Just traded in my FJ Cruiser for a 2015 Trail Premium

[andrewcoffin]

Loved the FJ (a 2012 w/Off Road Package, mostly stock), but between the remarkably high value of the now discontinued FJ and the usefulness of more family/gear space, I decided to make the trade. Selected the 2015 Trail Premium with KDSS.

The 4Runner seems like a great, if not quite as distinctive, alternative so far. No off road trials yet, but that will come soon.

I'm having the stock tires traded out for Nitto Terra Grapplers tomorrow. Ordered a Thule Canyon rack (with extension) for the roof.

This is my first 4Runner. Any new owner tips? I'm not interested in any major mods at the moment, but would love input on:

- break in tips
- Entune (seems like a pretty weak system so far, and would have been happy without it, but I'd like to know how to get the most out of it since it's there; would much rather have a system with CarPlay)
- KDSS/Crawl Control/Terrain Select (I had A-TRAC and rear-diff lock on the FJ, but these other systems are new to me)
- anything else I should know

If there are existing threads that I should read as my starting point, please send in the right direction.

Thanks for your advice!

 

[Titanpat57]

See...you can make a good decision when you have to...:trophy:

 

[Jhalko]

The break in is in the manual, but one thing many have found is that gas mileage actuly takes longer to settle in. I think mine got better over like 5000 miles and that was about the point I felt like we had learned each other.

You need to know the more time you spend on here the more modifications you will NEED. Haha

Welcome.

 

[itsdchz]

Welcome! I, like you, and so many others here, have come from the FJ. Enjoy your new ride!

 

[firepilot]

Another FJ Convert here. Traded my 2014 Ultimate Edition and a 2008 4runner Limited in for a 2015 Limited. We needed more space, and two instead of three vehicles.

Put some nice TRD wheels on my new 4Runner, the 6112/5160 shock combo will be on soon and away we go. I am enjoying some of the things the FJ Couldn't offer like the Sunroof, and rear doors that are bigger. It is also much friendlier to see out of for day to day operation.

Will still miss my FJ, but the 4Runner is also pretty sweet.

Phil

 

[Jetboy]

This is my first 4Runner. Any new owner tips? I'm not interested in any major mods at the moment, but would love input on:

- KDSS/Crawl Control/Terrain Select (I had A-TRAC and rear-diff lock on the FJ, but these other systems are new to me)
- anything else I should know

If there are existing threads that I should read as my starting point, please send in the right direction.

Thanks for your advice!

Crawl control is pretty simple and marginally useful. It's basically cruise control offroad. It does a reasonable approximation of low gear manual transmission. It appears in a number of videos to be very useful in deep sand. I've used it and found it to work OK in rocky situations, but it's not particularly useful in mud or slippery trails. Haven't tried in snow.

KDSS is basically big sway bars that do not disconnect, but do effectively allow articulation greater than the base model sway bar and retain significantly greater anti-roll forces on the road. It only operates under 12mph - over 12mph the pistons are locked in place and it's just a big stiff swaybar set.

Multiterrain select doesn't really do much. It modifies the aggressiveness of some electronic assisting functions like throttle response, traction control, etc. Rear axle locked with ATRAC should operate pretty similarly to the FJ Cruiser - and most of the time this is where I have mine when I'm in need more traction. I don't think I've ever used MTS other than in a parking lot.

Good luck with the new ride!

 

[aweaver65]

The break in is in the manual, but one thing many have found is that gas mileage actuly takes longer to settle in. I think mine got better over like 5000 miles and that was about the point I felt like we had learned each other.

You need to know the more time you spend on here the more modifications you will NEED. Haha

Welcome.

Agreed, my MPG continues to creep upwards as I pass 5,000

 

[Volley]

Welcome from another FJ convert

 

[Saker]

Welcome!
Moved from a 13' FJC TT Edition!

 

[DEERUNNER]

Hello from a current FJ and 4R owner. I kept the 2008 FJ when I purchased my 2015 TRDP. Really liking the extra room and real rear doors. Still getting used to the 4-wheel drive switches and settings. No interest in entune and seem to get all I need from the normal phone interface.

 

[andrewcoffin]

Another FJ Convert here. Traded my 2014 Ultimate Edition and a 2008 4runner Limited in for a 2015 Limited. We needed more space, and two instead of three vehicles.

Put some nice TRD wheels on my new 4Runner, the 6112/5160 shock combo will be on soon and away we go. I am enjoying some of the things the FJ Couldn't offer like the Sunroof, and rear doors that are bigger. It is also much friendlier to see out of for day to day operation.

Will still miss my FJ, but the 4Runner is also pretty sweet.

Phil

Agree with all of this...enjoying the 4Runner so far. Though I felt a pang of remorse when I saw my FJ for sale on the Toyota lot...and was absolutely shocked when I saw what they were asking for it, even with the high demand that's out there.

 

[firepilot]

Agree with all of this...enjoying the 4Runner so far. Though I felt a pang of remorse when I saw my FJ for sale on the Toyota lot...and was absolutely shocked when I saw what they were asking for it, even with the high demand that's out there.

I hear you. I got what I wanted out of mine. I could have gotten more out of it selling private party, but it would have been a wash after paying sales tax starting from scratch. Idaho you only pay sales tax on the difference.

