Selling my trusty 4Runner for a Tundra (Airstream).

Long story short, starting next year, due to work, my wife and I will be living about 5 hours apart. Until the kid starts school, my wife will be splitting her time between both locations to keep the little one close to family (she is a part-time yoga instructor, so her schedule is pretty flexible).

For a while now, we had been figuring we'd get a condo for me, and a small house for her (mostly for the garage and yard). But then she surprised me by proposing we get a travel trailer for me, with two caveats: It has to be big / nice enough for her to comfortably live in it for weeks at a time on a regular basis, and I have to buy a vehicle capable of comfortably towing it around so we can take road trips once or twice a month. While this meant getting rid of my trusty 4Runner "Earl," I overall loved the idea, so it was an easy sell.

My DD 4Runner is pretty purpose built for overlanding and exploring: Fridge, drawers with fold-out sleeping platform, onboard air built into the rear bumper, MTs, disconnected anti-sway bars, full armor on all sides with a winch, and flat-grey paint that I chose for its ease of touching up. Until this new option came about, I was going to install gears and lockers in the spring, and that would have been the last of the major functional upgrades. It is not a rock crawler, but, between the tires and pretty supple suspension (relatively low spring rates) I have made climbs on the first try that have given several friends' non-locked jeeps trouble (partially owing to driver experience, admittedly). I didnt super care about aesthetics, because I wheel it almost every weekend. But, I otherwise planned to run it as my DD for at least another 10 years. Unfortunately, for several reasons, the logistics of keeping it even as a toy doesnt make a lot of sense for us. High on that list of reasons is that much of our offroading will likely occer on these road trips that leave the toy at home anyways.

So, I knew that whatever I got would have to perform triple duty as my trail rig, towing rig, and daily driver.

I originally pushed back and said whatever trailer we get has to be pullable with a Tacoma (~6400lbs max). I figure at least this would keep me close to my 4runner in trail capabilities. However, because most of the trailers with the features we like are right in this weight range (loaded), I eventually warmed up warmed up to getting a Tundra. FWIW, we initially looked at and test drove the F150, but it wasn't quite for me. We expect to grab a Tundra in the next couple months, once our house sells.

Pretty much right off the bat I expect to do some good suspension upgrades (based around Mid-Travel options), and at least full skids and sliders. I also expect to add diff gears (probably with an ARB) to offset the larger tires when towing. Unless I decide I need a winch right away, or I find front recovery options wanting, I'd probably just wait til I scrape up the bumpers to replace those.

Obviously, the wheelbase increases by 40%, it is about a foot wider, and I am not sure I can get the suspension as supple as my 4Runner (relative to its wheelbase). Still, after finding a long list of videos and posts by few Tundra trailblazers, I am confident I'll be able to have plenty of fun with the Tundra.

Of note, I had been active in offroad motorsports for a couple decades now, from dirtbikes and RC trucks to my old Samurai on MTs with a spool rear end. I took a break for a couple years, but after my wife begged me for a new 2016 Quicksand 4Runner TRDP, I got hooked again and sold my 43mpg Honda Fit for this 2002 4Runner so I wouldnt be tempted to mess with her rig too much, haha. So, I am at least coming into this with a pretty clear idea of the kinds of offroading I want to do, which certainly makes it much easier to sift through all the options!

 

So I don't understand why you have to sell the 4Runner. Earl looks like a bad dude. I say keep him.

 

Sorry to hear you need to let go of Earl. Shavasana, death of the old, rebirth of the new?

Good luck finding “the one”. You’ll love the new Tundra once you get it.

What area will you be selling the old 4R in?

 

Welcome from NY.

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome! What Airstream are you considering?

 

Can’t you keep the ol’4Runner?

 

Thanks guys! I think I will sell Earl here in NW Florida before we move West.

Basically, I do have two main ways I could keep Earl:

1) Find a way to keep 2 personal vehicles at or near my trailer (either with an extra fee, or possibly awkward use of the available site space, since half the time we'll have three vehicles there). I might drive it a couple times a month to work, and maybe could wheel it a couple times a month on weeknights when the family isnt around.

2) Leave it in the garage at "the wife's" house. Here, Id almost never drive it, because when Im there Id probably be spending much of my time hanging with family and such, and if we do any camping Id probably just as readily take the Tundra.

