How solid is your 4Runner? How has it held up?

[levee-11]

Hello all,
I'm making this thread because I'm curious how your 4Runner's are holding up. I want to know how people's interiors are holding up depending on how much you beat on your runner, and how many times you have taken things apart. I'm curious as to how much the plastic wears out inside where you may have taken it apart many times, such as dash trim, door panels, etc. How do the plastic clips everywhere hold up? Do you have any loose trim/plastic that won't go back to the way it was before? Does it rattle a lot if you beat on your Runner?

I also want to hear how your exterior and mechanical stuff is holding up, especially on 4Runners that have been disassembled many times. How much do you beat on your 4Runner, and how solid does it look and feel? How are panels lining up? How much damage have you caused that has been repaired, and how have repairs held up.

My 4Runner is very stock, and in mint condition, but I've done a lot of electrical upgrades inside to make it more modern, and I've taken many things apart, and plan to do so several more times for future upgrades, inside and out, and always worry about wearing things out, thus damaging my mint 4Runner. I want to hear from all sorts of use cases, and want to get an idea as to how solid these rigs are after lots of wear and tear.

 

[RotaryDreamz]

I have a limited with the auto seats, and every single plastic button and or switch have broken off. Seems pretty common. My rig is used mainly for hunting, so I take my doors off every time I go on long trips. I have 6 switches in my center dash, aftermarket stereo, trans temp gauge and CB radio, so I've taken things apart quite often. So far my door panels and center dash clips are still and stay in place.

As for my rear trunk door panels, I've installed a couple mounts for a few things and Raingler net. I have a few clips that broke off, but only due to me being in a rush and not putting things back together carefully. If you pull the clips off the right way, and put them back in carefully, they should last. But to be honest, majority of the clips are replaceable and dont cost much.

My interior doesnt rattle, and everything feels and works the way it should. It's just dirty as you can imagine. Doors off on forest trails, mud, snow and big game in the trunk. I usually have to drive through heavy brush to get close to prime areas when I'm out, so my exterior is scratched to hell. My rig gets used and abused for sure, but I'm still in love with her. Shes so reliable and she takes me everywhere I want to go and back as long as I keep her maintenance up.

 

[jgue467]

Mine offroads a fair amount over rocky, muddy, sandy terrain. Holds together super well, nothing squeaking, I don't take it apart very often mostly because there isn't a need to fix anything, period, look at my sig. all orginal. Luck all.

 

[cleanrunner]

other than replacing the original wash board seats with sr5 seats and the gear selector "case" being cracked, i would say the interior is doing quite well after 212k miles and sitting in florida heat.

 

[brillo_76]

They are very dependable vehicles that hold up quite well. Leather seats will crack from use. Paint and clear coat will burn off. And they rust up in the rust belt.

Being torn apart and put back together doesn't phase them. Yes you may have to replace some plastic clips.

They have a few design flaws. Like the front lower ball joints and the driver front seat right bolt can rip through.

Other than that you can tear them apart. Replace things all the time.

Engines will last 300k to 400k without a refresh and I know manual transmission will go over 700k. Not sure the limit of the automatic. Probably depends on maintenance intervals.

In my area of the world the rust got them. I saved 5 from going to the scrap yards. As I slowly restore and replace the rotted steel to make then safe and drivable again..

The rot damage is mostly the frame and lower body panels like the rockers and fender areas.



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[Captsolo]

My 15 year old sr5 2005 V6 4runner is holding up great starts and runs like when new. Paint and body are like new - no rust anywhere. Frame still solid; just superficial rust no holes

Been through three starters. 150,000 miles on conventional only. Check fluids weekly. Coolant level is always same level in canister-no HG issues!

No off-roading, normal driving in Nassau bahamas where speed limits are25 mph to max of 50 in a few roads.

I had a GMC JIMMY from new and sold it for $800 because it rusted bad.:thanks:

On 4runner one front wheel bearing replaced; 4 new tires; brakes; differential never greased cause I’m bad; differential lubed with three pints of valvoline 75-90 at 120000 miles; tranny serviced at dealer with 6 quarts of Toyota AW ATM. 4Runner tranny hold 12 quarts so I’m good to 180000 miles. Engine oil and filter changed @ 5000 miles.

Thought about a second one, but makes no sense - except two car garage and impress neighbors. I do no off roading but do sport fish.

Albert with 71.1 MahiMahi caught in the Marlin Marine tournament 20 years ago on my Performance 42 (three F 225 Yamahas). Fish swam up to the boat when two other anglers were fighting theirs - and I shut down the engines. We chummed around the boat and some dolphin fish showed up. I dropped a squid in front of the one below. Albert in the picture fought the fish and I gaffed it for him. The North Exuma Sound is full of dolphins in the spring - every year.

Fish won a $500 award gift certificate at the awards dinner held by Marlin Marine. Boat finished 2nd. (2 day tournament with sailfish counting 75 points catch and release)

 

[theesotericone]

Considering it spends almost all of it's time doing shit like this I'd say it's holding up very, very well. lol

 

[traffic61]

I will hit 350k by year's end and mine is showing the normal signs of wear. Peeling clearcoat, cracked leather seats with foam showing in places, a dead power antenna, a sadly cracked dash pad and the other cosmetic issues are part of my daily driver. Good routine maintenance, new lower ball joints, a new Koyo radiator, and whatever else needs replacing has made it this far. Blown head gasket at 216k has been the major issue over the years. I have lost count of how many strut/shock changes that I have done over the last 18 years.

