Have you/do you own a 4Runner too?

I do remember the awful nose diving and boat-like handling when I drove a fifth gen 4Runner some time ago. That’s most of what put me off from the idea and I ended up buying Tacoma. Now I have more experience with these Toyotas and their suspensions. I realize I could switch out the suspension on a 4Runner really easily in my garage (as I did on Tacoma). That would probably completely solve the brake dive and poor handling manners like you mentioned. I actually wish I could drive a 4Runner with some good aftermarket shocks on it already.

 

2022 4 runner is the most reliable Toyota you can buy IMO. It’s so archaic and the drivetrain has been absolutely perfected. My dad has 2006 and 2013 4runners and they are fantastic.

If I didn’t need a bed and 4r was offered with MT, I would definitely go with the 4r.

 

I posted up earlier. We have had five 4R's since 2008, all 4WD. Traded each time odo got to 50K, best deals. The '18 we just traded, was the worst on braking and nose dive. That is not the reason traded, except caught an allotment on a 2021 TRD Tacoma, best for RV trips.
I realize the 4.0 vs the 3.5, don't want to get into that conversation.

Last May, we were just leaving Publix, left turn to the light, downhill. Hit the brakes on the 4R, pedal almost to the floor. It was not stopping, hit the e-brake, still not stopping. We were moving slowly to the light, and busy intersection. I steered around the car in front of me to the left, and the light turned green. That saved the day. Right before this, all seemed good.
Now if I got out in the intersection on a red light, had a collision, there is no way Toyota is going to take the blame here.
At last oil change, 28554 on the odo, I asked the service person to have the brakes checked out. They assured me, all was fine, their tech said no problem. I will stick with the brand, reliability and ROI is best there is.
B 1

 

Well that was a scary story. Glad y’all made it out ok from that experience. Very strange that they wouldn’t find any issue and that the e-brake didn’t stop you. I thought that was cable operated. Was it slowing you, just not enough? I’ve never heard of this happening in a newer 4Runner. Surprising.

 

I have always owned a 4Runner, 98,99,02 limited and now a new limited for the wife. Best damn SUV for the money.

 

Was it slowing you, just not enough? I’ve never heard of this happening in a newer 4Runner. Surprising.

Yes, the E-Brake did slow it, except I was too busy navigating around the car in front of me, and the light change. I got around the car, then the light just changed to green. No reaction from the car I just drove around. This has not stopped us from Toyotas. That was our 5th 4Runner since 2008. We just traded it for a new Tacoma, only reason, towing a small RV, a pickup makes more sense. Other family members drive Toyotas. E-2 Equalizer Hitch not on here, just short trip to home.

 

OP you asked about drivability and specifically the difference between the 3.5 and 4.0 (and tranny/tune/etc), but another factor is the suspension layout. The 5th Gen 4Runner you’re asking about with its coils and weight rides much better than the Taco (even if the engines were the same). If all you’re looking for is an enjoyable drive (and you find the 3.5 lacking in that area) then yes, the Runner will do you much better. And so will the suspension ride quality and overall fit and finish.

We did (albeit in a 4th Gen) a ton of miles on washboard dirt roads today that I often do in our trucks and man was it a much smoother ride today than my usual pickup drive.

 

Is that the v8 badge that I spy? Nice photo.

 

Yessir, we have the same engine in our same year (almost same color) toyotas haha. It was purely an accident as far as the first two good deals we found but we're not mad about it!

 

I have a loaner 2021 SR5 T4R while my 16 Tacoma is being repaired due to the 3rd brake light leaking. I'll be honest, as much as I love my truck I'm going to hate giving this back. It really is a nice driving vehicle.

We're going to buy a T4R when the wife is ready to give up her Chevy. My truck has room for four, the TR4 was built for four to ride comfortably.

 

I just traded a ‘16 T4R SR5 for a ‘21 Tacoma dcsb OR. The T4R was definitely a nicer ride on the road, and I liked taking it off-road (6112/5160’s with icon rear coils) but the bed on the Tacoma makes more sense for me now. Between the camper we tow and the kayaks my wife and I have, I love having the bed. A big thing to consider is towing. The T4R is 500lb max tongue weight and 5000lb total weight compared to 640/6400 on the Tacoma. The T4R hitch is only bolted to the crossmember not the frame rails. Because of this, the owners manual says not to use a weight distribution hitch on the T4R since it can (and reportedly has) twist the crossmember. We moved from a small popup camper to a 17’ single axle 3500lb dry weight camper and that helped me decide to pull the trigger on the Tacoma.

 

V8 4th Gen tows 7,300 lbs, I believe (couple hundred more than our Tundra). The longer wheelbase of a truck helps more than rating though.