Thinking about trading in my 4th gen for a new 5th gen...

[05 4runner]

Like the title says I am thinking about trading in my 2005 for a new 4runner. At first I wasn't sure about the headlights and tailights being so far off the body, but the interior seems much more put together. I was looking on Toyota's website and came to the conclusion that the TRAIL package would be the ideal one to get if I do this.

Any one have any opinion on which would be the one to get b/c of the offroad capabilities; Trail or Limited? Like my 2005 I'd plan to go mudding and get into other o/r adventures

Thanks 5th gen owners
Judd

 

[wifesrunner]

I just did a similar thing. I just traded in my wifes 07 limited 4Runner for a 2010 model limited 4x4 and love it!
We wanted a third row seat, and that was a big reason for trading only after 3 years. The exterior took a little bit to grow on me but I do like it. The only thing I don't like are the narrow tires on the limited, but I am getting some 275s soon so that will be taken care of.

The interior of the 5th gen is amazing! Much more refined, many more features (except no memory seating, which I still don't understand!), and the leather is very nice. Seems like Toyota put a lot more Lexus like treatment into the interior.

Do it and you won't regret it!

 

[fanchee]

I had leased my 07 Limited and the lease was up this month. I turned it in and actually had equity in it!!! And I used the equity as downpayment on my new 2010 Limited (which I bought this time.) I love it!

 

[chimyz]

Sounds like you would be up for the trail if you will be doing any offroading. The limited is great, but approach angles are...well...limited (excuse the pun). The lack of fulltime 4wd may be a deterent on the trail, but all the other 4x4 features are great. Locking rear diff and KDSS being two advantages that I would seriously look at for pros on your purchase list of the trail.

Good luck, you won't be disappointed either way. I traded a landcruiser for the 4runner and don't regret it one bit.

 

[05 4runner]

So the big difference is all time 4wd versus selectable and the limited being bigger and at a disadvantage when it comes to any time of off roading?

If I'd get the Limited and it's all time 4wd over the selectable trail then all I'd have to do it lock the diff if I'd want to do some off roading, right? I was going to ask if the full time 4wd ate more gas, but it doesn't seem like it's a issue.

Has far has the limited being bigger and more of a challenge to off road - how so? <---not trying to sound like a noob there

Thanks
Judd

 

[wifesrunner]

I think what gives the trail better approach and departure angles are the front and rear bumpers are different. I could be wrong, but they do look different than my limited.

Also, the limited doesn't come with a locking rear diff. That is on the Trail model only. The trail also has crawl control and a few other cool offroad controls, that I know I would never use or even know how to use!

 

[adoihcj]

I think what gives the trail better approach and departure angles are the front and rear bumpers are different. I could be wrong, but they do look different than my limited.

Also, the limited doesn't come with a locking rear diff. That is on the Trail model only. The trail also has crawl control and a few other cool offroad controls, that I know I would never use or even know how to use!

The are different, see Harper7's Limited. It's a Limited and he removed the front and rear bumpers and replaced them with Trail F and R bumpers.

 

[Ryan_S]

I'd go with the TE if you're concerned about doing any off roading (other than the occasional two track, or snowy road).

Why?
1. available KDSS (more suspension articulation)
2. better approach/departure angles (bumpers)
3. multi terrain select (basically allows you to 'tune' ATRAC)
4. locking rear diff.
5. ????
6. the lack of chrome (personal preference)

 

[wifesrunner]

yeah, a lot of guys don't like the chrome, but I really like it on the black. That is all personal preference.

 

[fxoffroad]

Agreed... the chrome on Black is smokin'. (And on Shoreline Blue.)

yeah, a lot of guys don't like the chrome, but I really like it on the black. That is all personal preference.

 

[chimyz]

The are different, see Harper7's Limited. It's a Limited and he removed the front and rear bumpers and replaced them with Trail F and R bumpers.

That is quite an expense...be ready to do a bunch of work and probably $2500 - 3000 extra. I wouldn't be afraid to do what Harper7 did from a financial standpoint (I know why he did it and think it is great) but I know a bunch of people wouldn't want to pony up the extra cash after a big purchase.

