Toyota 4Runner Recommendations

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B

BladeCruiser

Joined
Aug 26, 2014
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Location
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Hey Guys, I'm bouncing around the idea of getting a 4Runner
What are the +/- of the v8 vs v6? Timing belt vs chain.
What is a good year for the 4Runner? I'm looking between roughly 03 - 08.
I figured I would go to the experts on this.
Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Neal
 
Neal

I'm no expert but if I were looking, I'd go for the v8 because if you need it for towing, you'll have a little more power available. I used to have a 3rd gen... the 4th gen is the only 4Runner that offers the v8. I can't comment on timing chain vs belt. Make sure it's rust free! :)


Good luck,
Austin
 
Heres a good link about all the differences in 4th gen 4Runners 4Runner

If I were looking for a 4th gen it would be an '09 trail (rare as hens teeth) or an '06+ Sport edition with a V8
 
Stumpalama said:
@OTRAMM should be able to give you the plusses and minuses of each generation of 4runner.
Click to expand...
I actually don't work on that many of the newer ones. I know the first and second gens inside and out but I don't see many 3rd gen or newer. I can tell you doing the 4.7 timing belt is way easier in the 4Runner chassis than a Cruiser or Sequoia. The 4.7 is an great engine. For the most part I just get calls for timing belts and valve cover gaskets. The exhaust manifolds on them are prone to cracking in the Cruisers and are not cheap to replace. I don;t know if the 4Runner uses the same manifolds or not.
 
OTRAMM said:
I actually don't work on that many of the newer ones. ...I don't see many 3rd gen or newer. The 4.7 is an great engine. For the most part I just get calls for timing belts and valve cover gaskets.
Click to expand...

That says a lot about the 4th gens...
 
I avoided the 8 cylinder based on the timing belt, went with what is hopefully a lower maintenance 6 cylinder. I don't need mine for towing anything so I was not looking for something with massive power under the hood. Check out the 4runner forum t4r I think?, there is an excellent write up on purchasing a 4runner, engine differences, model years, options, yadda, yadda, yadda.

I scored an 08 limited in Woodbridge for $17500 all said and done.
 
Devilmans Hand said:
3rd gen 3.4L supercharged might be an option for you.
The 4th gen 4runners got too wide to take anywhere in the woods and is almost as big as a cruiser.
Click to expand...
Good luck finding one with a super charger for sale for a reasonable price... seems people think they are made of gold.
Don't you own a 4th gen?
The 1997 LC is 4800lbs 4" wider 4.5" taller and the 2005 4runner is 4100 lbs.
 
Stumpalama said:
Good luck finding one with a super charger for sale for a reasonable price... seems people think they are made of gold.
Don't you own a 4th gen?
The 1997 LC is 4800lbs 4" wider 4.5" taller and the 2005 4runner is 4100 lbs.
Click to expand...
Toyota 4Runner - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

4th gen is about 7" wider and 350lbs heavier than a 3rd gen. Seems like the 4th gen is right in the middle.
Stump, I have a 1st and 3rd gen and towed a horse trailer with a 4th gen with those stupid plastic fender guards on a lot of long hauls.
Was only about a $2k difference for the supercharger last time i checked.
 
No problem here, just expressing my observations and opinions.
I don't know what exactly a battle over 4runner vs. LC specs would look like but it would probably resemble 2 dudes on a Star Wars forum battling over the specs of an x-wing vs a Y-wing.
 
Well, I found an 03 sport with the v8. It is in fairly good condition and runs/drives really well.
Im going to have it put on the lift tomorrow to check the 4wd system and look over the undercarriage.
Not a huge fan of the plastic cladding on the fenders which is of course faded but I can work with it.
I'll post up some pics if I get it.

Thanks again for all of the input.
 
Make sure it locks into 4 wheel low. Do it multiple times to be sure.
 
Last edited:
Most people take them off (buy new clips since most will break) and paint them with bedliner or get them linex'd and throw them back on. Otherwise you'd have holes everywhere and marks from where they rubbed the body everywhere.
 
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