I mean it. After 4 consecutive Toyota 4x4's I really don't want to buy a Ford. But I also refuse to play the game of "you can have package A or package B" neither with everything I do or don't want. There's really no excuse why other manufacturers can offer individual options and Toyota doesn't, but I digress.

I researched on this forum and others but haven't been able to find a definitive answer to these two questions.

1) Can you add a factory e-locker to a sr5 4runner? I understand that it will require swapping the entire rear axle, but that's a simple undertaking. My main concern is with the wiring as it my understanding that unlike the earlier Toyota elockers, later versions were not a separate individual system but wired into the ECU.

2. Is the the transfer case in the TRD/OR (with the lever) swappable with the dial case? Again I realize some interior parts will be required, but they mount to the same transmission so that shouldn't be an issue.

Whether these things can be done are going to determine my next purchase. And to cut some off at the pass, I understand these things will not be cost effective. I just can't justify spending over 40k on a vehicle that I cant have dialed in the way I want. Thanks in advance.

You are right, it won't be cost effective so you should just buy the trim that has the things you want. You'll spend more trying to swap things like lockers and transfer cases and end up with a frankenstein build that will make service complicated.

^^^^
This, plus with the Frankenstein version, you have absolutely ZERO warranty (on your installed parts) in the event you have a failure.
TRDORP is a good place to start.

I appreciate the replies guys but As I said above I’m not interested in whether it’s cost effective, will void my warranty or anything like that. I’m concerned about whether it is possible from an electronics standpoint (either plug and play or not far from it) as well in terms of the transfer case swappable without any major fabrication or adapters.

A used SR5 and then putting in an aftermarket locker might be your best option. That's my best option, but I bought new, so I'm going to have to wait until the warranty expires before doing an aftermarket locker.

Of course, used prices of 4Runners are these days, so this might not be the best time to make a move on a vehicle at all.

buy the bronco

Could get an off road and remove the crawl control... I guess.

If a chef is good at making a specific dish, and you jump in and want the chef to make it 'your way', don't expect the quality to be very good... there are plenty of reasons to not offer 'every mod every way', and that might be one of the reasons Toyota is known for reliability, but I digress.

Tackling this 'problem' from the other direction? What option is on the SR5 that you do/don't get with a vehicle that comes with e-locker and transfer case shifter that you want/don't want?

You want:
3rd row seating (has been added and removed from various folks 4Runners)
Sunglass holder (not sure if you get one or not on the new models... looks like it's still activated by the dials and not a screen/stalk control from Toyota's website)
Badging
.
.
.

You don't want:
Crawl Control / MTS
KDSS (usually optional depending upon dealer availability etc.)
Badging
.
.
.

You can add the e-locker and hard wire it to your own switch (or the stock switch) without the smarts (you are the smarts... might miss the dash light etc, but you could engage it in 4H or 2H if you wanted to depending upon how you wire it up). You can also go aftermarket e-locker front and rear if desired.

There was someone on here that I believe added add crawl control to their SR5.
Crawl Control Retrofit to SR5 Success!
Would probably be similar for the e-locker for the system to see it as 'factory'.

The transfer case with lever swap could be done... time and money

If I do it won't be the Bronco. It will be the F250. Different animal I know, but its got a pushrod V8 and I can option it exactly how I want... vinyl seats, carpet delete and an elocker.

How boring is that?

J/K

1.) You can always add an aftermarket locker.

2.) The manual case is only half manual anyway. The front diff is still electronic. The knob system works just fine as long as you exercise it.

3.) If you are looking for capacities, the F250 is the way to go. Make sure you get something that will fit your needs because they are completely different animals.

4.) Your warranty is not voided for changing parts or adding aftermarket parts and service is the same for all Runner models.

5.) Don't limit yourself to Toyota offerings.

"You can have any color you want as long as its black" speaks for itself. No reason why I shouldn't be able to special order a certain color if they already offer it for that model. As far as reliability, Toyota still offered these things as individual options when their reputation for reliability was at its peak. It doesn't make any sense that an e locker in an SR% would be unreliable when they offer it in the TRD which has the same engine, transmission, drive shaft, axles, etc.



The SR5 come with a standard ignition key (this is my must have; I'm in and around water too much to deal with the fob keyless thing) and has the interior I want. (I get that this second one is borderline petty, but a 4runner should look like a 4runner and not a BMW. The fact that these are a throwback to the first generation interior pattern that I owned is a nice plus too).

The only things I want off the TRD/OR are the manual transfer case and the locker. The SR5 already comes with ATRAC so I don't really care about the crawl control or anything else.

Forgot to add, non functioning hood scoops, particularly on a 4x4 are ghey.


No desire for aftermarket. Not messing with airlines or a compressor and I don't think the harrop is as good as the factory unit.

When you say without the smarts are you referring to the ECU cause that's what I'm trying to figure out. I don't know if the OR has a different ECU than the SR5. I get that anything can be made to work but with the way new vehicles are often times they program things which you can get around without adversely effecting other systems.

Thanks. I'll look into that thread. I'm ok with time and money as long as its bolt in. What I don't want to do is start cutting or running adaptors.

What can I say... I'm a party animal

Hard no for reasons stated above.

Only until you delete the ADD with the housing from a FJ Cruiser with a 6 speed.


No question, but I'm a Toyota guy, and love the fact that this is still made in Japan. I also love the 4.0 and its drivetrain because their reliability is proven Cant say that about the Ford. It might be great, but its still too soon to tell.


Correct, assuming the issue wasn't caused by the replaced part, which would be interesting since the part would be from Toyota. Regardless it doesn't matter since whatever I get is gonna sit in my garage for far longer than any warranty.

Not much else out there with respect to midsize body on frame 4x4s.

Toyota sold about 130,000 4Runners in 2019. Ford sold about 900,000 F-Series pickups in 2019. That’s one possible reason for the difference in granularity of offerings.