swapping full-time 4wd into SR5/Trail?
- Thread starter PNTRDPROO
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STX4Runner
New member
It would me a massive amount of work I assume and void the warranty on drivetrain components. Not worth it. It would be easier to buy a limited and swap on Trail/SR5 wheels and other part like Harper7 did. Edit: I don't know if you could just walk into a dealer and ask the parts counter for a t-case for a limited. That would be another source of frustration. Also, I assume the electronics are different in the full time t-case.
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What you suggest wouldn't be cost effective after the fact, especially on a brand new or even slightly used 5th Gen. If you pursued this as an option for your planned SR5 purchase, you'd eat up any savings by not purchasing the TE, TEP, TRDPRO, and now, the Limited in the first place.
I've had plenty of Full-time AWD and Part-time 4WD vehicles -- full time AWD is great, but the part-time systems I've drove weren't lacking by any means.
Agree w/ Philsey -- why would you want to do this?
I've had plenty of Full-time AWD and Part-time 4WD vehicles -- full time AWD is great, but the part-time systems I've drove weren't lacking by any means.
Agree w/ Philsey -- why would you want to do this?
LandCruiser
New member
Get 20-30 grand and call Slee Off Road outside of Denver.
CSix
New member
I have never owned a part time 4wd vehicle and up here in NY we can get a lot of snow...
My current vehicle is AWD and is great in the snow, and I cant help but think that a vehicle that Id have to keep in RWD in a torrential downpour or semi-plowed roads and city streets would be at a disadvantage versus a fulltime 4wd vehicle.
As an overall package I like the Trail Premium more than the Limited, except for the part time system.
So I was just curious what a swap would entail.
Engineer
New member
Great question and one I have pondered. While the above comments i think are less then helpful they are on the right track. It would be expensive and still no stronger , yet it has more appeal to me then doing a SAS swap etc. From what I have looked into the swap is doable mechanically but as no one has done it there is limited information. The electronics side of it is where I am concerned, I know I could get it to work but getting it to act/look like it came that way would be my goal.
The cases are not the same dimensions as the Full time is longer due to the Torsen center diff. What I do not know (could check parts diagrams) is would you need both a new front and rear drive shafts or only 1.
*New front and rear driveshaft (not sure if both would be needed)
*Either swap front axle housings/diff or permanently engage the ADD
*New transfer case (either from a limited or my preference would be a MT FJ so you can keep the lever actuation.
*new 4x4 edu (likely- again may cause if the rear diff lock runs though the 4x4 ECU as the limiteds don't have a rear diff lock....MT FJ's might)
*new gauge cluster (not sure if the trail has the center diff lock icon and not sure if the limiteds have the kiss light so this may not even be possible to get true "factory look"
Anyways I have no plans to do this in the near future but thought I would let you know ( I actually posted a similar question not long ago and got the same sort of responses)
The cases are not the same dimensions as the Full time is longer due to the Torsen center diff. What I do not know (could check parts diagrams) is would you need both a new front and rear drive shafts or only 1.
*New front and rear driveshaft (not sure if both would be needed)
*Either swap front axle housings/diff or permanently engage the ADD
*New transfer case (either from a limited or my preference would be a MT FJ so you can keep the lever actuation.
*new 4x4 edu (likely- again may cause if the rear diff lock runs though the 4x4 ECU as the limiteds don't have a rear diff lock....MT FJ's might)
*new gauge cluster (not sure if the trail has the center diff lock icon and not sure if the limiteds have the kiss light so this may not even be possible to get true "factory look"
Anyways I have no plans to do this in the near future but thought I would let you know ( I actually posted a similar question not long ago and got the same sort of responses)
Agree w/ you. There is a certain amount of comfort w/ the AWD system. However, I've lived in some cold and snowy climates and it seemed that the AWD and even 4WD systems caused drivers to be over confident in their and their vehicle's capability, as they found themselves in the ditch as often as a RWD or FWD vehicle.
You'll get used to the 4Runner's RWD/4WD functionality quickly and realize that it's a very capable system. You'll just have to remember to make the shift to 4WD when the conditions warrant it, and switch out when the roads no longer require the use of 4WD.
As you can see from some of the more seasoned vets of this forum and Toyota ownership, switching after the fact is not an inexpensive endeavor.
1engineer
Moderator
Cheapest alternative?
