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Old 06-24-2019, 11:35 AM #31
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Originally Posted by Jetboy View Post
One other option is a highlander. It's a bit bigger inside than a 4runner. And much easier to access the 3rd row. Very reliable.

Or maybe a newer minivan and an older suburban or sequoia for weekends. $5k should get you a pretty reliable older suburban. And it won't get used daily so probably less repairs because it'll have fewer miles of use.
Nailed it. As a father of two teenagers, I will tell you that those kids are going to get adult sized before too long, and the 4Runner will still be cruising along without any mechanical reason for replacement. It's going to get tight in there with backpacks and water bottles and teen angst. My wife put 250k on her Highlander with replacing only brakes and tires aside from a few minor, inexpensive things that lasted way longer than one would reasonably expect. Only replaced it because she wanted something new again. I think we still got $5k for it with a quarter million miles and crash history from when someone slid in to her on an icy highway (it was an 04 that cost $24k new IIRC).

My brother in law and his wife have three kids. They love their recent gen Highlander, and take long trips often with no complaints. He is 6'-7" she is 5'-2" and they both enjoy driving it. I get that it is still minivan-ish, but it's comfortable, quicker than the T4R, gets better mileage, and has the same benefit of low maintenance and high resale. I'm sure some more aggressive tires and an inexpensive suspension tweak could give it some additional off-road cred without looking silly. Kind of like the Crossteks and Outbacks you see at the ski slopes.


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Old 06-24-2019, 12:58 PM #32
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Maybe the way to go is to narrow it down to two or three and then rent each for a short trip to see which you like best. Sure you will spend a few bucks, but it may pay off in the long run. I used to travel a lot with my job and rented many cars & trucks. I was surprised by the difference in what I thought I'd like or dislike about a vehicle; and what I really experienced.
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Old 06-24-2019, 01:29 PM #33
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Toyota made a concept of just what you need called the "TJ"

Oh? I'm interested
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Old 06-24-2019, 01:35 PM #34
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Hey there everyone. I been a long time fan of the 4Runner and been lurking this forum for awhile now. The time is getting closer for us to pull the trigger on a new family vehicle. We are a Family of 5, 2 6 year olds and a 10 year old. We do a couple camping trips a year and would love to pull a small trailer as an upgrade from tenting.

We have been rocking a grand caravan now for almost 6 years so we do worry we are going to lose some of that inside space and end up being too cramped in there when we are loading up for day trips. But one thing I truly miss is going off the beaten path and finding some trails to go on. I used to own a Jeep and a lifted truck and we now down to just the van. Living in BC Canada, there is plenty of areas to go and explore

Has anyone else made this switch? Was it worth it?
We own a Honda Odyssey and a 3rd row 4Runner. I drove the Highlander but ignored it because (1) we already have a van and (2) the car is my daily driver and I'm 40, but not ready to feel dead yet.

The 4R is great for trips, and can be loaded down fairly well. We don't tow with it, but we've put boxes on top and on the hitch (and there are pictures somewhere on the forum) and it drives great, even with 6 or 7 in seat belts (we currently have 7 in our house, and that's a big push). We've done 6 in the vehicle over two days each way on trips and all survived. You can find a way to make that work.

Where the 4R stinks is daily driving with more than 4. It's ok for me taking 3 kids to school, but access to the 3rd row is tight, and the 3rd row itself is small. Our oldest is 12 and he's near being squeezed out in the back (but he can get back there with less fuss than the 3yo, so...). My wife has no trouble driving it, although she's not been out of commission like your spouse.

A highlander is a far better DD than the 4R, but a van even more so. (We're actually looking to upgrade to a Sprinter if we can find a good price, so that's our level of crazy).

Good luck.

*Oh, and the Sequoia and Suburban. The Suburban is out of our price range, and is little more than a mini van. It's good for what it is and a little bigger inside. I've not driven the Sequoia, but it is said to be outdated and (like most Toyota trucks) due for an update. But it's bigger than the 4R and will tow something.

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Old 06-24-2019, 01:49 PM #35
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We have both. Infact, just threw KO2's on the wife's Grand Caravan. Think we may be one of the only people in the world to do it (I refuse to Google it, because I want to believe it's true). America's Tire had a good 'ol time installing them!!

Ps. If there is a lift kit somewhere out there for the Caravan, you better believe that's next!
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Old 06-24-2019, 01:54 PM #36
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I'm with others on a used Sequoia. I would recommend you find one online if possible, then pile the family into the van and go take the Sequoia for a drive. Do the same with other vehicles you're considering.
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Old 06-24-2019, 02:15 PM #37
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We own a minivan (Toyota Sienna) and a T4R. We have 3 kids (19, 17, and 11). We usually take the van on road trips and everyone is really comfortable when we do. We drove the T4R to Colorado last year, and the kids were rather uncomfortable in the back for the 12-hour drive. I recently did a 3-hour drive with all 5 of us in the 4Runner, and they even complained on that one.

I don't think we'll take the 4Runner on a long road trip with all 5 of us again any time soon. Granted, I don't have a 3rd row seat, but the 4Runner is just not an ideal vehicle for road tripping with 3 kids.
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Old 06-24-2019, 02:23 PM #38
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Minivan all the way. The 4runner feels surprisingly 'small' inside despite looking pretty big outside.

I have 2 kids aged 3.5 and 7.5 so not big kids by any stretch and we pack the 4runner full even for a long day at the beach. 3-4+ day trip and it's full plus the hitch carrier.

