Bought a 4Runner Trail Edition over a 3rd Gen

Yep those activities definitely call for a pickup bed for sure. I'm more of a surfer than a hunter or fisherman and prefer not having my boards get stolen and/or blown out the bed on the highway.

 

Seriously why didn't they put that motor in a vehicle that guys will be hauling/trailering may more weight than a FJ or 4R?!

 

After driving my rental Jeep Grand Cherokee for a few months, and thousands of KM, I wish Toyota would put a nice 8 speed into the 4Runner/Tacoma. That transmission really makes a less hp engine feel like it has so much more. Downshifts are hardly noticeable and when you step on it, it responds quickly. Makes my 5 speed in my 4Runner feel lathargic. And the jeep is averaging 20.5 mpg in winter combined driving, not much city driving though.

 

I was concerned about the same issues.

Other than hunting (which I only do on my own property) I treat it just like I treated my Taco. It gets dirty especially with my massive pups in the back. I just clean it. It got about 100k miles and I used the shit out of it.

 

My wife complained about how smelly my Gen 1 was because I threw my bag in the cab at lunch after working out every day Started tossing it in the bed instead.

 

personally I don't see the 4R going unibody. the GX would go unibody before the 4R would since the GX is more inline with the highlander crowd.

if they do go unibody, then it would compete directly with the highlander which it will lose and people will go elsewhere for a replacement 4R.

myself if they go unibody on the 4R then I would rather get a highlander as you can get a platinum series loaded for less than a LE baseline.

 

Anyone miss the locking rear diff of the Tacoma? I'm sure that makes a huge difference. Less weight makes better off-roading?

 

Both my vehicles have the rear locker (taco + 4Runner) although I only used it once so far in 9 months it's always great to know you have it. That one time your stuck, all flexed out and you have one rear tire loaded/stuffed into your fender well and it's just sitting there while the other rear wheel spins in the air you'll be glad you can lock the diff and crawl right out.

 

I currently have both and really feel the quality of the 4runner is much better. Also I don't hate the drum brakes on the Tacoma , but I really love the big four wheel disc brakes on the 4runner and a bunch of small other things. But I really like my Tacoma it is what it is and it was a lot cheaper than my 4runner. I love them both but for different reasons it's really weird they're both the same but they're both totally different

 

How is a double cab tacoma and a super cab f150 the same length? THe F150 is a FULL SIZED and easily has 20 inches on the Tacoma.

 

Yea, after watching the feedback on the current gen Taco, and driving a few, I decided to wait until Toyota fine tunes the truck and works out the issues.

I also decided I wanted more interior space for people, my dog, and our stuff when doing road trips.

When I need a truck, I hook up my trailer. Not quite as convenient, but a decent compromise.

 

The 2016 trd pro 4runner has a rear locking dif? i thought someone said it didn't, while taco did

 

I had a 14' Trail Edition Premium 4Runner that I traded in for my 16' Taco Off Road. Love the Taco but do miss the T4R at times. Here she is ;-(

 

I often miss having a truck bed with a topper. Dog meets skunk, yeah, 4runner isn't ideal, what you gonna do, strap it on the roof?

A bed with topper is almost like an SUV (especially a topper with windoors) but better for separating people from cargo, wet muddy dogs, gathering firewood, can hose clean a truck bed, etc, etc.

I like having the garage space with the runner, can load/unload with the garage door closed, rear hatch opens up in the garage, rear window rolls down for some lengthy items, 23 gallon gas tank. The 5th gen 4WD's have 9.6" stock ground clearance, better approach/departure angles than a Taco TRD OR, plus two extra gallons of gas in the tank.

To each his own, YMMV, all that stuff.

 

Trail edition (now trd off-road for 2017) and pro have locking rear diff

 

Parked side-by-side the F150 does not seem that much longer than the Tacoma. At least not as much as the interior of the truck would lead you believe. Obviously the F150 is wider being full size but it's crazy how much leg room is in the Ford being only 20 inches longer.

 

Out with the old....

 

In with the new...

 

Someone on the forum spoke of the gas tank being lower. They went with some tacomas and the gas tank caught where tacomas could go. All Pros, all stock ride height. He also said top heavy caused runner to tip back. Does that mean the ground clearence is better on tacoma but worse departure/approach angle?

 

well it depends on configuration of the F150.

Taco 5.5ft = 212"
F150 Reg Cab 6.5ft = 209"

Taco 6.5ft = 225"
F150 Reg Cab 8ft = 227"


once you start getting into the F150 Supercab (231" & 250") and supercrew (231" & 243") then you have a big disparity.