Soon-to-be owner has a few questions for the experts!

[mbintx]

Hi all,
Great forum you have here!

Quick backstory and a few questions: Selling my '07 Ridgeline and planning to replace with with a fun daily driver and a '03 or '04 4Runner. The 4Runner will get dog hauling duty, as well as trips to HD and times when I need to haul more than 2 people. I anticipate less than 3,000 miles annually on the Toyota.
I will also have a towing need a couple of times a year, which is the primary reason I'm looking at the 4Runner instead of other smaller SUVs that have a 3,500 lb. capacity (or less).
Ideally, the 4Runner will remain in the fleet for 5+ years as the "utility" vehicle in the family.

That said:

1. Which engine is more reliable--the 6 or the 8? Gas mileage won't make a big difference to me, and I think either will pull the trailer that I've been using. (The Ridgeline handles it just fine.) I just want a no-worries powerplant.

2. I think I prefer the 2WD version to 4WD just for simplicity's sake. No need for 4WD in Dallas.

3. My budget is $10K, but can stretch to $11K. At that price, most trucks I'm seeing are around 120K-150K miles. Anything I need to look out for when looking at either the 6- or 8- cylinder engine or tranny?

4. If I'm reading posts correctly, all 4Runners have a tow package (hitch, wiring for 4- and 7-pin, and a tranny cooler) as standard equipment. Correct?

Any other tips/suggestions/comments for me before I start shopping in earnest? Thanks in advance!!

 

[berettashot117]

please do a search and don't revive so many old threads

 

[chucknorris]

1. Which engine is more reliable--the 6 or the 8? Gas mileage won't make a big difference to me, and I think either will pull the trailer that I've been using. (The Ridgeline handles it just fine.) I just want a no-worries powerplant.

Both are reliable. But buying used, can have an effect on longevity(abuse,maintenance schedule by prev owner, etc)

3. My budget is $10K, but can stretch to $11K. At that price, most trucks I'm seeing are around 120K-150K miles. Anything I need to look out for when looking at either the 6- or 8- cylinder engine or tranny?

Have a mechanic you trust check it out.

4. If I'm reading posts correctly, all 4Runners have a tow package (hitch, wiring for 4- and 7-pin, and a tranny cooler) as standard equipment. Correct?

No. Some years/models it was an option.

 

[Mytoy4]

Welcome!

Yeah, my 07 4WD didn't come with a hitch, had to add it.
Look forward to seeing what you end up with!

 

[Cale]

My $0.02... V8 and 4WD. The V8 not only drives smoother, but comes with a higher rated hitch, and tranny cooler, which living in TX comes in handy in the summer. 4WD, well because your going to get somewhere you wish you had it.

 

[1clean4runner]

My $0.02... V8 and 4WD. The V8 not only drives smoother, but comes with a higher rated hitch, and tranny cooler, which living in TX comes in handy in the summer. 4WD, well because your going to get somewhere you wish you had it.

+1

If gas mileage isn't an issue, there is no reason not to go with a v8 4x4.

The smoother v8 may actually be cheaper than the v6 since gas mileage is an issue with a lot of car buyers these days.

But anyways, search around the forum and you'll find plenty more information that should answer your questions. And after that information answers your questions, it'll make you want to start modding the 4Runner immediately

 

[DC runner]

That is exactly right. 2 months ago, I managed to find a pristine v8 for a steal exactly because it had been sitting on the lot. The dealer all but admitted that it had been sitting on the lot for awhile and people saw it as a gas guzzler and ignored it.

As a result, I got it for an amazing price. I don't think engine should be the make or break it, but if you happen to stumble across on; I would consider it.

It is a very, very smooth engine with tons of power. I love letting it loose on the freeway.

 

[jimithing]

What are you going to be hauling and how much does it weigh? The V6 has a 5000 lb towing capacity. I think the V8 is 7000. They're both great engines and you won't really have to worry about either one as long as it's been taken care of. That's the important part. Find one with well documented service records. Also an important difference is the V6's have a timing belt that will probably never need to be changed. The V8's have a timing belt that are supposed to be changed every 90k. So if you're buying one older than that make sure it's had the timing belt changed.

I live in Dallas as well and I was really glad to have 4WD when we had that sting of bad weather this past winter. I was out on the roads with no problem. You don't think you'll use 4WD much but you'd be surprised how much you do.

There are plenty of V6 vs V8 threads, feel free to search for them.

 

[mbintx]

Thanks, all, for the input so far. Sounds like I need to stay open to the V8 option, even though I don't think I'll ever tow more than 4,000 lbs.

Need to do some searches on the 4x4 reliability. Since I'll be purchasing a vehicle with well over 100K miles, it's one other potentially expensive maintenance and/or repair item.

Same goes for the towing package. In one post I read that they are all the same and all standard, then I read that there are different tow packages that were optional on certain years...

 

[chaz]

this should tell u changes for each year. Toyota 4Runner History

 

[mbintx]

this should tell u changes for each year. Toyota 4Runner History

VERY helpful! Thanks.