Honest opinions PLEASE

[sf jakey]

What is the gear ratio on the Trail Edition? 3.73 or worse? 4.56 seems high for a vehicle on 33's.

 

[bimrunner]

Well, 4.56 gives me some room to go a little larger on tires but I have added quite a bit of weight as well and this really helps (my estimate is just under 1000). I am running about 2600 rpm at 75 so it really isn’t bad. 3.73 is stock on all 5th gens (SR5, TE, LE). 4.11 probably would be perfect, but alas, that is not an option. Nitro is the only one making a gear set for this gen and only offers 4.56.

 

[mfregeau20]

Thanks for all the replies and honest feedback. Sounds like my only gripe might be with the power. I'll have to look and see where I can arrange to rent for a weekend trip to Tahoe and truly evaluate if the 4 Runner will work. Any rumors of a more powerful motor in the near future?

The wife took ours from Sacramento area to Tahoe up hwy 50. She did have to use the sport mod and be in 4th most of the way but said it went up fine.

Power may be your issue with the TR4 but you will ily have to suffer in one area and in my opinion the power is not that bad to turn away from the rest of the benefits of the TR4.

I have driven mine on vacation to So Cal and back and was perfectly comfortable.

 

[claytorr]

Budget rental cars at SFO

Last month Budget rentals from SFO handed me the keys to a 2014 SR5 4Runner 4WD. We had already purchased ours but I really enjoyed having a rental car to drive in ways I might not drive mine. I would call Budget and rent one for the weekend, PM if you need more info

 

[sf jakey]

Great info, thanks!

 

[ATL4R]

New here, but not to off road forums. I have been a Jeep guy my whole adult life, lastly being a 05 Unlimited Rubicon I built up pretty well. Problem is, I HATE driving Jeeps anywhere but off road. So, about 2 years ago I sold my Rubicon and bought a Subaru Outback as my daily driver/ Tahoe ride. Best car I have ever owned, BUT, well you know, driving a Subaru is well….? I also like to get into a lot of remote spots for fishing and hunting and can't do that with the Subie. I have a F350 diesel 4x4 which is my main travel rig/tow rig, but I just can't justify driving a beast like that on a daily basis. So, my question is, how is a 2014 4Runner trail as a daily driver? Is the power sufficient on hills? I hate underpowered vehicles running up to Tahoe, and that is a deal breaker for me. Also, how are the road manners, especially in the snow? I am hoping the Trail is going to be the comfortable daily driver I con stack up 24k miles a year on and still build it up a bit to do some moderate off road/crawling stuff to get to high mountain lakes, streams etc. I'm not going to run Fordyce or the Rubicon, I've done it and have no interest to beat a vehicle like that any more. From reading here, I will probably be adding a mild lift, tires, rockers and winch. I also am only looking new, I drive too much and don't like dealing with somebody else's rejects. Thanks, and I hope this was the right forum, being that I am only interested in a new 4 Runner.

I'll be brutally honest. I came from a 08' 6.4L F250 Diesel and the 4Runner is obviously a slouch when compared to such a vehicle. I get 50% better mileage in the 4Runner and gas is cheaper than diesel fuel.

The 4Runner isn't going to be going up any hills without downshifting, even tiny hills will unlock the torque converter to maintain speeds. It's got power though and will actually run pretty swift if you get into the throttle. It can increase speed (accelerate) up *any* hill you attack, but it will be in a lower gear and winding up the RPMs. That's how almost all new vehicles operate though (except diesels) with these automatic transmissions with so many gears.

My 4Runner is fairly modified, but it ran this way stock as well. My sister has a bone stock 2WD '10 4Runner and it is just as much a slouch on even the slightest incline. You've got to apply some throttle and unlock the TQ converter to maintain speed on any incline most of the time.

I still love my 4Runner and am glad I traded away from the 6.4 with EXPENSIVE repair bills. I just wanted to give you an honest review since I came from a tuned (Spartan) Diesel with over 1000+ ft-lbs of torque, which is probably similar to your truck.

They are two totally different types of vehicles. As for the Subaru... I think you'll like the 4Runner better

 

[Orbital Debris]

I can provide perspective between a Subaru and the 4runner. I recently moved to a 4runner limited from a Subaru Forester XT. While the turbo is a bit quicker, I find the 4runner to have more power and better feel on road. As others have said, you may experience some downshifting in the mountains, but that is a function of a going from a 4EAT to a 5 speed.

Overall the ride quality of the 4runner is superior to the Subaru. On road manners, with a solid frame feel.

 

[joey185]

I'm surprised everyone is talking about power. I had a suburban and I have a duramax truck and never thought or worried about power. I will say that if I get another one , it will not be lifted. On my 2012 I lifted it with a 3 inch overland lift with 285 tires and had nothing but problems with the yaw throwing the computer off and grabbing the brakes when in a turn. Felt a lil unstable on highway compared to stock. And mileage suffered. My next one if I do it is going to be the new trail ( throw some duratracs on it and call it good ) and maybe spacers. Power is enough to do what it needs too.( IMHO )

 

[sf jakey]

Wow. I love how the Subaru drives. If the 4 runner is even similar, I'll be thrilled. How do the transmissions hold up with all this downshifting and unlocking? All the GM trannys I've had don't like that at all, and usually fail at 60-100k.

 

[limamike]

Wow. I love how the Subaru drives. If the 4 runner is even similar, I'll be thrilled. How do the transmissions hold up with all this downshifting and unlocking? All the GM trannys I've had don't like that at all, and usually fail at 60-100k.

The reliability of Toyota products is nothing like GM. I've never had to replace so much as a water pump due to failure on any of the three Toyota trucks I've owned in my life.

 

[Exempt]

I have a 2011 TE, and i have been towing a 5000lb trailer from the bay area to nevada 2 times a year without any problems. If i need extra power, i will down shift but thats pretty rare.

 

[mikey's2010SR5]

Just got back from Tahoe. I don't have the trail but a LE. Works fine for me. Modified and loaded you may need to be in 4th to drive up the hill 75 the whole way, but it is doable. I usually am going 70 on 80 but you know how it goes on 50 with the people frightened of the curves and all the single lane places. Other than that it sounds like a great fit.

Tell me you already did the break in for those new gears.

 

[bimrunner]

Tell me you already did the break in for those new gears.

This was a break in trip. Was up 50 so not going very fast. Probably averaged 60 at highest due to traffic. You know the drill...

 

[G8RB8_12SR5]

I haven't driven Tahoe but I have driven the Siskyous/Mt. Shasta as well as some of the windier back roads around the bay area (Redwood Dr./Pinehurst Rd.) and like others have said it'll down shift but I guess I'm used to it and accept it for what it is. Getting an avg of 22mpg driving from Seattle to Oakland area and back on 5 round trips (read almost 8000 miles in these trips alone) since May, so I'll take that as a trade off.

Have about 38,000 on mine in just under two years, and as with all the other Toyotas I or my family has ever owned (I think we're at 9 total), I plan to just change the oil and rotate the tires for at least 250k miles, that's the reliability that keeps bringing me back. Planning to get at least 300k out of this truck hopefully.