is this ATRAC on the 5th gen the same as on the FJ?

cause I spent last weekend walking around all the FJ's with their ATRAC and lockers

Oh no, you just confirmed the crap that you wrote before. Thanks. You should have just shut up and let Thegreenmonster talk for you...he was trying to save you from further embarrassment!

I am confused. The 3rd gen did have a rear locker as an option...so, doesn't that mean that the 3rd gen was also a "lazy" design??? So, that means that the 2nd gen 4runner was the last proper design since it did not require no stinking locker! I am just using your "logic." And all those who compete in the off-road competition that you mentioned earlier must be lazy designs also because they had lockers!

And like i said John...thanks man for telling me these wonderful "facts" about my G-wagen! I need to tell the engineers in Graz that they had it all wrong 30 years ago with the G!! Hilarious!

Too funny....

It depends...A-TRAC is an option. I would like to hear more about you walking around all the FJs...got pics or videos to prove it? Ok, so your 4runner is a 2001...so, no factory lockers. It has the 1st generation traction control, which is not particularly aggressive...i know, i had an '02 4runner. Your traction control is no where near A-TRAC that is on the 5th gen...it is more like an all-weather traction control system. You have KM2 (very nice!) with some lift. And you walked around "all the FJ's" with lockers and A-TRAC?? Hmm, i don't know...either you off-roaded with a bunch of beginners or there is something fishy.

All of these "kill stories" just gets boring. Lets get down to the specs and facts. Where is the 3rd gen better besides what i have already mentioned?? Lets stick to stock vs. stock because anyone can build up their 4runner.

Perfect! This is about the only post in the whole thread that makes sense. Hopefully you can get some 5th gens to participate. Colorado is the ideal location too. I read somewhere that ugly vehicles don't do as well with negotiating off road obstacles, so good luck 5th gens, you're going to need it!

Nice!! I like that!

Another point to consider. Toyota now openly admits that the 4runner Trail and FJ Cruiser are Toyota's most capable SUV...that is saying a lot given that you have the Land Cruiser in the lineup. With the 3rd gen and 4th gen 4runners, Toyota never said such. The 3rd gen never surpassed the Land Cruiser in off-road capability, at least in Toyota's eyes. The FJ and 5th gen have done something that the 3rd gen never accomplished...surpassing its bigger brother in off-roading.

In addition, ONLY with the FJ and the 5th gen has Toyota taken on the Rubicon Trail. Before that, the Rubicon trail was reserved for Jeep commercials. Sure, the Rubicon trail has become a marketing ploy of late, but i respect any stock vehicle that can make through it.

Agreed.

I couldn't resist putting my 2 cents in.
This entire thread is based mostly on opinion, so here's mine;
My 2 4runners are a 1998 4wd limited and an 2008 v8 sr5 4wd.
(Don't have a 5th gen yet, but I assume it would feel more plastic than the 4th)

The 98 is no doubt the more rugged-feeling and rugged-looking car. (Although structurally I have no idea which one is stronger)

The v8 on the 08 makes the 3rd gen seem very underpowered. Especially so in the past few years after a wreck, I've noticed the '98 stays in gear longer and takes a much firmer push on the gas to speed up, making more noise than it used to. (I will save that for another thread..)

Off road, I think my v8 4th gen is more capable. The 4lo option, and the center diff. lock option, along with the huge difference in power makes a noticeable difference when I take the two off-roading.

Conclusion;
When I want something that looks and feels bad-ass, I hop in the '98 with 5% tints.

When I want something I can race soccer mom's with at the mall, I ride the v8 4th gen.

For off-roading the title goes to my 4th gen.

i agree with pretty much everything you said except for the offroad part. if you just look at the numbers, you can see that the 3rd gen had a better approach/departure angles, it was narrower and shorter, and had the option of a rear locker and all the offroad options you listed about the 4th gen were the same as the 3rd gen except for the v8. i personally don't think that having the V8 make the 4th gen more capable on the trail. most of the offroading that our 4runners can do in stock form is some trail riding at mild rock crawling. since most of the time we use 4lo, having the extra power doesn't make a huge difference. also. since the 4th gen is longer, wider etc., it is a harder vehicle to drive on the trail and through the rocks.

however if we are going to start a 3rd vs. 4th gen arguement, perhaps we should make another thread.

at least their is one thing everyone on this fourm can aggree on- any 4runner(1st-5th) will kick the $hit out of a jeep.

All Jeeps not named Rubicon.

yep

not true. johns is not the off road 4runner. it has no locker, not the 99 with tall springs. try comparing johns to an 5th gen sr5 for a accurate comparision.

can we just all get a bong

And some that aren't.