3rd Gen - Colors and Rear Locker

[BurghRunner]

The 2006 4th Gen I have is really my wifes (see sig). My plan is to eventually (4-5 months) buy a 3rd gen and get back to some 4-wheelin. The wife's Runner is silver and our old Tacoma was Green, so my plan is for a different color. My research says they made them, but I'll NEVER see any for sale other than said silver, green, tan, and white. Where are the blue ones and red ones I see in 2000 - 2002 brochures? I see them on this forum and on the road occasionally, but never for sale.

I plan to use it off road. Do those that have the locker find it reliable for off road use or do you with you just had an ARB (price aside)? Does the factory locker require you to be in 4L?

Thanks.

 

[JTBerger]

As someone who just concluded a pretty extensive search, I'll wish you good luck in finding any of the 'more rare' colors.

You can surely find black, and depending on if it's a Limited or not you can offset the black with the 'tan' flares/trim.

I saw one of the Horizon Blue (lavender) and one of the Glacier Blue (Teal) but I delightfully passed! No such luck on any of the other colors, unless it was a '96 or '97. (I wanted either a '99 or '00 to get the locker)

 

[JohnsD90]

The 2006 4th Gen I have is really my wifes (see sig). My plan is to eventually (4-5 months) buy a 3rd gen and get back to some 4-wheelin. The wife's Runner is silver and our old Tacoma was Green, so my plan is for a different color. My research says they made them, but I'll NEVER see any for sale other than said silver, green, tan, and white. Where are the blue ones and red ones I see in 2000 - 2002 brochures? I see them on this forum and on the road occasionally, but never for sale.

I plan to use it off road. Do those that have the locker find it reliable for off road use or do you with you just had an ARB (price aside)? Does the factory locker require you to be in 4L?

Thanks.

SUnfire pearl, is red and thats a pretty common color, its mine, if you want to see it click my sig.

 

[p nut]

OP - There were other colors, as the previous posters have mentioned. Google top4runners and it will give you a full brochure for all the years and the colors available. As far as the 4Lo and the locker-- yes, that is the factory set up. However, you can mod it to work in 2/4hi. I have that in my Tacoma. Very easy to do.

JTBerg - Rear lockers in 4Runners were available from 96-00, just FYI.

 

[BurghRunner]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm just guessing the production numbers on red and blue were way less than the rest. I actually like the blueish purple and the very rare light green/blue. When I'm really ready to buy I'll enlist the tr4.org army to help me find what I want.

Thanks for the locker feedback as well.

 

[JTBerger]

OP - There were other colors, as the previous posters have mentioned. Google top4runners and it will give you a full brochure for all the years and the colors available. As far as the 4Lo and the locker-- yes, that is the factory set up. However, you can mod it to work in 2/4hi. I have that in my Tacoma. Very easy to do.

JTBerg - Rear lockers in 4Runners were available from 96-00, just FYI.

Ah, excuse my ignorance... I guess I confused that yr. split with the multi-mode 4WD. Thanks!

Also any info/link on the 2/4Hi mod??

 

[Elton H]

now heres a weird combo 3.4L 5spd elocker sr5 in Lavender Steel Metallic ive yet to see another one posted everyone has black green sliver

 

[p nut]

Ah, excuse my ignorance... I guess I confused that yr. split with the multi-mode 4WD. Thanks!

Also any info/link on the 2/4Hi mod??

I have a link to Tacoma's but I've heard 4Runners have different wiring or wire colors. You will have to double check the wiring before attempting this. It is known as the "Grey Wire Mod", but I understand the same wire is not grey on 4Runners. Here is the link to the Tacoma version.

http://www.customtacos.com/tech/index.php?article=10

 

[JTBerger]

http://www.customtacos.com/tech/index.php?article=10

Thanks, I'll look into it! Gotta love free mods.

 

[Elton H]

thats the same basic idea but your looking for a blue wire with a red stripe

 

[Ray.Klefstad]

Does the factory locker require you to be in 4L?

I just got done doing lots of trail climbing and I never turned on the rear locker and never had any problem climbing steep rocky dirt hills just using 4LL, however it was dry and there was no ice/snow.

