I am in the market for a 4runner, I am excited to become part of the culture, but it is not simply a purchase for style. I am going to be working the oilfields of ND, while living in CO. My company pays a vehicle allowance to ensure we can make it to work regardless of the conditions and many have recommended the 4Runner. I am concerned because after doing research on this site, I read some information about the 5th Gen not having full time 4wd, if I wanted to drive in 4H going down the Interstate with snow or a dirt road with snow would that be a problem? Do i need to consider a 4th Gen with Full time if I can not afford a 5th Gen Limited? I would appreciate all replys and encourage a good discussion about 4wd snow experiences. Thank you for your help.
5th Gen vs. 4th Gen ( Full Time 4wd etc.)
- Thread starter sapper843
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NHinAK
New member
Your fine to rock it in 4-wheel drive as long as your not doing so on a dry asphault surface. With the conditions that you've specified; you would be fine. If you think you need the AWD version; you'll have to check out the Limited as it's the only one with the full time transfer case.
With that said; I live in Alaska. We see about 7 months out of the year with snow on the roads. I've never had any issues running at 60+ mph with the truck in 4-wheel drive on a snow covered road.
With that said; I live in Alaska. We see about 7 months out of the year with snow on the roads. I've never had any issues running at 60+ mph with the truck in 4-wheel drive on a snow covered road.
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Ridin4Runner
New member
For me full time is a absolute deal killer, hence I got the limited. Would have likely anyway, but that made it a no brainer. The problem w/o full time is you do not know when you are going to hit black ice or just being in light snow and having to switch over to 4WD is a pain. I should note I have a very heavy foot and need every safety advantage I can get :thumb3:
Narkhelek
New member
If conditions are such that 2WD isn't going to cut it then simply throwing it in to 4H on the fly is going to give you better steering traction than full-time 4WD would anyways. Put another way, our 5th Gens handle so called mixed conditions beautifully in only 2WD. If you actually need 4WD then you're way beyond mixed and probably should be running in 4H anyways.
KCcarguy
New member
This is something the OP should keep in mind. The center diff in the V6 4th gen allows 4WD on pavement where the 5th gen's part-time does not.
IMO, you're not going to lose with either. The 5th gen is more spacious, where the 4th gen has more high-end features (LED, hidden antenna, HIDs, higher-end materials). If you're anticipating driving on pavement in bad weather, I think a 4th gen V6 4WD would give you the best MPG's and bang for the buck.
Ramzey28
New member
+1 :thumb3:
The ability to run full-time 4wd is better than not having that ability. There's simply no way around that basic fact. With full-time 4wd in my 4Runner, I can do everything that part-time 4wd can do. The opposite is not true.
Thai
Elite Member
Well, you can't run in 2wd to save a tiny bit of gas and wear. I prefer the 4th gen V6's more flexible multi-mode 4wd system if i had to get a 4th gen.
There have been plenty of 2wd vehicles that have survived winter months before the invention of full-time 4wd...so, although i think that it is a significant loss, it is not a "deal breaker" for me. The 4runner still has VSC (stability control) and traction control on hand. Hell, my brother survived many Colorado winter months in his 2003 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon...and that thing only has a LSD in the rear axle and no electronic aids at all!! Oh yeah, he was using Goodyear MT/Rs too.
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NHinAK
New member
Your confusing a "fact" with a matter of opinion.
oblivionis
New member
I have a 4Gen V6 4WD but I've been lurking around in this forum because in a year or two it will be time to get a new truck and I've been looking at the 5Gen 4Runner. I have to say that no full-time 4WD on the 5Gen is a deal breaker for me. Does the Limited allow switching between 2WD and 4WD? If not, I'll just have to wait till the 6Gen 4Runner comes out.
kingpin748
New member
Jed does that alot.
nashman69g
Member
nope...it's either fulltime AWD or 4X4 mode...no 2WD mode on the Limited
No, actually I'm not. The "fact" is this: The ability to run full-time 4wd is better than not having that ability
That is in fact...well, a fact! LOL.
Read what I said again and you'll see that I can in fact run in 2wd. See, my 4Runner is a V6 with the multimode 4wd system. How is it that you missed that simple fact?
Thai
Elite Member
Because i don't really care about folks who act like fools. I just don't. And congrats on having the multi-mode 4wd...but that won't mean that i will buy a 4th gen either...i would still take a 5th gen TE over your 4runner anyday.
Nope...the only way to get the ability to run full-time 4wd AND the ability to run 2wd is if you have a 4th gen V6 4Runner. The 5th gen doesn't give you that option in any available model unfortunately.
Koz
New member
Sorry gents but Jed is absolutely correct!
The "Limited model" 5th gen's Torsen limited slip locking center diff works just like the 4th gen. You can drive all day and night (on pavement) in 4WD. This is where Toyota dropped the ball on the Trail and SR5 models (and no V8).
Koz
Whatever....you don't even own a 4Runner....you drive a Prius. LOLOLOL. So you're nothing but a poseur as far as I'm concerned. At least you finally admitted that I'm a 4Runner owner.
