new 4runner owner..hopefully..towing concerns

[sky88s]

Looking to hopefully get a new 4runner soon..

its a 97 sr5 3.4l with 166,000..

during the test drive i found that the only thing wrong with the car is the pop noise that happens when u engage in reverse and drive..after talking with my dad and doing some research i found that not to be a problem..my moms does the same and after testing out my theories on her car i found the problem so im not concerned with that nor the miles..my dad broke 300,000 last month and is still going strong!

what my real concern is is that im going to be getting this 4runner so i can tow..and what bugs me is that its a v6 sr5 but why doesnt it have the tow package?..my moms basic sr5 even has it!..

any answers??..

i just dont want to trade and find out that it doesnt have the cooling line for the transmission and i dont want to get it if it is going to have a problem with towing..now i tow with my moms too but she has the factory package..which i understand..

sorry for the writing..

anything would be appreciated..

thanks!

 

[4-Ripcord]

You bought a 3rd gen for a tow rig? Not the best choice for that.

BTW, No 3rd gen 4runners have a factory trans cooler, gotta do that aftermarket.

 

[sky88s]

You bought a 3rd gen for a tow rig? Not the best choice for that.

BTW, No 3rd gen 4runners have a factory trans cooler, gotta do that aftermarket.

didnt buy yet..still thinking about it..

can you explain and inform me a little more??..

thanks

 

[4-Ripcord]

Just get a early 4th gen with the tow package and a V8, much better for dedicated towing and it has all the stuff you will need.. The 3.4 v6 isnt exactly a powerhouse.

 

[SCRunner12]

Ripcord is right, but it also depends on what you are going to tow. If you are going to tow a jetski or something smaller like that then you will be fine. A boat will be ok, but you will be struggling a lot up hills and glued to the slow lane.

 

[sky88s]

Just get a early 4th gen with the tow package and a V8, much better for dedicated towing and it has all the stuff you will need.. The 3.4 v6 isnt exactly a powerhouse.

yea i understand that but im fine with the v6..

my main concern is the tranny...would running an aftermarket cooler be hard to do or more importantly expensive?

 

[4-Ripcord]

The B&M 70268 is what most get, for dedicated towing I would get the 70264. Those cost like $65 and take about an hour to put in.

 

[sky88s]

The B&M 70268 is what most get, for dedicated towing I would get the 70264. Those cost like $65 and take about an hour to put in.

ok..well thats not a problem then..

you also mentioned that no 3rd gen has transmission cooling..can you explain to me what the 2 lines that run from the tranny to the radiator are??...my mom has this on her 99..

sorry for all the question..hope you dont mind just trying not to screw myself here..

 

[4-Ripcord]

Factory external coolers, no.

IIRC the 4th gen towing package includes an external cooler for transmission. 3rd gens just use the radiator whether or not it has a towing package. The problems with those are all over this board. Search "strawberry milkshake" to get an idea. Basically, we recommend all new owners install an external tranny cooler, no matter what.

 

[sky88s]

Factory external coolers, no.

IIRC the 4th gen towing package includes an external cooler for transmission. 3rd gens just use the radiator whether or not it has a towing package. The problems with those are all over this board. Search "strawberry milkshake" to get an idea. Basically, we recommend all new owners install an external tranny cooler, no matter what.

right on!..yeah sorry for the confusion..i didnt mean external..thanks for clearing all this up..

forsure im getting the 4runner now..and the cooler as well..already found it..

btw, im not buying..im trading my vw golf for it..so whether or not it works out for me i think ill be much better of with a 4runner in the long run..

pics soon i promise..trading this saturday..

thanks again!

 

[4-Ripcord]

right on!..yeah sorry for the confusion..i didnt mean external..thanks for clearing all this up..

forsure im getting the 4runner now..and the cooler as well..already found it..

btw, im not buying..im trading my vw golf for it..so whether or not it works out for me i think ill be much better of with a 4runner in the long run..

pics soon i promise..trading this saturday..

thanks again!

Be sure to look at this:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/82033-3rd-gen-4runner-buyers-guide.html

Make sure you are getting the one you want and that it is well maintained.

 

[JohnsD90]

right on!..yeah sorry for the confusion..i didnt mean external..thanks for clearing all this up..

forsure im getting the 4runner now..and the cooler as well..already found it..

btw, im not buying..im trading my vw golf for it..so whether or not it works out for me i think ill be much better of with a 4runner in the long run..

pics soon i promise..trading this saturday..

thanks again!

Pics and specs on the golf too!

 

[ease]

Or just get a 5 speed and never worry about your transmission, just your clutch.

 

[sky88s]

Pics and specs on the golf too!

no pics of the car because i never placed any pics online..

as for specs the car has the 2.8l vr6 motor..

suspension has all been done..bilsteins with eibach all around..eibach front strut..neuspeed front and rear sway bars..

motor is all stock..

i got the car like this for 2 grand in the beginning of this year..so honestly i didnt buy any of these parts that the guy thinks i did..

trading up to a 4runner valued at 5gs..i think its worth it..