Decided im keeping my 4th gen...

[NVBASSJUNKIE]

I have an 05 4th gen with the 4.7L. 130k miles. I pretty much only use it to haul my bass boat.

For a while now, I had been wanting to get a 1/2 ton pickup to haul my boat but the more I researched newer trucks, the less I wanted one. All of them, toyota, dodge, Ford, gm... they all seem to not be very reliable any more. I got to thinking "why would I trade my 4runner that has never had an issue for a newer truck that will probably be plagued with them?"

Anyways... since im keeping it, I detailed the inside, tinted the windows, and put on an ARB 2006K kit.

Now it needs a little bigger tires... then new paint, then ive been looking at maybe an OBDII trans temp gage for when im pulling my boat on hot summer days... what other mods should I do for my bass boat hauler?

 

[Parks Junkie]

You're concerned about reliability, but much of the stuff you mentioned would do the opposite. Toyotas currently have a legendary reputation for reliability. But if you up the HP, bigger wheels and tires etc, you're not going to make it more reliable.

New cars/trucks do have more HP, and being new more likely to be reliable. I bet, a brand new 1/2 ton Chebbie pickup will be more reliable. For a time. Plus everything gets fixed under warranty, for a time, which you will probably forget about as long as it's not out of commission for an extended period of time and doesn't leave you stranded in the middle of an intersection.

Rule of thumb, the more you modify, the less reliable it becomes. Choose your priorities.

 

[rdruss]

Put a nice set of standard size Michelins on it and keep your trans serviced and you are good to go.

 

[Coveman]

Maintenance…Keep your fluids current, change that timing belt on schedule and corrosion prevention. Not a fan of the new stuff myself, keeping the older trucks in good working condition is cool.

 

[NVBASSJUNKIE]

You're concerned about reliability, but much of the stuff you mentioned would do the opposite. Toyotas currently have a legendary reputation for reliability. But if you up the HP, bigger wheels and tires etc, you're not going to make it more reliable.

New cars/trucks do have more HP, and being new more likely to be reliable. I bet, a brand new 1/2 ton Chebbie pickup will be more reliable. For a time. Plus everything gets fixed under warranty, for a time, which you will probably forget about as long as it's not out of commission for an extended period of time and doesn't leave you stranded in the middle of an intersection.

Rule of thumb, the more you modify, the less reliable it becomes. Choose your priorities.

A couple inches isnt changing much. 1" bigger tires isnt going to put excessive wear. Its a 18.5' bass boat with a 150, not heavy duty. The heavier springs and shocks took care of the sway, it drives like it should when im pulling my boat. A brand new Chevy is about 60 grand with 4 wheel drive and like I said I literally only use it to haul my boat and also when I get drawn for elk. Ive seen plenty of issues with the new stuff, figured id just make my 4runner nice. Its never had ANY issues. Plus the extra yearly registration, taxes and insurance on something I dont drive much doesnt make any sense whatsoever. I recently had a new gmc Sierra as a rental and it felt like cheap crap. Ill keep my 4runner.

 

[NVBASSJUNKIE]

Put a nice set of standard size Michelins on it and keep your trans serviced and you are good to go.

I love Michelins, never had a blow out with them, and for pulling my boat they probably are best choice, but I do want at least an all terrain for hunts and when I go shooting in the desert, ill just keep these tires probably for a while and then get an inch bigger. Im also getting rid of my jeep and I know the 4runner will never have the same capability but id like it to be a little better than it used to be. I absolutely hated my 4runner off road probably due to the crap suspension it had.

 

[NVBASSJUNKIE]

Maintenance…Keep your fluids current, change that timing belt on schedule and corrosion prevention. Not a fan of the new stuff myself, keeping the older trucks in good working condition is cool.

Not a speck of rust on it, its been in vegas its whole life.. but because of that the clear coat is half gone. Just did the timing belt. And yes I think its cool that its old.

 

[SocalSam]

The only worry you will have is the wiring. Hot and dry weather will dry out wire insulation and make them brittle. My '03 is like that and it has resided in So Cal it's entire life.

 

[NVBASSJUNKIE]

The only worry you will have is the wiring. Hot and dry weather will dry out wire insulation and make them brittle. My '03 is like that and it has resided in So Cal it's entire life.

Yeah that will be annoying. Where are some areas that you had issues with it?

 

[NVBASSJUNKIE]

Just washed my boat, the +330lb ARB springs really keep it from squatting now when towing. It feels really good. Before you could really tell there was a trailer attached. Now its almost no difference

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

There's a reason these trucks are still drawing good money for a maintained and clean V8. As you know new stuff is crap, and being subjected to a warrantee claim on a dealers schedule has ruined many a planned trip for a lot of people. Being that yours is at 130k, it's a no brainer imo. Hell Ford has a recall on the Bronco for a fuel pump issue which renders the vehicle useless....AND there was no Solution as of a month ago. A recall with no solution is pretty much a great indication of where the industry is at right now.
It's PITIFUL!
Since you've been towing and this will be it's main usage in the future, do a drain and fill on the transmission fluid for the peace of mind. For OBDII trans temps, I've been using Torque Pro for years, but there are a lot more options now days. I added a larger trans cooler with a couple of Spal pusher fans due to the soft sand I frequent. That will jack your temps up higher much like towing does. I also put a Magnefine filter in line on the trans fluid. Highly recommend these mods. I also put the power steering fluid thru the old OEM cooler as well. One last thing is to exercise the transfer case and center diff lock quite frequently as these have a rep for the servos getting sticky and then not engaging. I swapped mine to a manual shift case. Good Luck, and I think you'll be pulling your boat with the 4Runner for many years to come.

 

[SocalSam]

Yeah that will be annoying. Where are some areas that you had issues with it?

Wiring on top of engine and underneath fuse box. Wiring looked OK until I had to shift it around to repair mice damage.

 

[NVBASSJUNKIE]

Aquasport yes I think I will throw a trans cooler on it. Long hills coming home from lake mohave and mead, and in the summer its 115 out sometimes. I ended up doing that for my automatic in my wrangler after burning the fluid a few times, in the sand. The extra filter is actually a really cool idea I would have never thought of it.