End of an era: I just sold my old 3rd gen 4Runner to my good buddy Matt Talbott. Trying to keep a near 24-year-old truck in good, safe condition when it was rarely getting used just meant spending a whole lot of money without a whole lotta justification. Talbott will give it a good home, and use it like it deserves.
The main role of the 3rd gen in our lives was as a guest car. We love it when friends visit us here in Bozeman, and to encourage those visits, while ensuring they’d have a good a time here as possible was just a fun thing to do. But not all our friends are super knowledgeable truck people, and even if they are, they’d still be borrowing an unfamiliar vehicle with more than a few quirks. So, I put together an extensive instruction email that I sent out to every borrower. It may have been a little over the top, judging by the number of people who it scared off, or who found it insulting. But maybe it can also present a good framework for how to loan out one of your vehicles too. Or maybe you’ll just get a kick out of how overbearing I can be. Anyways, here’s that email unedited:
4Runner Instructions
Congratulations, you’ve found yourself in temporary possession of my crappy old 4Runner.
I’m loaning you this thing for two reasons:
1) I want to empower you to enjoy everything Montana has to offer, safe in the knowledge that you can safely tackle challenging terrain, and winter weather.
2) I respect our friendship enough that I never want to have to have a conversation with you about owing me an expensive vehicle.
All that’s to say: please enjoy the truck, and feel free to use it to the extent of your capabilities. You can also enter into this knowing that, to the best of my knowledge, this thing is ready go, with up-to-date maintenance, and all consumables well within their expiration periods.
General Expectations:
It’s a 1998 Toyota 4Runner Limited (3.4-liter V6) with over 230,000 miles. The engine, cooling system, and brakes have been totally rebuilt and it’s on Fox 2.0 suspension plus quality tires. It’s in better condition than pretty much any other truck of this age and mileage. All the important parts work. Having said that, it is very much not a brand new luxury car. It’s loud on the highway, the interior is in decent shape, but probably isn’t going to impress a date or parent. While it has ABS and there are driver and passenger airbags, it otherwise lacks modern safety features.
While it’s not terribly fancy, I spare no expense in taking care of this thing. You can rely on it. It can comfortably cruise all day at 85 MPH on the highway, it will not leave you stranded.
It is equipped with an automatic transmission.
The tires will either be quality all-terrains (summer) or good snow tires (winter).
Known Problems:
The aftermarket stereo is probably 15 years old, and while it has Bluetooth, some of the latest phones won’t pair with it. There is a USB-A input on the bottom left side of the head unit.
When you turn the stereo on you’ll hear the radio antenna motor running loudly for a couple seconds. The antenna will not go up; the radio does not work.
The carpet in the cargo area can slide around interfere with the latch on the rear hatch. If it’s not closing properly or being sticky, the carpet is in the way.
It’s easy to bump the light switch in the rear cargo area, and turn it on. This will run the battery down in a few nights if it’s left on.
There’s no seatbelt for the middle passenger in the rear seat. I’d suggest you carry no more than four people total as a result. The seatbelts can fall underneath the rear seat base when that’s lifted. If you don’t see the belts, lift the seats.
I’ve removed the trailer wiring harness. While the truck is fitted with a two-inch receiver, I use this as a recovery point, or to mount a hitch rack only. Please do not use the vehicle for towing.
The button turning the A/C on and off is missing. The AC works. To turn it on and off, simply move the temperature dial between blue (A/C on) and white or red (A/C off).
Aftermarket Features:
The ARB front bumper adds a significant level of protection against animal strikes, and off-road obstacles. Please just be aware of its added size while parking, and while driving around pedestrians and cyclists.
I’ve fitted a pair of 6-inch driving lights, and wired them up to the high beam switch. I strongly encourage you to to just use them along with the high beams (just move the stalk back and forth like normal), and enjoy the ability to see at night. People who have never before used effective lighting sometimes find lights this powerful to be scary. If you don’t want to use them, there’s an aftermarket switch behind the steering wheel, on the left side. Pressing this disables and enables the lights from switching with the high beams. Please turn the high beams off around other drivers, just like normal.
There’s a Warn winch (with synthetic line) in the front bumper. The controller is in the storage compartment inside the rear, right side of the cargo compartment. Please do not attempt to use the winch unless you have previous experience with them.
There’s a large basket-type roof rack. If you plan to use it, please securely strap down your stuff with ratchet or cam straps. Bungees are not sufficient or acceptable.
Emergency Stuff:
There’s a full-size matching spare inflated to 35 PSI. All tire change equipment is present under the right rear seat. Please return it to this location if you use it.