If offroading is key, get what you want and upgrade the tires...tires will go a lot further than most modifications and for less cost.

 

[RHINOSAUR]

That is quite an expense...be ready to do a bunch of work and probably $2500 - 3000 extra. I wouldn't be afraid to do what Harper7 did from a financial standpoint (I know why he did it and think it is great) but I know a bunch of people wouldn't want to pony up the extra cash after a big purchase.

If offroading is key, get what you want and upgrade the tires...tires will go a lot further than most modifications and for less cost.

I have an SR5 mainly because this is our family car and the third row was an absolute must for my wife (I really do not like full time 4wd and love part time systems..hence the limited was out of question...and I do not like the limited wheels). Unfortunately the trail does not have 3rd row seat option. And the wife hates the "cheap plastic looking bumpers" as she says. I disagree with her...I like them better..it gives it a more rugged appearance.

so my question to you is:

if one can pony up the cash to buy the trail bumpers..how hard is it too install them...I might consider this down the line if my wife lets me and the job is doable at home (without having to buy $100.00's more in tools than regular wrenches and screw drivers).

Thanks.

 

[wifesrunner]

More than likely if your wife doesn't like the trail bumpers now, she won't like you paying a couple grand to add them later.

 

[iDRiVaT4R]

Harper7 has the Limited and bought the Trail Bumpers online I think for around $200 or so, He will chime in here shortly I'm sure and let you know where he got them and for how much. He did mention it on one of his post's in another thread, I just don't have time to go look for it at the moment.

Nathan

 

[SeattleMike]

so my question to you is:

if one can pony up the cash to buy the trail bumpers..how hard is it too install them...I might consider this down the line if my wife lets me and the job is doable at home (without having to buy $100.00's more in tools than regular wrenches and screw drivers).

Thanks.

I took off my TE front bumper with a 1/4 drive ratchet and 10MM socket, a screwdriver, and a lot of swearing. They use plastic clips to hold the plastic edges in place, hence the swearing, but you don't need air tools or a lift.

What you will need is a friend in the auto body painting business because the bumpers come unpainted. So, what you save in tools you will pay in finishing costs.

In order to ensure domestic bliss, I would suggest you leave *her* SR5 alone and get yourself a TE.

That is, if she'll "let you".:whipping2

 

[harper7]

so my question to you is:

if one can pony up the cash to buy the trail bumpers..how hard is it too install them...I might consider this down the line if my wife lets me and the job is doable at home (without having to buy $100.00's more in tools than regular wrenches and screw drivers).

Thanks.

The problem is is need 30+ parts to make it all come together right. You can't just change the front bumper covers as they won't match up to the fender flares and then they have to match up to the mudflaps. It just snowballs to where to make it look right,you need all the lower plastic changed.
Here are pics of the parts needed minus the rear door edge seals which I ordered myself later.http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/62663-limited-vs-trail.html#post524366

Dealer sales manager said it cost them over $1000 for the parts at their cost and they were comped to me as part of my Limited purchase deal.They were not happy that it took so many parts and wouldn't do it again.

So figure $2000-3000 for parts and another $300-$400 to paint. Probably 8-12 hours labor and the only real hard part physically was changing the inner fender liners as they are a pain because the backside of the clips are hard to reach and tore my arms up.Next time I would drill the fasteners out and buy all new ones.

As far as the approach angles,the only difference in the front angle is the front plastic bumper cover and mainly the 3 inch plastic piece underneath it. If you remove that bottom plastic garnish piece , as somebody already has done,the approach angle will be almost identical.The actual bumpers that are underneath, a aluminum in the front and a steel one for the rear are the same for all 5TH 4runners with exception of 2 small brackets.

The rear approach angles are the same for all 5ths as the hitch reciever attached to the frames are the same and the low rear point.That is unless you have the exhaust tip added on ,and then that will probably drag first.They say the rear approach angle is different because they had to measure Limited/SR5's with the exh. tips and the TE's without is the only thing I can figure.