Trade Tundra for 4Runner?

M

Mguts

New member
My dad bought a 2010 SR5 right when they came out. He was looking at pickups but went with that instead. In a flash of genius, I bought a TRD Off Road Tundra a few months ago after looking at 4Runners for quite some time.

We both like our trucks, don't get me wrong. But, it turns out my old man seems like he'd like to trade. I've driven his 4Runner extensively and like it alot.

Guess my question is have any of you guys went from a full size like that to a smaller rig like the 4Runner? You were able to get use to the size difference?
 
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I came from a Nissan Titan. I liked my Titan alot- but I've gotta say driving like an old lady to try and get 12 mpg got old quick. I only miss a few things:
The Titan- like the Tundra - has tons of power. Almost too much for everyday driving

The 5% of the time I really need the bed bothers me, well, 5% of the time :)

The Titan towed anything anywhere like it wasn't there. To be fair though, the 4Runner is a great tow vehicle too

I find the size of the 4Runner to be more suitable as well. It still fits my family and all my stuff easily, and I don't feel cramped inside

So- I am happy with my decision. Every vehicle is a compromise, and right now the 4Runner is just about right for me!
 
If you have the 5.7 in your tundra you will miss that power every time you hit the gas. I would take the tundra for that reason alone.
 
03_4x4Runner said:
If you have the 5.7 in your tundra you will miss that power every time you hit the gas. I would take the tundra for that reason alone.
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Agreed. I had a N/A 5.7 for a year and a half and then TRD Supercharged it to almost 600 HP. So 270 HP from the six leaves a bit to be desired. That being said, its adequate - especially up here in the thin air. I can go almost any speed I need up the mountain passes but it takes a while to get there and uphill passing is a struggle. This engine doesn't make real power until 4000+ rpm but it defiinitely gets there. I towed a 3500 lb trailer over Wolf Creek pass at 60 mph (redline 2nd gear) - It was noisy, but it did it and the coolant needle didn't budge.

Also, one other thing I've noticed is the transmission is way too eager to upshift into a higher gear (I'm assuming due to fuel economy purposes), which makes the 4Runner feel pretty sluggish, so I shift myself on anything other than flat road.

Hope this helps...
 
I came from a 2008 Limited Crewmax Tundra to a T4R this year. My main motivation was gas. I loved the power of the 5.7 but feeding that thing became a drain.

Plus I realized I didn't need to haul that much vehicle around all the time.

So far I can say I love my 4runner and I'm glad I made the switch. From time to time I miss having a bed, but I have a utility trailer that I can use if I need to move something big.

Not only that but I'm finding that the 4runner does have a lot of usable space once you drop the back seat (recently landscaped the front of the house and brought home 17 bags of mulch in the 4runner).

But I guess you have to ask yourself what is it you need out of the vehicle. If you like driving a nice truck and you can afford to feed it, then by all means keep it.
 
Ended up taking a job in Milwaukee so it looks like it's going to make more sense to have the 4Runner as opposed to the humungous Tundra in the city.

Am driving the T4R for the week just to make sure I do want to trade. I went somewhere in it last night, and WOW that 5.7 in my Tundra is hard not to have...the 4.0 is going to take some getting used to I reckon!
 
Mguts said:
Ended up taking a job in Milwaukee so it looks like it's going to make more sense to have the 4Runner as opposed to the humungous Tundra in the city.

Am driving the T4R for the week just to make sure I do want to trade. I went somewhere in it last night, and WOW that 5.7 in my Tundra is hard not to have...the 4.0 is going to take some getting used to I reckon!
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at least your wallet will thank you.
 
The three factors/questions in your case would be IMO;

1) Do you need a truck bed? Or use it on a regular basis.

2) Will you miss the power? Which you should be able to answer since our driving a 4R around now.

3) Towing; do you need more than 5K towing capacity?

I also have the Tundra and I parallel park this behemoth everyday on city streets. If you do stick with the Tundra, just add on rear view camera. Just remember, you will take a slight finiancial hit when trading in and vehicles will never make you money unless you bought a TT Supra (or a similar piece) and never drove it ;)

Either way, both are great vehicles so keep truckin' :driving:
 
Mguts said:
My dad bought a 2010 SR5 right when they came out. He was looking at pickups but went with that instead. In a flash of genius, I bought a TRD Off Road Tundra a few months ago after looking at 4Runners for quite some time.