You’ll find a can of Fix-A-Flat inside the rear, right storage area in the cargo compartment.
My insurance card and a copy of my AAA membership are in the glove box. While the vehicle is insured, the way insurance works in America means you’re on the hook for your own liability. If you have an insurance policy on your own vehicle, that will apply in the even of an accident.
I will not include recovery or tire repair gear in the vehicle unless you request it/know how to use it.
General Driving Instructions:
The 4Runner is equipped with a part-time four-wheel drive system with a low-range transfer case and locking rear differential. If you don’t know what that means, it’s ok. When you pick it up, it’ll be in 2WD (normal road driving mode).
To engage or disengage 4WD, simply press the 4WD button on the side of the transfer case lever. You need to be going slower than 50 MPH, and it won’t engage until you lift off the gas. A green light showing a diagram of the axles will illuminate in the lower, right side of the dash when 4WD is engaged.
To shift into low range gears, come to a stop, and shift the transmission into neutral before moving the transfer case lever to the desired position. Same to shift back into high gears.
To engage the rear diff lock, you need to be in four-low, and at a stop. Put the transmission in neutral, and push the RR Diff button on the left side of the steering wheel. A red RR Diff light will flash on the dash while engagement is pending, and will remain steadily illuminated when engaged.
There’s an ECT Power switch on the center console above the hand brake. This switches the transmission program between better fuel efficiency, and more responsive shifting. I leave ECT Power on.
There’s an Overdrive Off switch on the shift lever. You’re not towing, so there’s no reason to use this.
Related Precautions:
Never use 4WD on bare pavement.
Never use the rear diff lock on bare pavement.
Always enable 4WD off-road.
Always enable low-range gears before attempting to climb or descend a steep off-road obstacle. Shift the transmission into L.
Enable the rear diff lock before you get stuck.
35 PSI on-road, 18 off.
Other Buttons and Stuff:
There’s a black lever down by your left knee that you’ll need to pull to open the gas cover flap. Use 87 octane.
The switch for the lowering/raising the rear hatch glass is above the hand brake. Use this, it’s awesome.
Sunroof controls are above the rearview mirror.
Other Stuff I Can Loan You, But You Need To Ask For:
Maxtrax
Air compressor
Tire repair kit
Recovery straps and shackles (none in vehicle unless requested)
5 gallon fuel can
Tire deflator
Any and all camping gear
Rod holder
Snow chains
Tools
Hitch rack
Shovel
Random Notes:
That bumper will vaporize any animal smaller than a moose. If a collision with an animal is imminent, go ahead and brake as hard as you can to reduce the force as much as possible, but do not attempt to swerve or perform any other evasive hijinks. It’s safer just to hit the animal. Welcome to Montana, it’s a zoo up here.
Use the driving lights at night, so long as you’re not blinding other drivers. Trust me. See aforementioned zoo comment. There are moose on the road in downtown Bozeman.
In winter conditions, enable 4WD any time you’re driving on a consistently slippery surface.
If you need to use the chains, plan to fit them before you need them. Googling “Wes Siler Snow Chains” will show you how.
If you haven’t driven a lifted truck before, or an old car in a while, this thing may feel a little sketchy at first. Just go a little slower than normal until you get used to it. It’s a great vehicle once you’ve adapted to its character.
Use the 4WD, low range, locking diff etc. They’re there for a reason.
Most of Montana is remote and sparsely populated. Weather forecasts here have no relation to reality. You will be driving on dirt. You will likely see snow, no matter the time of year. Get gas when it’s available. Pay attention and use common sense when you drive. Enjoy yourself, it’ll be an adventure.
Returning The Truck:
If you’re bringing it back to our house, and we’re not home, just park it on the street, opposite our house (not on same side as house), and leave the key in the mailbox by the front door.
I like Scrubby’s car wash at 1303 N 7th Ave (corner of Oak). Yes, you can take it through the drive through car wash.
Please take care to remove anything that may cause an odor, and to close all windows, the sunroof, etc.
If anything broke, didn’t work right, or if you caused any damage, please tell me about it. I won’t be mad, promise. I don’t drive this truck all that much, so I may not discover there’s anything wrong before its next loan if you don’t let me know.
I accept tips in the form of food and booze. Please do not leave any in the truck though.
How To Loan Someone Your Truck
I usually think my truck is in decent shape. Then I loan it to someone, and as I start to get through the list of "things to be aware of" I come to the realization it's a bit of a hot mess.
This is basically the equivalent of what I get every time I rent an AirBnB — didn’t seem insulting at all