This is my first new thread so bear with me.

I am new here. I am just across the river in Virginia and can see the hell of DC. So 99% of my current driving is on road. I am hoping to change location back to some where I will drive on gravel, mud, farm fields....

I am looking to replace my 2003 Ford Explorer. The top contender is the New 2016 4Runner Limited.

Here are my requirements: If I could replace my current Explorer with an exact copy for what I paid for it I would.

• AWD/4WD, 99% of driving is on road, AWD is great for snow days and for the days when I go off road. Current vehicle has issue when front right and rear left is off the ground.
• 2 inch Hitch is a must, Fits bicycle rack and other hitch hauler
• Rails is a must, I don’t carry a canoe very often, but when I hope to get to a point where I can do this more.
• I don't need the third row of seats and really don't have a place to store them if they come out.
• Power inverter, I run a computer and some other stuff while camping. If it is not built in, I will need it to support a significant one that I can buy.
• Flat spot in the back to sleep. I car camp ever now and then.
• Storage cubbies would be nice. Current vehicle has nice spots to store stuff like jumper cables, coat, straps…. Hidden and out of sight.
• Backup camera, makes life easier with an SUV.
GPS, should be standard on anything made today.
• Bluetooth connector so I can use the phone to play music, to be honest, it may not get used. Phone connects to ear bud.
• USB power plug, convenience.
• To get what I am looking for in the Ford, it comes to about $45K. But it takes what it will take.

Here are my question?

Can I assume that the 2016 is as good/better than the older ones? It looks like the Toyotas run and run and run, then someone rebuild them and takes them off road where they run some more. I am looking to run this 4Runner 200K and hopefully be somewhere I can drive it off road at that point.

Can I assume that the 2016 4 wheel drive is REAL 4WD so if I get front right and rear left off the ground, I still go? (current Ford doesn't)

I assume my day to day will be in AWD. (I drive fast and find AWD helps)

The flat area in the back is problematic. It looks like with the slide out, everything is fairly smooth. With out it, there is a dip between the seats and the far back. I can't get the slide out in my preferred color. What do you do to fix this?


The New Ford Explorer has every bell and whistle out there.
The only one I think I will miss is the auto park. How do you guys deal with parallel parking where you can't see the little car in front over the hood. (I am very impressed with the Ford on this feature. I would have never been able to fit into the spot it auto parked into.)


What features should I get on the new 4Runner? Cloth matts?


What features should I NOT get on the new 4Runner? I am thinking running boards. After market would be more robust. And I can hold off until I get off road.

The 5th Gen (2010-Present) 4runners are great. I came from a 3rd Gen 4runner, and really enjoy the new amenities that came with the new model. I have a 5th Gen 4runner Limited. Most people on here get the Trail. I got the Limited because I wanted FT4WD, the real leather, heated/ventilated seats, better stereo etc. All the stuff the Trail comes with I can add at a later date (lockers, etc). I've taken my Limited off road and it did great. Even with all the new amenities the new 4runners are still pretty utilitarian. No blind spot detectors, rear cross traffic alert, or auto park. It's still pretty nice though, and I have no desire to have the driving nannies anyway. You won't be disappointed.

I got my Limited without the third row, and I don't think the sliding tray is an option on the Limited (don't quote me on that).

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

I took my second test drive of the 2016 4Runner Limited and second test drive of a Ford Explorer Platinum.

Ford drives really nice on the road. Has all the bells and whistles. A little longer in the bed, in case I want to use it for camping in the back (but I kind of broke the 3 row of seats getting in and out). It is going to suck if someone spills a shake or ... in the third row as the seats don't come out and there is no way to get underneath them. I wouldn't want to take it on a rock crawling, but I think it would do ok on the gravel and mud roads I usually drive on.

The 4runner, is a little stiffer. Doesn't have the bells and whistles. Costs less. The back has a little dip that is going to piss me off when loading long heavy stuff and if I sleep back there.

If you really want a vehical to last 200K miles why are you even considering a Ford? What is going to piss-you-off more: not having totally flat second row (4Runner) or a POS money pit that might leave you stranded with mechanical or capability issues (ford).

Take a look at the explorer forums, that vehical has issues. Not as bad as Chrysler but not even close to Toyota.

Current Ford Explorer is at 181,000 miles with only minor issues and minor maintenance. The issues are fixable, but not for the cost on a vehicle with 181K on the odometer.

It is, but only if the vehicle is white. I don't like the 4Runner in white.

I think white looks good in Denali/Yukon size, but not in smaller vehicles. Or maybe it is just my experience with white Gov. vehicles.

I am thinking Red or Blue....and tan/grey interior.

I have a 2016 Limited 4wd with this "tray". I am wondering what if anything, anyone out there is doing to protect it. The floor mats from weather tech and Toyota (the ones I have) do not have a solution for this.

I live near the beach and I take it out there every so often...

Anyone out there doing anything to cover this thing?

I wish I could have gotten the slide out, but it was not to be.

I would like some photos, if you could do that for me.

I happen to have a large rubber backed mat, like you see at business to wipe your feet. I have put it in the back. I am not sure how that it will work.

Check NHTSA or CarComplaints for 2016 models. A few 2016 4runners have a bad sticker. The 2016 Ford Explorer has multiple real issues.

Thanks. I want something similar to what I had on my 2013 Acura RDX. It was made for Acura and branded with their logos on it. It had high sides for water or other spillage issues.

Overall, the tray, to me, is something I could live without. It is handy at the beach but I'd rather just have nothing there. We also have a 2014 MDX and it has the 3rd row...we opted to go with the tray versus a second SUV with a third row because we never use it....

Either way - with the black carpet and no cover this combo isn't going to work for me...I need something back there. For sample sake, please post a photo of what you have.

Lol, no.

Mine is stuck, because I exceeded the weight limit by like 400 pounds.

Is it safe to assume you exceeded it while it was pulled out?
I was curious what the limit was when it was pushed in....dealer said pulled out (like you mentioned 400) but wonder if overall it has a limit. Those pieces underneath have to have some kind of limit.

This tray's design, lack of a cargo mat from Toyota OR weathertech and the MPG are my main complaints with the vehicle. Other than that, I love it. When it comes time to get another one in a few years, these aren't things that would stop me...just hoping to find something out there that will cover this.

PS:

I break stuff too...all the time. Its only a matter of time before I break this.

I'm putting a down payment on one for my dad tomorrow.

I like the LE.

If I had to do it again, I'd probably get an LE and lift that, Toyota's full time 4WD is the tits.

The requirements in the first post pretty much described a 4Runner Limited exactly.

Only the Limited model has AWD, and yes the center diff is lockable for true 4WD (4HI and 4LO). That said, "front right and rear left off the ground" will stop even a true 4WD without either lockers or really good traction control. Fortunately, the 4Runner has really really good 4WD traction control. Once you drop to 4LO you can turn on ATRAC which will carry you pretty much everywhere you described.

It comes with an inverter, with a rear outlet, with an option for a center console outlet. According to this thread, it's:
400W: Vehicle stationary in P or N, possibly has to be running
100W: Any other condition. So if you wrap it in 200W worth of Christmas lights they will shut off when you start driving.

I've never heard of the 3rd row being color dependent. Is this something you've found online, or something a dealer told you? I just went to Toyota.com and "built" a Limited, Mag Gray, without a 3rd row.

Also, the 2016 Limited with AWD starts at $44k, so not really cheaper than the Explorer.