Our friends with 2 kids got a well used 2010 Honda Odyssey and they're in love with the thing, and show us all the room to spread out in it and storage nooks. Pretty sweet ride.

Minivan- better mpg, more legroom, better hvac, more headroom, more cargo room, more cup holders, better rearward visibility, more creature comforts.
Sure it's not as cool as a 4runner.

The 4runner with a large roof carrier is the only way I can see it working with 3 kids. With a big roof carrier and loaded with 3 kids and gear I can see a 4runner dropping to about 17mpg highway.

My wife wants a minivan... I've been eyeballing 'cheap' 100K mile used Siennas and Odysseys.
I want to get her a 1st gen double cab Tacoma 4x4 but she's not feeling it.
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Old 06-24-2019, 02:49 PM #39
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We have a 2.5-year-old and a set of twins on the way. Dumped my wife's Sonata and picked up a 19 Sienna. I'm keeping my 4Runner, but it will rarely be the full-family transport. I still need to check on 3-across seating for two infant seats and a front-facer for the older child.
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Old 06-24-2019, 02:52 PM #40
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You’re all breaking my heart lol. Sounds like I will be settling for a van and a tent trailer for now until I get myself a truck again.
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Old 06-24-2019, 03:04 PM #41
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Came here to say highlander with a 3rd row. More spacious than a 4runner.

I am kind of in the same boat as you as far as next car. Currently don't have kids but we are going to start trying at the end of this year. Wife has a 4runner with a 3rd row. I currently drive an 05 Frontier and plan on replacing it soon. I want a 3rd gen crew max tacoma. Wife wants me to get a crew max tundra. I am more of a mid size truck guy but the tundra will be much more spacious for a family of 4~5.

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Old 06-24-2019, 03:31 PM #42
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A slightly used Sequoia?
I would say a Sequoia or Land Cruiser would be bigger and have more room.
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Old 06-24-2019, 03:53 PM #43
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Minivan all the way. The 4runner feels surprisingly 'small' inside despite looking pretty big outside.

I have 2 kids aged 3.5 and 7.5 so not big kids by any stretch and we pack the 4runner full even for a long day at the beach. 3-4+ day trip and it's full plus the hitch carrier.

Our friends with 2 kids got a well used 2010 Honda Odyssey and they're in love with the thing, and show us all the room to spread out in it and storage nooks. Pretty sweet ride.

Minivan- better mpg, more legroom, better hvac, more headroom, more cargo room, more cup holders, better rearward visibility, more creature comforts.
Sure it's not as cool as a 4runner.

The 4runner with a large roof carrier is the only way I can see it working with 3 kids. With a big roof carrier and loaded with 3 kids and gear I can see a 4runner dropping to about 17mpg highway.

My wife wants a minivan... I've been eyeballing 'cheap' 100K mile used Siennas and Odysseys.
I want to get her a 1st gen double cab Tacoma 4x4 but she's not feeling it.
The first part about a 4Runner feeling surprising small inside is so true. 4Runners look big since they sit high and retain boxy styling compared to crossover SUVs. However, they're still a mid-size vehicle. Before the 4Runner I had a '12 Kia Optima and it was 190 inches long. The 4Runner is...190 inches long.

Minivans are awesome for road trips. Having two brothers (all ending up being 6'1+), the two captain chairs in the first row and a bench in back were enormous for comfort and keeping the peace. Otherwise, my parents would've probably kicked us out in Nebraska when we made our drives from Chicago out to Yellowstone
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Old 06-24-2019, 05:10 PM #44
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I went through this same process. We currently have a 2, 6, and 9 year old, so slightly younger than you. Both my wife and I were dead set against a minivan. Partially because we didn't want a van, our friends have one and it has tons of room, but we wanted to get off the beaten path more as that's what we both did when we were growing up. We had both looked at the numbers and kinda settled on a Highlander because of space, function, price, etc. but when we went to go look at one, I was trying to convince myself that I wasn't feeling compressed into the driver seat (6' and well over where I should be on weight) while I didn't realize my wife walked over to the 4runner. We left that day with our TRD ORP, and have no regrets, even without the 3rd row.

Sure the Highlander had more inside space, but I'm more comfortable, and I at least felt like I had more space in the back seats in the 4R than the Highlander. The 3 kids currently sit back there, 1 backwards still, one in an upright booster seat with back, and the 3rd with just the base booster seat and it works, we make it work. We just got back from Overland Expo West from Oregon with our teardrop trailer and RTT which freed the inside from being completely packed. Milage towing was ok, it wasn't quick in a headwind, but we didn't have any problems taking it and weren't the slowest thing on the road. We skipped the 3rd row for the added storage, which we use for the dog on trips anyway, and most of the stuff goes in the trailer now, but using a hitch mount cargo carrier was more than enough when we packed reasonably without the trailer.

At some point, my wife wants a Sequoia just for the added space, kids friends, and towing capacity but we can take our trailer and family almost anywhere we want. Certainly been to places a van/Highlander/Flex(those are pricey) wouldn't make it. There are times a 3rd row would have been nice, but I've had more times that the extra 3-4" of cargo space on the floor negated a second trip. Bottom line it may not be the most comfortable, but there isn't any reason that it can't be done as long as you know what you are getting into. Maybe my feelings will change as the kids get older, but I spent many family trips in a 5 seater sedan across country and at times it was not fun, but I have some great memories too.
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Old 06-24-2019, 07:57 PM #45
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Still going to definitely stop in and take a look st a 4runner before crossing it out but doesn’t look promising. A shame since this was the best chance I had at getting into one. One kid too many lol
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