Hey y'all, new to the forum and searching for my first 4runner. After researching for a while I've narrowed it down to:

Must haves:
4th gen. V6
<200K
Mostly stock (not used for off-roading or towing anything major)
No frame rot
Well maintained, well documented, for sale by owner!

Ideally, all of the above plus:
'06-'09
<150K
Rust free!

Some background:
I'm hitting the road this summer for a cross country road trip and unfortunately my old Honda CR-V can barely roll it's way around Brooklyn, so it's time to upgrade. I'm not a mechanic, but I've really enjoyed learning how to work on cars with my CR-V. I appreciate the big community of DIY TFR owners, and all the resources and mods available.

I've been searching for a car that I can use for long haul road trips and something I can build a bed platform in for camping trips. I also have a side hustle restoring vintage furniture, so I need something big enough to lug that stuff around. Seems like in general the TFR meets all my needs, and I can continue doing DIY work on it.

I've landed on my criteria above because:

-I've considered 3rd gen. TFRs, but I want something a little larger and more comfortable for the long hauls. I also worry that I am not mechanically inclined enough to deal with the typical trouble areas with 3rd gens.

-I'm open to '03-'05 4th gens. but the whole head gasket thing has me spooked after dealing with a blown HG on my '99 Subaru Forester. If it was the right car for the right price, I'd get it and just budget for replacing the HG eventually.

-The towing thing. Currently dealing with a failing tranny on my CR-V, so I'm hyper aware of potential transmission problems. I'd definitely buy a car with a history of fluid changes that drives real nice even it was used for towing. Just one of those things where worrying get's the better of me whaddyagonna do ya know?

Think it's possible? Am I being too picky or paranoid?

I'm in NYC, but I can travel around the Northeast for the right car. Let me know what ya got, thanks everyone!!