Buying my first 4Runner (2018 Off-Road)

[Georgie]

Hi everyone,

Small intro, I've never owned a Toyota. The only toyota I ever really loved was the Supra as a teenager when I started loving cars. I've been through a few fox body mustangs and still own one 91 vert along with a C5 Z06 vette and a 2001 911 vert.





My pride and joy





Since I was 8 years old my family always had a Ford explorer in the stable. I took over our first explorer when I was 16. It was a 1990. I currently have a 99 Explorer on 33's ad take it every summer up north camping and it has been a really good reliable truck that takes a beating. Anyways, some kids tried to steal it during the holidays and busted a bunch of things in it.






I'm waiting on insurance to see what I can get.

So went to the local Toyota dealer and I'm looking at buying my first Toyota. A 2018 Barcelona Red Off-Road! I'm really excited and cant wait for credit approval that I should be getting tmr. Once I do, they will locate a Barcelona Red and bring it to the dealer.

I've been doing some reading and I see, to my dismay, that the options available in the US destroys whatever we got up here in Canada!!

Here's a link to the options.







I cant take off KDSS, no Entune, no fancy sound system, no sliding cargo tray, and to top it all off, it doesnt come with winter tires!! Up here in Quebec, winter tires are mandatory(must have snowflake logo) or else if you get pinched by the cops its a huge fine and if you crash insurance wont cover a thing!!

So off the bat I need tires. The tires on my explorer are 16 inches so they wil not fit on the 4Runner. They did have the snowflake tho and did well on street/off-road. They are BF Goodrich All Terrain TA KO.

I've seen in a few threads that 275/70 will fit on stock 4Runner without rubbing...is that the same as 33's?

I'd like to buy ONE set of tires. I'm kinda on a tight budget...I took the genuine Toyota car starter (1000$ !!) and am considering the rust proofing from Toyota. The salesmen told me its Gel based and if I get it done at dealer (700$) Toyota will guaranty any perforations for up to 10 years. I'm not the type of guy to sell cars, and reading the history of 4Runners, I don't think I'll be selling this!

So, what should I do about the tire scenario and rust proofing? I'd like to get at least as much clearance I had in the ol Explorer... All i did was torsion twist up front and shackles out back and bilstein shocks.

Any comments are very appreciated

Thanks! :cheers:

 

[425Runner]

Congrats. Wouldn’t the dealer be forced to sell “legal” tires? If not, I’m sure you aren’t the first customer to face this issue; Maybe they’ll swap the tires out?

 

[17KT4R]

I'm in the Toronto area so in Ontario we are not forced to have snows on in winter. I might get them next year on black steelies but for now with what we are getting the stock tires are performing fine. Not sure what you mean about options, sure there are differences in the US models but for the most part my 2017 TRD Off Road (Premium in the US) came with everything that model is spec'd for on the options list.

The only thing I added was the block heater option. I did not like the auto start by Toyota (shuts off when you open the door) so I had a Viper system installed for half that price. Works awesome, love the fact I can stop at variety store or whatever - hit the button, remove the key and lock the truck leaving it running, it's handy.

For rust proofing I don't go with the dealer option, I have a friend who owns a RustCheck outlet, I like their application / product and they have their own gel type coating as well similar to fluid film. I go there annually I don't think the dealer spray once option is all that they say it is. He also does the 3M clear shield film stuff for the front end protection too. Enjoy your new truck !

 

[CF_Machete]

[MENTION=209192]Georgie[/MENTION], You can run 285/70/17s on a stock suspension... roughly a 33. General Grabber AT2s have pretty much the same tread pattern as KO2s, and are cheaper.

you will have rubbing at full lock in reverse and will have to push your fender liner forward and trim the excess off of your bumper and ditch your front mudflaps. It will buy you time to get a lift provided that you want the 33s. I did this on my SR5P for several months.

Check my "garage" to see the part numbers for my setup. essentially a lifted Pro suspension.

if you don't want to lift, then get the grabbers in 265/70/17... stock size.

 

[philsey]

[...] I've been through a few fox body mustangs and still own one 91 vert along with a C5 Z06 vette and a 2001 911 vert.

[.....] So went to the local Toyota dealer and I'm looking at buying my first Toyota.

I'm kinda on a tight budget...

Riiiiight!

:sobbing:

 

[Grape Ape]

Riiiiight!

:sobbing:

Could very well be true, I see a lot of ppl who have multiple cars etc and appear to be doing their thing, only to find out they are leveraged to the hilt.

 

[Georgie]

Cmon guys, times are tough this time of year if you know what I mean!

I was thinking about what 17KT4R said about the starter... I'm just worried about the horror stories I hear about 3rd party remote starters... Do any of you think a Toyota remote starter would be more reliable than a 3rd party one like Viper?

If not, I'll cancel it and get and aftermarket one that doesn't shut off the car if you open a door, touch brakes etc...

Also, no one else commented on the Toyota guaranty if I rustproof with them... Please let me kow.

