Pulling the trigger on a 4th Gen 4Runner Tommorow, would love some input

[superCWdad]

Hi, first let me start off with hello and thank you for this awesome community!

I am really excited to purchase one of these vehicles for our family and I wanted to get your much valued opinions on the truck.

Here are the details and some photo's, thanks for any input...

No rust anywhere, it is a 1 owner in Az Immaculate service records and it has 184,500. V6 4x4

The truck is getting painted there is some faded paint on the cladding's over two of the wheel wells and on the roof the dealer is fixing the issues.

The service records show oil changes every 4-6k and fluid changes in advance of Toyota service schedule. The first 89k miles it was under service from the dealer under warranty for the first 3 years included.


Front rear differential flush/change at 89k, 148k, 175k

Transmission Fluid-170k

Air Filter- 88k, 100k, 117k, cabin filter 137k

AntiFreeze/Coolant Flush- 88k, 170k

Transfer Case fluid flush- 89k

I am trying not to be too excited since I don't own the vehicle yet but the service records and the multiple test drives has me feeling optimistic about tomorrow!

I did not think to take some video of the truck or even decent pictures while I was there today. I have a couple I will post.

Let me know what you think!

Also, I was offered a set of 4 Sport edition rims from an 06 I think, I think I should get them, what do you think?

I already bought my Amsoil oil and now I am going to go get spark plugs cause it is time or those as well.

My goal is to keep this one awhile and do some good quality upgrades to it and then by my unicorn either 4Runner or Land Cruiser in 6-12 months.

Let me know what you think!

 

[hgill]

What year is the 4runner that your looking at?

Price?

I noticed you said you plan to keep this for a while and then buy your unicorn (4Runner or Land Cruiser) in 6-12 months. Is that 4runner some other generation??

There is a lot of valuable pre-purchase information listed here:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/136498-pre-purchase-info-modifications-write-ups-quick-links-faqs.html

 

[DZNUTS]

Did you test the drivetrain?? 4wd engage and disengage in Hi and Lo? Center differential lock and unlock?


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[superCWdad]

DZNUTS Did you test the drivetrain?? 4wd engage and disengage in Hi and Lo? Center differential lock and unlock?

Yes, engaged and disengaged 4-hi and lo, Locked and unlocked center diff.

hgill

What year is the 4runner that your looking at?

Price?

I noticed you said you plan to keep this for a while and then buy your unicorn (4Runner or Land Cruiser) in 6-12 months. Is that 4runner some other generation??

There is a lot of valuable pre-purchase information listed here:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-ge...inks-faqs.html

I bought an 2006 4x4 as described in the first post, my apologies i did not put the year in at the time I was deciding between 2 different trucks.

I paid $10,400.00 for the truck.

I want to use this one to learn and practice doing quality upgrades to it so I can resell it hopefully for exactly what I have into it.

I am thinking my unicorn will be a 2008 or 2009 4x4 Black Sport/Limited <100k miles and an immaculate service record. That one I will keep forever and will be my hobby/get the hell out into the wilderness and out of civilization truck!

We want to tow a small teardrop trailer and go visit some state parks and do a little travelling as a family.

We have an 18 month old boy and a 8 week old (we think baby girl) in the belly and we want to start making awesome family memories.

I am also planning on Para-motoring and these vehicles will assist me in that goal as well.

Thanks for the feedback so far!

 

[superCWdad]

I was attempting to put up some photo's but they did not appear.... I am not amazing in BBCode forums or forums in general...

Anyone have any advice, I will go look in the forum soon as I know there is bound to be a sticky on how to post photo's! Appreciate if anyone finds it before I have a chance to look.

 

[Gavino18]

Sounds like a solid 4runner! It's a V6, I'm guessing no head gasket issues?

Lets see some of photos of this beauty!

 

[Morphyne]

Another option to your unicorn might be a gx470 in good shape or a 2010-2011 gx460.

 

[52577]

Just got my '04 V8 a month ago. Great vehicle. Research: smog pump failure on 2005+ V8 with VVT. $4k repair, but Inexpensive bypass kits exist. V6 head gasket failure. Transmission lurching or clunking.

 

[superCWdad]

52577 Just got my '04 V8 a month ago. Great vehicle. Research: smog pump failure on 2005+ V8 with VVT. $4k repair, but Inexpensive bypass kits exist. V6 head gasket failure. Transmission lurching or clunking.

None of those issues on the one I purchased either.

I will post some pictures soon, thinking of starting a build thread because the reason I bought this 4runner was to get warmed up again with wrenching on vehicle's, build back up my tools and such. My goal is to keep a firm eye on the market starting in 3 months for my "unicorn" 4runner or TLC, meanwhile I will be doing a bunch of preventative maintenance work to this one I just purchased so I can re-sell it in 3 - 6 months when I find my unicorn!

The mods I will be doing:

Mods that stay with the vehicle will be the following:

Oil change and filter
Air filter
Cabin Filter
Sport rims
New Carpet
Upgrade Shocks/Springs - Suggestions on what to upgrade to?
Radiator- Because it has not been done and figured doing it will be nice for the new owner and I get practice - Going Denso Radiator
Upgraded door speaker front and back.
I will most likely to a couple exterior led light additions and upgrades. Thinking about doing a few led's shining down each side by the sliders/step board.

I will be getting a full set of Weathertech floor mats, those will go to the unicorn.
I did put in a Sony av ax100 android auto/apple car play 6.4" touchscreen but I will be replacing that with the stock unit and swapping it into the unicorn.

I want to document my repairs moving forward with a Gopro or something, I will get that figured out.


Are there any mods/tweaks/bypass items I should consider doing to make this a great resale vehicle?
The service records are immaculate so I want to make this vehicle ready for someone to buy it and go but not make it personalized type of stuff. Ideas welcomed!

Thanks for the feedback

 

[zimdba]

I think there's only one vendor for carpet, and I don't recall seeing any feedback on it. While you have the carpet out, however, I'd throw down some sound deadening (dynamat/rammat whatever). I'm really glad I did that this summer.

 

[keakar]

the 03-04 years had head gasket issues so as long as its not an 03/04 your good

if it is an 03/04 expect to have to pull the heads at some point to replace the head gaskets, not "if" but "when" they start leaking

 

[superCWdad]

Luckily it is manufactured 12/05 so we should be good.

Here are some photos.

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[superCWdad]

I think there's only one vendor for carpet, and I don't recall seeing any feedback on it. While you have the carpet out, however, I'd throw down some sound deadening (dynamat/rammat whatever). I'm really glad I did that this summer.

The manufacturer I saw is StockInteriors.com and they have a carpet with a thicker sound dampening batting you can add for $70.00. I will definitely get that!

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