Attention Toyota 4Runner Runners

[Swhirstein]

Being a popular vehicle, what is the best & worst thing about running a Toyota 4Runner? (In terms of the generation of the vehicle) Then please vote which generation is your favorite!

 

[AZ WANDERING BEAR]

Never owned anything but a 5th Gen (2016 Trail), so nothing with which to compare it. So far I am very pleased with its capability, reliability, ride, and the availability of aftermarket support. Wish it got better gas mileage.

 

[Swhirstein]

Never owned anything but a 5th Gen (2016 Trail), so nothing with which to compare it. So far I am very pleased with its capability, reliability, ride, and the availability of aftermarket support. Wish it got better gas mileage.

View attachment 45266

I can definitely relate to wanting better mpg's!

 

[HappyOurOverlanding]

I can definitely relate to wanting better mpg's!

Agree with Swhirstein and AZ Wandering Bear. Best thing is that it is solid. Got rear ended when I was at a full stop on CA 101 and the 4Runner didn't budge. The vehicle that hit me lost it's front end.

 

[NW Adventure & Overland]

Being a popular vehicle, what is the best & worst thing about running a Toyota 4Runner? (In terms of the generation of the vehicle) Then please vote which generation is your favorite!

I have a 4th gen. and love it, so my vote went to the 4th gens. However I think for 4Runners it all comes down to personal preference. The first gen had a straight axle front and is highly sot after, the 2nd & 3rd gens have tons of after market parts available and are lower cost to buy. The 4th gens are kinda in the middle of the bunch and the new 5th gen is just a bad ass rig that is growing in popularity extremely fast and already has a ton of after market goodies to choose from. All in all I don't think there is a bad one, they are all good and reliable.

 

[VCeXpedition]

My favorite is still the 4th gen Sport with the 2UZ V8 engine. That's the sweet spot right there!

 

[Livin the life]

I myself went with the 3rd Gen currently. I had an 85 and loved it and wished I still had it but I did not do much mechanical work so it was costing alot to have fixed. Now I got the 2000 and I am doing most of the work as I learn. redoing the front end now,so I will see how things go. If I could get a 5th then I would, I just love the 4runners. I can not wait to get on the road with it.

 

[Graeman]

My first 4Runner was an '85 with Marlin Crawler, locked axles, and 3" lift. I loved that vehicle, my wife actually cried the day that we sold it. Now, I have a '98 3rd gen and it is ok. Personally, I do not like the looks of the newer generations - that front end is too carish for me. Just saying...

 

[AZBubs]

3rd gen. Best: small and extremely capable. Worst: Lower ball joints. Still you can find ones with low gearing, factory rear locker, bountiful parts in the US.


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[Grantnr]

Biggest con for the 4th gen is aftermarket support. Want a snorkel? Yeah, buy an LC80 and make it work. Want a good selection for rear bumpers? There's maybe 3 options to consider for a good swing out. Have a thing for lockers like me? Womp, womp, womp.... Arb is what you get. (Not counting turd, I mean trd ) I plan on home building most of my electrical and storage areas.

 

[Kris022]

Biggest con for the 4th gen is aftermarket support. Want a snorkel? Yeah, buy an LC80 and make it work. Want a good selection for rear bumpers? There's maybe 3 options to consider for a good swing out. Have a thing for lockers like me? Womp, womp, womp.... Arb is what you get. (Not counting turd, I mean trd ) I plan on home building most of my electrical and storage areas.

I agree. There wasn't much out there when I owned my 09 Urban Runner at the time. It's a great rig though. I love my 5th gen TEP as well. I wish they had a V8 option like the 4th gen because I tow. Overall I love 4R's!!

 

[Jonny G]

I've had 3 capable vehicles in the past 6 years. A 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro4x, a 2016 Tacoma TRD Sport 4x4, and now my 2018 4Runner TRD Off Road. Out of the three, I'm happiest with the 4Runner. I don't have another generation to compare to, but my understanding is that the 4Runners in general are just an outright decent vehicle, and somewhat underrated in their offroad capability. I doubt the 4th gens had many of the extra bells and whistles for offroad features that the 5th gens do. That being said, I'm extremely happy with what I have. Plus I get to really test it out next weekend in Uwharrie National Forest!

I understand that gas mileage is not great. But I didn't buy the truck for gas mileage. If I wanted better gas mileage, I would have gone with a cross over or gotten an Outback like my wife has. Maybe waited for the new Subaru Ascent (those are meant to get some great mileage according to our Subaru sales guy). I have come to understand that there is a throttle controller that will allow for either extremely poor gas mileage, or slightly improved gas mileage on the 5th gens, depending on the setting you ultimately use. I think this is believed to void warranties though.

Anyway, some food for thought.

 

[Boort]

@Jonny G

I have come to understand that there is a throttle controller that will allow for either extremely poor gas mileage, or slightly improved gas mileage on the 5th gens, depending on the setting you ultimately use. I think this is believed to void warranties though.

Yes these are available and fairly easy to install. Not sure about the Warranty Void though. Check out Jason Koertge from @SwellRunner Overland's you tube channel he just did a video on the install of one of these units.


Boort

 

[Jonny G]

Thanks for sharing Boort! The pedal commander that Jason mentions is what I had heard of. Nice to know there are other options out there.

 

[John Herrington]

1st gen all the way!!