Sooo.. Is it time for a Land Cruiser??

[Jivewalker]

I have both. 2012 TE and a 2017 LC200.

LC interior is definitely bigger than the 4Runner, or at least seems bigger.

The ride is much more refined and powerful. It feels more planted on the road, probably the weight difference. It's really night and day between the two. No issues off road for me. 3rd row seats come out with a few bolts.

Cup holders suck. Center console fridge is a waste for me. Steering wheel less grippy than my 4Runner requiring more two handed turns. Electronic control vs. knobs on the HVAC fan is a pain.

As far as mods, just like the 4Runner, it's plenty capable without any for most situations. I may add a winch, sliders, and other protection mods at some point, but that's probably it for a while.

Thing is a beast. Ave 15.8 mpg.

 

[M_RED]

First, thanks all of the actual constructive discussion thus far!

I'll add some more details..

My wife's SUV has 3Rows, but sometimes we both need the capacity.. Up to now, we will swap vehicles when we can, but she hates driving the 4Runner, and I don't like her driving it either.. (how does a 2019 vehicle not have auot setting seat positions?? )

Soon, my youngest will be old enough to start joining the older 3 boys and I on our adventures, and the oldest is way too short to start sitting in the front seat (in case wife opts out of adventure time) ,,, so.. 4 kids in the back is a hard requirement

This next vehicle is my one vehicle for everything..literally, everything..
2 cars for myself is not an option right now... So I need one vehicle to do it all...

For example, the role my current 4R does is:

Daily driving (50-80 miles per week)
1.) 20 min commute to office 1x-3x a week
2.) Errands, aka, to the gym, grocery store, weekend hardware store runs, kids activities, etcetera...

Adventuring (0-120 miles per week)
1.) Mountain biking (30-1hr highway driving)
2.) Ski trips (90min highway, frequently snowy mountain pass in PNW cascades.
3.) Camp trips.. 1hr hwy, dirt roads, to actual off-road driving The last trip we took for reference..
(alltrails.com)
(Off-Roading at Fortune Creek Trail | On the Trail | DrivingLine)
4.) Off-road day trips of OHV parks.. (4-lo, Diff locked, Wheel hanging in the air (need to get those sway-bay disconnects!)

Also, very importantly.. My fabrication skills start and end at a Bridgeport mill, the only welds I can make successfully are of the JB variety.. I want a vehicle that has solutions already figured out, I don't have time/patience/ skills to weld a Tundra front end on a Sequoia sub frame..

However, I am more than happy to spend a weekend in the garage bolting stuff on... I have access to a lift and any tool I would need...

Right now,, other than the lack of space for a family of 6, my 4runner is perfect ( or would be with a maggy blower on it...)

So.. what else is there? I keep falling back on a Landcruiser/Lexus variant.

(i think the GX460 isn't big enough, as that is LC Prado, and as far as I can tell, no bigger than my 4R...)

Any other ideas??

 

[NB17Limited]

In regards to your last question about the GX, we just went through this. We only have two kids but plan to add another and need to be able to take my parents or her parents when they visit. The GX may be slightly larger, but it feels the exact same. Aftermarket floor mats fit both the GX and 4Runner if that tells you anything. We ended up with another 4Runner. Our previous neighbors had a 2019 LX570 and the third row was about as comfortable as the 4Runner. For how much larger it looked, it didn’t feel bigger on the inside.

 

[BearBio]

Sorry! My experience with Land Cruisers is with two FJ40's. Both would seat 6 but in the jump seats.

 

[TRDHULK]

I owned my LC200 at the same time as my 4Runner.

I ended up trading the LC and keeping the 4Runner.

I prefer the drive, nimbleness, interior design, and simplicity of the 4Runner.

My LC had 69k miles on it and was a 2017.

I didnt off road it much, but when I did, I broke the rack and toasted the power steering pump doing VERY light snow donuts and mild off roading. Had to replace a squeaky pulley and belt not long after that. Gas tank door always had issues opening, and rear TV's are stupid expensive to replace.

Some small things I didnt like about the LC; small cup holders and no front storage, like, at all. Nowhere to set down your phone, glasses, wallet, food, whatever else you need to set down. Stupid cooler in the console is usless and the tray above is even more useless. Screen and cluster is outdated - MORE outdated than the 2020 4Runner believe it or not.

