." on the top left of the page so it ties right into the sites branding? (See attachments)

I'll mock one up right now. :clap:

** :flipoff: you all for bringing out the marketing guy in me! :ban:

EDIT: Weak 5 minute picture skills edit added. :spit:

[troyboy162]

The UE group I'm with makes there calling cards out of playing card stock and has a design like a playing card. I always though that was clever for something informal like us vs a traditional buissness card...of course they are more of a pain to make so the cleverness might not be worth it.

[4x4mike]

Sounds like Sean might be coming up here (share the dates so maybe we can meet up). Even if you or others are passing through let people know. I've always got beer in the fridge.

Seems like most of the Toyotas around here have YT or Pirate stickers on them. I lurk at Pirate a lot but don't go to YT or t4r (ever really).

[fenrisx]

moreover, and ive said it to the chagrin of my fellow forum owners/mods: i absolutely hate this dark grey and red color scheme.


For Bob.

I like the color scheme, but I agree with you. White background, black text can go a long way.

[Obi..]

Apparently I'm the only one rocking a laptop next to me at night within eyeshot of the sleeping wife who gripes about glare. :D

[fenrisx]

No, I'm also rocking a laptop next to me at night... but I don't have a sleeping wife within eyeshot griping about glare. I'm currently in the same shoes as Bob on that front. :)

[Obi..]

I got an idea here for the mods.

I know we have a ton or members who frankly either just lurk or don't interact at all anymore, and then there's the fake accounts "other place's" people have created along w/ the spammer accounts.

I say you do what I have to do in my everyday job, a "Market Campaign".

Put forward 5 key things that make UltimateYota stand apart from the crowd and then simply ask the following 5 key questions, and most importantly, listen.

"1. Why did you sign up in the first place?

2. Why 0 or why only X# of posts?

3. Are you still active with 4x4 Toyota's or even a 2wd Toyota?

4. Are you active in other 4x4 Toyota forums more so than here?

5. What 1-3 key things would it take for you to become an active participant here?"

Then note the following...

"Due to an ongoing attempt to better ourselves and this forum we kindly ask that you reply within a 45 day timeframe so as to keep your account active and open. Any failure to reply indicates this is not longer a valid and active account and will be subsequently deleted."

If any of you are uncomfortable with doing this sort of thing feel free to hand it over to me. I do this every single day of the week, and honestly, I am very good at it.

~Just a suggestion, let me know. This would fall right in line with a campaign I can do to bring in members. **Has vipergrhd registered yet??**

***FWIW I tend to say things like they are, most of you know this, I'd even be happy to answer the 5 questions via pm as I'm sure we all could. I'm not trying to stir the pot at all, just looking at this all objectively.

[strykersd]

1. Why did you sign up in the first place?
Because the SD crew from yotatech moved over here and I wanted to wheel with people in San Diego.

2. Why 0 or why only X# of posts?
Not sure, there just isn't much I feel like I need to comment on and I'm not one to make too many threads.

3. Are you still active with 4x4 Toyota's or even a 2wd Toyota?
I took a year off, but have recently became active again with Toyota trucks

4. Are you active in other 4x4 Toyota forums more so than here?
-I'm active and have my build thread on Yotatech.com since I feel that it's the best forum for IFS 86-95 pickups and 4runners
-I often lurk pirate4x4.com for build ideas
-I rarely lurk TTORA.com and ultimateyota.com mostly because I'm bored

5. What 1-3 key things would it take for you to become an active participant here?
-more build threads
-more Four wheeling trips



I guess what it comes down to, I frequent car forums to build, learn and wheel, not so much socialize, but that's just me.

[troyboy162]

...I guess what it comes down to, I frequent car forums to build, learn and wheel, not so much socialize, but that's just me.

Same here. Most people are like this and that why places like Justruns.com do vary well. I hope the shift from hang out to event planning/reports can happen some day.

[elripster]

1. Why did you sign up in the first place?
- Definitely due to the first Pismo Jamboree I attended. It was the people that made this forum stand out. Not to knock the folks on other forums but this one seemed less the impersonal giant.

2. Why 0 or why only X# of posts?
- Over the last 4 years I have relocated across the country twice for work. I had less and less time for forum surfing (or real surfing) due to starting a family and the demands of a career. In the end I pretty much had to pick like 2 forums so I picked one LC forum and one Hummer forum.

3. Are you still active with 4x4 Toyota's or even a 2wd Toyota?
- Yes but I own an 85 FJ60 that requires tremendous maintenance and repair. I wanted something different and I sure got it. This isn't the best forum for vintage LC's. My other vehicle is an 09 H3 Adventure because let's face it. When you own an old LC you also need something that runs (and I kinda like having something where there is a lot of new tech to discover).

