Thinking about selling or trading my TE to get a truck….

[VoodooTitan]

Its what I have been leaning towards. The 8 speed transmission is so nice and they get great mileage while having more HP and more torque than the Tundra. Its just a damn tough decision to go away from proven Toyota reliability and value to a relative unknown in the new Ram.

It's no longer Dodge Ram, just Ram. And they are really nice. Is not getting a pick-up as a tax write off not an option so you can keep the 4R? Shame, the 4Runner's are great vehicles. If you have to lose out, it should loose out to a Tundra or a Ram. Read all the reviews tho. when i was debating on buying my 4Runner I looked at a jeep, which partners with Dodge, whom still builds the "Ram" line. The 8 speed transmission is actually crap. A lot of reviews complained about the transmission failing and not shifting correctly. Through my research I've found a lot of complaints about CV transmissions as well as 8 speed automatic transmission. Also, a lot of people complained about the 4Runners "lack of" a better, more modern technology transmission, but after reading everything about them, there's one thing I can say, Toyota stuck with what they know, what works, and what's been tried and true. A 6 speed would have been good but that's not the point. Be cautious if you have to make a shift. Honestly though, you already own an amazing vehicle that will do EVERYTHING you WANT it to do, and for a low cost (the trailer) it will do everything you NEED it to do. Why acquire a whole new debt when you can just modify/upgrade. Get a MOAB by Thule and toss your kill up there, or get a trailer and bring your ATV and killings.

It sounds like you're trying to talk yourself out of the 4Runner and into a Truck, when the truth is, deep down I don't think you want to get rid of the 4Runner nor do you need to. I just hope if you decide to keep it, you haven't been throwing your kill into the back... blood is a ***** to get out of cloth, but a lot easier to get off paint. With whatever choice you make, hopefully it works out. Again, I'd research the crap out of Ram just to make sure it's a solid investment. Otherwise, the Tundra is the only other option in my opinion. The Titan's are nice too... but, come on, the Tundra is a beast.

 

[FrontRange4Runner]

If you want fancy new tech, then go Ram. If you want old stuff that has been in the Land Cruiser since 2008 then go Tundra. Personally, I would go Tundra based on it proven reliability record (and of the LC200). That said, if I was throwing dead S*it in the back of my vehicle, I would trade the 4Runner immediately. Nothing better than being able to hose out half of your vehicle! Keep in mid, stock for stock, a Trail will be better off road than a Tundra, but if your not getting crazy then a Tundra will be just fine. You might also consider a Nissan Titan as they are also great vehicles . Or, keep the Runner, buy a used first gen Tundra to beat up off road and call it a day. If I was constantly off road for my job, I would only be buying good examples of used vehicles (still gotta look professional) and never new. A few pinstripes or a slightly crushed fender will crap all over resale value.

 

[Bimmer-Bob]

If you NEED a pick up for work, I'd consider something used that you can use as a dedicated work vehicle. I don't really know how nice it has to be - is impressing clients a factor, or can you get away with a relative beater?

I just think an open bed crew cab will not meet you family needs as wells as T4R. It sounds like it's going to be a compromise one way or the other if you're dead set on forcing one vehicle to wear both hats. That's fine, of course, and I think for most folks the more practical thing is to have as few vehicles as possible - but so long as you understand you'll be gaining utility in one area only to be sacrificing it somewhere else.

From a financial standpoint, of course, it probably makes more sense to keep the vehicle you already have and make it fit your needs, if possible.

 

[NoDak]

another really cheap option is to buy a hitch mounted tray to tie down and transport a kill.

 

[Misterquad]

I have another trailer suggestion for you that answers all your needs that you mentioned above.

1) Need a roomier space to sleep than the TE
2) Space to haul your ATV
3) Space to haul your elks​

I took a 5'x9.5' utility trailer and performed an axle spring swap and lifted it 4"s. Then I found an 8' long pickup lumber rack on CL and narrowed it to fit the trailer. And finally, I bought a Mombasa Roof Top Tent and mounted it on top.

It is lifted enough to pull on the fire roads and some moderate trails. The rack and trailer bed space are plenty of room to handle both an ATV and an elk. And I had a 2-person tent but they also offer a 4-person version.

That could answers all the needs as I understand them for under $2,000. And you will likely lose at least $2,000 in value when you sell the TE.

But if you really just want a pickup and are just trying to rationalize it (I do that all the time, myself), this trailer won't solve that.

 

[Paragon1]

Im in a similar position, i LOVE my TE, but i also have a boat to tow and im considering a bigger one. Recently my boss needed to tow his 24ft boston whaler (7600lbs) from Melbourne, FL to Destin. He recently got a F150 ecoboost, and to be honest i was quite impressed with the gas mileage and the ride, especially since he had no idea how to tow a boat and made me drive both ways, free beers and a strip club is a good motivator.
My cousin just picked up a new V8 F150, also VERY comfortable, but not so big as to require its own zip-code like the Tundra.

