I'm Indecisive And Stuck Between A Rock And A Hard Place!!!

[Drummer1]

Hello T4R enthusiasts,
I have a dillema that I'm sure many members here can relate to and need your helpful recommendations and which direction you took if you had this same issue.:ybrick:
I know in the end, I will have to make the choice that best suits my needs, desires and budget, but I welcome all support in helping me to make a good choice.ray:
I have owned a 2006 T4R Limited 2WD since 2011 and have used it as a dd and towing a camper years ago but now is just a daily driver. I have had a desire for years to do a complete off-road, overlanding build with it. Unfortunately, it is 2WD and this prevents me from driving my T4R anywhere 4WD vehicles can venture to. :crybaby:
I have been researching, reading and learning what I want for my build but then I think to myself, what good will it do my 4Runner if I throw thousands of $ into it to give it the look of a capable off-road 4WD 4Runner when it really isn't and wont be able to perform like one either.
My 4Runner is in amazing condition inside and out because I take very good care of it, have made improvements, and kept up with all the maintenance. I love the V8, power, and everything about it as a daily driver, but want to take it further.
My main dillema is to decide if I should sink a lot of money into my 2WD to give me the ability to use it on simple trails or just trade it in for a 5th Gen 4Runner like a TRD Off Road edition which will last me for many years and add the tires, lift, bumpers and roofrack that will take me wherever I want to go without worrying about getting stuck???:ybrick:
The only negative about trading my current 4Runner in for a 5th gen is that I will have an expensive car payment which make finances tight since I'm still paying off my wifes car.
Thank you for reading my post and listening to my dillema.
Have a great Labor Day everyone!

 

[wcjeep]

2010 Sr5 has a manual transfer case. Prices are decent. Add a locker. Skip the Pro. I'm kinda surprised how many people buy the Pro than immediately throw away the suspension.

I bought the offroad/ trail for the manual transfer case and rear locker.

2010/2011 sr5 would also have much lower payments.

 

[Drummer1]

2010 Sr5 has a manual transfer case. Prices are decent. Add a locker. Skip the Pro. I'm kinda surprised how many people buy the Pro than immediately throw away the suspension.

I bought the offroad/ trail for the manual transfer case and rear locker.

2010/2011 sr5 would also have much lower payments.

If I choose to trade mine in for a 5th gen, I really want either the TRD Off Road or the Trail edition. I'm not interested in the TRD Pro since Toyota charges so much more for that model and I would most likely want to upgrade to a different lift and tire size.
Thanks for your feedback! :high5:

 

[Inv4drZm]

Depends on what trails you want to do, and where you want to go camping. Have you been offroad with it yet? If you want to do easy trails you can probably give it a try with some recovery gear, and if you get stuck, it should be easy for somebody to pull you out.

Honestly I think with your leveling kit and all terrains just go out there and hit an easy trail, and if your truck doesn't perform like you want trade it in. Especially if you have some wheeling buddies that will go with you.

 

[montijo505]

There have been several members that converted their 2wd’s to 4x4’s. As long as you use a reputable 4x4 shop they should have no problem putting in a manual transfer case. That being said, I’m sure that it’s expensive (I have no idea on cost). It all depends on how set you are on keeping your current vehicle. As some have suggested an earlier model 5th gen May be beneficial. Again it depends on finances.


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[Drummer1]

Depends on what trails you want to do, and where you want to go camping. Have you been offroad with it yet? If you want to do easy trails you can probably give it a try with some recovery gear, and if you get stuck, it should be easy for somebody to pull you out.

Honestly I think with your leveling kit and all terrains just go out there and hit an easy trail, and if your truck doesn't perform like you want trade it in. Especially if you have some wheeling buddies that will go with you.

Most if any of the trails here in North West Florida should be pretty bland and flat. We like going to Tennessee and I would like to go to some of the Toyota events like the Annual Appalachian Toyota Round-Up as an example to experience some challenging trails.

