Warming up to 4th gens...

[T4R2014]

Why would Toyota develop a supercharger kit without thoroughly testing it first? Answer: they tested it and it worked fine, until people started putting them on US made engines (Tundra/Sequoia) and changing pullies.

I'm willing to bet its fine on low boost levels judging by the existence of the URD kit and by the TRD kit on a few member's trucks. Another rumor thats been used for 15 years with very little evidence.

This. That's always how it goes. Toyota develops the kit but the aftermarket sells people all these hop up parts. All of a sudden the base is inadequate. I think majority of these SC installations were on Tundras, which is why they decided to pull the plug on it. Much of the info on the fate of the V8 supercharger kit is rumors.

 

[APhelps]

Don't like boost as in the rods break. Toyota discontinued the TRD supercharger for 4th Gen 4Runners for a reason, too many warranty claims.

URD kit makes plenty of power but good-bye longevity for the engine.

Superchargers / turbos are great but even if the v8 4th gens don't like boost I don't see the problem. They should be plenty powerful enough, I just hate the dog of the 3rd gen.

 

[rightyouareken]

It's funny, on our way back from dinner last night I was telling my wife how I kinda like that my 4Runner is slow. It makes me not tempted to drive fast, so I just cruise around relaxed. Ive got other cars for when I feel the need for speed.

For me, I just don't care for the front end or squared off wheel wells of the 4th gen. Both make it look very dated IMHO.

 

[Bumbo]

The ATRAC on the 4th gen is 99% as good as a rear locker.

As someone who owns a 4th gen without a rear locker, I can assure you that ATRAC is not 99% as good as a rear locker.

It certainly helps, but breaking a wheel to create artificial traction can only do so much in really challenging situations. I’ve wheeled enough to see it’s limitations and still want a real locker.

That said, I would agree that in most reasonable situations, it does make difference, but the way it puts power down isn’t smooth and only becomes worse the harder the obstacle.

 

[Ed_C]

It's funny, on our way back from dinner last night I was telling my wife how I kinda like that my 4Runner is slow. It makes me not tempted to drive fast, so I just cruise around relaxed. Ive got other cars for when I feel the need for speed.

For me, I just don't care for the front end or squared off wheel wells of the 4th gen. Both make it look very dated IMHO.

The later 4th-gens ('06-'09) did go through a facelift including rounded wheel wells.

 

[rightyouareken]

The later 4th-gens ('06-'09) did go through a facelift including rounded wheel wells.

Quite true, and the later ones certainly do look better.

 

[Jidaran]

Right now I can't stand the look of the 4th Gens, interior or exterior (though the later model years are a little less awful.) But I can see myself getting one in five or six years. The 3rd Gens are only going to get rarer and pricier. And in a future with kids, I can imagine than comfort, capacity, and 3rd row seating is going to eventually overcome my aesthetic concerns.

 

[Bumbo]

The gray area is to be used as a template to know where to cut... for armor and long travel.

Plus that 2 tone styling for some reason looks especially terrible. I have a single color 2004 and it looks miles better than that.

 

[nevada]

Don't like boost as in the rods break. Toyota discontinued the TRD supercharger for 4th Gen 4Runners for a reason, too many warranty claims.

URD kit makes plenty of power but good-bye longevity for the engine.

I believe that issue was only with the tundra 2uz. the 4runner engine was apparently built in japan and has forged rods, and can live with the boost...

 

[absalom]

As someone who owns a 4th gen without a rear locker, I can assure you that ATRAC is not 99% as good as a rear locker.

It certainly helps, but breaking a wheel to create artificial traction can only do so much in really challenging situations. I’ve wheeled enough to see it’s limitations and still want a real locker.

That said, I would agree that in most reasonable situations, it does make difference, but the way it puts power down isn’t smooth and only becomes worse the harder the obstacle.

I owned an open diffed 4th gen and a triple locked 80. I stand by my statement.

 

[VernySanders]

3rd gen is and will always be the most desirable body style. I'm not saying the power plant will or wont be the best ever offered but it is 100% tested and proven. There is a reason if you look at a 3rd gen and 5th gen side by side you can tell Toyota reverted back to the 3rd gen styling and modernized it with the original 5th gens. Sure they have now went through a face lift but they went with that true classic look... derived from the most desirable body style, that one produced from 96-02. Theres nothing like a torque heavy small and flexible SUV that lasts forever and goes through anything.

That being said I have also seen a few 4th gens that I think look amazing. But I just cant personally get myself to drive a 4runner that's larger in size than my 3rd gen. My dad has a 5th gen and I wouldnt even want to take it off road. Feels like a boat. There isn't much of a size difference between the body of a 4th and 5th gen when speaking of dimensions. Idk.. I guess this entire discussion depends on what your usage is for the vehicle. But in the end if were talking ultimate classic Toyota 3rd gen 4runner is it. An 80 series land cruiser looks exactly like a larger 3rd gen. And the new 5th gen looks exactly like a 3rd gen but just modern. Come 2025 when toyotas sales are heavily leaning in the electric market as indicated by recent announcements from Toyota the 3rd gen 4runners will begin to go up in value significantly and I think they'll get rare enough to reach peak prices of all time highs such as other classic models. I just dont see that with a 4th or 5th gen. Sure people may drive them in 20 years but they wont ever be classic vehicles. In my oppinion.

 

[lockedlex]

I don't trust any "SUV" that comes from the factory with plastic bumpers.

That said, there's a reason why Toyota offers a Trail Edition with factory rear lockers, because they are superior. If ATRAC could "pull it off" Toyota wouldn't have bothered offering it as an option. ATRAC also has a problem during off-camber/rock crawling, it will have a scary tendency to side-step the entire chassis, while a rear locked 3rd gen will just crawl straight ahead.

I too had a triple locked FJ80 (97) and that was a beast, the only problem was that it was too large for the trails I typically go on, but goodness it was unstoppable (mileage and power were horrible though).

If I didn't do any offroading, just fire road type driving and lots of city driving/highway cruising, the 4th is certainly more comfortable and having stability control is a nice bonus, esp. in snow/ice.