Advice Needed Please on 4Runner

[Bar01]

Hi - this is my first post on the forum. I'm hoping to get some advice/thoughts on a 2018 4Runner. Here's my situation... I currently have a '16 Ford F150 Lariat. I got the truck thinking there would be an airstream purchase in the future but things have changed and that's not happening. I live in an urban area and having the truck as a daily driver can be challenging due to it's size. So am thinking of downsizing to a 4Runner. My questions are:

- How is the 4Runner as a daily driver in an urban environment (I realize it's BOF). I test drove one and I thought it rode fine but that was a 20 minute test drive.
- I make an annual trip to Colorado and have to drive through Kansas. Did that once in a '13 Jeep Unlimited with 40 mile an hour cross winds and thought I was going to die. Do you think the 4Runner would have better road manners in that kind of condition?
- There is a chance I may get a smaller, less expensive camper later (sub 3K pounds). It looks like the 4Runner can handle that weight but how does it do as a tow vehicle (for those of you that tow campers)?

I love the way they look and their no nonsense utilitarian cabins. Plus, they really hold their value. Ideally I'd like to find a newer with low miles but pricing wise they're not that much less than a brand new one.

Apologies for the long post. And many thanks for any input you can provide.

 

[codyHTX]

[MENTION=287477]Bar01[/MENTION]
- DD depends on what you're used to. mine is my only vehicle, adventure vehicle, weekend warrior, DD, and weekly 100-200 mile commuter to our project sites. cruise control sucks, but i am quite comfortable on my drives and don't mind it as a DD or long-haul tripper. that said i've never really had a DD that wasn't a large SUV.
- night and day difference between the 4R and JK. my coworker had a 2 door and was miserable on the same weekly drive to project sites (he was heavily modded on 37's tho...)
- tow's the 3K lb airstream bambi like it's not even there. brake controller and aux trans cooler added.

 

[jrandom]

5 year 5th gen owner, I have some advice:

The seats are terrible. I didn't actually realize how bad they were until I rented and drove a Mercedes V class van for two weeks, not the super high end van either the "affordable" one. After this jaunt, the following morning I hopped in and immediately began to lament over the seat comfort. I am not a big or heavy guy, 5'9' ~170, either (maybe it is better then)

City driving, I have done some I work in a metro area and drive it a couple days a week, my commute is less that 5 miles one way so I usually find other ways to get to work. It drives fine in stop and go, deals with sh!tty roads well enough, everyone here drives vans, trucks and SUV's so you don't get the surrounding visual benefit from the added height, like you would where everyone drives sedans/cars.

I've logged some decent long haul highway miles, high cross winds well I guess it is pretty subjective, I find just like any high center of gravity vehicle, you just deal with it. Unless its on tracks and weighs 40,000lbs you're going to get pushed around.

Haven't towed enough, long enough, to give any reliable info. Does fine to and from the lumber yard.

 

[Cadesun]

I would recommend finding one with KDSS for daily city driving. It makes it feel less tippy manuvering in traffic at speed. I live in Chicago but take cross-country trips in my runner, wind has never been an issue and is apples and oranges to a Jeep in that regard.

 

[Oey12]

Hi - this is my first post on the forum. I'm hoping to get some advice/thoughts on a 2018 4Runner. Here's my situation... I currently have a '16 Ford F150 Lariat. I got the truck thinking there would be an airstream purchase in the future but things have changed and that's not happening. I live in an urban area and having the truck as a daily driver can be challenging due to it's size. So am thinking of downsizing to a 4Runner. My questions are:

- How is the 4Runner as a daily driver in an urban environment (I realize it's BOF). I test drove one and I thought it rode fine but that was a 20 minute test drive.
- I make an annual trip to Colorado and have to drive through Kansas. Did that once in a '13 Jeep Unlimited with 40 mile an hour cross winds and thought I was going to die. Do you think the 4Runner would have better road manners in that kind of condition?
- There is a chance I may get a smaller, less expensive camper later (sub 3K pounds). It looks like the 4Runner can handle that weight but how does it do as a tow vehicle (for those of you that tow campers)?

