Considering buying T4R, advice on best years

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Runner-Wannabe

New member
Hey guys, I’m thinking about picking up an older 4Runner for camping and towing my fishing boat. Mostly a three season toy but might see some winter use.

Any thoughts on the best years? I love the look of the 80’s models but they are super scarce here (Southern Ontario, Canada aka rust belt) and their collectibility is driving their prices up.

EDIT; after some reading, I’m strongly considering a 3rd Gen over 4th. Obviously I’m going to have to deal with a high mileage truck.

I’m hearing that classic 4x4’s will be the next collector vehicles, so I’m not adverse to semi-restoring a worthy candidate if it’s widely thought that the trend holds true (probably not a full a body off Resto though)

Here’s my big concern; Generally speaking, are there lots of aftermarket and restoration supply houses for these trucks? (Think body panels, seat upholstery, carpets, bumpers, trims seals etc)

I was restoring an 87 Chevy truck a few years back and could get literally anything I needed for that truck.

Also, does anyone know of any companies that sell/ship 4runners/parts out of southern/western states (rust free)

I vowed after my Chev project that the next project needs to be clean to start with
 
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if you're going to be towing a whole lot try to find a v8.

im not an expert by any means but i don't understand the love ppl have for gen 3 over the gen 4.
 
GSD4runner said:
if you're going to be towing a whole lot try to find a v8.

im not an expert by any means but i don't understand the love ppl have for gen 3 over the gen 4.
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Thanks for your thoughts. None of my towing should exceed 3000 pounds. Most of the time I’ll be towing a boat that’s probably in the neighbourhood of 1500 to 1700 pounds. I used to tow about 2200 pounds with my V6 Venza, no issues. But then again I think it has a little more power in the third GEN V6 4R.

While V8 power would definitely be nice, I think I would prefer a V-6 for fuel economy when not towing

I found out today I can get a good deal of body panels. But does not look like I can get any rear wheel arches or fenders from this particular vendor. Still on the search to see what’s out there before I commit. Looks like rear wheel arches are common area requiring repair.

And holy smokes are rear hatches and door re-pops ever expensive!!

As for appearances, everybody has their tastes.

I like the look of the third, second and first in that order. I find the fourth is a little too close to the RAV4 look. I like classic truck lines. That being said I’m sure it’s a fine machine. The second and third generations probably fit my play money budget a little better however.
 
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Boy this a sleepy site, or perhaps as a hopeful owner (still saving) my questions may seem like a nuisance?

No matter, I’m forging away finding my own answers on the net.

For other new and prospective buyers, I’ve found that Wolf Steel Restorations makes rockers, rear dog legs and lower quarter panels. The earlier vendor I found does not supply these.

Since I’m now after a 3rd Gen, I will focus further questions there.
 
keep landcruisers in mind too. bigger and more powerful for towing. but might be scarce in ontario. there was a 100 series for like $15k on kijiji recently
 
Best 4runner hands down is the 3rd gen.
If you want a unicorn, look for a 99-00 Highlander, if possible with the multimode transfer case and elocker.
Then swap a manual in it, add a supercharger and you have the best 4runner ever made.
 
llopness said:
keep landcruisers in mind too. bigger and more powerful for towing. but might be scarce in ontario. there was a 100 series for like $15k on kijiji recently
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I’ll start doing those searches also thanks

Quantumkiwi said:
Best 4runner hands down is the 3rd gen.
If you want a unicorn, look for a 99-00 Highlander, if possible with the multimode transfer case and elocker.
Then swap a manual in it, add a supercharger and you have the best 4Runner available .
Click to expand...

Thanks, doesn’t that also come in the limiteds?

I take it manuals are not available in those years?

One of my next fact finding to dos was going to involve bolt on driveway improvements, chips etc.
 
Runner-Wannabe said:
I’ll start doing those searches also thanks



Thanks, doesn’t that also come in the limiteds?

I take it manuals are not available in those years?

One of my next fact finding to dos was going to involve bolt on driveway improvements, chips etc.
Click to expand...

So the funny thing about 3rd gens is that all the best options were available, but some took a lot of work.
There are manuals up to and including MY2000, but it was not offered in the Limited trims, only the SR5 and base trims. Furthermore, the multimode transfer case (2WD-AWD-4WD-4Lo) was only ever offered in the Limiteds.

So if you are like me and want a multimode in a manual, you gotta do it yourself.

Best years are 99-00 though, you get better cupholders.
 
Quantumkiwi said:
So the funny thing about 3rd gens is that all the best options were available, but some took a lot of work.
There are manuals up to and including MY2000, but it was not offered in the Limited trims, only the SR5 and base trims. Furthermore, the multimode transfer case (2WD-AWD-4WD-4Lo) was only ever offered in the Limiteds.

So if you are like me and want a multimode in a manual, you gotta do it yourself.

Best years are 99-00 though, you get better cupholders.
Click to expand...

