A 4R build replaces the Tacoma because I got kids (plus FRS and Tundra)

Thanks!

 

Nice!

 

My truck was heavily modded and I got a fantastic trade in. It will obviously be different at every dealer, so shop around a bit if you can.

 

Been deciding between a new 2018 TRD OR DCSB or a 4runner TRD Offroad (maybe Premium if I can swing a deal) for a month now and shopped around to the point where I have my Exact 2 vehicles to may purchase... Although, want to hear what y'all have to say after having your 4runners for a while. What was the selling points that y'all had 4Runner vs a Tacoma. I test drove a 4Runner TRD Offroad today and shit it really put it in the running...

So if you've got answers to these questions I'd appreciate it:

- Comfort of ride VS Tacoma? - I know we've heavily mod our vehicles however, hows the "After the fact"
- Gas Mileage? - Does your ECO mod actually do its job or is it BS? Know if you mod it will decrease however, hows the mod factor that pertains to gas mileage...
- Trim model? Your preference... (Looking at TRD offroad w/TRD package or TRD Off Road (Stripped lowest version of trim).
- Or any major difference from the Tacoma to 4Runner as I had maybe 20 minutes for a test drive.

Thanks in advance.

@Kerleyfries

 

I got an off-road (not a premium) because I wanted the locker and manual t-case. I would’ve liked to have a sunroof, but if you regularly have people 6’ or taller riding shotgun then their head is going to rub the ceiling, or that’s been my experience. Plus I don’t like black leather because of the heat.

This thing rides like a dream though, even compared to when my taco was stock. Dave’s rides great too and it’s lifted on km3’s. I currently get 19.5-20mpg with like 70/30 city/highway and I’m constantly out of the “eco” bar. That’s one thing that I wish I could turn off, because that bar gets on my nerves always flashing.

I think Dave still gets like 16.5/17 on 33’s with skids and shit, and he drives gas heavy too. Mine came with the “TRD package” wheels, and the skid. But I’m probably going to sell the wheels anyways. Only thing mine came with that I really cared about were the all-weather liners and the skid plate. But the skid plate isn’t worth the price of the trd package. Unless you plan on immediately selling the wheels and tires, in which case you may be 2-300 deep in the skid which isn’t a bad price. Overall 10/10 would not go back to a taco. I never really used the truck bed anyways

 

T4R is an all around better vehicle. Built in Japan and you can tell from the attention to detail. Mine rides fantastic with all the mods, mileage is okay, about on par with the Tacoma. I got an Off Road Premium with sunroof and KDSS, and I didn't want anything else. The wife's was an SR5 Premium, and honestly ATRAC will do well for most anything you'll come across. I wanted KDSS and that only comes on the OR. From day one of owning my Pro and the wife's SR5 T4R, I said I'd get rid of the truck first.

 

Looks cool.

I have to say though that somehow from the front the 4R makes me think of a large mouth bass.

 

Trailtoys sells what you are looking for I think.

https://trailtoys.net/products/uhmw-gas-tank-skid-plates-2005-tacoma-dcsb-and-access-cab

 

I only switched because I needed a 3rd row seat to be able to take wife + 4 kids out in places that our front wheel drive Highlander shouldn't go. The last fishing trip I took all of them out for had a trail near the river that we couldn't explore in the Highlander and that was the last straw.

The 4Runner rides a lot smoother than my Tacoma did, both stock and modded. Stock 4R had a lot of nose diving when braking. The new shocks/springs for the lift solved that though.

My gas mileage is better in 4R than Taco. Seems like I have to punch it more to get it moving which I assume hurts the MPG a bit. Totally stock 4R got 19-23. With the lift & tires plus correcting for the tire diameter, my last 3 tanks have been 19-22.
My Tacoma on 33s saw 18-20 and on 34s it saw 17-18 for comparison.

I got the lowest trim they have for 4R, the SR5. Can't get 3rd row seats in the Off-Road models. I didn't get the Premium because I liked the cloth better than the Softex stuff. Sunroof, auto-dimming mirror and whatever minor things the Premium adds wasn't worth having those seats to me.

4R is about 20 inches shorter than 2nd gen DCSB which seems like a huge difference when parking in the garage at home.

Generally, I feel like the design of the 4R has more attention to detail in it.

There are only 2 things I've found that I don't like:
1. Gas tank hangs low.
2. Aftermarket parts seem more expensive than Tacoma was.

I'm still working out details on a DIY that addresses both of those issues.

 

Thanks for the input. I think this maybe the move not only for offloading, fishing and hunting but future endeavors IE: A family.... Down the road... way down the road... But honestly this helped myself a ton with a decision. Think a 4Runner is in my future. I'm getting a extremely good deal on my trade and its rebate season at the moment. Now just to decide Trim and Color....

Thanks again.

 

There is one other thing I thought of. I had a lot of stuff behind the seat in the Tacoma and a small toolbox in the bed. I haven't found a good place to put that stuff in the 4R. No good out of sight spot to stuff things into. But to be honest, I probably didn't need to carry so much stuff most of the time and have put very little of it back in the 4R.

 

This was my issue too. Except all of mine was tools in the floorboard of the backseat because I was always fixing shit. I do need to get a bag to put a few tools and some recovery stuff in it that I’ll just keep in the back, but I had a stupid amount of shit in the back under the seats and in the doors that I never needed.

 

Sounds familiar

 

Tool Rolls are the shit. The majority of my tools fit in 2 rolls that fit under my passenger seat. Leaves behind the back seat open for straps, spare parts, and air compressor. Also no metal clanking around

 

Been thinking about that. Been keeping track of what tools I actually use whenever to work on something with the 4R. Sizes and torque specs are mostly different than Taco so far so I don't trust my memory to not mix them up. Had to buy a 19mm ratcheting combo wrench and 22mm 1/2 drive deep socket so far.

And can't decide how many straps is enough since no bed to haul shite anymore.

 

There is quite a bit of storage by the jack in the back, and under the wheel well plastics. Antman has a write up on how to access the "storage"over the wheel wells.

 

Link it, hoe.

 

Exactly the color I want when I finally go for it (except if they brought back inferno red)
If you don’t mind me asking, how much did ya get on your trade in? I have my taco as well and I might go the trade in route but maybe private sale if it’s worth the extra cash.

 

Very close to trade value estimated by kbb site.

 

http://bfy.tw/JJmf