New to this forum section

Hey guys, I'm new here and wanted to share a picture of my new purchase.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4606/...2a161bc2_c.jpg

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I needed a new project like I need a hole in the head but I'd been itching for something different for some time. For about a year and a half I'd been toying with the idea of a GX470 and then kind of shelved that while the aftermarket was being developed. I kind of went back to it, then to a 5th gen and then a 4th gen. Of note I was also toying with getting an additional vehicle, like an IS350, just because plus I've never owned a car of my own. Thrown in the mix was also a hot air balloon and a Scat-2 hoover craft (I have some great friends) but I had to keep this midlife crisis warning down to a low roar.

What it is. It's a 2007, SR5, 4.7l V8, 3rd row seating, 85,000+ miles, silver paint and grey/black interior cloth.

Why I bought it. While a hot air balloon would have been fun and something none of my friends have I had to keep my purchase reasonable. I love my 3rd gen and would keep it but I wanted something with a little more room and power. With two kids getting older we needed more room for our travels. We have a 2012 Honda Pilot and it's great but it's offroaded-ness is limited.

The 4th gen, especially with the 3rd row, will give me and the family much more flexibility and if I was going to sell the 3rd gen this would be the reason. The extra power is also nice and while I'll miss the manual transmission I will bask in the comfort of an auto. In some cases the 4th gen is just some much easier to drive.

Another reason I bought this one is that it had just over 85,000 miles and with the exception of little parking lot dings on the painted plastic it's in great condition. I bought the 3rd gen at 84,000 miles and kept it for 10 years and one month, I plan to do at least that with this.

I've taken a lot of the goodies I had in the 3rd gen out and will keep about half of it. Mostly radios and electrics. The new one needs all that plus more and once the 6 month warranty is over I'll be ready, especially for the lift, etc. Overall I'm pretty excited and have had fun buying new goodies. I hope to document some of the new build but the process of uploading pictures really turns me off.

I'll miss the 3rd gen but it's time to let someone else have some fun with it. It's got an entire life ahead of it and hope it doesn't miss me too much. This was the day after I bought it. First mod was removing the running boards.


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Awesome! Looks like a great place to start!

Those 3rd rows are so hard to find too.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by 4x4mike

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So about that picture...one day I was out for a walk in the neighborhood and heard the unmistakable sound of someone going at a project with an air die-grinder. As I walked toward's Mike's street (he lived a few blocks from me at the time), I knew it just had to be him, especially considering I had knowledge of the fact that he bought a new-to-him 4Runner the previous day. (I'm not sure texting existed then, so perhaps I received a telegram informing me of this fact.) Sure enough, it was Mike, carving the hell out of his rear cargo box to make room for all of his crap. When Mike started shopping for a 3rd gen I told him he could have any model he wanted but I'd be envious if he got a 5-speed Imperial Mica Jade with a sunroof. So he found a unicorn 5-speed Imperial Mica Jade with a sunroof and the Highlander Package, 1-upping me yet again. Thankfully it did not have a supercharger so at least there was that.

Good times running around with Mike in that rig...hard to believe it has been 10 years already. Enjoy the new rig, I'm sure the die grinder will be coming out soon, if it hasn't already.

Still don't regret giving my left nut for that 3rd gen.

The air tools and mini sledge came out this weekend. I pulled the wheels/tires and spacers from the 3rd gen and put the 5 stars and 265's back on. Since I was already sweaty and had the tools out I put the Sport wheels on the 4th gen. While they fit it's like a fat man in a little coat and I rubbed just getting out of my driveway. Instead of putting the factory wheels back on I started cutting and flattening.

I used JA 4Runners page to guide me in moving the fender liner and some liquid courage to start cutting other plastic. I'm not into the pinch seam yet but I did flatten some little piece of metal and it looks like I should be clear of the body mount but we'll see. I'm still doing my lift research so that might be a bit but I do plan on cutting out the cargo pocket like I did in the 3rd gen.

