Went from a 2015 Tacoma to a 2018 4runner LE. The 4runner suited me much better. Better gas mileage, more comfortable, better-composed on the highway, better stereo, etc. I dont do any 4-wheeling. Just dirt trails here and there to get out of the city, etc. Turns out everything I thought I needed the Tacoma for, the 4runner does better. Just my experience. Both great vehicles. Good luck!
I had a 2011 Tacoma 4x4 double cab long bed and a 2012 F150 FX4 SuperCrew. Long story short I just didn’t use the bed much, and always wished for more protected storage inside the vehicle. So I was hauling around a mostly useless (for me) 5.5-6ft bed making maneuvering in town harder. The 4Runner just makes a lot more practical sense for me.
I had a 2002 Dakota -> 2005 Titan (got totaled) -> 2008 Titan to my 2011 Trail Edition.
I love it, only regret is how long it took me to acquire one. I loved my Titans and the power, but the TRail is suuuuuuch a nicer ride and functionality.
I came from a 2002 Tacoma 4X4. Had just under 200K miles. Edit: Was having to cover/protect hunting equipment from rain when traveling. Was getting tired of doing that!
Drove by the dealership FEB 2013 and decided on an FJ. Had it under a year, bought a 2014 4Runner in Nov 2013.
Now in a 2021 4Runner.
Luvin every minute........
I used to own a chevy tahoe than a 2005 avalanche and then a 2013 black diamond avalanche. No regrets at all buying a 2020 trd off road premium. The 4runner is a great vehicle. The only thing i miss is being able to load the truck with firewood. Its my wife's daily driver, not very good on gas but so what, i bought it for road trips to ski country and summer mountain biking trips. Its great in the snow, i put 4 general arctic ice snow tires on using reconditioned used wheels and 4 new tpms sensors.
2021 ORP Superwhite, KDSS.
It’s yet to be delivered but I do have a new set of blackout overlays awaiting as first mod.
Anyway I drove a ‘96 T100 4x4 for 23 years. Finally I got the new car bug and I was really thinking I’m getting a Tacoma. Sometime during that particular mental activity I started realizing I don’t really use my truck bed much anymore. So started thinking hard about SUV’s, body on chassis SUV’s. 4Runner always #1 in my mind I learned about the sub models and started reading these forums, also YouTube. Pretty soon I knew it will be a 4runner.
So today, right now I’m thinking I’m glad I don’t need a pick-up anymore, I know I want the 4Runner.
Thanks for all the input y'all. It's a tough call for me because I got my truck so cheap. I don't use the bed for its intended purpose much, but for how long it will last I know it's always useful to have a truck around the house, even if it's a beater. Considering keeping the truck and also getting a 4Runner, but doesn't seem worth it (maybe if I kept the truck and got a sports car, but not really a sports car type).
I'm in no rush since I know it'll be another year or 2 before the 6th gen comes out. I guess we shall see. Thanks again everyone.
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1996 Limited 4x4 Anthracite Metallic (162,XXX miles)
-OME 881/890 with Tundra Bilstein Struts/Bilstein 5100 rear, 16" 5-Stars with 265/75R16 Duratracs, Savage Sliders and Skids, B&M 70268 Trans Cooler, Amsoil Fluids
I've been wanting to purchase a truck for a few years. Almost bought a 17 TRD PRO tundra but we went with a 17 SR5 premium 4runner. The 4runner is paid off and trade in is around 29k or so. Wife gave me the go ahead for a new tundra.
space for 3 car seats in tundra?
SUV pro
3rd row seating
storage coverage in cargo area
solid ride (we've done a 18 hour road trip before ) and easier to park
build is complete (trd pro shocks, black rails, trd pro skid plate blacked out)
tundra
limited use of the bed for house projects and thats about it.
Size of ride would be nice for long road trips
Question: Has anyone transitioned from a pickup truck to a 5th gen 4Runner? If so, any regrets or things you miss about having a truck vs a 4Runner?
TLDR: Current Tundra owner thinking about switching to 5th gen, would like feedback from people who have made this switch (pros/cons going from truck to SUV).
Long version:
I'm a former 3rd gen owner, loved it. I had an opportunity to get a newer, lower mileage, less beat-up-from-offroading vehicle (lol) for free while I was poor and getting myself through grad school, so I sold the 3rd gen. Since then I went through various boring vehicles as I got myself through school. The goal was to get a new 5th gen as soon as I was able.
I'm at that point now, but having trouble deciding. I currently have a 2012 Toyota Tundra Doublecab 4x4 that I got for ridiculously cheap ($13K at 65K miles). It was all dealership maintained by previous owner. I know this truck will last me years to come, but the 5th gen keeps nagging at me. I'd like some real world feedback from people who have made this transition.
