Do you folks do real offroading in financed 5th gens?

[TRD84Runner]

I will be passing on this for a few years, I built up a Jeep Wrangler while paying it off and made a perfectly fine onroad/mild offroad vehicle into a nightmare for anything onroad. 3.5 inches lift, SYE/custom DS Currie control arms a custom built ford 8.8 with Detroit locker and 4.56 gears it was AWESOME off road but was terrible back on road, had a blast but at the end of the day going to work and trying not to drag your dress pants over the rocker guards not being able to hear a passenger due to tire noise just ruined it. I will be using the 4Runner as my DD until paid off and then will begin with mild mods to do over-landing with my wife.

 

[Jacabbysal]

It's more the mod money/time that I'm worried about. I have double what I paid for my truck in parts alone, no labor costs because I did it all myself. Insurance won't cover any of that, so eventually I'll be looking into aftermarket insurance.

You should talk to your insurance company. Most of them will cover parts that have been added and upgraded if they know about them, you will probably have to pay a little more on the premium though.

 

[jhguth]

I'm not going to buy a 4x4 and not use it.

i think this is the most important point

in all honestly as just an on-road people mover the 4runner is pretty miserable, it's dated and lacks creature comforts that come standard on other vehicles.

 

[cccolin]

i think this is the most important point

in all honestly as just an on-road people mover the 4runner is pretty miserable, it's dated and lacks creature comforts that come standard on other vehicles.

yeah this is kind of my conundrum. Like I said in my first post, I have a 3rd gen, stock 5spd manual with factory e-locker. I've had it for about 2 years. It's awesome offroad, I pass built jeeps on difficult trails all the time. But I hate it for daily driving. I mean, I don't completely hate it. The sunroof and tailgate combo makes it a really nice sunny day mild drive around town cruiser. But I absolutely hate it on twisty roads and the interstate, which I do a lot. I've always been known amongst my family and friends as the road trip warrior, I've hopped in my car and driven for a month straight more times that I can count. 24 hour drives are common for me, etc. I hate driving this thing long distance so much that I've completely quit taking any road trips at all. I did one trip from Denver to SLC and two weeks later went from Denver to Jackson Hole, and since the misery of those, I've decided I'd rather stay at home.

I actually NEED a new car right now with the state my 3rd gen is in (or a few thousand and a week off of work to fix everything), so I started looking at 5th gens because offroad and Toyota reliability and dog and bike carrying and they look cool. But A: f*ck the price and B: all of the above about it sucking as a DD and highway driver. I'm kind of thinking maybe I should get a Rav4 or Subaru or maybe even a Lexus IS 350 and turn the 3rd gen into an offroad beast.

 

[cccolin]

These things will last you 20 years easy if you maintain them. Keep it for 20 years and dont worry about it. Every ding on mine tells a story, it adds character. The Japanese have a name for this aesthetic: wabi-sabi. I don't see any reason to ever upgrade or sell unless they come out with some electric or fuel cell 4runner with massive torque that gets 50 mpg or something.

"In traditional Japanese aesthetics, wabi-sabi (侘寂) is a world view centered on the acceptance of transience and imperfection.[2] The aesthetic is sometimes described as one of beauty that is "imperfect, impermanent, and incomplete".[3] It is a concept derived from the Buddhist teaching of the three marks of existence (三法印 sanbōin), specifically impermanence (無常 mujō), suffering (苦 ku) and emptiness or absence of self-nature (空 kū).

Characteristics of the wabi-sabi aesthetic include asymmetry, roughness, simplicity, economy, austerity, modesty, intimacy, and appreciation of the ingenuous integrity of natural objects and processes."

I had an awful terrible troll-like human as a professor in college that constantly talked about wabi sabi. She would do this really pretentious and infuriating little self-absorbed head wiggle every time she said it, which was about 15 times a day. Just reading the words gives me the heebie jeebies. Although I appreciate the concept.

 

[MrGainzz]

No offence to OP but you sound like you are better off with a highlander or a RAV4,they are both better than the 4runner for daily commute and keep building your 3rd Gen so you can have fun without worrying about breaking anything.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[brtnstrns]

yeah this is kind of my conundrum. Like I said in my first post, I have a 3rd gen, stock 5spd manual with factory e-locker. I've had it for about 2 years. It's awesome offroad, I pass built jeeps on difficult trails all the time. But I hate it for daily driving. I mean, I don't completely hate it. The sunroof and tailgate combo makes it a really nice sunny day mild drive around town cruiser. But I absolutely hate it on twisty roads and the interstate, which I do a lot. I've always been known amongst my family and friends as the road trip warrior, I've hopped in my car and driven for a month straight more times that I can count. 24 hour drives are common for me, etc. I hate driving this thing long distance so much that I've completely quit taking any road trips at all. I did one trip from Denver to SLC and two weeks later went from Denver to Jackson Hole, and since the misery of those, I've decided I'd rather stay at home.

I actually NEED a new car right now with the state my 3rd gen is in (or a few thousand and a week off of work to fix everything), so I started looking at 5th gens because offroad and Toyota reliability and dog and bike carrying and they look cool. But A: f*ck the price and B: all of the above about it sucking as a DD and highway driver. I'm kind of thinking maybe I should get a Rav4 or Subaru or maybe even a Lexus IS 350 and turn the 3rd gen into an offroad beast.

meh, I love driving my 4Runner on my short commute to work and long road trips. It's plenty comfortable and in curvy backroads, the KDSS totally holds its own for being a top heavy vehicle. And then, if I decide to go explore some roads less traveled by, I can do that without even a second though. And then, if I decide to take my travel trailer out, I can do that without a second thought. And then, if my dog wants to stick his cute-ass head out the rear window, I can do that without a second thought.