We both like our trucks, don't get me wrong. But, it turns out my old man seems like he'd like to trade. I've driven his 4Runner extensively and like it alot.

Guess my question is have any of you guys went from a full size like that to a smaller rig like the 4Runner? You were able to get use to the size difference?
Click to expand...


Thats funny because my mother bought a 2010 Tundra DC 5.7 last year because her Chevrolet Equinox was a piece of crap. I needed a larger vehicle to tow my motorcycle/ equipment with, and she loved the tundra, so i got to borrow it from time to time. When my Audi was due back on its lease, i bought a 2011 Toyota 4 Runner after she decided the Tundra was to big for her. So we traded. I like them both but they serve different purposes.

I am very comfortable with the Tundra as i drive it every day. Do i enjoy driving it more? Yes. But thats not to say i don't sometimes grab the 4Runner and take it to work. It's a more relaxing ride, easier to park, and gets much better mpg on the highway. But i always find myself wishing i drove the Tundra after a day or two with the 4runner.

Conversely, my mother will sometimes ask to take the Tundra out, as she says it's "one bad ass truck". But for her style of driving, and where she works, and her age (70 years old) she finds the 4Runner to be more appealing.

It's up to you which vehicle suits your lifestyle more.
 
Mguts said:
Ended up taking a job in Milwaukee so it looks like it's going to make more sense to have the 4Runner as opposed to the humungous Tundra in the city.

Am driving the T4R for the week just to make sure I do want to trade. I went somewhere in it last night, and WOW that 5.7 in my Tundra is hard not to have...the 4.0 is going to take some getting used to I reckon!
Click to expand...

URD superchargerr should be available soon...... wont cover the whole gap in power but will be a big help.
 
I own both, a Tundra Crew Max with the 5.7 motor w/ T_U_R_D SC and a TE.

I like my TE but the lack of power blows sweaty donkey slong.

Mileage sucks either way, 15 on average in the TE and 12 in the CM.

I love the size of the CM but the TE is easier to park at the beach where I live.
For me each vehicle serves a purpose,surf mobile-hunting-desert shooting- taking my sons karts to the track among other uses.. But they are not my DD.
 
Thank you for all the comments everybody. I decided yesterday to take the 4Runner, and my dad is going to take the Tundra, even up. After a few days of driving the T4r again, I drove the Tundra, and still liked the 4Runner. I'll obviously still have access to the Tundra if I ever need it, so that is nice. For the amount of driving I do and my dad does, it makes sense for it to be this way. He drives 6 miles a day round trip to work. I drive a bit more than that to say the least lol. Thanks again!
 
Antman said:
I came from a Nissan Titan. I liked my Titan alot- but I've gotta say driving like an old lady to try and get 12 mpg got old quick. I only miss a few things:
The Titan- like the Tundra - has tons of power. Almost too much for everyday driving

The 5% of the time I really need the bed bothers me, well, 5% of the time :)

The Titan towed anything anywhere like it wasn't there. To be fair though, the 4Runner is a great tow vehicle too

I find the size of the 4Runner to be more suitable as well. It still fits my family and all my stuff easily, and I don't feel cramped inside

So- I am happy with my decision. Every vehicle is a compromise, and right now the 4Runner is just about right for me!
Click to expand...


this...

Although I miss the Titan much more than I should...I guess that's because I had pick ups my whole life...and it's still a transition phase?
 
Last edited:
Mguts said:
Ended up taking a job in Milwaukee so it looks like it's going to make more sense to have the 4Runner as opposed to the humungous Tundra in the city.

Am driving the T4R for the week just to make sure I do want to trade. I went somewhere in it last night, and WOW that 5.7 in my Tundra is hard not to have...the 4.0 is going to take some getting used to I reckon!
Click to expand...

Sure can't speak to this...I came from the 2.0 2ZZ in my Matrix XRS where I tapped into the 138 ft/lbs. of torque all the way up at 6800 rpms. You can imagine how much man I think I am tapping into our 278 hp at 4400 rpms with the TRD intake whaling. :guitar3:
 
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