The History of my Truck
	I first bought my truck back in March of 1997 after many months of looking.  I actually only looked at a few trucks prior to this one because I knew exactly what I wanted, a Toyota pickup '89 or newer with all the options (SR5 package) in great shape.  I found this one in a local auto trader.  It was listed by a private owner in Somerville, NJ, not too far from my parents house.  It was lifted 7" and had 35" tires on it and was in CHERRY shape.  Brand new paint job, etc.  The guy seemed real honest with me (told me it had been in an accident and what he replaced on it) and that it hadn't been registered on the road in about a year, it had just been sitting at his shop (he was an auto mechanic).  We took it for a drive around the industrial park (well, actually my dad did since I couldn't drive stick at the time) and it seemed to drive real well and sounded good, no leaks, etc.  I was in love, beautiful mint condition (in and out) SR5 Toyota, lifted to boot!  Just what I was looking for.  So we made him an offer and he accepted after hesitating for a bit.  Came back the next day with the money, plates, etc and off we went!  I drove my dad's car back to our house following him in the truck (man did that thing look SWEET driving down the road)!  As soon as we got home, we went down to the local elementary school so I could learn to drive stick.  I hoped in, dad told me what to do, and after about 1/2 hour of practicing, I had it nailed down pretty well! I had my first 4wheeling experience not a couple months later and loved it!  My first thought when I bought the truck was make it "showy" so that is what I did.  I removed the 3" body lift to fit the chrome brushguard and nerfs plus I hated it anyway.  Added some BFG All Terrain's 33's.  Added a bunch of other showy stuff, but then eventually, I picked up a copy of one of the 4x4 mags and was like wow this looks pretty cool.  Then one day I got a card in the mail from the local 4x4 shop (OK Auto, 4wd and Tire) advertising their first anual off-road day kamp and rock krawl event.  I signed up cause it looked like fun and my dad and I went and had a blast!  There were so many neat trucks there with neat stuff.  I was hooked on 4wheeling and knew many things on my truck had to change.  No more show truck for me!  All the chrome came off and on went an ARB Bullbar.  Eventually mud tires, rear locker, etc, etc.  The rest is history.  I've had the truck for 70k miles now and am still loving it.  It has been very reliable for me.  I've made the round trip to and from school in MI and home in NJ (1400 miles) almost 20 times now, done plenty of off-roading, city driving, commuting to and from school back and forth multiple times a day (2 miles each way) and the truck has never failed me, not once! I have many more plans for this truck and hope to have it forever.  I try to keep it in top shape (it has very little rust, interior is still almost mint).  For all you Toyota owners out there, you know the feeling!!!