Also, I have a lift and lots of tools, so I'm not scared to cut the Body Mount's to fit 33's. Is there anything I can do myself to be able to get 33's off the bat?

Anything except spending over a grand. If I need to cut body mounts and get a leveling kit I'm down to do it. I figure spending a few 100 dollars now and get a leveling kit is better than getting two sets of tires.

:shrug: i'm really hoping its doable!

Thanks

 

[justagirl76]

the Off Road will not shut off with the 3rd party remote because its not push start.
All you have to do is get in put foot on the brake and turn key and it stays on. Which I like better than the Toyota remote start and like the other guy said they can do for half or less.
I love my Off Road!! Congrats

 

[CF_Machete]

Cmon guys, times are tough this time of year if you know what I mean!

I was thinking about what 17KT4R said about the starter... I'm just worried about the horror stories I hear about 3rd party remote starters... Do any of you think a Toyota remote starter would be more reliable than a 3rd party one like Viper?

If not, I'll cancel it and get and aftermarket one that doesn't shut off the car if you open a door, touch brakes etc...

Also, no one else commented on the Toyota guaranty if I rustproof with them... Please let me kow.

Also, I have a lift and lots of tools, so I'm not scared to cut the Body Mount's to fit 33's. Is there anything I can do myself to be able to get 33's off the bat?

Anything except spending over a grand. If I need to cut body mounts and get a leveling kit I'm down to do it. I figure spending a few 100 dollars now and get a leveling kit is better than getting two sets of tires.

:shrug: i'm really hoping its doable!

Thanks

Like I said before, drop your front mud guards then push the fender liner forward and trim the bumper to fit 33's on a stock suspension. You will be able to drive the truck home. If you can do a BMC for free, they you're more ballsy than I. It will eliminate any rubbing in reverse.

I think I save like $200 on AT2s compared to KO2s for a set of 4, 33's. you can fit a 33 on the spare under the vehicle as well.

If you're going to lift it, save up and do it right.

 

[Rightside Up]

I have the ORP in the same color.
Only 800 miles on it, but love it so far.

 

[Georgie]

Ok Machete, I will go that route. Does your tire have the snowflake icon cast into the sidewall?? Also do you know hoe much of the bumper i need to trim? Anybody got pics?

I also had to trim a tiny bit on my explorer front bumper...at the most bottom of it... its not noticeable at all...im sure a ford tech wouldnt even notice it.

I promise to post pics when i cut!

 

[CF_Machete]

Ok Machete, I will go that route. Does your tire have the snowflake icon cast into the sidewall?? Also do you know hoe much of the bumper i need to trim? Anybody got pics?

I also had to trim a tiny bit on my explorer front bumper...at the most bottom of it... its not noticeable at all...im sure a ford tech wouldnt even notice it.

I promise to post pics when i cut!

Yup, they have the snow flake.

So I pushed my fender liner forward before I dropped the truck off to get the new tires installed. I ended up trimming the bumper right to the liner later on.

Also including some pre-lift baby pics

 

[Georgie]

VERY nice man! So that pic is before trimming right?

If you had gone 285/75/17 instead...do you think it would have fit with a little more cutting?

Thanks!

 

[WallyT4R]

I traded in my tires right off the bat (600 miles on them) at Discount tire for stock size BFG KO2's. They gave me $60 a piece for the stockers.

You say you are on a budget. Realize that going to bigger and heavier tires will cost you money in gas over staying with the stock size. Might not be a ton of money but over time it will add up. The 4 in stock form is a very capable off road machine so bigger tires aren't really necessary until you start doing serious off roading and need the ground clearance IMO. When you get to that point you may as well regear it and put an ARB in the front along with a lift. $$$

For rust proofing save your money cuz the dealer is trying to rip you off. Fluid film it every year. I know you guys have shops that will do it for you up in Canada if you don't want to do it yourself. At most $150-200 for fluid film if you pay to have it done. $30 to do it yourself.

 

[CF_Machete]

VERY nice man! So that pic is before trimming right?

If you had gone 285/75/17 instead...do you think it would have fit with a little more cutting?

Thanks!

Yep, the first pic was pre trim.

Check out the wheel and tire threads, I've seen guys with 315/ 70/ 17 and legit 33x17s but I'm pretty sure those needed a 3-inch lift and body mount chop.

You might be able to get away wit 285/70/17s, but you would certainly need the bmc as well.

 

[blakjack23]

Definitely don't get the factory remote start. The distance limitation is frustrating.

 

[Georgie]

Ok thanks a lot, i will not get it. I think a member here sells his own version?

 

[Georgie]

Finally got one!! 2019 off road.

Very happy with it other than I cant open all the interior lights with a flick of a switch like in my Ford Explorer...






where can i upload images

 

[thennen]

Very nice - congratulations! I got the same thing (2019 OR) in October, but Nautical Blue. Thrilled with it. Almost went with red but blue got the votes in my family - lol! Enjoy the ride!