Ok great to know. I’d love a manual but I know I won’t go to the trouble of a swap. Too many projects and getting too old lol.

So if I go with a manual SR5 I don’t get AWD?

Anything I’m looking at will be med-high mileage, so a clutch replacement over an auto trans rebuild speaks to me.

And I probably won’t drive this truck much in the winter if at all. So no AWD might not be a dealbreaker
 
Runner-Wannabe said:
Ok great to know. I’d love a manual but I know I won’t go to the trouble of a swap. Too many projects and getting too old lol.

So if I go with a manual SR5 I don’t get AWD?

Anything I’m looking at will be med-high mileage, so a clutch replacement over an auto trans rebuild speaks to me.

And I probably won’t drive this truck much in the winter if at all. So no AWD might not be a dealbreaker
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Yep. Keep in mind that manuals are harder to find, for MY2000 (the last year of the manual) only about 5% were actually manual from the factory. I've also seen them commanding significantly more expensive prices recently, at least 20% more.
 
You are never going to find a manual 3rd gen in Canadia.

I recently saw one in SF (probably a 99 or 00) that didn't have the SR5 badging and was likely the brick 4 banger. It was also rusted to shit and looked like someone learned to parallel park in it.

If you tow, get a 4th gen.

I have had a 3rd, 4th, and 5th gen and an FJC and I also don't understand the love for the 3rd gen.
 
LandCruiser said:
You are never going to find a manual 3rd gen in Canadia.

I recently saw one in SF (probably a 99 or 00) that didn't have the SR5 badging and was likely the brick 4 banger. It was also rusted to shit and looked like someone learned to parallel park in it.

If you tow, get a 4th gen.

I have had a 3rd, 4th, and 5th gen and an FJC and I also don't understand the love for the 3rd gen.
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I’m starting to wonder if I can get past the car-UV-minivan look on the 4th Gen. But the mechanicals have me considering. I assume no manuals since 2000 and up?

I’ve located a ‘95 SR5 with a manual for cheap but she’s pretty rusty...needs a clutch which is no biggie. (Again better than an auto trans rebuild)
But that’s getting pretty old and spartan. A little too spartan for me now
 
Runner-Wannabe said:
I’m starting to wonder if I can get past the car-UV-minivan look on the 4th Gen. But the mechanicals have me considering. I assume no manuals since 2000 and up?

I’ve located a ‘95 SR5 with a manual for cheap but she’s pretty rusty...needs a clutch which is no biggie. (Again better than an auto trans rebuild)
But that’s getting pretty old and spartan. A little too spartan for me now
Click to expand...

2001 and 2002 (as identified by the split front grille) had no manual option.

I had an 01 SR5 V6.
 
Good grief, the pickings in my area are slim pickings.

There’s a few Gen 2’s with standards...total projects, lots of super high mile, rotted Gen 3’s, most of them overpriced...and a few decent looking gen 4’s.

I’m actually debating holding out for a clean, lower k gen 4 with the better looking trim. Value for the money, tow power and creature comforts...I’m now thinking trading looks in for specs. I’ll never rock climb or do hardcore trails. Lots of backroads, extended trips and logging roads, yes.

Might actually be the best option for me as some have said.
 
I have never thought my 4th gen resembled a RAV4 at all, nor have I ever considered it a car-UV-minivan. I needed a V8 to tow, so I got a 4th gen instead of a 3rd gen. My family had a Sienna minivan when I got my 4runner, and they couldn’t be more different.

My recommendation is to buy a 4th gen. I’m biased because I own one, but I’ve put ~115k miles on mine, and have never regretted my decision.
 
ads2539 said:
I have never thought my 4th gen resembled a RAV4 at all, nor have I ever considered it a car-UV-minivan. I needed a V8 to tow, so I got a 4th gen instead of a 3rd gen. My family had a Sienna minivan when I got my 4runner, and they couldn’t be more different.

My recommendation is to buy a 4th gen. I’m biased because I own one, but I’ve put ~115k miles on mine, and have never regretted my decision.
Click to expand...

I see the gen 4 as a real departure from it’s predecessors. They had boxy, truckish features that were more like land rovers, land cruisers etc. The changes in 03 likely led to the RAV4 look a few years later. I don’t know how you don’t see the resemblance. (Grille, headlights etc)

To each their own I guess. Even though I want(ed) a gen 3, I think the gen 2 looks the coolest. Too spartan for me though.

And yeah, the power difference of the gen 4s is eye opening. I still want the V6. It’s more than enough for me

We’ll have to see what happens. The right one will come along. Be it gen 3 or 4, I’ll be happy with either and accept whatever shortcoming either model has over the other. Neither are perfect, but both could be great. I just wish my wallet could afford a brand new one!
 
I don’t think you’ll regret getting either the Gen3 or Gen4. Either one will tow what you have just fine. And personally, I think the Gen3 may have been the cleanest design, visually. But considering the conditions of the Gen3s you’re describing in your location, a clean Gen4 might be the better move.
 
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