I hate to say it but if you have the family, and need the space, then bite the bullet and get the truck. If you need storage, just put a cap on the back. No sense in maintaining two vehicles if you dont need to.

 

[Shogun]

If I was closer to FL I would be all over this one. I have been looking for a decent folding utility trailer that can store like a ping pong table in my garage. This one looks pretty decent for the price. Just need something to haul lumber, landscaping materials etc. but I don't want another truck. I like my T4R to much.

Rocket Motorcycle Trailer 100 American Made Top Quality | eBay

 

[-JD-]

I'm in a similar situation. Traded in an 08 Tundra for my 4runner almost three years ago now but am thinking about going back to a pickup. For me the Ram is at the top of my list and the ecodiesel in particular interests me.

The tundra was an alright truck but the mileage was atrocious. That's the main reason I got rid of it. I also felt the interior felt cheap and plasticky.

Compared to my 4runner the Ram has more interior space for both front and rear passengers (crew cab). Much nicer interior materials, better nav/infotainment system and optional equipment. The ecodiesel has more torque (400+ ft lbs) and better fuel economy (low 20s city high 20s highway).

The only real con is the questionable reliability that comes from Chrysler. The new 8 speed transmission is designed by ZF who are a well known trans makers and the diesel motor is built by VM Motori an Italian company, so we will see. I would be buying extended warranty of course as it's still a Chrysler and diesels generally see better resale value.

 

[Titanpat57]

I'm a lover of the M116A2...a flatbed generator trailer used by the military...built like a brick shat house, and customizable up to whatever you can imagine. You can easily haul at least 3'4 of a ton of stuff...and if you really want to get crazy, flip it over, throw a Dexter brake axle under it, and your good for even more.

This is my "around the house" trailer.....it's getting a new axle this spring, with matching truck rims.



and with a granite top



This dude has a nice trailer out by you.....but in my eyes I'd say he's asking $3500 too much. Nice thing about a trailer is little maintenance, no insurance, and pretty portable (plus you get new friends when you have a heavy duty trailer)

http://fortcollins.craigslist.org/rvs/4192313363.html

 

[splash101]

Having traded in a Tundra for a 2013 4runner and a 5x8 utility trailer, I agree with the many others - buy a trailer.

A p/u will give you less interior space.

The 4runner is much easier to maneuver than a full size p/u and a trailer is easier to load and unload.

 

[dekeman]

Tough call. Pickups are invaluable. Can't you find an older F-150 or Tundra for the dead things and keep the 4R for the good times?
If you're thinking Ram, there's only one way to go, as my recent highway mileage will attest:

 

[-JD-]

^ how did you get an ecodiesel already??!

 

[dekeman]

Belongs to Chrysler. Drove it for the day during press preview. Lovely truck.
They'll be in dealerships in March.

 

[-JD-]

^Lucky guy, but MARCH?! damn. I've been waiting forever. Last time I talked to dealerships they were saying January.

Oh and for those that aren't familiar with the metric system 7.4L/100Km is just over 31 MPG. Pretty incredible considering how much bigger and heavier the ram is, I rarely see over 16-17 MPG in my 4runner.

 

[Scott@Hightech]

SVT RAPTOR. only way to go.

 

[Curt Sauve]

Tough call. Pickups are invaluable. Can't you find an older F-150 or Tundra for the dead things and keep the 4R for the good times?
If you're thinking Ram, there's only one way to go, as my recent highway mileage will attest:

It looks fantastic, but Chrysler=Crap. Maybe it will sell well enough that Toyota will build a Tundra Diesel? But knowing Chrysler it will be a complete failure, and in a few years they won't be able to give them away.

 

[Curt Sauve]

Actually, I need one. I guide and outfit hunts for a living and throwing bloody dead stuff in a SUV sucks. I need a pickup bed for hauling equipment and my ATV. I would also like the space. At 6'4" and 265lbs it gets cramped in the 4Runner.

That being said, I just sold my diesel and won't go back to a 3/4 ton or 1 ton. If I trade I will go with a full size half ton. The TE 4Runner will damn sure go anywhere I need it to go though and that is a HUGE plus

I've been hauling bloody dead things in my 4Runners for years, mostly waterfowl and upland game, but always use body bags for big game, I trade up every 3 years and always get top dollar. I don't understand why the soccer moms love the T4R so much, if one of them has one of my trade ins, this could be shocking news.

 

[Whiplash Willy]

The new 1500 4x4s rams look awkwardly low to me. Kind of how the 2nd gen Tacoma 4x2s look. Too big of a body, that is too low on too small of wheels/tires.

 

[Antman]

The new 1500 4x4s rams look awkwardly low to me. Kind of how the 2nd gen Tacoma 4x2s look. Too big of a body, that is too low on too small of wheels/tires.

All in the name of better fuel economy.