Diff Kraken
SILVER Star
Well... here I am again. This is my second time purchasing a Super White (Paint Code #040 - for '24 they call it "Ice Cap") 5th Gen TRD Off Road Premium 4Runner with KDSS, my 5th Toyota truck purchase, my 4th white Toyota truck, my 7th Toyota, my 6th Tahara Plant produced Toyota, and my 16th vehicle purchase. I'm a big sucker for white Toyotas. My plan is to keep this one longer than the rest. Hopefully forever...
I think now is the time to snag a factory fresh 5th gen 4Runner. This 1GR-FE V6 with the 5 speed is bulletproof. As far as I know, nothing goes wrong with this drivetrain. Toyota has been making the 1GR-FE for 22 years at this point. Among other current Toyota offerings with older engine designs, I think this may be the most reliable powertrain available on any US market consumer level truck for sale today and for the foreseeable future. Additionally, the 5th gen is made at the Tahara plant in Japan where my 200 series Land Cruiser, 120 Prado/GX470 and '89 Pickup/Hilux rolled off the line. That's trail cred.
At this unique moment in time, these trucks are sitting on dealer lots looking for buyers. I was able to snag this truck at $4k under MSRP and under invoice at the beginning of the month.
The hype surrounding the upcoming 250 LC and GX550, the 6th gen 4Runner, and a possible mini LC, has people waiting on the sidelines for the new vehicles in this class. That's certainly understandable- but I feel like the 5th gen is similar to the 60 series when the 80 series was about to launch. Yeah- the 80 LC was without a doubt an improvement, but as time went on, the 60 series held it's own and was still a legend. Of course the 80 and the 60 had the same engine at the 80's launch, but, as we know, the next LC and the next 4Runner will have hybrid and/or turbo motors. Toyota does great with those technologies, but if you're a luddite like me, a 22 year old NA V6 sounds like the way to go. When else can you buy a brand new factory fresh 22 year old bulletproof Toyota legendary drivetrain- let alone with a factory rear locker?
And, while the 1GR-FE paired with the 5-speed auto is not a race car or a tow rig for heavy loads, it is more than powerful enough in my experience. The 1GR-FE has been offered in the following platforms, pretty impressive:
I'm in love. Please meet Easter Bunny 2.0 and follow my thread for an OEM+ build, adventures, and mussings as we head into 250 LC, GX550 and 6th Gen 4Runner season. And by all means- please join the conversation. I'm always interested in what other mudders think on all this.
I think now is the time to snag a factory fresh 5th gen 4Runner. This 1GR-FE V6 with the 5 speed is bulletproof. As far as I know, nothing goes wrong with this drivetrain. Toyota has been making the 1GR-FE for 22 years at this point. Among other current Toyota offerings with older engine designs, I think this may be the most reliable powertrain available on any US market consumer level truck for sale today and for the foreseeable future. Additionally, the 5th gen is made at the Tahara plant in Japan where my 200 series Land Cruiser, 120 Prado/GX470 and '89 Pickup/Hilux rolled off the line. That's trail cred.
At this unique moment in time, these trucks are sitting on dealer lots looking for buyers. I was able to snag this truck at $4k under MSRP and under invoice at the beginning of the month.
The hype surrounding the upcoming 250 LC and GX550, the 6th gen 4Runner, and a possible mini LC, has people waiting on the sidelines for the new vehicles in this class. That's certainly understandable- but I feel like the 5th gen is similar to the 60 series when the 80 series was about to launch. Yeah- the 80 LC was without a doubt an improvement, but as time went on, the 60 series held it's own and was still a legend. Of course the 80 and the 60 had the same engine at the 80's launch, but, as we know, the next LC and the next 4Runner will have hybrid and/or turbo motors. Toyota does great with those technologies, but if you're a luddite like me, a 22 year old NA V6 sounds like the way to go. When else can you buy a brand new factory fresh 22 year old bulletproof Toyota legendary drivetrain- let alone with a factory rear locker?
And, while the 1GR-FE paired with the 5-speed auto is not a race car or a tow rig for heavy loads, it is more than powerful enough in my experience. The 1GR-FE has been offered in the following platforms, pretty impressive:
- 2002–2009 Toyota 4Runner / Hilux Surf (GRN210/215)
- 2007–2011 Toyota Land Cruiser (GRJ200)
- 2002–2009 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (GRJ120/121/125)
- 2004–2015 Toyota Tacoma (GRN225/245/250/265/270)
- 2005–2015 Toyota Hilux (GGN10/20)
- 2005–2006 Toyota Tundra (GSK30)
- 2006–2009 Toyota Tundra (GSK50/51)
- 2005–2015 Toyota Fortuner (GGN50/60)
- 2006–2009 Toyota FJ Cruiser (GSJ10/15)
- 2009–present Toyota Land Cruiser 70
- 2015–present Toyota Hilux
- 2009–present Toyota 4Runner (GRN280/285)
- 2009–2022 Toyota FJ Cruiser
- 2011–2014 Toyota Tundra (GSK50/51)
- 2012–2021 Toyota Land Cruiser (GRJ200)
- 2021–present Toyota Land Cruiser (GRJ300)
- 2012–2023 Lexus GX 400 (GRJ150)
- 2015–present Toyota Fortuner
- 2009–2023 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado (GRJ150/150R/155)
I'm in love. Please meet Easter Bunny 2.0 and follow my thread for an OEM+ build, adventures, and mussings as we head into 250 LC, GX550 and 6th Gen 4Runner season. And by all means- please join the conversation. I'm always interested in what other mudders think on all this.
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. I totally understand you.... Have had many T4R's including 5 5th gens. Lol. Thinking about the same you did / said... 
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Metric tap and die set and a couple of new OEM M12 x 1.25 bolts (Toyota Part No. 90119-12386) and good to go. Apparently this is a common problem to run into due to the pressure the KDSS system puts on the sway bar making it very difficult to line the bracket bolts up perfectly perpendicular to get good contact with the female threads in the LCA.