I need to fire up the flickr and update with some pictures. I've added Weathertech mats all around, LED headlights and fogs, LED interior lights and a power socket.

Edit: Got the pictures

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4678/...41835790_c.jpg

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4669/...f9c80ee7_c.jpg

Curious to see how bad those LED headlights are. I've gone back to good, quality halogens unless I have a HID projector like on the 4Runner.

It's looking good! Come wheelin' this weekend with me!

I'm really happy with the headlights. The projectors have a nice cut off line and the color and output is much better than I ever had with halogens. I've had my wife drive up and down the street for me to check them out and I don't find them glary at all. The high beams are open reflector and I've still got halogens in them.

I took a couple of night pictures but it was raining and with a cell phone it's hard to capture the light well. I could take a garage door pic but it looks like any other projector headlight.

Glad they worked out. Most I see are... Unfortunate.

I guess time will tell. The LED's have great reviews and I'm pleased with the output. These projectors are the only ones I've ever owned and I like the light pattern more than what I had with the 3rd gen and PIAA halogens. From what I was reading the LEDs seem to be more plug and play than what is out there for HID options. Some of the better HIDs are too long and others run too hot and melt the housings.

Congrats Mike! Which LED headlamps did you get? I'm curious cuz I've been looking for a good pair but didn't want to plunk down on junk. Sometimes I can't trust the reviews I read on Amazon so if you've got a brand or a link hook me up!

Thanks Lance. The bulbs are Cougar something from Amazon. They were only like $40 and honestly I am just giving them a try. There were many reviews and it seems guys are having good luck with them so I figured why not. I was wanting to go HID but it was far less plug and play.

The bulbs I took out were factory bulbs and very warm in temperature and didn't put out much light. Since these housings have projectors I decided to give it a try. I haven't done the squirrel mod but apparently it's a mod to crispen the cutoff line. I've never had a cut off line but so far I'm impressed and happy with what I've got. Sean's been spoiled with highend projectors and appears to have different results with his factory housings.

I've got a guy coming to look at the 3rd gen tonight so wish me luck. There are a lot of low priced, barely half way decent 3rd gens on the market which is making mine hard to sell.

Well, the old girl is gone. While it was kind of nice having two 4Runners in the driveway for a bit I can only drive one. I sold it for my asking price which is the same price I bought it for 10 years and 1 month ago. I put 110,000 miles on it and it was a lot of fun. I sold it to a gentleman that lives about 2 miles away and bought it to replace his '96 3rd gen that had 501,000 miles on it.

He'd put an engine and 2 transmissions in his old one and was looking to start anew. I was stoked to get my price and even more stoked that it went to an enthusiast. He said he bought his '96 with 60k on the clock and all of the miles were adventure miles. Needless to say my old girl is in for a ride.

I've gotten a few texts with pictures about specifics (i sold it with the York, AirLift bags and Blue Sea components). It's neat that he's poking around and making it his. He hopes the next picture I get is it in Death Valley.

Always good to hear that it went to someone who will care for it!

Now on to the new one!

I've already moved on.

I've installed a Blue Sea and wired up two 12v ports, two USB ports, CB, VHF/UHF and fridge power socket. Installed v-LEDs in all of the interior lights. Done the 12v power and fog light mod. I also ordered my lift, sliders, front skid, front bumper (insert) and light bar. Once it's up in the air and on the dirt I'll be able to start fine tuning some things and I'm looking forward to that. We've got our first trip in a week and I'm looking forward to getting some miles on her.

Mike, Congratulations on the new runner!

I had thought you had given up on the 4th Gen so I was surprised when I saw this. Sounds like a good decision and that one looks like a great find. Can't wait to see the build pictures or maybe the rig in person on a Death Valley run.

The new 4Runner looks awesome! Looking forward to the mods you do on the 4th gen!

Thanks. I've been doing things to it since I got it, just haven't posted much. Really I've just been using it.

I've taken pictures here and there and get a little bit of time to work on it here and there but it's coming along. Hopefully soon I'll get a chance to post an update.