Daily driver with the look of a TRD - SR5 or Limited

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amheck

New member

• Aug 10, 2018

• #1

Hi guys, I'm really having a hard time with this decision and am hoping you can help me out a bit.

I currently have a 2004 Limited which I think is about time to replace. I don't offroad at all - this is just a kid/grocery/home depot hauler for the most part. I really would almost like a short break from the 4runner and to come back to them in a couple years when the 6th gen is out, but I just can't seem to find anything else that excites me (in my price range). Would love to lease a Cayenne, Land Rover or Q7 for a few years but the payments are just nuts. So back to the 4runner....

I normally just would go for the Limited cause of the leather and nicer interiors, however, I would really like something that looks more rugged like the TRDs. I am looking at a vehicle maybe a couple years old, just cause we park outside in the sun.

I'm unsure of whether to start with an SR5 or Limited and them upgrade. The one thing about the Limited is all of the chrome which I really don't care for. The only thing I've really seen is to platicdip the parts, but I'm not not sure I want to do that. Maybe when I was younger.....

I like the solid color or black front section, some nice black wheels and tires and maybe some sort of black nerf-style bar I think is the look I'm after.

I think the SR5 is probably the cheaper and easier way to build up from, but again, wanted to get your guys opinions, too.

 

Last edited: Aug 10, 2018

<<<<

Senior Member

• Aug 10, 2018

• #2

Get SR5 and TRD PRO bumper and grill if you care for the look bad enough.

 

shrub1

Member

• Aug 10, 2018

• #3

<<<< said:

Get SR5 and TRD PRO bumper and grill if you care for the look bad enough.

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Agree.
SR5 and dress it up as you desire.

 

90Duck

New member

• Aug 10, 2018

• #4

Given your stated use, a 2wd SR5 would be really economical, leaving you potentially a nice budget to get the grill and other blacked out pieces you like the look of. There are multiple sources for all of that stuff on ebay, amazon and other online vendors, and plenty of tutorials here and on youtube on how to install it yourself if you are so inclined.

 

97BlackAckCL

Elite Member

• Aug 10, 2018

• #5

I have the SR5 Premium, with the "Softex Leather" and all the bells and whistles of the Limited without the ugly chrome. I dressed it up quite a bit to look more aggressive, didn't do the Pro pieces because I'm not pretending to be a Pro, just making it look good

 

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amheck

New member

• Aug 10, 2018

• #6

thanks for the replies all. I think I was leaning that way, it just seems odd to me to not jump up to the highest model immediately. But in giving it a closer look on autotrader, the all color matched front ends of the 2014+ models are nice with the black grill. May not even need to jump up to the TRD stuff and I'm almost afriad to look at those prices.

So maybe a small lift kit, some wheels and tires and go from there.

 

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amheck

New member

• Aug 10, 2018

• #7

97BlackAckCL said:

I'm not pretending to be a Pro, just making it look good

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exactly what I'm after.

That's a nice looking front end. I was looking thru your sig and don't think I saw that listed. YOu have anymore quick details? Is that the satoshi grill, I think they call it?

 

97BlackAckCL

Elite Member

• Aug 10, 2018

• #8

amheck said:

exactly what I'm after.

That's a nice looking front end. I was looking thru your sig and don't think I saw that listed. YOu have anymore quick details? Is that the satoshi grill, I think they call it?

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Just the stock SR5 grille with black emblem and orange LED raptor mod, and a 32" LED bar behind the grille, and Morimoto Black LED fog lights. I also powder coated the roof rails satin black and replaced the silver end caps with stock Toyota black end caps.

 

Last edited: Aug 10, 2018

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osugsxr

Senior Member

• Aug 10, 2018

• #9

Sr5 premium is what my wife bought , I did the following for an all black look

Black emblems
Paint roof rails satin black
Trd pro wheels
Tinted front windows to match rear
Trd pro suspension that was on sale

Think that pretty much sums it up , we both love the suv and will keep it for years.The trd pro suspension at $499 was a nice upgrade. We might do little off roading but nothing too major . This is her daily driver and baby hauler .

 

Last edited: Aug 10, 2018

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amheck

New member

• Aug 10, 2018

• #10

osugsxr said:

The trd pro suspension at $499 was a nice upgrade. .

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Just did a quick search for that and found the thread. Wow, that was a heck of a deal. I'm guessing those are long gone but yeah, nice find.

 

SNORunner01

New member

• Aug 10, 2018

• #11

SR5 dressed up daily driver while living at 7000 ft.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

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cortney76

New member

• Aug 10, 2018

• #12

Just an SR5 I made to look the way I want. Completely a base model with 4wd. Blackout kit, Baja standard basket with rear ladder, Trail Teams FJ TRD suspension, SPC UCA's, Dobby 329's in the rear. toytec front spacer, 17x9 XD grenades, 33x12.50r 17 Wild Country MTX's. Rough country black series 30" light bar and ditch lights on Rago Fab low pro mounts. Completely happy!!

 

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97BlackAckCL

Elite Member

• Aug 10, 2018

• #13

Also, since you said you were thinking about nerf bars, I'd recommend the N-Fabs, they actually came on the Pros stock for a while, I got a set from a member who took them off his Pro, and I love the look. Almost identical to the Predator steps that come on the pros now

 

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cortney76

New member

• Aug 10, 2018

• #14

I like the N-Fab bars.... I don't climb my truck so they work out perfectly for me.

 

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amheck

New member

• Aug 10, 2018

• #15

nfab bars look great. thanks for saving me the time having to research those.

Looks like you can also take off the SR5 badge that is usually behind the read doors? I figure there was a hole there or something which you'd have to deal with?

 

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cortney76

New member

• Aug 10, 2018

• #16

I just used my wife's hair dryer and plugged it into the 12v plug in the back of my 4Runner....heated up the glue, used fishing line to get off the emblems...goo gone to get rid of the rest of the adhesive and put a good wax on it. It looks way better imo.

 

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amheck

New member

• Aug 10, 2018

• #17

cortney76 said:

I just used my wife's hair dryer and plugged it into the 12v plug in the back of my 4Runner....heated up the glue, used fishing line to get off the emblems...goo gone to get rid of the rest of the adhesive and put a good wax on it. It looks way better imo.

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Ah, just glue. easy enough. thanks, that'll be a must do.

 

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cortney76

New member

• Aug 10, 2018

• #18

My pleasure! GL!!

 

97BlackAckCL

Elite Member

• Aug 12, 2018

• #19

amheck said:

nfab bars look great. thanks for saving me the time having to research those.

Looks like you can also take off the SR5 badge that is usually behind the read doors? I figure there was a hole there or something which you'd have to deal with?

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Nope, no hole. I didn't take mine off, just dressed them up with the black badge overlays

 

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fng184r

New member

• Aug 12, 2018

• #20

It's an overpriced option to be sure, but if you don't want to fuss around and do any work yourself just get a sr5 premium with the predator package. It will get you the step bars, pro wheels, blacked out badges, and pro grille.

I wanted a pro, but the wife wanted a third row so we just went the above route and did a 3" toytec/bilstein lift afterwards. No hoodscoop or locker, but better than a Pro in some respects.

Can save a few Gs doing it all yourself if budget is a big concern.

Ripped a step off the Predator Bars already though. Time for real sliders.