Modern era...4runner replacing Land Cruiser?

[The Jade Bean]

Double D's as in breast size. Oh wait, I posted in the wrong thread.

DD = Daily Driver

Yeah it's both the DD and Expedition rig...at least until the company is making enough money to expand and get other rigs, which wouldn't be US cars anyway.

 

[fifthcircle]

ADVcopan linked me to here.... Interestingly enough, this is exactly how I felt over the last few months about LC's and the 4runner. I had my heart set on an 05-07 Cruiser. I looked for a couple months, and just couldn't sell my wife on them. They are also a bit hard to find (didn't want the LX, personal preference). I then looked at the new 4runner specs. Instantly loved the trail edition. I was discouraged when I also read that they are somewhat hard to find. Lo and behold, there was the exact one I wanted in my town! Talked to the wife, went to the dealer and came home with my new "poor mans" Land Cruiser.

I would like to add that if this were any make other than Toyota, I would never had bought it with all the fancy KDSS, ATRAC and crawl control stuff. But since it's a Toy, and they have had this stuff on LC's since 08, I am more than confident in it.

I know the cruisers still have the overbuilt quality where it really counts, but I don't plan on driving through a war zone in it, so no biggie

 

[Haggis]

Congrats on your new purchase! I too a few years back was thinking just like you. My Dad made it easy when he offered to sell me his mint 4Runner which he still regrets lol. My dad graduated from Univ. Nebraska, Lincoln in dental surgery. Nice town, Lincoln!

 

[RiverRatMatt]

I really don't like how Land Cruisers in the US have changed into big blingmobiles.

When I got my Taco, I was actually thinking that a 4Runner with an engine other than the 4.0 V6 (they offered the 2.7L in 2010 still) and a manual tranny would be the closest thing you could get to a real Cruiser in the US

 

[The Jade Bean]

I really don't like how Land Cruisers in the US have changed into big blingmobiles.

When I got my Taco, I was actually thinking that a 4Runner with an engine other than the 4.0 V6 (they offered the 2.7L in 2010 still) and a manual tranny would be the closest thing you could get to a real Cruiser in the US

I would love a manual tranny in my 05 Runner, but the cost would be huge I'm sure.

 

[Sam Stewart]

I would love a manual tranny in my 05 Runner, but the cost would be huge I'm sure.

The drivetrain out of an FJ would likely bolt right up. They're basically the same truck. The only thing would be clutch pedal/brake pedal placement. You would have to custom fab everything to mount it since the Runner never came as a manual in that body style. Would be wicked cool tho.

 

[weejub]

How flexible is Toyota on builds that don't show up on their website? Do they ever special order? Say a manual transmission, etc?

I think the new 4Runner looks more like a traditional LC than the new LC . . yea I said it.

 

[The Jade Bean]

How flexible is Toyota on builds that don't show up on their website? Do they ever special order? Say a manual transmission, etc?

I think the new 4Runner looks more like a traditional LC than the new LC . . yea I said it.

Pretty sure they can special order anything as long as it conforms to emissions, etc. I'm not positive on that though.

 

[The Jade Bean]

The drivetrain out of an FJ would likely bolt right up. They're basically the same truck. The only thing would be clutch pedal/brake pedal placement. You would have to custom fab everything to mount it since the Runner never came as a manual in that body style. Would be wicked cool tho.

That would be AWESOME!!!...gonna look into it!

 

[The Jade Bean]

I just asked Digger Branson (Outrider Offroad) about putting a tranny from an FJ into my Runner and in theory he said it should all bolt up fine, but the electronics however will be a whole other issue as the computer communicates the tranny and I would likely have to also have a custom computer done up. Ahhhhhh...stupid computers!

 

[Sam Stewart]

I just asked Digger Branson (Outrider Offroad) about putting a tranny from an FJ into my Runner and in theory he said it should all bolt up fine, but the electronics however will be a whole other issue as the computer communicates the tranny and I would likely have to also have a custom computer done up. Ahhhhhh...stupid computers!

Yeah the ECU would def be freaking out since it would be getting no feedback from the trans. I would think it would be drivable but the dash would be lit up like a Christmas tree.

I wonder if you could just run an ECU from an FJ? They are different of course but it's a possibility. People run Chevy engines and diesels and stuff all the time with Toyota transmissions. There has to be a way around it.

 

[The Jade Bean]

Well I'm certainly not an expert, but I think the Runner has a few different features the FJ doesn't and vise versa...so I don't think switching ECU's would work. I'm not super keen on a Christmas tree dash board. lol

 

[Sam Stewart]

Well I'm certainly not an expert, but I think the Runner has a few different features the FJ doesn't and vise versa...so I don't think switching ECU's would work. I'm not super keen on a Christmas tree dash board. lol

Just do it! I'm perfectly fine with a Christmas tree dash (on your truck!)

 

[The Jade Bean]

Just do it! I'm perfectly fine with a Christmas tree dash (on your truck!)

LOL!

 

[Eric Winkworth]

I wheeled a very well built 03 V8 4th Gen 4Runner for 4 years so I have a lot of experience with this subject. I loved my 4Runner, and really miss it. It was an awesome 4x4. Same V8 and 5 speed tranny as the 03 100 series. Very powerful and so so smooth. Excellent road manners. I ran 33" KM2's with ICON suspension, and everyone thought it road like a Caddy, yet it handled great offroad. ATRAC was awesome, it is pretty amazing what it would get you through. I still feel a 03 or newer 4Runner with a 3" lift, armor, and 33's will handle just about any wheeling situation you will encounter in the US short of the Rubicon.

That said, with just me and my wife, we quickly filled up the 4Runner on camping trips. The 80 has so much more room for gear. Plus, on the rock, the 4Runner was low and would get hung up. IFS is great on the road and offroad on dirt tracks. Slow work on the rocks show its weakness. That said, I still think the 03 and newer 4runners are hands down the best deal going for wheeling. You can pick a good condition model up with around 75,000 miles for $13, 000 or so. Lift tires and sliders and you are good to go. I wouldn't even spend the money to regear.

On a different note, we once ran into a bunch of Toyota engineers at Anza Borrego. We spoke with one of the head engineers about their 4th gen 4Runners. He said, in his opinion, the 4th gen 4runner was the best 4x4 Toyota had ever produced in terms of reliability, longevity, and durability. Take that for what it is worth.

Ever even driven a 70? Any toyota with a mechanical diesel engine?

My opinion is you're wrong... However that being said it isn't your fault toyota's real trucks get no where near north america!

 

[NorCalBorn]

Wow, 2 whole pages and not a single picture yet?

 

[The Jade Bean]

Here's ours after we had the roof lined white and the rack is off because it's being modified. I don't know if they are the new LC but they are awesome!

-Daniel

Sent from deep in the mountains of Honduras using only sticks and rocks.