1.Three grand for cosmetics
2. Three grand to remove XREAS and install decent suspension.
So now for 47K total you have a TRDPRO with full time 4WD.
Bilbo
New member
You need to take some extra time to think about your dilemma. As they say, sleep on it.
" ... In short, sleeping on a decision allows us to differentiate between the vital and the irrelevant aspects, ultimately leading to higher quality decisions. Our unconscious can process large amounts of information — as long as we give it time to do so."
https://hbr.org/2011/05/a-counter-intuitive-approach-t/
" ... In short, sleeping on a decision allows us to differentiate between the vital and the irrelevant aspects, ultimately leading to higher quality decisions. Our unconscious can process large amounts of information — as long as we give it time to do so."
https://hbr.org/2011/05/a-counter-intuitive-approach-t/
Im asking for information about different aspects of the vehicle so that I can be informed and determine the best decision to make regarding a 4Runner.
Your post suggests that I do not have the capacity to think for myself and come to an informed decision. It neither answers my question, nor helps me come to a decision as I am not 5.
But thanks
Thanks for the input. It was just a curiousity, but now I know it wouldnt make sense to attempt. Much appreciated.
Engineer
New member
I want Auto Climate control, keyless start/entry, KDSS, Softtex Seats, AWD, Rear Locker, Black interior trim pieces, a lever actuated T-Case, a center display with more then just a clock, the updated interior of the 2014+'s and the rear window that roles down via buttons not key on the outside........Should I start with a limited or a trail? And buying a land cruiser or Lexus is not an option, must be a 4runner?
:help:
Bilbo
New member
[MENTION=118191]PNTRDPROO[/MENTION] Your reading of my suggestion was not intended. I had spent a bit of time re-reading your threads before I posted, and I believe you have a number of important decision criteria. Unfortunately, Toyota does not allow you to configure the 4Runner exactly the way you would like it (e.g., full-time 4WD and KDSS) to satisfy all your stated goals. I thought your speculation about replacing the part-time 4WD was reasonable. After all, people on this forum talk about replacing almost everything else on the vehicle.
I can tell you what I think you should choose. But that it unimportant. You need to figure it out for yourself. If you were five, I'd just tell you.
By the way, I did send you to a Harvard Business School link, not the cartoon channel. Who do you think is their intended audience?
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Intruder
New member
Yeah, I see plenty of Subarus, Audis, and 4x4s in the ditches around here when it's slick. Most of them are running all-season radials as well. I have a TE with snow tires and I feel that along with VSC and TRC is just fine unless it's exceptionally bad out in which case I just put it in 4HI and leave it there until conditions improve or I'm parking.
LandCruiser
New member
My TE with Blizzaks and in 2H will outgrip AWD vehicles with "all season" tires all day.
I do put it in 4H when the road is completely covered in snow and ice and there's no way I'll be needing to turn.
I do put it in 4H when the road is completely covered in snow and ice and there's no way I'll be needing to turn.
1engineer
Moderator
Have you read some of your questions lol.
Buying a Land Cruiser would be cheaper if you want full OEM form and function. If you want to keep it a 4runner then you need a whole team of us that are heavily weighted with EE's. Toyota ECU's are pretty much locked down as are all other auxiliary control units.
With that said I would like to have a few different options but am pretty sure the LC has them!
That is not my point. While I appreciate you trying to help in whatever way you could, I just didnt feel what you actually posted was necessary. Its not like I posted saying I was at a crossroads and I NEEDED to do something right away and couldnt decide what to do "HELP"!
I dont see that there is anything to "sleep on". Im just asking for information on a particular swap and I was going to come to the conclusion as to whether or not it would be feasable for me with the information I recieved. And thus, which vehicle would then be better for me if the swap was not feasable (Trail Premium or Limited with smaller wheels/tires, etc.).
"Sleeping on it" does not (should not) become part of the equation until a person has all of the information at their disposal and is having a difficult time making a decision.
I posted with the specific intent of gathering that information. Which your post did not help with.
And because of this, it seemed like a sideways way of dismissing my OP by suggesting I am not thinking clearly. But no worries. Its "all good".
This coming from someone who answers most threads like the OP is 5 means nothing to me.
All of my threads had very specific questions and you coming into them critiquing the way I asked them or my overall intention to learn more about this vehicle, THAT is childish, and unnecessary. I became a member of this site to learn about these vehicles, not to be expected to know everything about them straight away and ridiculed because I dont.
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