Help with purchase

[truword1]

Ok guys, well I final saved some funds to purchase my long waited 4Runner but need your knowledge and exprience. This truck will be my daily driver but every once and the while I it will need to get dirty. (LOL). I will also be pulling a pop up camper with the family. Don't want to go with the second generation because of the 3.0 V6. Looking more into the 3rd generation beacuse of the 3.4 V6

So in other words what would you look for in your purchase of an 4Runner?????

What year?
Would you go automatic or standard?
What size engine?
What would you look for in the rear end and front end?

Thanks your time and exprience is greatly appreciated.

JD

 

[r0nin89]

Personally I would go for a 96 with a 3.4 and a 5speed stick. The 3.0 isnt too bad of an engine once you do that initial upkeep but your not pulling a camper with it. You should be fine seeing as how Toyotas second generation of IFS with the coilovers was alot stronger than torsion bar IFS. I wouldnt go running anything over 35's on it though.

In a perfect world I would go for a 96 4runner and do a coilover SAS with a solid axle and 36's but thats just me.

 

[cruiser88]

i would go with a 85 runner with solid axle, 22re,4:88 gear ratio (to pull your small boat or whatever) and a 5 speed 22re you can almost weld the hood shut . and the top[ comes offwhat else could a man ask for

 

[2ndGenToyotaFan]

For a daily driver/tow rig I'd go 96+ as well, lots of creature comforts. But I'm all about the removable top personally.

 

[Martin White]

Only problem with 85's is it's hard to find one that isn't rusted out by now.

 

[cruiser88]

Only problem with 85's is it's hard to find one that isn't rusted out by now.

yes i knowbut at least i have a 87

 

[WristPin]

i would go with a 85 runner with solid axle, 22re,4:88 gear ratio (to pull your small boat or whatever) and a 5 speed 22re you can almost weld the hood shut . and the top[ comes offwhat else could a man ask for

yep.

but since round here the 85's are gold, i opted for a IFS 86.

 

[WristPin]

manual trans
22RE
85-early 89 top comes off
any leak can be fixed.
get one that has no lift on it with a long maintainence record.

chaces are, the rear spring will be sagging.
no big deal, just get new ones and while your at it, install that 4" trailmaster lift kit you have always wanted