New member, long time 4Runner owner though. (1 Viewer)

[AggieOE]

Hey y'all. Although I've been on all the other forums, Expedition Portal, Overland Bound, and T4R, I keep hearing about how robust the community is here. So! Looking forward to the engagement.
We have two current rigs, a 2016 Jeep Wrangler 4dr Rubicon and a 2015 Toyota 4Runner SR5 4WD with the 3rd row.
We've had her since 2017 with 21k miles and now we're at ~150k miles and still running strong.
Everyone has seen a stock one so I'll skip ahead and show the forms this one has had throughout the years.
Pic 1: 2019 in the Smokies, I was pulling off the road onto what looked like gravel.... when we were almost to a stop there, the car just slowly at a snail pace slid into this drainage ditch. Lovely. Flipped her back over though, and drove her all the way back to Texas. Stock with only General Grabbers.

Pic 2: All fixed up and off to Big Bend, LA, Sequoia, Yosemite, and Death Valley in 2020. Bilstein lift, BFG KO2s, and some front bumper painting.

Pic 3: And finally her current form. Added some Shrockworks sliders (wife wanted steps) and TRD F/R facia trim. This will probably be her final form.

She's been a great rig so far and, as my wife's DD, has been everything she's wanted.

 

[AggieOE]

Oh! And because its a part of our family too, my DD.

Our other vehicle is a 2016 Rubicon with an AEV 2.5" lift, geo correction brackets, 285/75 BFG KO2s, ARB front bumper with a Warn M8000 winch, and an AEV rear bumper which was not installed until '23, after this pic.
As much as I love this thing, it isn't without its faults. I was "smart" when we purchased it new and bought the lifetime/unlimited mile warranty which has already paid itself off with worn rockers, leaking gaskets, faulty ignition coil, and all 4 ABS wheel sensors.

Toyota has really grown on me due to capability and reliability. I don't know, though, how much I trust the new engine tech. So, we'll hold onto the 5th gen a little longer.

 

[4runnermods]

I saw your 2019 picture and it really sucks that the airbag curtains deployed. crazy ditch. I live near the Smokies.

Glad you got it fixed and have come a long way since then. I think many people will stick to the 5th gen for the longest time. Lately I have seen on marketplace people selling early 5th gen in the lower $10k. seen a few 4wd with mods at $10k.

 

[s13koop]

Welcome from another Bayou City resident lol

 

[CowboyRodeo]

Toyota has really grown on me due to capability and reliability. I don't know, though, how much I trust the new engine tech. So, we'll hold onto the 5th gen a little longer.

There seems to be a lot of issues with newer engines, I think it has something to do with turbos.

 

[AggieOE]

There seems to be a lot of issues with newer engines, I think it has something to do with turbos.

I wouldn't be surprised. As an engineer, we love introducing new technologies and innovations. However, each comes with added risk and, unfortunately, no number of analyses and simulations can account for every fringe case. Unless the fuel mileage is extremely different, I don't see a reason to take on the added complexity.