 

[0verland]

If it were me I would be patient and search for a clean 4th Gen V8 4WD. I personally am not a fan of the 5th Gen, however if you really wanted the 5th Gen that bad, hold off for another year or so and wait until the 6th Gen comes out possibly/probably, then the 5th Gen prices will drop. Just a thought...

 

[Ventil8]

Needs vs wants

If you currently have your current 4R paid off, keep it, which I'm assuming you do. Pay off the wife's car and never finance a car again. You already said your finances would be tight if you added another car payment, why would you intentionally make it more difficult with a new car payment? Listen to Dave Ramsey bro, he'll change your life. I want a bigger house so I can build an indoor golf simulator in an extra room, is it happening? Hell no!

 

[thennen]

I agree with some others. Keep your 2wd Runner with no payment. Pay off the other car. Your runner is a DD after all. Why get a $400-$700 monthly payment for the occasional off-road thrill that may end up in vehicle damage that costs even more? Money is life in the long run. If it isn’t, then why do we trade so many hours of our lives just to get our hands on some of it? My encouragement to you - don’t strap yourself to a vehicle. Enjoy the one you have.

 

[AuSeeker]

If you currently have your current 4R paid off, keep it, which I'm assuming you do. Pay off the wife's car and never finance a car again. You already said your finances would be tight if you added another car payment, why would you intentionally make it more difficult with a new car payment? Listen to Dave Ramsey bro, he'll change your life. I want a bigger house so I can build an indoor golf simulator in an extra room, is it happening? Hell no!

I agree with some others. Keep your 2wd Runner with no payment. Pay off the other car. Your runner is a DD after all. Why get a $400-$700 monthly payment for the occasional off-road thrill that may end up in vehicle damage that costs even more? Money is life in the long run. If it isn’t, then why do we trade so many hours of our lives just to get our hands on some of it? My encouragement to you - don’t strap yourself to a vehicle. Enjoy the one you have.

I 100% agree with the above!

I have never had car payments and never will, if I can't pay cash for it I wait until I can, I would as mentioned keep what you have, pay off your wife's vehicle and then start saving what money you can until you have enough with or without selling your present T4R to get a 4WD T4R!

In the end it's up to you to decide, but if you really want to do some challenging trails get a 4WD, but in the meantime your 2WD will do more than you think it can, especially on easy trails, but do take along some recovery gear!

 

[thennen]

I 100% agree with the above!

I have never had car payments and never will, if I can't pay cash for it I wait until I can, I would as mentioned keep what you have, pay off your wife's vehicle and then start saving what money you can until you have enough with or without selling your present T4R to get a 4WD T4R!

In the end it's up to you to decide, but if you really want to do some challenging trails get a 4WD, but in the meantime your 2WD will do more than you think it can, especially on easy trails, but do take along some recovery gear!

Like Ventil8 and AuSeeker said, get debt-free on your vehicles. Once you get over that hump, and the monthly payment mindset, it’s easier to stay there. Once you have no payment, simply save that money, or even 3/4 of it. The stress relief is worth it.

 

[Drummer1]

If it were me I would be patient and search for a clean 4th Gen V8 4WD. I personally am not a fan of the 5th Gen, however if you really wanted the 5th Gen that bad, hold off for another year or so and wait until the 6th Gen comes out possibly/probably, then the 5th Gen prices will drop. Just a thought...

This is a good idea that you suggested and thank you.

 

[Drummer1]

If you currently have your current 4R paid off, keep it, which I'm assuming you do. Pay off the wife's car and never finance a car again. You already said your finances would be tight if you added another car payment, why would you intentionally make it more difficult with a new car payment? Listen to Dave Ramsey bro, he'll change your life. I want a bigger house so I can build an indoor golf simulator in an extra room, is it happening? Hell no!

It has been paid off for years now and thats the way I prefer it. My wife and I are working to pay her car off quickly using the Dave Ramsey method which is funny you mentioned that. I really have no desire to get myself into deeper debt with another vehicle. The only reason we are making payments on my wifes car is because her Santa Fe we paid cash for died suddenly due to the engine failing.
Thanks for the sound good advice and reminding me what Dave Ramsey taught me!:wof:

 

[Drummer1]

I agree with some others. Keep your 2wd Runner with no payment. Pay off the other car. Your runner is a DD after all. Why get a $400-$700 monthly payment for the occasional off-road thrill that may end up in vehicle damage that costs even more? Money is life in the long run. If it isn’t, then why do we trade so many hours of our lives just to get our hands on some of it? My encouragement to you - don’t strap yourself to a vehicle. Enjoy the one you have.

Thank you also for pushing me in the right direction and reminding me how good of a 4Runner I have and don't need to replace it just to have all the 4WD options at a very costly monthly payment.
As much as I enjoy keeping my 4Runner clean and detailed, I would probably cringe after running through some muddy trails :doh

 

[Drummer1]

I 100% agree with the above!

I have never had car payments and never will, if I can't pay cash for it I wait until I can, I would as mentioned keep what you have, pay off your wife's vehicle and then start saving what money you can until you have enough with or without selling your present T4R to get a 4WD T4R!

In the end it's up to you to decide, but if you really want to do some challenging trails get a 4WD, but in the meantime your 2WD will do more than you think it can, especially on easy trails, but do take along some recovery gear!

I agree with them also and I just needed to hear it from others to give me a wake up call.
I will just stick to my original plan and slowly modify and upgrade what I have to make it unique for me and enjoy it for many years to come.

 

[Drummer1]

Like Ventil8 and AuSeeker said, get debt-free on your vehicles. Once you get over that hump, and the monthly payment mindset, it’s easier to stay there. Once you have no payment, simply save that money, or even 3/4 of it. The stress relief is worth it.

Sounds like a plan. In the meantime I'm going to move forward on a better lift and tires and go from there after saving money.

 

[momo.75]

It is amazing how capable a 2WD 4th gen. Mine has taken me everywhere I have cared to go. We haven't had a car payment since 2005, which has been very nice. I had considered selling it and finding a 4WD but having twins and all the expenses that go along with them it just wasn't in the cards. I decided to just make the best of what I have. At some point I might have 4WD added but it isn't a high priority. Seeing how I just turned 200k, it is just starting to break in.

 

[LT1coupe]

I'm doing the 4wd conversion for under 1500 in parts & I will have a better 4wd 4runner than Toyota ever built. V8, FJ manual transfer case, ADD front axle, true 2wd and 4wd. I have all the front end stuff installed, waiting on a good time to swap the trans & transfer case.
I lost no measurable fuel economy, I have my cake with icing!

 

[Drummer1]

It is amazing how capable a 2WD 4th gen. Mine has taken me everywhere I have cared to go. We haven't had a car payment since 2005, which has been very nice. I had considered selling it and finding a 4WD but having twins and all the expenses that go along with them it just wasn't in the cards. I decided to just make the best of what I have. At some point I might have 4WD added but it isn't a high priority. Seeing how I just turned 200k, it is just starting to break in.

You are correct and I have heard from many other members here as well on how well their 2WD 4Runners perform off-road. I agree with you about not having a car payment and cant wait to get my wifes car paid off by next year.
By the way, I love your 4Runner build and it has the set up that I have had in my build plans.
I have a question for you about your Demello front bumper. Was the install a straight swap from the factory plastic bumper? Did you have to do any modifications when installing it or relocate anything behind the bumper? I have already been in touch with Demello and planning on ordering one this month.
Thanks for your feedback!

 

[momo.75]

Yes, the DO bumper is pretty straight forward. I think there was a little trimming i had to do of the fender liner and some other little plastic pieces that needed to be removed. I am pretty sure everything was covered in their directions. I have been very pleased with mine.