New Guy, soon to be new T4R Owner

[Skeet Shooter]

Hey guys, I'm Jay and I am soon to be purchasing a used 4runner as a second vehicle for me and my fiance. Here is where I'm coming from. My first car ever was an 82 VW Rabbit, then a 96 dodge ram 1500 pegleg v6 stick, then a crappy 07 Camr that had more electrical problems than I can count, then a 09 VW Jetta TDI, and now I have a 2011 BMW 535i.

I love my Bimmer, but even with Hakka's for the snow, it just can't handle it. Not to mention I just don't have any room to haul crap or put the dog.

I Like the T4R so i can haul around my dog anywhere I go and put her in the back with the window down. I go shooting quite a bit and need to lug my shotgun and various ammo's with me. And I own a property that often needs maintenance.

So my options right now are an 05 and an 07 4Runner, both are nice. The 05 has the least amount of miles on it (86K) but I'm not sold on the 4spd transmission. Also correct me if I'm wrong, is that non-vvti? The 07 is about $1K more and has 96k miles on it. And it looks like its in desperate need of tires.

So my goal is to have my 4runner be my hauler, go camping, get me through any kind of crap (end of the world rig)

Additional questions would be concerned with tire fitment.
I like the look of the Wrangler Duratracs and would want to go with a 265/70 r17 tire, but I'm frankly concerned with rubbing on the UCA. So far I've looked at all the threads I can without going crosseyed here and have not found a diffinitive answer. I did find this post that showed a pretty good picture of what the truck looks like without a lift and with that exact size. Still no answer on if it rubs or not... (looks awful close)
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...65-70-17-duratrac-stock-sport.html#post606927

Anyhow I don't want to come here without leaving a few pictures, so... Here is my bimmer and my dog!

This is before I dipped the wheels.

And my Dog, Jazz:

Cheers

 

[philskeeter]

Someone will correct me or assure me but I'm pretty sure vvt-i came out in 2005. Also, here's a tire lesson to remember and pass on, the first number of the 265/70/17 is the width in millimeters. So your stock tires are 265/65/17. That means both tires are 265 mm wide so in my opinion it is impossible for them to rub. Plus I'm pretty sure you have to get into the 285s to rub UCAs. Your only problem you could run into with not lift if possible rubbing but if it makes you feel better I just put tires on my sisters car in 265/70/17 and she didn't rub anywhere stock.

 

[Skeet Shooter]

Hi Phil,

Thanks for the helpful hint. I was just worried, because there was a general consensus regarding the Duratrac's and the BFG A/T KO's that because of their more "squared" profile, they had a greater tendancy to rub... I honestly was going to go with the BFG's, because of their life expectancy and pretty awesome performance, but I had heard they are not the greatest in the wet and snow... I hear pretty stellar things about the Duratracs...

I would probably end up putting a daystar leveling kit on it, but for now and for the sanity of my soon to be wife, I just want it to run reliably, and get me through the worst of winter and mud situations.

I checked and actually the 04 says vvt-i on the engine cover, but I think for me the 4-speed tranny is the killer.

 

[m85476585]

If you can't handle snow in the BMW with Hakkas, I don't think you will do much better with A/T tires on a 4runner. Remember that 4wd doesn't help you corner or stop, and the 4runner is a much larger vehicle than the BMW. If snow performance is important I would get snow tires for it. Something like the Wrangler Duratracs or Michelin LTX M/S2 might work, but they are a compromise. The sipes (small slots in the tread, in this case zig-zag shaped for stability) help them perform like a snow tire, but still not as good because the rubber is an all season compound, not a winter compound. Snow tires will be better, and it should only cost around $50 to change them out.

 

[philskeeter]

Hi Phil,

Thanks for the helpful hint. I was just worried, because there was a general consensus regarding the Duratrac's and the BFG A/T KO's that because of their more "squared" profile, they had a greater tendancy to rub... I honestly was going to go with the BFG's, because of their life expectancy and pretty awesome performance, but I had heard they are not the greatest in the wet and snow... I hear pretty stellar things about the Duratracs...

I would probably end up putting a daystar leveling kit on it, but for now and for the sanity of my soon to be wife, I just want it to run reliably, and get me through the worst of winter and mud situations.