The saving grace on my FJ was it never hit the lot. I have to drive by the lot every day and didn't want to see it on the front row. I saw it out back for a week and then it went away. I figure it went to a online customer.

Hope to do the suspension this weekend, and it just clicked over 1000 miles today. So far I really like the 4runner.

 

[andrewcoffin]

Thought I'd add a few snapshots of my new ride. Only changes from the stock Trail Premium package so far are changing out the tires for Nitto Terra Grapplers (same tire I had on my FJ, and I'm fond of them) and the addition of a Thule Canyon Roof Basket (with the optional Canyon Extension). I searched in vain for photos of the full-length Canyon on a 4Runner before ordering the basket online, so I thought it might be helpful to post a few photos here. I like the rack overall -- sturdy, low profile, attractive. A couple of things that I'm not sure about yet:

• The contoured design of the Canyon vs. a more traditional square basket. I'm sure this will aid in loading/unloading and it is more aerodynamic than other racks I have owned, but I am somewhat partial to the look of the old safari-style rack I had on my Land Rover Discovery years ago.
• Mounting the rack on the factory cross bars was kind of a pain, and there is definitely some flex in the cross bars if I pull on the rack. I'm considering switching them out for Thule Aeroblade Edge bars, but that's a significant expense. I also like the idea of the idea of the Thule Xadapt system for easier mounting/unmounting of the basket.
• The rack is pretty quiet up to about 70 mph -- between 70-80 there is definitely some noticable wind noise.

The sizing of the rack is really ideal, though. I kept the factory cross bars in their original, recommended position, and pushed the Canyon all the way back so that it sits over the XM antenna (which it nicely clears) and with just enough clearance to open the lift gate. The front of the basket then extends to almost exactly the position that sunroof auto opens to by default.

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewcoffin/17684038892" title="4Runner by Andrew Coffin, on Flickr"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8853/17684038892_ce79a0e227_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="4Runner"></a>

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewcoffin/17684037492" title="4Runner by Andrew Coffin, on Flickr"><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5466/17684037492_f4261a89fd_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="4Runner"></a>

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewcoffin/17686501395" title="4Runner by Andrew Coffin, on Flickr"><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5462/17686501395_c4debb757f_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="4Runner"></a>

 

[mc813]

Is your account private? Can you find the link that ends in .jpg?

 

[DigableKid]

Interested...

So, what's the verdict? I went from a 2006 FJ to a 4th Gen 4Runner and then to the 5th.

 

[DesertCanyons]

New tires on new Trail Edition

Thought I'd add a few snapshots of my new ride. Only changes from the stock Trail Premium package so far are changing out the tires for Nitto Terra Grapplers (same tire I had on my FJ, and I'm fond of them) and the addition of a ...

Are there any tricks or advice you can give us for trading in the stock tires. I'm ordering a new T4R Trail Edition tomorrow. I want to trade the stock tires in for something better when I pick it up and get maximum value for the tires. I don't want to wait weeks to sell them private party, like someone who bought a Limited with 20" rims and needs better off-road tires. :ballchain:

 

[andrewcoffin]

So, what's the verdict? I went from a 2006 FJ to a 4th Gen 4Runner and then to the 5th.

There will always be things i miss about the FJ, but overall I'm pretty happy with the switch. The 4Runner is brighter, roomier, more comfortable...I still haven't been offroad to compare performance there, but expect the differences to be minimal. I'm looking forward to playing around with the terrain select and crawl control, even if they are somewhat superfluous.

 

[andrewcoffin]

Are there any tricks or advice you can give us for trading in the stock tires. I'm ordering a new T4R Trail Edition tomorrow. I want to trade the stock tires in for something better when I pick it up and get maximum value for the tires. I don't want to wait weeks to sell them private party, like someone who bought a Limited with 20" rims and needs better off-road tires. :ballchain:

I made the tire switch part of the package when I bought the 4Runner. They wouldn't do it for free, but gave me the Nittos at cost, free installation, and $50/each for my stock tires. Not the best deal in the world, but I meant that I didn't have to fool around with Craigslist.

 

[DesertCanyons]

I made the tire switch part of the package when I bought the 4Runner. They wouldn't do it for free, but gave me the Nittos at cost, free installation, and $50/each for my stock tires. Not the best deal in the world, but I meant that I didn't have to fool around with Craigslist.

Thanks. I will give that a try here with the dealer I ordered the TE from today. He's going to verify he can get the TE the way I want it, just with KDSS and no other accessories, and then cash my deposit. In 10 to 12 weeks my new toy will arrive from Japan. I want better tires on it. If they can sell me good AT tires with a LT rating at cost and give me $50 each for the stock tires, I'd be a happy camper. :fishing:

 

[Speedy Gomez]

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewcoffin/17684038892" title="4Runner by Andrew Coffin, on Flickr"><img src="https://c1.staticflickr.com/9/8853/17684038892_ce79a0e227_b.jpg" width="1024" height="768" alt="4Runner"></a>

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewcoffin/17684037492" title="4Runner by Andrew Coffin, on Flickr"><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5466/17684037492_f4261a89fd_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="4Runner"></a>

<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewcoffin/17686501395" title="4Runner by Andrew Coffin, on Flickr"><img src="https://c2.staticflickr.com/6/5462/17686501395_c4debb757f_b.jpg" width="768" height="1024" alt="4Runner"></a>

Now that is what I am talking about! Sweet Trail! :rockon: