Kids in the Second Row
- Thread starter blackbrit
- Start date
olsen_karl
New member
That's not accurate. The V6 4WD 4Runner is switchable from 2HI-4HI-4LO, but 4HI and 4LO are fulltime. There is a push button on the dash board to lock the center differential (in the transfer case) -- when locked, the 4HI and 4LO modes are the same as part time, like in the Tacoma, and many other 4WD vehicles.
The V8 4WD 4Runner is switchable from 4HI-4LO, with the same push button to lock the center differential. The difference is that there is no 2HI (rear wheel drive only) setting on the V8.
That's not accurate. The 4th gen V6 has a true multi-mode system. It is essentially the same as a V8's full-time system, but with an additional 2WD mode.
On the 5th gen 4Runner, only the Limited model comes with fulltime 4WD -- the SR5 and TE models have a part-time system.
Which year an model do you drive? (Thanks for the input!)
I didn't know this. I'm used to the part time 4WD, but fulltime might be nice given road conditions up here.
It's good to know your experience that both headlights are pretty good. As readers may remember, the stock headlights on the '98 Taco are nothing to brag about!
Now this is serious given my driving needs. I've been reading all the specs on used models of the 4Runner, and have found specs that have been confusing for me. I guess I've got to make a spread sheet with ground clearance numbers and sources for you all to check, as I'm not sure how accurate each source is. I'll do this if I end up buying used rather than new. I've mostly been using Edmonds and Consumer Reports for specs on the 4Runner and (from memory) have been seeing 6.9 inches to around 9 inches, I think.
I think I'm ready for an auto after driving an stick for.... let's see: I'll settle on forever. That's pretty accurate.
This info is helpful for me, and I'm sure will be useful to later readers of this thread, also.
Thanks for another data point! What year/trim do you drive?
Hmm. If I understand the differences, which I may not, entirely, that may put another check mark in the plus column for the 4th gen V6. (That, and I'm a notorious cheap skate. I love luxury, but when faced with a choice, usually opt for saving money whenever I legitimately can, and still get the options I think I need.)
2006 SR5 V8. (no 3rd row)
He loves the fold down middle thing with the cupholders, too.
Thanks, Sporin! I bet that fold down thing is a hit. His own little table. This one has the table thing in the front, too, doesn't it?
Sporin
New member
Yes it does.:lookout:
wife has an 06 T4R SR5. son is still in a car seat (not booster seat) so there is a certain amount of recline adjustment in the car seat. he has plenty of space to stretch his legs out (we have the seat in the center of the second row, no third row) and can sleep comfortably w/o his head bobbing around, etc...
when we have our friend's kids with us, he sits in a booster seat and still seems comfy enough, the seat isn't perfectly vertical like the tacos. of course, with friends in the back seat, there is no napping going on back there.
i think even w/ a booster seat as he gets older, he'll still be fine space-wise.
even when he sits behind one of the front seats, he still has lots of legroom.
no real difference in comfort factor between the T4R and our Sienna, far as i can tell.
when we have our friend's kids with us, he sits in a booster seat and still seems comfy enough, the seat isn't perfectly vertical like the tacos. of course, with friends in the back seat, there is no napping going on back there.
i think even w/ a booster seat as he gets older, he'll still be fine space-wise.
even when he sits behind one of the front seats, he still has lots of legroom.
no real difference in comfort factor between the T4R and our Sienna, far as i can tell.
BlairB
New member
I went from a 4x4 TRD DC Taco to my current 4Runner and am very happy with the choice that I made.
The back seats are very comfortable in my 4Runner. Although I am do not have any kids, I am 22 and have had many friends who are 6ft and taller ride in the back without any problem, many comment on how comfortable my car is. I have even ridden in the back seat some on road trips (I am 6'2" 200lbs and have back injuries from college sports, so your kids will probably have less issues with comfort than I do). I personally find the interior and ride much more comfortable than my Tacoma, of course now its a harder comparison since my Taco was mostly stock and my 4Runner, well it is not.
The back seats are very comfortable in my 4Runner. Although I am do not have any kids, I am 22 and have had many friends who are 6ft and taller ride in the back without any problem, many comment on how comfortable my car is. I have even ridden in the back seat some on road trips (I am 6'2" 200lbs and have back injuries from college sports, so your kids will probably have less issues with comfort than I do). I personally find the interior and ride much more comfortable than my Tacoma, of course now its a harder comparison since my Taco was mostly stock and my 4Runner, well it is not.
This is one I'll be sharing with my child. :bravo:
I'm not sure how many parents have their little kids actively lobbying for a minivan, but mine is. I keep explaining ground clearance to her, and asking her if she really wants to stop going to some of our favorite places....
I went from a 4x4 TRD DC Taco to my current 4Runner and am very happy with the choice that I made.
The back seats are very comfortable in my 4Runner. Although I am do not have any kids, I am 22 and have had many friends who are 6ft and taller ride in the back without any problem, many comment on how comfortable my car is. I have even ridden in the back seat some on road trips (I am 6'2" 200lbs and have back injuries from college sports, so your kids will probably have less issues with comfort than I do). I personally find the interior and ride much more comfortable than my Tacoma, of course now its a harder comparison since my Taco was mostly stock and my 4Runner, well it is not.
I was looking at your mod list in your signature, but am not sure if any of the mods lifted the truck. Can you go the same places with your 4Runner pre-mods as you could with your DC Taco?
It's good to know about the comfort factor for you. A bad back tells you a lot of things quickly about a vehicle!
BlairB
New member
My truck is lifted about 5-5.25" (3.5-3.75" from suspension and 1.5" body lift). This does not include the increased lift from running larger tires (I currently run 32's, but am ordering 33.5's this week). There are no pics on my build thread of my truck with the body lift, so it is higher now than in the pictures seen there.
In stock form this truck could get just about everywhere my DC taco could. The one advantage a Taco has is the available rear locker (which is available in 4th gen's but only 2009 Trail Editions, which are very hard to find). The 4Runner ATRAC system does a great job though.
Get a set of sliders and good AT tires and you will be good to go.
Last edited:
yeah, the comfort factor is about the same - maybe a little less legroom if she sits directly behind a seat in the T4R, but i have our child seats located in the center of each vehicle (you can locate the captain's chair in the center of the second row in 7 seater siennas). plenty of room that way.
still plenty of room on either side of the child seat in the second row of the T4R (we have the two-row version) for adults to sit (although my wife and i aren't very big, nowhere near 6'). if we're using the booster seat, there's plenty of room for two adults and our son in the middle.
be glad your daughter is only asking for a minivan - my son has decided that he wants me to get the 3500HD crew cab dually for my work truck instead of the Tundra when he found out about the toyota acceleration issues.
he's only six, so i think the concept of "overkill" is still foreign to him.
Oh jeez. I guess so!
We just saw a 2010 4Runner Limited on the road today, and my daughter pipes up from the back seat: "Does it have enough room?" I was about ready to launch into my "it doesn't have to be a minivan" lecture, and she says, "You, know, to the ground?"
Very cute. I think I might be making some progress.
4Runnewbie
New member
My wife and I recently did a 7 hour drive in our 4runner. It is an '07 v8 with 3rd row seats. My wife sat in the second row with our toddler, who was in his car seat in the center of the second row. My wife is pregnant and was comfortable the whole trip. It is nice to be able to recline the second row. Hope this helps.
Louie
Louie