I don't tow anything. I live in Alaska though and try to do a lot of outdoorsy stuff (hiking, camping, fishing, biking, snowboarding, etc.). An SUV would be fine for all these activities, except sleeping in the truck bed with a cot.
Financially, I know this would be a dumb switch (any Dave Ramsey followers here?), but I'm doing ok. The current value of my Tundra is about $23K, which if I got that's $10K over what I paid. If I did get the 5th gen, I'd prob wait until next year to get the last model year of the current gen before the presumed update.
Just FYI, my desired trim would be the Off Road Premium with KDSS in magnetic gray metallic. #goals
Here are some pics/vids just because since I hate threads without pics:
Rock Garden, first video, out back of Big Bear. Know it well. Would never do it in a vehicle. The 4Runner showed well.
My last vehicle was a 2nd Gen Tacoma pre-runner double-cab. At the time of purchase it was a compromise- I wanted the 4th Gen 4Runner and just couldn't afford one. After the Taco was paid off I made the switch to a 5th Gen 4Runner. I much prefer the seating configuration and its more secure/ enclosed cargo space. Not as much cargo flexibility as the Taco's open bed, but enough to get by. Never did much towing with the Taco, can rent or buy a small trailer for the 4R if needed. The 4R is an upgrade!
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2014 Super White TEP, Dobinsons 2"/1" lift, Firestone Destination AT2 265/70‑17, OEM led headlights 81070-35600/ 81140-35610
Tough question, so many things to compare. Had a 2013 F150, 5.0 supercab. New wife's kids were outgrowing the smallish back seat so started looking. I had sat in a 3rd gen 4R years ago and didn't fit...but saw a 5th gen and lo and behold - redemption!
MPG: same between the two
Ride: 4R is better around town and off road. Long highway trip the truck was better. I also liked how you could lock the trans in a gear in the Ford; wish Toyota would allow the same but understand that it is a drivetrain protection issue.
Passenger space: with the S cab, back seat was inadequate for adult pax, especially with the suicide doors. Nod to the 4R here, but it would have been different if it had been the Supercrew
Hauling: big stuff, pickup wins but I have moved with the Runner and you can pack quite a lot in the back and as noted it's all locked and protected from weather.
Parking: MUCH easier with the 4R
But 4Runner is among the top 3 in both reliability and longevity among ALL vehicles. The Ford, at only 56k miles, was starting to do weird things in the transmission and developed a couple (!) of leaks when it rained. Easy choice.
It may have been a different decision if I'd had a Tundra with the full size back seat. I may go Tundra in the future but right now don't need to tow.
OP, I'm on the same boat as you. I currently have an '09 Tacoma double cab that I'm looking to sell or trade for a 5th gen 4runner. In fact, I started parting out the Tacoma just yesterday. My cousin has a 5th gen, and I've test driven it months ago and definitely liked it! My Tacoma is paid off, and I like the damn thing a lot, but with a growing family (currently have a 1.5 year old boy and may be trying again this year), I found the interior of my Tacoma to be really cramped! I don't utilize the Tacoma's bed as much as I'd like, but having the bed readily available for unexpected oversized items is definitely nice! At this point though, I think having the extra interior space makes more sense. I did find the 4runner to ride smoother on the highway and was more composed on the bumpy roads, whereas, with the Tacoma, it felt a little more bumpy/rough. I guess that's just the nature of pickup trucks. Maybe someday, when cash is more liquid, I'll buy another Toyota pickup for hauling/loading/daily driving. (maybe those 4cly smaller/lower 90's Toyota pickups)
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'09 Toyota Tacoma Double Cab (Silver Streak Mica)
'97 Toyota 4runner Limited (Desert Dune)
Went from an 09 F150 Lariat (with locking tonneau cover) with the 5.4L V8 to a 21 4rnr Venture. They're both primarily my wife's vehicles, but I regularly drive them on weekends with the family loaded in. I personally would have bought a new F150 if the choice was up to me, but my wife has always loved the 4runner, so here we are. I like the utility of the truck better, and having the massive amount of bed storage was nice. I'll definitely miss the V8 power and towing capability, but the increased mileage is nice.
I'd still rather have a new F150 at the end of the day, but the 4runner is definitely a nice vehicle and most likely the better choice in the long run (financially speaking).
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2021 Venture - Basic Girl White - Toyota Rock Sliders - TRD Front Skid Plate
went from 2017 F150 SCREW that was rather well built to a 2017 TRDP.
Which is now well built (for my needs).
What do I miss:
- Power (5.0 with goodies)
- 2+ hour trips on the floating power la-z-boy
- bed for dump runs
- space - the SCREW F150 is massive. Lots of people space but not as much for "stuff" inside.
What do I gain:
- better vehicle
- same if not worse gas mileage
- can fit on trails
- smaller
- resale value
It's a completely different animal to compare one to the other. It is a complete paradigm shift.