Some of the materials are garbage. The 4Runner is no Bentley, but the leather on the LC steering wheel was crumbling; I had to spend almost $500 on a new wheel. The "aluminum" trim on the dash/console scratches easily, as well as the brown leather mine had. I did love my black headliner though.

If you had to haul something large and leave the liftgate or tailgate down, it beeped LOUD, non stop, with no way to mute or turn it off. Not even through the dealer or Carista. On the 4Runner you can leave the gate up or just roll down the back window. I do this often so this was a big deal with the LC and was SO annoying. The trailer hitch cover on the LC is also garbage.

I hated the AC controls; they are buttons instead of knobs, and always switched to single rather than dual zone, and you have to click into the infotainment to switch back.

The 3rd row seats are a pain, especially for my 5'1'' wife.

Aftermarket is very limited and very expensive for the LC. Almost impossible to fit 35's without extensive mods to KDSS etc.

We also has some interior squeaks that were annoying.

Gas mileage was HORRIBLE. Around 9 mpgs on average, with a super small tank for a V8 SUV. My 4Runner on 35's at least averages 14 mpgs. My Yukon Denali with 435hp averaged 18 mpgs.

With all that said, I can still say I loved the LC, but we decided we didnt need 2 SUVs so the LC had to go and the 4Runner was a no brainer to keep.

 

[kenwilliams0803]

Family of 6, where would you put spare parts, tools, recovery gear, camping equipment, etc. when you have the third row deployed?

You need like an excursion or a suburban if you want to pack everyone plus gear in. And subsequently to wheel less aggressive stuff, I guess.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

 

[DannyLlama]

The TRD Sequoia is kinda of an orphan as it has no following I know of. Thus it can be had relatively cheaply but on the flip side aftermarket support is probably minimal.

I guess the real question is about the amount of crawling the rig will see. Are you really going to have 6 people beaten up on slow going trails? I very much doubt it. I am sure a Sequoia can handle the Ouray trails and the like kind of slow but short and super scenic trails that everybody likes. But a more typical slow forest trail where you fight rocks between trees with no end in sight is not really a family adventure.

Ditto for Moab, there is plenty of fun in Utah to be had in a Sequoia leaving a couple dozen harder trails for modded Jeep rentals if these are even of interest.

So if offroading will be limited to yourself and the older kids, a 4R+minivan may be great OR if it will feature everyone but be milder maybe the Sequoia is the ticket.

Then the question is whether a good suspension exists for the Sequoia because those rear passengers will not like any offroading at all unless you get some pretty good rear suspension setup.

Anything too soft and you will bottom out too much, anything too stiff and you won't do much offroading at all with 6 people in.

I find it hard to imagine that a sequoia would be that much more limited than a 4runner. But I haven't been in that situation to compare.

 

[Napalm]

I know I could probably never afford an LC, but I love the LX460s.

That being said, I’m new to the 4Runner community and being off road, I’d feel more comfortable taking my 4Runner off-road than the LX strictly because of size.

 

[M_RED]

Our previous neighbors had a 2019 LX570 and the third row was about as comfortable as the 4Runner. For how much larger it looked, it didn’t feel bigger on the inside.

Wait really? I don't need to fit adults in the third row, and thankfully my kids are skinny, but the third row didn't feel that much bigger than a 3 row 4runner?
That is super surprising and disappointing to hear..

 

[M_RED]

Family of 6, where would you put spare parts, tools, recovery gear, camping equipment, etc. when you have the third row deployed?

You need like an excursion or a suburban if you want to pack everyone plus gear in. And subsequently to wheel less aggressive stuff, I guess.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

We do pack efficiently, but when we camp, we camp for real.. i.e. we sleep on the ground in tents! Old-school style!.. in the third row, only one seat would need to be up, so half the cargo area is available, and then the roof rack..
I suppose time would tell, but either a tiny trailer or just one of those cargo platforms that hang off the hitch would be enough to cover our needs for a 2 night trip... probably... I don't actually know.. about to find out though!

 

[BearBio]

We had a trailer hitch cargo carrier but sold it because I'm too old and broken up for tent camping!

Amazon.com: ARKSEN Heavy Duty Folding Cargo Rack Carrier Luggage Basket 2 Inch Receiver Hitch Fold Up for SUV Pickup Camping Traveling, 500 Lbs Capacity, 60 x 25 Inch - Black : Automotive

 

[NB17Limited]

Wait really? I don't need to fit adults in the third row, and thankfully my kids are skinny, but the third row didn't feel that much bigger than a 3 row 4runner?
That is super surprising and disappointing to hear..

