Some of you may have noticed that I haven't been as active on here the past couple of weeks. Well, on top of the normal stuff (busy at work, 2 kids, inlaws in town, etc..), I have been on the hunt for a new work vehicle. So, I have been searching nightly (crazedlist.org rocks!), and I have been learning as much as a could about this vehicle on another forum.
The reason for another vehicle, gas prices are killing me and really mess with my cash flow between paychecks. My F250 gets 8mpg, so I have resorted to using my 4runner as much as I could. This involves a bunch of moving tools around, figuring out which vehicle to use etc... On top of that, my 4runner gets 13.5mpg around town with a little freeway driving. On top of the hassle of moving tools around, not enough room, still not good mileage, I hate that I have started piling on the miles on the 4runner. I've really started kicking myself for getting rid of my mazda b2300 when we got the tacoma. It got 20+ mpg, could haul a bunch of tools, the only downside was not being able to lock the tools up.
I started just cruising the local craigslist for an old 2wd toyota 4cyl longbed, and thought about adding a shell to it. I also couldn't afford to spend much money. Anyways, I rediscovered the toyota vans from 85-89, they also came in a cargo conversion. On top of that, from 87-89 they were offered in 4wd. The manual transmission 4wd has the 4hi and 4lo and the transfercase is pretty much identical to the 4cyl trucks of that era. The front ends are set up very similar to the 86-95 IFS trucks/4runners. They get 20+ mpg even when loaded, and with the rear seats removed, have a payload of close to 2,000lbs! I learned all this when I missed out on what I found out was an uber rare 87 4wd Cargo van w/ manual tranny and manual hubs! Another cool tidbit of info, many of these came with the retarded automatic hubs, but the manual hubs from a truck or 4runner will bolt right on and you just need to get the big washers and nuts like when you swap them out on a truck! So the search was on....
I have put a deposit on a 89 4wd manual tranny van in CO, I now only need to fly to CO and pick it up. I should say that the 4wd's are hard to come by and the 4wd manual tranny ones are even harder to find. Anyways, enough talking, on to the pics.
Oh and her name is "Vanna" and has been through two owners, so I figured I'll keep the name.
The good:
New tires, alignment, windshield in Jan.
New fuel injectors last year
Bike racks
Some kind of metal lock box in the rear
Only 203,000miles (I say only because of how many you see on these things)
They seem to have been on top of the regular maintenance
I get to fly to CO and roadtrip solo home
The bad:
Some rust on the right rear wheelwell (claims that it hasn't gotten worse over the 5years they have had it) I may have to take a trip to Bob the Rustman to take care of it and then herculine the rocker panels and wheelwells.
Has the automatic hubs, but I know where to look for manual hubs and will switch them out. (They have never had problems with them, but I don't trust them)
A radiator light that comes and goes due to a stuck float in the reservoir (pushing on the float makes it go away)
Brake light comes and goes but everything works well (I'm willing to bet that it is at the Min mark on fluid and when sloshing around triggers the light)
April is jealous that I get to fly to CO and solo roadtrip home! (I owe her a trip once Adelaide is no longer breastfeeding) She rocks!
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Originally Posted by Bob_98SR5
