I guess we're out to prove that. I have owned a 4x4 since the late 90s, when I first began driving. What has changed?
Well, we had a wreck. A new driver ran a stop sign and totaled our 2007 FJ Cruiser that we have been building for the last 5 years. Initial impact was on the front passenger side. It spun the FJ 180°, causing a secondary impact. Every side of the FJ wound up damaged, but having no gushing blood or broken bones, my nephew and I walked away.
I am currently working with a lawyer. I'm being as honest in this process as I can. I have a binder full of receipts for any aftermarket parts that aren't removable or undamaged, plus pics from the scene and after I removed whatever I was able to.
Still, I need to be made whole. I need an equally-capable and equally-outfitted rig to pick up where I left off, plus there's some injuries that need attending to. At 40, my own dents aren't popping out quite as quickly as when I was younger.
So, what I am doing for the time being? Well, when my dad passed away a couple years ago, he left behind a raggedy-looking GMC Sonoma. It's the same truck as the more-familiar S-10. He paid $400 for it some years ago. We rebuilt the inline 4, freshened up what we could on the interior, and worked on a few other odds and ends.
Now, since it's all I have, I've ordered new tires and everything I need for a tune up and an oil change. After that, I expect this pickup will be rather reliable. Not having any alternative, the statement that has echoed in my mind the last couple of days was, "It doesn't matter what you drive..."
Search for #ob6632 as I'm taking that to heart. This initial RTT frame is not what I would prefer, just what I can afford. I really need to get out to clearing my head and enjoying the cooler temps. I'll share the final design later, but it will end with the whole bed water-resistant. The decal on the back window was his motto as he was going through chemo and radiation. Oddly enough, I now understand that he left that as a reminder for us - his wife, kids, and grandchildren. It is pretty cool how looking at it through the back glass makes it reversed, but the rearview mirror flips it once again, so that it is always readable when driving.
As for the Sonoma, we'll see how it does!
Well, we had a wreck. A new driver ran a stop sign and totaled our 2007 FJ Cruiser that we have been building for the last 5 years. Initial impact was on the front passenger side. It spun the FJ 180°, causing a secondary impact. Every side of the FJ wound up damaged, but having no gushing blood or broken bones, my nephew and I walked away.
I am currently working with a lawyer. I'm being as honest in this process as I can. I have a binder full of receipts for any aftermarket parts that aren't removable or undamaged, plus pics from the scene and after I removed whatever I was able to.
Still, I need to be made whole. I need an equally-capable and equally-outfitted rig to pick up where I left off, plus there's some injuries that need attending to. At 40, my own dents aren't popping out quite as quickly as when I was younger.
So, what I am doing for the time being? Well, when my dad passed away a couple years ago, he left behind a raggedy-looking GMC Sonoma. It's the same truck as the more-familiar S-10. He paid $400 for it some years ago. We rebuilt the inline 4, freshened up what we could on the interior, and worked on a few other odds and ends.
Now, since it's all I have, I've ordered new tires and everything I need for a tune up and an oil change. After that, I expect this pickup will be rather reliable. Not having any alternative, the statement that has echoed in my mind the last couple of days was, "It doesn't matter what you drive..."
Search for #ob6632 as I'm taking that to heart. This initial RTT frame is not what I would prefer, just what I can afford. I really need to get out to clearing my head and enjoying the cooler temps. I'll share the final design later, but it will end with the whole bed water-resistant. The decal on the back window was his motto as he was going through chemo and radiation. Oddly enough, I now understand that he left that as a reminder for us - his wife, kids, and grandchildren. It is pretty cool how looking at it through the back glass makes it reversed, but the rearview mirror flips it once again, so that it is always readable when driving.
As for the Sonoma, we'll see how it does!
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