Granted I'm not putting 5,000,000 pound rear springs and steel bumpers on the thing as if I'm taking it through the Serengeti. But if I keep it long enough, I'll probably throw some King suspension on it because I'm totally a suspension snob when it comes to vehicles, even if I never use it to its full extent.

 

[cccolin]

yeah i was hoping the KDSS would mitigate some of what I hate about my 3rd gen, ie. the insane amount of body roll on road.

 

[brtnstrns]

yeah i was hoping the KDSS would mitigate some of what I hate about my 3rd gen, ie. the insane amount of body roll on road.

My 2016 did not have KDSS but my 2019 does, and there is 100% a noticeable difference between the two when it comes to body roll.

 

[Mutant138]

Why buy a truck if you don't need it? To flex at parking lot meets with other insecure people who need validation from others?

It's a tool and an expensive one. Don't become a tool by buying one you don't need.

 

[cccolin]

Why buy a truck if you don't need it? To flex at parking lot meets with other insecure people who need validation from others?

It's a tool and an expensive one. Don't become a tool by buying one you don't need.

you clearly didn't read what I actually wrote. My 3rd gen has driven places most people only dream of, and regularly. if I own a 5th gen it will be the same. Have you driven up a 45 degree V channel at 12k+ feet at 2am by yourself and slept at nearly 13k' with a mountain goat standing on your truck? I have.

 

[Mutant138]

you clearly didn't read what I actually wrote. My 3rd gen has driven places most people only dream of, and regularly. if I own a 5th gen it will be the same. Have you driven up a 45 degree V channel at 12k+ feet at 2am by yourself and slept at nearly 13k' with a mountain goat standing on your truck? I have.

1) This was not an attack. Just merely my 2 cents on the issue. I think your specific question has been answered.

2) I don't care and neither does anyone else.

 

[Moltenburn]

Does a Bear S-h-i-t in the woods?

Why buy it if your not going to use it? Not saying run it up 200lbs boulders but medium to light trails? All day and then some.

 

[5thToy]

Absolutely. The only restraint I've used is limiting initial mods on my 19 to armor, sliders and tires.

 

[Thrasher_S]

I personally don't take mine on any "real" offroading trips. I have mine more for the high reliability and capability in the backcountry, but still mostly on "roads". I like the relative peace of mind I get, when hours from cell service, knowing I'm in a vehicle unlikely to break down and capable enough if the road is rougher than anticipated (or washed out!).

If I was going to be doing more "real" offroading I'd put more money into wheels/tires/suspension/armor/etc. on a cheaper rig that isn't my daily driver. I've tried to build my DD into an offroad beast before, but every offroad upgrade I did made it worse on road...

 

[rochmpr]

The answer is yes. With all the armor installed to protect the vehicle. That is the best insurance policy. I have run many difficult trails, had dents and such KNOWING that is always a possibility. I was cutting, hacking and welding on the 4Runner less than 6 months after purchasing.

Pic from the Rubicon for fun.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[a t l a s]

Yep.

 

[IanB]

yeah this is kind of my conundrum. Like I said in my first post, I have a 3rd gen, stock 5spd manual with factory e-locker. I've had it for about 2 years. It's awesome offroad, I pass built jeeps on difficult trails all the time. But I hate it for daily driving. I mean, I don't completely hate it. The sunroof and tailgate combo makes it a really nice sunny day mild drive around town cruiser. But I absolutely hate it on twisty roads and the interstate, which I do a lot. I've always been known amongst my family and friends as the road trip warrior, I've hopped in my car and driven for a month straight more times that I can count. 24 hour drives are common for me, etc. I hate driving this thing long distance so much that I've completely quit taking any road trips at all. I did one trip from Denver to SLC and two weeks later went from Denver to Jackson Hole, and since the misery of those, I've decided I'd rather stay at home.

I actually NEED a new car right now with the state my 3rd gen is in (or a few thousand and a week off of work to fix everything), so I started looking at 5th gens because offroad and Toyota reliability and dog and bike carrying and they look cool. But A: f*ck the price and B: all of the above about it sucking as a DD and highway driver. I'm kind of thinking maybe I should get a Rav4 or Subaru or maybe even a Lexus IS 350 and turn the 3rd gen into an offroad beast.

I've had a 3rd gen, and now a 5th gen, the 3rd gen is a much better offroader due to it's smaller size, turning radius, and agility. Keep it, fix it up, and wheel it. Buy another car for daily driver/road trip duties, and always have a backup vehicle going forward.

Also wanted to add, just because insurance will cover trail damage in most cases, doesn't mean you ever want an at fault accident on your driving record, it would need to be a lot of damage to be worth while.

 

[T4R2014]

New vehicle - insurance is more likely to fix shit. Or I can replace it worst case since it's still made.

Old vehicle - gets totaled by a door ding. Insurance won't fix it. Harder to replace.

I generally care less in newer stuff as a result.

 

[Akkording]

If your heart is set on buying a 5th gen then do it or else wait until the 6th comes out and pay even more. Nothing wrong with keeping your 3rd and making it a long travel suspension beast. Be proud of whatever you drive regardless of mods or not. At the end of the day you will enjoy a solid vehicle and have that smile on your face everyday you drive to and from work. I still enjoy driving my 1 gen Tacoma to this day with the exceptions of a few quirks that I need to resolve, truck still runs great with about 298k. It sounds like you are a long term commited Toyota owner like myself. Get the damn T4R and join the 5th gen forum group already no really, If you have wheeled the 3rd gen then I'm sure you are aware of what armor mods you at least require for the 5th. At minimum sliders and engine & tranny skids, that alone will take time and money, make the wise financial choice. The 5th gen is a great road trip truck, your family will forever love you to be seen in a new ride.