That being said, I am looking at retiring my Runner from the 80 mile a day round trip to work sometime in 2021. Not sure what I will purchase as a replacement at this time. After a brief retirement, my son is going to collaborate on some mods and a rework of the old truck. Hopefully it will live on for many years as a hobby truck.

 

[Ryance39]

I would say my 3rd gen has held up very well for how I use it, and even surprisingly well when compared to my brand new 5th gen. It just feels more overbuilt for the time. My 5th gen is great and I have no concerns but I honestly am not sure it will feel as solid when it's 21 years old as my 3rd gen does. I think things are just built differently now. I say the same when comparing my e39 m5 to my wife's newer X3.

Everything electrically works on the inside, there are a few little odd things like my electric seat button get stuck when pressed back, but is easy to unstuck, but everything is solid. No rattles or anything.

The body and paint has taken some serious abuse but still shines up great and is a "looker" when clean.

It's a 99 limited, some mods, some more serious than others, but all in all it's still very solid. I really appreciate the visceral nature and simplicity of it, but the seats do a number on my back.

 

[Devbot]

Almost in the 300 Club myself and still runs like a top. Done my fair share of maintenance but I'd say 90% of what I've replaced has been 20 year old OEM parts. Hardly a lick of rust on her, despite living in the PNW. I don't have the pocketbook for rock crawling (maybe if I had another vehicle lol) but it handles all my trails and logging roads just fine. Waiting till I get new UCAs to help caster out my wheels before I really test her, got some rubbing while flexed as is. Hopefully gonna hit Tonga Ridge soon and test her in the snow :naughty:

 

[levee-11]

I have a limited with the auto seats, and every single plastic button and or switch have broken off. Seems pretty common. My rig is used mainly for hunting, so I take my doors off every time I go on long trips. I have 6 switches in my center dash, aftermarket stereo, trans temp gauge and CB radio, so I've taken things apart quite often. So far my door panels and center dash clips are still and stay in place.

As for my rear trunk door panels, I've installed a couple mounts for a few things and Raingler net. I have a few clips that broke off, but only due to me being in a rush and not putting things back together carefully. If you pull the clips off the right way, and put them back in carefully, they should last. But to be honest, majority of the clips are replaceable and dont cost much.

My interior doesnt rattle, and everything feels and works the way it should. It's just dirty as you can imagine. Doors off on forest trails, mud, snow and big game in the trunk. I usually have to drive through heavy brush to get close to prime areas when I'm out, so my exterior is scratched to hell. My rig gets used and abused for sure, but I'm still in love with her. Shes so reliable and she takes me everywhere I want to go and back as long as I keep her maintenance up.

Awesome! This is what I’m looking to know. I know these rigs are solid and won’t die if you take care of them mechanically, I wanted to hear from people that use and abuse, and still have a solid feeling rig, no rattles/broken plastic stuff, etc. Thanks man!


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[mikeferg]

Here is a perfect example of a almost 300k mileage garage kept fully maintained 4runner original paint, daily truck, washed every week, and it sees snow every winter.

 

[sportscarfan]

Here is a perfect example of a almost 300k mileage garage kept fully maintained 4runner original paint, daily truck, washed every week, and it sees snow every winter.

Wow! In CO, that must go from house garage to covered parking garage and stay home in late winter when the wind destroys everyone else's paint with CDOT's gravel. I'm impressed!

I can attest that it doesn't take but a few seasons outside to destroy the factory clearcoat. That would be my only "issue". In 10 years of ownership, I've never seen the CEL. Outside of normal service items, I've replaced the starter contacts, muffler, and a front diff. seal. As far as interior, I replaced both "leather" seat bottoms covers with reproductions from ebay'r "hot-rod-upholstery". This is all on the '97. The '98 was in a little worse shape, but the purchase price reflected that.

 

[brillo_76]

Here is a perfect example of a almost 300k mileage garage kept fully maintained 4runner original paint, daily truck, washed every week, and it sees snow every winter.

Yup its amazing what kept out of the sun and washed all the time can do.

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[96RedRunner]

96Red solid as a rock through to the end, Son said hell of a ride @60-70 mph, I'm damn glad was a 3rd Gen Runner, was happy ending.

 

[96RedRunner]

96Red solid as a rock through to the end, Son said hell of a ride @60-70 mph, I'm damn glad was a 3rd Gen Runner, was happy ending.

5 months before showing 374k odo worked mostly guessing close to 400k mi.

 

[TheSaturnV]

2000 LTD, has held up like a champ.

Issues:

1 - The woodgrain center radio bezel finally cracked after quite a few removals for stereo/backup camera work. It's hairline, and you cannot see it.

2 - Typical breakdown of the driver seat side bolster. I've since replace the entire leather covers on both front seats

3 - Sunroof jammed up, possibly due to poor maintenance of the roof drain tubes. Had to replace the tubes and spiral cord mechanisms to get the roof working again

4 - Still on the original radiator, replacement sitting in the garage

5 - LBJ's were completely solid with 125k miles and 20 years. Refurbished the entire suspension system as a preventative.

Keeping this truck forever.