Talk me off the 4 runner ledge....

I traded my 2015 4Humper on my Tundroid. There is no way in hell I'm going back to a six-banger.

The only time that 4 litre made power is when you pinned the throttle and used all 4 camshafts.

 

They did for a few years. Not quite sure which year models though..

 

I had a 2014 4Runner sr5. It’s a dated engine (5 speed automatic) and a V6 but it’s practically bulletproof. It is a slug with very little get up and go but if you put a sprint booster or pedal commander it wakes it up. I paid it off two days before a guy was texting and ran a red light and hit me going 50+ mph. Totaled it and hence why I now own a tundra and am on this forum. I would go back to a 4Runner again but in all honesty it is much smaller than expected (especially with third row option). You can mod the hell out of them and fun as hell to off road. But I prefer the bigger engine and higher towing capacity.

 

Don’t do it! I just traded in my 19 4Runner. They are absolutely gutless because of 5 speed tranny. Brakes are not good either. That being said, it is a good vehicle and if they fixed a few issues I’d be in again. But not the way they are produced right now.

 

My wife has a gx. It is nice. Driving it makes me want a 4 runner.

 

I can't do the 4runner cuz I am too big of a dude and the 4runner seat sucks for me if I drive it for too long [we have a 15 trail edition]. My Limited Tundra seat is soooooo much more comfortable.

That said, the 4runner is an excellent vehicle, and if you want/need the interior space for that, it makes sense to me.

I'm the same dude, no matter what I'm riding in ... I imagine you are too

 

But you're smiling though!!

 

I had a 2006 SR5. Loved it.

 

I've always heard good things about the 4.0L 270 hp and 278 torque doesn't seem gutless. Surprised to hear that honestly.

 

Have both?

 

I had my wife drive a newer 4Runner ,2015 and she said it was too slow. So she is getting another Sienna. Good luck. D

 

It is a great engine, but not paired with the trans. It’s good for 4wheeling, but not day to day if you want some good acceleration. Now that being said it is still a great truck! Bulletproof, looks good too. I’m not knocking the whole rig, but you asked. The day I decided to sell/trade was the day I couldn’t overtake 2001 Chevy 1500 that was pulling a trailer, I needed to merge and he wouldn’t let me no matter how hard I mashed my pedal, lol.

My 4Runner was a beast in the snow though, fricken fantastic! I’m hoping my tundra will be as good. The new 20’s have the tech too, if yo buy one get a 20.

 

I had an 06 4runner that I purchased new back in the day. Great vehicle just a little cramped, I didn't stay in it very long. I definitely enjoy my space

 

I have both. Pros and cons to both. 2016 4Runner is my wife’s daily and she adores it. It’s a great car but like others have said gutless compared to the Tundra. You will miss the extra interior space but the 4Runner is easier to park, better on gas and easier to drive in tight spaces. Having both is great but if I could only have one it would be the Tundra.

 

Thanks everyone for your advice and comments!

I think we might just end up with both. Going to go look at a Pearl 19 with the rosewood leather. Rare combo.

 

both is your best bet..lol

 

The 4Humper front ends are so cute! Like an angry lil' river otter.

 

I have a pre-facelift 5th gen. It’s my wife’s daily. I’ve modified it a bit in my driveway...2” lift, sliders, skids, LT tires, rear axle breather. It’s a blast taking the family camping and off-roading on national forest service paths (“roads” would be a misnomer) and the mild to intermediate trails at off road parks. I have yet to drive through anything that ATRAC can’t get me out of. We have 120k miles with nothing but routine maintenance. No leaking cam towers, no weepy rear axle, no gear hunting. The faster you cruise on the highway, the better it holds that 5th gear, haha!

It has tons more interior space than a Taco but less than a CrewMax for sure. It barely gets better mpgs than a Tundra, but it’s paid off, our family loves it, and I know I can count on it for years to come.

 

I can’t help you with this either since I’m looking at a 2020 GX 460 myself…

 

4Runners a virtually bullet proof
My 99 runner is still in the family and never had an issue.

 

Get it. Love my tundra, but love my wife's trd offroad 4runner as well, both '17s, both gangster. About to start modding the shit out of it now that I've done alot to my truck

 

I think I must consider that two!

 

I have both. Wife drives 4Runner. It’s ok. Not as nice as tundra but better mileage and easier to park n such.

 

I test drove the 2019 4runner TRD Pro and the 2019 Tundra TRD Pro a couple months back before making my decision on which direction I wanted to go in. I had been leaning towards the 4runner since my wife hates driving my then current 2014 tundra. And I really love the looks of the 4runner, inside and out.

I only made it about four miles in the 4Runnner test drive and my decision was made. I went with the Tundra. The 4runner just didn't have enough power for me. Great vehicle, but I have been enjoying the 5.7 motor for a few years and I don't feel like I would be happy with the slower acceleration of the 4runner.

Maybe down the road I will downsize to a smaller/slower vehicle but for now I sticking with a Tundra.

 

I will agree with this based on my experience in a 4th gen. My parents have an 05 4Runner and it feels like it has a ton of power in comparison. Same motor as in my 16. I wish they would have kept the same throttle mapping. Maybe a pedal commander would make the difference?

 

Past owner myself, I don’t feel like it’s the mapping. It’s the trans mostly along with that. They do have a supercharger you can buy but it’s 9k. I almost bought one because I wanted more acceleration. However after talking to several forum friends who did it was noted that the 4Runner with the SC was real good, that they drove like they should have from the beginning, but still not over the top, again due to the trans.

 

I love the 5th Gen's look, but man that engine is so underpowered. When i drove one, it felt like driving my tundra up a hill while towing 10,000 lbs.

 

The sprint booster or pedal commander modules definitely help but the transmission, in my opinion, is the inhibiting factor.

For the price of a 4Runner and a supercharger I would start looking into the raptor territory. I haven’t heard of one person who has installed a supercharger in the 4Runner that hasn’t had problem after problem trying to get it dialed in.

 

This^

I had a 87 Bronco and wished I still had it.

 

My 4Runner was frustrating at first. That 5-speed, while being programmed to learn how you drive, is also programmed for economy like you said, so if you ease into the accelerator from a stop, it will try to get to 5th gear as quickly as possible. I noticed mine would get to 5th gear at 30-35 mph. It feels like you're bogged down at that point because that 5th gear is designed to be like an overdrive/highway cruising gear.

There's a way around it though, and this is why I don't hate driving my 4Runner anymore: I started driving with it in S mode, keeping it from getting to 5th gear until 45 mph. The transmission has learned this so I don't have to do it anymore, and it drives much better around town. The other thing I do is put a little more of my foot into it initially and then ease up as it shifts into 2nd. No sacrifice in fuel economy, and it doesn't ever feel sluggish anymore.

Is it annoying for the 4Runner to have a bit of a learning curve? Yeah, I guess it was. Do I enjoy taking it offroading on the weekends while driving it daily and getting 18-19mpg after skids, sliders, and LT Nittos? Absolutely!