So yeah, part of me wants to keep Earl, if for nothing else because it is a pretty reliable and capable truck, and obviously I won't get much money back compared to what's in it. Plus, 5 or 6 years down the road I might find myself in a position where I can more readily play with it. However, as mentioned, one downside is that regardless of whether or not I sell Earl, I'll be doing the above mods to the Tundra so I can really have fun with it when beebopping around the Western states. Obviously, buying an airstream and a new or near-new Tundra are not really budget endeavors, but the extra cash from selling Earl would certainly be put to good use.

Finally, even if I were to go with Option 1, I'd honestly rather sell it for a nice dual-sport motorcycle. It would fill a much different niche instead of the two rigs largely overlapping, and would quickly pay for itself fuel-wise if I commuted on it a few times a week.

 

My wife likes the Flying Cloud 23' and 25' models! But,we are also looking at used models up to 30' in the other series. In any case, with only a few preferences from me, she pretty much has the hammer on the selection.

 

I live in South Florida....would be interested in taking Earl off your hands. I’ll provide Earl his own room in one of my garages, so, he won’t be doing anymore outdoor living.

 

Heh, oh yeah? It is approaching 145k. I bought it with 134k and put a new radiator, TBelt, all new accessory belts, water pump, and steering rack in. Ive done two synthetic oil changes, and I've done like 5 drain-and-fills on the trans fluid with new synthetic ATF. Plus, I changed the diff and tcase fluids, and lubed the driveshaft when I got it.

New oem front lower ball joints are in the mail. They were replaced through the recall at 75k, but I recently measured them as just out of spec so I am just replacing them early since they are a known failure point on these trucks.

Also not mentioned before are the dual isolated batteries under the hood and the new 140A alternator.

 

We have a 2003 22' International CCD. We've had it for six years and it's been awesome. Survived a hail storm in June that destroyed three roofs on my property and trashed a buddy's Subaru. It's been all over CO and we have our sites booked at Yellowstone next summer.

My 2012 Tacoma did a great job towing it, but we bought a Tundra in September to take over. I got my wife to let me keep the Tacoma, which is my daily driver. I'm pretty sure she regrets it now.

 

Sounds like you took really good care of it. I’m still interested in taking it off your hands. So, please let me know if and when you’re ready to get rid of it. Thanks

 

Both Earl and your new tundra need 40s...

 

How do you like the Patagonia M/Ts?

 

Welcome from Ca.

 

Sweet Runner you have!!!
Welcome to the “sold 3rd gen 4runner club”!
I had a S/C 3.4 3rd gen locked/bumpers/gears/air/winch/35’s/beadlocks/Icons/Airbumps etc just like yours. It was a killer multi-purpose rig that was very capabale for being just as fast as my 5.7 Tundra LOL. LOVED the wheelbase on the Runner!
But I wanted more comfort for long trips and more storage, so sold this year and building a Tundra. Runner sat 99% of the time, and I couldn’t stand to see it not be used. Had it for 10 years and loved the damn thing.
You’ll grow to love the Tundra I bet, I have.
It’s a big fat pig compared to our 3rd gens, no doubt! But the comfort/towing/gross weight it can carry etc is very nice. My 3rd gen was mainly used for hunting/camping/fishing. I did plenty of trails, but not as many as of late. More family oriented trips into the woods vs solo/buddy wheeling.
Don’t plan on any “skinny” trails with the Tundra Lol.

 

I'll keep you in mind! The latest Id sell it will be January. Funny enough, given my current proximity to work, the cost of owning, insuring, fueling, and maintaining a $40k truck that gets 13mpg in short city trips is actually far more than Ubering to and from work every day (even amortizing the purchase price over 20 years). So, I could genuinely sell my truck tomorrow and not be in a bad place, haha.

I could even buy a little electric bike to tide me over for the next couple months. I'd save some money and, if nothing else, it would offset the pending manliness of the beastly Tundra that I'll be rolling around in.

Hah! If only! Spvtan (is that how you spell it? With the black truck on 40s?) is certainly inspiring in that regard!