I love the way they look and their no nonsense utilitarian cabins. Plus, they really hold their value. Ideally I'd like to find a newer with low miles but pricing wise they're not that much less than a brand new one.

Apologies for the long post. And many thanks for any input you can provide.

As a STOCK daily driver in an urban environment, the 4Runner will honestly be okay at best. I commute to an urban city everyday and your mpgs take a big hit when sitting in traffic. I average 19 with a small leveling kit and stock sized Michelin LTX Defenders. And I drive very close to posted speed limits. Now with all that being said I love driving it everyday because for me I needed a vehicle that is a jack of all trades but a master at none (family hauler/towing vehicle/a true 4x4 for severe elements and poorly maintained roads of NYC).

In regards to crosswinds it will be better that a Jeep Wrangler due to its weight however the 4Runner does sways quite a bit in heavy winds mostly due to its height. I have a plain Jane SR5 so the suspension is very soft...maybe the guys and girls who have the KDSS system can chime in...

As far as towing you will see a lot of mixed reviews. Here is my taken when it comes to towing with ANY midsized SUV or pickup. Be reasonable and cautious...I have seen my people on the internet, friends, and even family complain about their smaller trucks sucking while towing at 70 mph and above. You should not be towing at those speeds! I have towed 3 and 4K trailers with my Tacoma’s and 4Runners and never had a problem driving around 60 65. Yes I realize the level of A Holery driving a cross the states makes this 1000 times harder driving. My life and my property is more important than some impatience driver pissed because I am doing the speed limit in the right lane. And one last thing THE F150 WILL OUT PERFORM THE 4RUNNER ALL DAY EVERYDAY IN REGARDS TO TOWING. I have no complaints with towing because I try my best to be reasonable about the limits of the vehicle. Airbags are a huge help too.

Welcome and happy hunting!

 

[Ferd_4R]

I love my 4Runner. This month will be a year since I bought it. It’s a SR5 premium with a lift/leveling kit with TRD wheels and tires. I do a lot of city and hwy driving and I average around 17-18mpg. I also live in SLC Utah and most of my driving is done in the canyons or around the Wasatch mountains. I absolutely love driving my 4Runner, yes it’s a box on wheels not very aerodynamic or fuel efficient, but the thing is solid!!! I feel safe driving it, my dog loves riding in the back with the rear hatch window open and I can take it offroad camping and stuff although I haven’t had much time for that lately hahah. I wish you good luck!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Thrasher_S]

I love my 4Runner, but I would also encourage you to check out a Highlander.

 

[hamburglar210]

Mine is lifted and does well in crosswinds but I definitely feel it.

Don't be afraid to consider a new or used Lexus GX (I like the 470 better) as it's basically a 4Runner with a V8 and all the bells and whistles.

 

[4FL]

- How is the 4Runner as a daily driver in an urban environment (I realize it's BOF). I test drove one and I thought it rode fine but that was a 20 minute test drive.

I live right in the city, tall buildings and all, park in a parking garage, it does great. Its height is not tall enough to be an issue for 99% of the parking garages, and it is small enough to fit in every space and maneuver around the city with ease. Bonus, when flooding happens, I cruise the cleared lanes as the cars do not want to go through the water (I live in Miami, streets get flooded sometimes after heavy rain).

- I make an annual trip to Colorado and have to drive through Kansas. Did that once in a '13 Jeep Unlimited with 40 mile an hour cross winds and thought I was going to die. Do you think the 4Runner would have better road manners in that kind of condition?

I do not recall ever driving in these kind of conditions, so cannot assist on this. I do know I have driven through windy conditions on the highway, but it was uneventful, so probably means it handles fine?

- There is a chance I may get a smaller, less expensive camper later (sub 3K pounds). It looks like the 4Runner can handle that weight but how does it do as a tow vehicle (for those of you that tow campers)?

I have towed once, a uhaul trailer fully loaded down. It handled great, better than expected. I do not know that weight, but it was the large uhaul loaded with household things because I was moving. Drove almost entirely highway, flat with no hills.