They are both uncomfortable for me at 6’1” and 180 lbs. Just looked it up and the 2019 LX is actually at 1” less of legroom than the 5th gen 4Runner… I was excited to get an LX but when it was no better at people hauling than a 4Runner, I couldn’t justify the price. The Suburban has 8” more legroom than the LX in the third row. I’d look there if you need a usable third row

 

[Blackwatch]

That's a tough one with 4 kids. I had to go to a 3rd row SUV years ago when the third kid came along. The car seats were too wide for the CRV we had so we went to the Pilot. Two Pilots later and a lot of hockey trips behind us they were great vehicles.
If you want to haul gear with 4 children on camping adventures then a Suburban is what you need. We have been driving them for decades at work and they are a great SUV.
I would look for a used 3/4 ton burb and build it into the apocalypse survival truck. If you are a Toyota or die sort of guy a '21 or earlier Sequoia should work. Just be careful with gear inside the cabin with you with the kids in there.

 

[Humble Leader]

They are both uncomfortable for me at 6’1” and 180 lbs. Just looked it up and the 2019 LX is actually at 1” less of legroom than the 5th gen 4Runner… I was excited to get an LX but when it was no better at people hauling than a 4Runner, I couldn’t justify the price. The Suburban has 8” more legroom than the LX in the third row. I’d look there if you need a usable third row

the interesting thing with the LX is that it's really not targeted to families with multiple young children. in canada that vehicle can easily reach a $150K price and as you correctly note, it doesn't offer as much leg room as you think. the vast majority of families with 3+ kids don't have $150K lying around to drop on an SUV. if you want ultra luxury and the best of the best lexus SUV (with the LS460 being the flagship sedan) then you get the LX. added bonus, decent offroad chops and ya a decent cargo space. but really lexus knows the people who buy this vehicle aren't going to be putting 3 car seats back there and vacuuming up cheerios off the floor after a trip to grandma's haha

 

[mnofpeace]

But lets be honest

isnt it ALWAYS time for an LC???

lets be real....i know, for me, the ONLY upgrade im looking for is an LC200...anything else is lesser to the beloved T4R.

 

[M_RED]

Wel, for what it is worth, I had some time to see a 4 runner, LC and a sequoia side by side and what i learned is...... 2 out of 3 of those vehicles have 3rd row seats for tiny children, and one could fit a average sized adult with only minimal complaining...

The LandCruiser and 4 runner 3rd rows are a joke. I love those trucks, but it is a waste to have a 3rd row.

So... I guess I am off to see what a sequoia could do.. I see there are OK options for armor, and off the shelf solutions for locking diffs... and decent lifts... soo time to start searching for Sequoias and time to get the 4runner detailed for some pretty pictures for the "for sale" ads...

 

[bill444]

The LandCruiser and 4 runner 3rd rows are a joke. I love those trucks, but it is a waste to have a 3rd row.

Yeah, side by side, the US market Land Cruisers don't buy you much over a 4Runner.

I sure wish the 75 Series Troop Carrier was available other than a 25 year old import. That truck has a lot more space and a longer wheelbase.

Good call on the Sequoia.

 

[bigdaddy2021]

Wel, for what it is worth, I had some time to see a 4 runner, LC and a sequoia side by side and what i learned is...... 2 out of 3 of those vehicles have 3rd row seats for tiny children, and one could fit a average sized adult with only minimal complaining...

The LandCruiser and 4 runner 3rd rows are a joke. I love those trucks, but it is a waste to have a 3rd row.

So... I guess I am off to see what a sequoia could do.. I see there are OK options for armor, and off the shelf solutions for locking diffs... and decent lifts... soo time to start searching for Sequoias and time to get the 4runner detailed for some pretty pictures for the "for sale" ads...

Sequoia’s are good rigs. I have seen them tackle some serious terrain.

Rear locker:
Auburn 10in Select-A-Loc Locker 545040 for 2nd Gen Sequoia
– Tandem Offroad


Sliders:

08+ Sequoia Weld-on Sliders with Full Top Plate
– Tandem Offroad

Lift:

SEQ08K - Toytec Complete Lift Kit (2008+ Sequoia)


This is a 5min quick search. Pricing is on par with 5th gen stuff (Which means freakin expensive, But you gotta pay to play.)