I bought them as kind of an experiment, but honestly I love them. Far and away the quietest MTs Ive owned or ridden, they have balance well, do great in the wet with pretty generous siping, and of course perform awesome offroad. They are also wearing quite well--I have 10k on them and Id expect to take them to at least 30-35k before even considering replacing them for offroad traction concerns, and probably 45-50k before replacing them out of normal tread-depth concerns for road safety.

A recent search turned up few sizes appropriate for a Tundra, especially in a 17" wheel. But, if I could find them in a ~35x12.5x17, they would absolutely be my first choice.

*edit*

I thought they skipped from 33" to 37" in a 17" size, but I found some 315/70r17 (35x12.5)!

Nice!! And thank you!

You arent kidding about the gross weight. I took a few items to the dump last month, and weighed my rig at almost 4950lbs with a full tank of gas, and no driver! Of course, the suspension and wider track kindof obviate the factory GVWR limit (I recently calculated that my truck could drive laterally across a 40-degree slope without the anti-sway bars, or a 42-degree slope with them, before rolling!). Still, that was my other concern driving me to the Tundra--adding 1500lbs of armor, gear, and family to a Taco and then pulling 6000+ lbs for 7-10k miles per year was probably asking a lot.

And yeah, I have already been taking recommendations for clear films to put on the sides of the truck to help prevent scratches. There is already a noticable difference on forest trails between my 3rd gen and my wife's 5th gen, so I can only imagine adding another 6" on top of that!

 

Welcome from CO. Keep Earl, you'll wish you did!

 

Welcome to the party!!

 

Keep Earl and go get a 3/4 Diesel to haul that trailer...

 

Teehee . I suppose with a big enough truck I could just tow Earl and the Airstream .

 

Welcome from Ohio!

 

Yep!!! I do not recommend talking yourself back into a Taco for that exact reason. I had a doublecab outfitted like the 4runner (bumpers F/R, winch, lockers, etc) and after adding all of the armor weight - it was a dog! I couldn’t stand driving it because it was so slow to be honest. (Factory 4.10’s, wasn’t regeared for 33’s)
Tundra is a solid choice for what it sounds like you plan to do with it.
The Tundra still gets up and goes with 35’s and factory gears (4.30’s btw).
Ps - This community, kicks ass!

 

Hello and welcome from Maryland!

Interesting thread and kudos to you for having an understanding and awesome wife. I've been going down this path for over a year deciding on what travel trailer to get. My girlfriend an I love the outdoors. We wanted to travel more with something no bigger then 25 feet. Makes it easier to get into National Parks.
So why an Airstream? I'm asking because you mentioned that your heading out west. If your in the freezing temperatures and snow, the Airstream is not a 4 season unit. But then again not a lot
of trailers are either without some serious modifications. The models you mentioned are really nice. I have a family member that had one last summer in Texas until a really bad hailstorm came in and made his Airstream looked like it was attacked by a grizzly wielding a ball pin hammer. The insurance claimed a total loss for him and he ended up trading up to a Design Suites fifth wheel. If you haven't owned a travel trailer before theres a wealth of information out there. Need any advice just ask

 

Thanks for the pointers! That is great to know, heh.

As to the airstream, a lot of it is because she just likes the looks (and probably exclusivity)--the same way she made me pay a $5000 premium for the fancy brown paint on her TRDP . But, there is also something to be said about the apparent longevity and build quality in general, and the fact that they are built specifically around not having slide-outs to maintain.

 

I’ve relocated countless times for military and civilian work, so I know how those things go. Sticker shock is the term for the sudden change in cost of living due to relocation. . However, it is advisable that you not sell or buy anything until you are absolutely certain that doing so will significantly help your case. Not having a car note is the very best position to be in regardless of your situation. Keep me posted. Thanks

 

Welcome from East Tennessee

 

I would suggest getting on the airstream forums as well.

As far as build quality it’s all the same. They use a low paid workforce to get these products built. There are going to be issues with them. Your taking a box on wheels down the road and they get beat on.

Your best bet if your sticking with the Airstream is pre-inspection of the unit prior to handing over that check. You want to go over the unit with a fine tooth comb. You can find inspection lists on the forums. Don’t let them convince you that it can all fixed after the paperwork is done. Once it leaves thier lot, your just another customer looking for service.