4. Are you active in other 4x4 Toyota forums more so than here?
- Yes, Ih8mud due to all the cruiser tech. The event planning area is more active than this one.

5. What 1-3 key things would it take for you to become an active participant here?"
- More trips. My areas of specialty are in the 1st/2nd gen yotas and now land cruisers. The tech sections of forums are sufficiently saturated with information that there isn't much more to add. I mean a vehicle only has so many parts in it and when you've discussed them all 10X time you kinda run out of new input.

- However, you can't get enough of trips to cool places. For example, I went with some Hummer friends in my H3 up Wheeler Ridge west of Bishop. One of the guys grew up there and lead the run. He knew all the history of the area as well as the area of itself very well. If you know a local area to you like that maybe you can start a trip.

-If this site became a bastion of 60 series Land Cruiser info I sure come here a lot more.

Frank

[Obi..]

:lol: :clap: Um, guys, it was a figurative idea for those with even less posts than you two. Let's hear from some of the other (#200??) inactive people??

I'm afraid if I answer my own stuff I'd be :ban:

:laugh:

1. Why did you sign up in the first place?

B/C I liked those I'd met that came here from another site and I was having an issue with something and someone from the other site that I later found out to be an active person on here who after being confronted with proof suddenly made a prompt exit not just from this site but the community b/c I was a mod elsewhere that person frequented and we also inspected his stuff there. Guy was a major con artist overall IMHO. I've somewhat reconciled with the person who got the brunt of my anger but still things will never be what they were.

2. Why 0 or why only X# of posts?

I deleted a ton of posts out of simple strife and butt-hurted-ness immaturity on my part.

3. Are you still active with 4x4 Toyota's or even a 2wd Toyota?

Yes, I DD mine. :D Nothing keeps the modding and repairing/upgrading going like California Freeway torture.

4. Are you active in other 4x4 Toyota forums more so than here?

Not so much anymore b/c of strife w/ what amounts to a bunch of secret social group b.s. elsewhere, that said I still am good w/ TTORA and T4R b/c of local friends. My post counts on those don't reflect the PM or offline stuff though.

5. What 1-3 key things would it take for you to become an active participant here?

Honestly, that's a hard one to answer for me.

~Pay my house payments for me.
~Babysit the kid so I can get out more, I don't have to watch Father-in-law go insane w/ Parkinson's so that at least gives me freedom to post and read more.
~Help us re-open our El Dorado Forest access so I can actually enjoy getting out more often without the necessary hardcore stuff being my only options. *Back to the daily driver now bit.*

[Seanz0rz]

So, what would it take for everyone to be more active? do we need more tech? events? sponsors?

We obviously need to fix the front page, and we generally need more content of all types.

[Crinale]

I think events is the biggest thing. They are always fun to attend, and for those that can't make it they are fun to read about.

I've tried to become more active again, but it's kinda difficult when there are only a few others that are active with the same few threads that keep getting bumped.

[DHC6twinotter]

Events are a draw, but I think tech is what a lot of people look for. At least that's why I joined a forum.

What would it take to make this site show up within the first couple pages of a google search? I just did a search for "toyota forum", "toyota 4runner forum", and "toyota truck forum". UY didn't show up within the first 20 pages in any of those searches. I've always used google to find forums, and if we can get the site to pop up within the first couple pages of a google search, I think we would be drawing more members.

[fenrisx]

Hire someone to do SEO. :) Fixing the front page would help. Actually putting some SEO text on the front page would help even if we don't fix the actual front page itself.

[Seanz0rz]

SEO?

the wiki is also broken. not sure which is worse, that it's broken or that i only just noticed.

i'll see about getting some articles written up. most of my recent work has been light on the pictures, but I'll really try to correct that.

I do have some reviews I could post up soon.

[fenrisx]

Search Engine Optimization. And of course I was joking about the hiring part. :)

[bushman]

My first day here , and I can't figure out how to post a simple HELLO ; it's either that or the posts don't show up in Todays' Posts or New Posts. Is it just a case of the "noobs" ? Be safe...Bob.

[DHC6twinotter]

My first day here , and I can't figure out how to post a simple HELLO ; it's either that or the posts don't show up in Todays' Posts or New Posts. Is it just a case of the "noobs" ? Be safe...Bob.


Hey Bushman! Welcome to the forum!

To start a thread, click the "forum Index" button on the red bar at the top of the page. Select the appropriate sub-forum from the list (Introductions would go in the "New to UltimateYota? Check here first!" section), then click the "start new topic" button on the upper right.

Threads don't show up in the "Recent Topics" section unless they're getting some activity. For example, once you start a thread saying HELLO, it will automatically pop up in the "Recent topics" section. Hope that makes sense.

[Seanz0rz]

welcome bushman! if you like you can click on the "chat" tab, and come chat with me, I can walk you though using the forums and any other questions you might have.