The Day Marlin bought his Truck, 30 Years Ago

[BigMike]

Today Sept 17, 2013, marks the 30th year anniversary Marlin has enjoyed the company of this red 1980 Toyota Pickup.

Best friends for 30 years and counting, Marlin has wheeled this truck perhaps more times than any other man-and-truck combo, driving (not towing) this same truck since 1983 for wheeling destinations through the following list of states: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California (where Marlin lives), Colorado, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virgina, Washington, West Virgina, Wyoming, and also B.C. Canada.

Thirty years of getting Marlin, his family, and other people on the trail out to camp and back home safely -- Proven Toyota reliability and proven Marlin Crawler products. Congratulations Marlin and cheers to another decade of wheeling!

Regards,
BigMike

[toyodaaddict]

This is absolutely awsome! id like to hear more about the history of marlin crawler and the progression of his truck.

[twistedtoy92]

Thats pretty rare and amazing! Marlin is the man!

[Cheesemaker]

Mike should link the old post aobut when he drove home from up north with the bad motor.  That post was epic on how tough the old 22r's were!  I remember staying up all night watching the updates from you, about where he was, and how the drive was. 

[Stevsie]

Thats awesome!!!

Very cool! Just need to post up a pic from every year so we can see the progression of the legandary toyota crawler.

And where did you guys wheel in South Dakota? And when? Wished i was around for that. Be pretty epic!!

[BigMike]

I posted some old pics here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151075479897725.445175.178624092724&type=3

I'll have to ask Marlin about SD.

Mike

[iNfErNaL]

Absolutely awesome! ! !.   

[Wainiha]

I'm in.  Let's here more storys.

[theslayer85]

In most cases the body looks like a rasin within a few years and to keep it this clean for that long is impressive (assuming that it is all original steel). 

[Duffil]

In most cases the body looks like a rasin within a few years and to keep it this clean for that long is impressive (assuming that it is all original steel). 

IIRC, it's not the oem bed, but the cab is factory. Anyone back this up?

[RCKSQRL]

Wasn't it a longbed initially?


Sent from magic wish granting phone

[Cheesemaker]

Been told that the cab has and hasn't been replaced.  So, Mike needs to chime in on this one.  The bed has been replaced.

[oldyotaholic]

Thats dedication right there, I havent even been alive that long...lol.  Very inspirational!

[KILLERQUIST]

I would buy a book of  your pictures and storys of all the adventures

[BPINAZ]

You guys should write a book.....with a lot of cool pictures.   Marlin is the greatest!!

[swilson]

Here it is in 1998 when I met Marlin.  DUAL TRIPLE TRANSFER!

[BigMike]

Ha! That's me as a teenager driving in the first pic Watch out!

[Wainiha]

1998 I was at Oregon State and would have hitchhiked to the shop.  IF, I had heard of Marlin Crawler yet.

I probably would've chosen a different college too.   

[BigMike]

^ Who let Wainiha into the mainland??

[Wainiha]

That tears it!  Wait till I get to Fresno and squeeze through the front door.  We'll see who's bigger than who then

Merry Christmas Mike

[BigMike]

Woooohooooo I made it onto someone's signature! ha ha ha Would love to meet ya someday bud and to you too!

[swilson]

Ha! That's me as a teenager driving in the first pic Watch out!

I hadn't even notice, that's awesome.     Back in the days when you wheeled a Toyota MR2 with some crazy non-US engine!

[94YOTAGIRL1026]

It's stories like these that people who don't wheel will never understand. We have been having trouble with law enforcement and people up our way and they just don't realize that wheeling is something we live for!!! I was raised wheeling, hell I used to tell my Ma when I was young that I wanted a Big Toyota just like my God Father Some people will never understrand the love for wheeling that we all share!!! Keep on wheelin' Marlin!!!

[element5758]

awesome story

[Cheesemaker]

Mike needs to post up or bring up the post about when Marlin blew the motor on the way home.  And yet, he continued to keep driving it home, even when it was puking oil out.  That was an EPIC post about how tough those old 20\22R motors are. 

[Rocksurfer]

I remember that day, was quite interesting with live updates.

[BigMike]

I remember that day, was quite interesting with live updates.

This was a different day

[nk]

Little late on the post here but that's pretty amazing. Congratulations Marlin! Wish there was a picture of them on that fateful day...I like the timeline pics we got goin on here though keep em comin... Actually while we're on the topic I've personally always wondered how often that truck gets stripped and painted to keep it lookin so good and free of rust?  whats the secret? most trucks at least have that little rust hole above the rear wheels you're truck stays lookin pretty straight too there mike 

[Wainiha]

They made their hobbies their careers.  So....body work,  all truck work, should be tax deductible.  Both truck are business vehicles.  Even all they are used for is wheeling , they are at least an advertisement for a brand. 
...A good brand.

[Wainiha]

Now that I'm thinking about it.....If I get a tax deduction for driving my truck to work Marlin and Mike should too.

Advertisement is a legitimate business expense.  They should record and deduct every mile they offroad.  It is still business related.  A Marlin sticker and a rock pile shows potential customers what they may buy.