I checked and actually the 04 says vvt-i on the engine cover, but I think for me the 4-speed tranny is the killer.

well since this is for the sanity of your soon to be wife, I can already say that an extra set of wheels with winter tires are marked off of the list. So I think duratracs are the next best thing for you. I hear sometimes they have trouble being balanced but that isn't a huge deal and everyone talks about how they have weak sidewalls and rock puntctures but I would think if you don't plan to take it rock crawling and watch where you drive the sidewalls won't be an issue. I heard the same about the bfg a/t. I had a set for a year with a truck and never saw snow but I lost traction in heavy rains(probably because the bed wasnt loaded so poor traction) but who knows.

EDIT: I wouldn't completely blame the snow tires and bmw not handling the snow. I doubt he would've had much trouble is he had the 535xi

 

[Skeet Shooter]

Phil ^^^^ I absolutely agree with you regarding my Bimmer. Its an i not an x-drive (I actually wanted it that way) and I have it chipped with a Burger tune, so Its a bit more tail-happy than a standard 5 series. My Hakkas are great but my issue with them are 2 things actually.
1. I bought them second-hand and they are a lower profile than my standard Run-flats (No Bueno) so this lowers my car by almost an inch. And in 5 series, that makes it look like its lowered... I don't have a picture but trust me... I've bottomed out several times while driving.

2. Anything over 3" of snow and I'm basically screwed...

I've heard really good things about the Duratracs... Also I do have a grand vision for my 4runner ambitions.

This 4runner I'm buying is a trial run so to speak. I want to see how long it lasts even with it being a used car with near 100K... And I want to see how much it applies for me in the future, when I buy a new car...

I love my Bimmer, but I hate taking it out in foul weather. When I have kids, I want an suv, and my choices are pretty much,
1. Tahoe
2. 4Runner
3. Range Rover Evoque
4. Mercedes GLK250 Blutek
5. Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel

I wish the discovery concept would come here, but that's not happening. Also I think that in the next 5 years, 4runners will most likely get fitted with a 6 or higher speed transmission in order to appease the MPG Nazi's. They may even one day put a diesl in it humble::humble::humble If that ever happend, I might just crap my pants... lol

Anyhow, this rig will be my beater vehicle and I plan on using it everywhere and in every which way.

 

[philskeeter]

Phil ^^^^ I absolutely agree with you regarding my Bimmer. Its an i not an x-drive (I actually wanted it that way) and I have it chipped with a Burger tune, so Its a bit more tail-happy than a standard 5 series. My Hakkas are great but my issue with them are 2 things actually.
1. I bought them second-hand and they are a lower profile than my standard Run-flats (No Bueno) so this lowers my car by almost an inch. And in 5 series, that makes it look like its lowered... I don't have a picture but trust me... I've bottomed out several times while driving.

2. Anything over 3" of snow and I'm basically screwed...

I've heard really good things about the Duratracs... Also I do have a grand vision for my 4runner ambitions.

This 4runner I'm buying is a trial run so to speak. I want to see how long it lasts even with it being a used car with near 100K... And I want to see how much it applies for me in the future, when I buy a new car...

I love my Bimmer, but I hate taking it out in foul weather. When I have kids, I want an suv, and my choices are pretty much,
1. Tahoe
2. 4Runner
3. Range Rover Evoque
4. Mercedes GLK250 Blutek
5. Jeep Grand Cherokee Diesel

I wish the discovery concept would come here, but that's not happening. Also I think that in the next 5 years, 4runners will most likely get fitted with a 6 or higher speed transmission in order to appease the MPG Nazi's. They may even one day put a diesl in it humble::humble::humble If that ever happend, I might just crap my pants... lol

Anyhow, this rig will be my beater vehicle and I plan on using it everywhere and in every which way.

I understand the bottoming out! my mom has a 2007 335i with low profiles and it is so impractical! But man does it look good. I love the z71 tahoe but I could never find one in my budget that the previous owner didn't trash. Finally when my budget increased I loved all of the options and accesories plus it should last awhile so I'll get my monies back. Those others sound great too! I'd be scared to take any on a dirt road but they'd look great on pavement. I'd have to see the jeep first some of there new grand cherokees are getting odd for my taste