Have you/do you own a 4Runner too?

it hunts for gears at an annoying pace. My 4runner is a VERY early production model and has never back to Toyota for any kind of firmware/TSB update. There is one for the transmission but I’ve never bothered since I don’t use the cruise.

 

One complaint I had with the Taco on longer trips through elevation changes was the cruise. It would downshift and just be screaming to keep up its speed going uphill, but it would almost refuse to upshift after that. It would just hold that lower gear with very high revs even after it wasn’t necessary. If you cancelled the cruise it would immediately upshift. Very annoying. It was one of my biggest complaints on our 2300 mile round trip this summer. Made me not use the cruise as much out of frustration. Full disclosure the truck was loaded very heavy at/beyond GVWR and had 33 inch mud terrains on stock gears. It also had a performance engine/trans tune that did fine WITHOUT the cruise on. It was like night/day between cruise on or off. I think the factory tuning was in effect while the cruise was on.

 

Yup, we have 2 4runners (1997 and 2017) and my 2021 Taco. Love them all.

 

The 4.0 in the 4-Runner is nice. The quality of the vehicle is excellent. The big limiter is that Toyota saddled it with the A750F 5 speed, which includes 3.73 axle gears in order to meet the MPG requirements. The A760F 6 speed with the double OD and, say, a 4.10 ratio would have brought some more pep into the thing.

If I were to buy another 150 Series platform, it would be the GX460 with a Land Cruiser Prado face and tail swap. The 4.6 V8 solves many issues.

 

My last vehicle was an 03 4Runner Sport 4WD. I LOVED THIS VEHICLE! It is likely the best vehicle I have ever owned. It had just shy of 300K It was a daily driver and took beatings on logging roads and trails on weekend camping and hunting trips. It always started on those cold Maine mornings and survived many ski trips as well. It never stranded me.

It finally met it's demise when the frame was swiss cheese and the 4.0 head gasket started to go. I still miss her.

So far, I love my 20 TRD Off Road 4X4 DCSB. The only thing I would change is the wonky transmission, but it really doesn't bug me that much. I'll get it tuned one of these days.

 

If they would’ve offered the v8 in the fifth gen 4Runner I would’ve bought one already, so I can’t argue with that.

Must’ve been hard to let go of an old friend like that. I wish you the best for making new memories with your new Toyota.

 

Much nicer looking... the gx460 w/o the ugly front.

 

Yeah I follow a couple of Japanese IG accounts that post LC Prado. I always think how much better it looks than it’s Lexus counterpart here in the U.S. especially once the Prados are modified.

 

FWIW, the front end bolts on to the GX.

 

Swap performed here...

https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/urj150-peridot-prado-build.1242810/

 

Did not know that. Sounds expensive lol. Not sure how many companies make aftermarket plate or tube style front bumpers for GX platform here in the US. I’d buy that before I’d buy stock front ends from Japan.

 

I had a 2019 4runner TRDOR for a little over a year. Did the usual swaps, suspension, wheels, tires, etc. It was a heavy slug and never got comfortable coming from a 2015 ColoradoZ71 with all the upgrades so traded in for the 20 Taco TRDOR, been a year now, same upgrades, now looking to see whats next to do. A tune is on the short list.

 

i will take a look. Would be cool to see regardless.

 

Check out Valley Runner tunes. Jeff made the best tunes I ran out of the handful I tried.

 

I have a '17 Tacoma Off Road and my wife has a '21 SR5 Premium 4Runner. I have found myself wanting to take her car places more than my truck lately. The engine just feels more responsive and is better at towing things than my Tacoma.

 

Your truck looks good in the snow, though

 

Ha it sure does! Haven't been able to take the 4runner into snow yet, so it may lose that battle too!

 

I have 18' 4runner SR5 and 21' Tacoma OR. Agree with prior posts. 4Runner is goto for driving guests and dog. wayyy better backseat and dog trunk. Tacoma doesn't even have air vents in backseat. Need Tacoma for towing and moving kids to college; and looking cool. Ha

I practice offroad mods on 4runner then perfect them on the Tacoma.

 

Jumping in late on this one, but in my opinion the worst offense of a stock 5th gen 4Runner is brake dive. If you try to slow the vehicle at any rate faster than coasting to a stop, the nose drops and the back rises at an uncomfortable rate. It's not that the brakes are lacking stopping power, as they aren't, it's just that the suspension takes the brunt of the force and transfers it all to the front. Good suspension fixes this easily. As for the transmission, having spent quite a bit of time in a 3rd gen TRD Sport and TRD Off Road along with having owned a 5th gen 4Runner TRD ORP, the 4R has a much better calibrated drivetrain that makes accelerating, cruising, and wheeling more pleasant across the board. Pedal Commander should solve that for the Taco though if you need a bed.

 

Do you guys notice a difference in the brake pedal feel between the Tacoma and 4Runner? I should just go drive a 4Runner again, but the timing isn’t right yet.