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Our Family 4Runner

Like the Tacoma, the build of the 1997 Toyota 4Runner changed from year to year. Here's how it sat as of the day we sold it. Tastefully modified with 271K miles on the odometer, it was a great vehicle for daily driving and mild off-roading.

platform

1997 Toyota Tacoma - 4WD SR5 V6 in Evergreen Pearl [purchase] [sale]

suspension - front

  • OME 90004 Nitrocharger Sport Shocks and 2881 Coil Springs [install]

suspension - rear

  • OME 60028 Nitrocharger Sport Rear Shocks and 2890 Coil Springs [install]

brakes

  • Tundra 13WL disc brakes, and supporting parts (front) [install]

drive train

  • 1st gen Tacoma Lower Ball Joints (LBJs) and Outer Tie Rod Ends (OTREs) [install]
  • Rear diff breather mod [install]

armor

  • Stock skid plates
  • Custom fabricated sliders with kick out [install]

wheels and tires

  • 16" 3rd Gen Toyota 4Runner Limited wheels [install]
  • 265/75 R16 (32x10.5) Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires [install]

electrical

  • Storage area electrical panel [install]

communications & navigation

  • Stock

audio

  • Stock

interior gear

  • Storage and sleeping platform for rear compartment [fabrication]
  • CalTrend NeoSupreme Seat Covers (front + back)

exterior gear

 

 

Maintenance

There wasn't a lot of maintenance needed on the 4Runner in the time we had it - I think we put a total of about 7K miles on it. Of course, the modifications listed above could be considered maintenance in several cases, and surely allowed me to keep an eye on all the relevant maintenance items. Besides those and regular oil changes, here was the notable maintenance I did to the 4Runner.

 

 

Trips

We may not have gone on more than a few trips a year with the 4Runner, but those we did experience were great fun. All of them - with one exception - were with the kiddo, which made them all that much better!