I also just finished re-reading the owners manual and it said use the RR diff to get your out of stuck situations. They recommend not going over 5mph while the RR diff is locked. However, you can use it in any of the wheel modes: 2H,4H,4HL,4LL (second L is for transfer case lock between front and rear diffs).

Ray

 

[BigRedAZ]

Yea the reds and blues seem hard to find i would really like a 1999-2000 Radiant Red but those are rare.

 

[p nut]

I just got done doing lots of trail climbing and I never turned on the rear locker and never had any problem climbing steep rocky dirt hills just using 4LL, however it was dry and there was no ice/snow.

I also just finished re-reading the owners manual and it said use the RR diff to get your out of stuck situations. They recommend not going over 5mph while the RR diff is locked. However, you can use it in any of the wheel modes: 2H,4H,4HL,4LL (second L is for transfer case lock between front and rear diffs).

Ray

Um, that's not the rear locker. That's just the center diff lock, which is only applicable to 99-00 limited and 01-02 4Runners. Takes it from AWD mode to 4WD. Has nothing to do with a rear locker. You're still running open diffs.

 

[KellyJ]

now heres a weird combo 3.4L 5spd elocker sr5 in Lavender Steel Metallic ive yet to see another one posted everyone has black green sliver

Lol I used to drive a Lavender Steel '96. Everyone thought it was a little 'ghey' but I thought it was pimpin' imp:

To OP, 1996-2000 model years had the rear locker. 01 and 02 model years had the center differential lock, not as effective as a rear locker, but 99-00 Limiteds and 2001-2002 models had MultiMode 4WD which featured an AWD system that allowed you to run AWD on dry pavement without binding.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

My '97 was the Sunfire pearl color but if I wanted a red one I liked the more true red of the '99+ but they are rare but seem a little more common in the '01 or '02 years.

 

[theizzardking]

Um, that's not the rear locker. That's just the center diff lock, which is only applicable to 99-00 limited and 01-02 4Runners. Takes it from AWD mode to 4WD. Has nothing to do with a rear locker. You're still running open diffs.

uumm it is in my '99 mid year limited with the rrf diff button not the center lock button says right on teh door do not use over 5 mph's and only use when trying to remove vehicle from a stuck situation.

but that's just ***** engineer talk, i've done way more speed with teh locker engaged,

 

[p nut]

uumm it is in my '99 mid year limited with the rrf diff button not the center lock button says right on teh door do not use over 5 mph's and only use when trying to remove vehicle from a stuck situation.

but that's just ***** engineer talk, i've done way more speed with teh locker engaged,

Re-read what the guy wrote. You're not getting it. Tell you what, go get in your 4Runner right now and see if you can lock up the rear in 2/4Hi.

And btw, if you wait until you get stuck to engage the locker, you might find yourself stuck for a while.

 

[theizzardking]

Um, that's not the rear locker. That's just the center diff lock, which is only applicable to 99-00 limited and 01-02 4Runners. Takes it from AWD mode to 4WD. Has nothing to do with a rear locker. You're still running open diffs.

yeah i still don't get it then he's just saying that he had no need to even use his locker and after reading the manual it says you can't do over 5 mph with it enguaged, i wasn't commenting on the grey wire mod so you can lock in 2L,
nothing that i said corresponds to the op, just he said;

Ray.Klefstad

I just got done doing lots of trail climbing and I never turned on the rear locker and never had any problem climbing steep rocky dirt hills just using 4LL, however it was dry and there was no ice/snow.

I also just finished re-reading the owners manual and it said use the RR diff to get your out of stuck situations. They recommend not going over 5mph while the RR diff is locked. However, you can use it in any of the wheel modes: 2H,4H,4HL,4LL (second L is for transfer case lock between front and rear diffs).

.......................................no trying to start anything ;-)

 

[Charlee78]

Elton H, if you agree on telling me how to post pics of my rig, I'll be able to show you some of my ride with the same color...

 

[Charlee78]

Oh, and with same options, 4x4 V6 5SP SR5... Please someone tell me how to share my pics... :biggrin2: