3rd row + locker

I've custom installed e-locker into my 3rd gen, and have it currently in my 5th gen. As far as strengthening, i believe that the e-locker is actually a 8.5" versus an 8.0" non e-locker. (No facts to back it up as I haven't measured or researched, going off of my 3rd gen 8.5")

I have put My E-LOCKER through the ringer more than once and have always had zero issues. Being an electrician by trade I understand it more, but I don't like how an air line disenaged it Verus 12v on or off. I can alway's get 12v's i can't always get air. I've done both installations and air ONLY has ever failed when my installation isn't protected by armor or skids. I will tell you if I had to do it again, I would go trail versus sr5 Premium with no hestitation. Factory warranty even with extended coverage covered.

If you have it done professionally, get it covered and you be good.

My 2c's is all I can provide, but I have 13k miles on my 4runner with close to 3k purely offroad. I've come to realize I only live once, please on TOP of ANYTHING, buy what you WANT. To many times i've done the 'flip' the car due to buying the wrong Vehicle...
 
Kotrin said:
I've custom installed e-locker into my 3rd gen, and have it currently in my 5th gen. As far as strengthening, i believe that the e-locker is actually a 8.5" versus an 8.0" non e-locker. (No facts to back it up as I haven't measured or researched, going off of my 3rd gen 8.5")

I have put My E-LOCKER through the ringer more than once and have always had zero issues. Being an electrician by trade I understand it more, but I don't like how an air line disenaged it Verus 12v on or off. I can alway's get 12v's i can't always get air. I've done both installations and air ONLY has ever failed when my installation isn't protected by armor or skids. I will tell you if I had to do it again, I would go trail versus sr5 Premium with no hestitation. Factory warranty even with extended coverage covered.

If you have it done professionally, get it covered and you be good.

My 2c's is all I can provide, but I have 13k miles on my 4runner with close to 3k purely offroad. I've come to realize I only live once, please on TOP of ANYTHING, buy what you WANT. To many times i've done the 'flip' the car due to buying the wrong Vehicle...
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No, even the 8.2 and 8.4 don't measure as such. They just make up the numbers. I can't remember the actual measured sizes off the top of my head. Toyota likes to keep everyone confused so they make up numbers. Don't ask me why. 8.4 is not even close to 8.4" i think it was 8.2. And I think the 8.2 is more like 8.0, but a complete redesign. Only the 8.0 was accurate and actually 8.0. There is no way you got an 8.5 ring gear in your 5th gen housing. Or did you mean you have a trail edition that came with the e-locker. If so, it is called an 8.2 ( but does not measure as such)
 
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wfo9 said:
No, even the 8.2 and 8.4 don't measure as such. They just make up the numbers. I can't remember the actual measured sizes off the top of my head. Toyota likes to keep everyone confused so they make up numbers. Don't ask me why. 8.4 is not even close to 8.4" i think it was 8.2. And I think the 8.2 is more like 8.0, but a complete redesign. Only the 8.0 was accurate and actually 8.0. There is no way you got an 8.5 ring gear in your 5th gen housing. Or did you mean you have a trail edition that came with the e-locker. If so, it is called an 8.2 ( but does not measure as such)
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Good to know. I'm by no mean's an engineer and don't claim to be one, but from what stress i've put my e-locker through and an ARB i personally think they are equally as strong. Each has it's own flaws and benefits from my opinion. I prefer an e-locker over an ARB, but if I had to completely redo my current setup I would have gone SR5 premium with lift (see them on sale around where I live for 34k - new) and done the ARB's.

Good to know about the size of the rear, have wondered about that as it didn't look to be the same as my old 3rd gen.
 
Great thread and information. Thanks to all who have contributed. I am in same position as OP. My SR5-P just needs locker, and I have the Trail/TRD-P model I wanted, with the 3rd row the wife had to have!
 
:cheers: thanks for all the input! at this point it seems like can't really go wrong either way. i think my preference is still for the Trail Premium, since it's just less fuss and our "need" for a 3rd row is at least 3-4 years off anyway. whichever we end up with, i'm sure i'll have at least a couple mods here and there.... :D
 
INSW20 said:
:cheers: thanks for all the input! at this point it seems like can't really go wrong either way. i think my preference is still for the Trail Premium, since it's just less fuss and our "need" for a 3rd row is at least 3-4 years off anyway. whichever we end up with, i'm sure i'll have at least a couple mods here and there.... :D
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Just curious why your wife thinks you "Need" a 3rd row. I am assuming it is because of kids.... I use mine now because its the only way I can fit 1 convertible car seat, and 2 infant seats. Once the twins are a little older and can sit in a convertible, I will put 3 Diono Radian RXT seats across the 2nd row, and probley never use the 3rd row again.

With the right combination of carseats, you can get 3 across the 2nd row, and it will be safer then using the 3rd row. The Chicco Keyfit 30 is one of the smallest infant seats I have found, and the Diono Radian RXT is the narrowest convertable seat made.

The 3rd row was the reason I was able to sell the 4runner to my wife, but if I knew back then what I know now (Seat Sizing), I would have been able to get a trail instead, and fit all 3 kids in the 2nd row with one Diono Radian and 2 Chicco Keyfits.
 
Whiplash Willy said:
Just curious why your wife thinks you "Need" a 3rd row. I am assuming it is because of kids.... I use mine now because its the only way I can fit 1 convertible car seat, and 2 infant seats. Once the twins are a little older and can sit in a convertible, I will put 3 Diono Radian RXT seats across the 2nd row, and probley never use the 3rd row again.

With the right combination of carseats, you can get 3 across the 2nd row, and it will be safer then using the 3rd row. The Chicco Keyfit 30 is one of the smallest infant seats I have found, and the Diono Radian RXT is the narrowest convertable seat made.

The 3rd row was the reason I was able to sell the 4runner to my wife, but if I knew back then what I know now (Seat Sizing), I would have been able to get a trail instead, and fit all 3 kids in the 2nd row with one Diono Radian and 2 Chicco Keyfits.
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honestly, i'm confused by it my own self.... :der:

we have one child half-time currently (from a previous relationship) and are planning on two of our own, but are still at least 6-8 months away from trying. she has this idea that once we have our two, they'll immediately have friends whom they'll want to bring to functions and the ONLY way it'll ever be possible is with seating for 7. she's getting pretty far ahead of herself here. also, if there are going to be THAT many children going somewhere, there better darn well be more than just one adult. so why she's under the impression that we're going to compromise our vehicle selection any further to accommodate possible future strangers for our planned children is beyond me. :noidea:
 
Even with 1 child currently, the need for more would be a nice to have. When Gigi and Papa would go places with us, that is all the room we had. what if our son brings a friend, or if other relatives were coming with us... Impossible... Will we ever use it, probably not, but....

Now with 2 on the way, this will solve the problem. The 3rd row was the only way to sell my wife on the T4R as well. She used logical thinking on me. "If we have an FJ that seats 5, and you are trying to tell me there is more room in the 4Runner, yet we seat the same amount of people in the FJ, how are we gaining space?"

3rd row it was! I lost that argument, but won the battle, as I am glad I have my sunroof, and turn indicators on the mirror, that I wouldn't have in the TRD-P, and I have modded it as I would have a Trail or TRD-P, with less bottom line investment!
 
It sounds like the most useful reason for getting the 3rd row is that it makes the 4Runner easier to get "wife approved".. This is the case with my SR5-P as well...even though I may never even use the 3rd row, without it I would have had a tougher time selling her on the 4Runner.
 
I traded in my first 4Runner because of the 3rd row, the loss of vertical space didn't allow me to load in some tall gear I have so I needed the extra cargo capacity.

But I am glad they made it an option so at least you can choose (except for the Trail of course), unlike the new Chevy Tahoe's.

Me and a co-worker were checking out the cargo area of the new Tahoe and it's a complete joke as far as utilitarian cargo capacity for a full size SUV, just my opinion. :)

The Tahoe's 3rd row like the 4Runner eats vertical space, and for a full size SUV the cargo area seems more like a mini CUV lol.

Would have to shell out extra for the Suburban :)
 
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