What is something you wish you HADN'T done to your 4Runner?

[I4CUTigers]

Kinda regret buying it to be honest.

Its a fine car, and I have a bunch of mods in the garage waiting to go on it, but the jury is out on if it was a smart move. Once we get it on the trails, that will be the deciding factor

So far, the mpg sucks, the power is pathetic, the suspension is terrible, the lack of features is laughable, and the radio/nav is one of the worst I've had the displeasure of using. Oh, and the 3rd row is a joke.

I'm just glad I didn't shell out the money for a new one.

All of that besides maybe the Nav issue points to a lack of research. I mean the mpg is notoriously bad, it’s a body on frame truck (KDSS helps), and it’s a relatively old, none SC/Turbo’d V6 mated to a 5 speed transmission.

But if you want to feel better about the purchase, you can drive my old 98 Explorer Sport for a few days. There is no nav, the radio doesn’t light up (you have to wait for a commercial to know what station your on), somehow it feels even more body on frame, it has 60ish less hp, and it has worse mpg and a smaller fuel tank.

Your 4Runner will feel like a Range Rover after that.

 

[ABC4R]

nfab steps.

 

[Angelo]

Fyrefly interior LED - all of them, every single one, has crapped out. There are better ones... but I'm still not sure which ones.

TYC '14+ taillights. I replaced my '10 OEM taillights and one of those has gone to poop within a day. Pain in the butt or re-order and return.

This is great feedback, thanks. I will amend the lighting thread to reflect a poor experience with them, everything I'd read previously was positive. If it matters I've heard recent good things about the new Philips LEDs available from Amazon as well as ones available from superbrightLEDS.com.

Good luck.

 

[Jetboy]

Biggest regrets -

HID headlights - I've removed them. I want to love them - but the headlight position physically is just too high on a lifted 4runner for bright headlights in them even if they were fantastic HIDs. Gotta get my shit together and do the HIDs in the fog location setup. I love the LED brights though. Wish they didn't have the issue with not being able to run DRLs.

TRD Pro skid plate. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/259429-trd-pro-skid-plate-=-not-so-strong.html I thought it would be a lot stronger than it was. I love the fact that it only weighed about 10lbs. But now I'm building a steel TRD Pro skid clone. Almost done. This pic was just after doing a little bending. I also regret not buying a larger hydraulic press!


There are certainly times I regret buying the 4Runner over either a GX or LC200. But I think I'd have the same thoughts if I were driving either of those too. If I can be in full trail setup and still get 17-18mpg - it reminds me why I bought the 4Runner. My only other real regret is that I didn't wait until they offered a Trail Premium without a sunroof. I wanted a TEP and the only way to get it in '15 was with a sunroof. I'd like to have the headroom without the sunroof.

 

[Pathfinder!]

Kinda regret buying it to be honest.

Its a fine car, and I have a bunch of mods in the garage waiting to go on it, but the jury is out on if it was a smart move. Once we get it on the trails, that will be the deciding factor

So far, the mpg sucks, the power is pathetic, the suspension is terrible, the lack of features is laughable, and the radio/nav is one of the worst I've had the displeasure of using. Oh, and the 3rd row is a joke.

I'm just glad I didn't shell out the money for a new one.

Did you bother driving one before you bought it?

 

[baldrik78]

I regret the first time I went down a dirt road with the back window down. So. Much. Dust.

 

[md-lucky]

Sitting level is shit when you are loaded up for a camping trip. Dirty diaper going down the road. Coil overs give the ability to really dial in the front end ride height and correct for lean.

Every time I see this comment I have to pause and think to myself "what in the hell are these guys taking with them when they go camping?" I must do camping wrong... Heck, even with my actual camping gear instead of the backpack gear there is no where NEAR enough weight to squat those springs.

It took several huge boxes of stone for a construction project before I had enough weight to sit level with the original springs.

I guess since my gear doesn't weigh enough to squat the truck, and I drive it daily (so the majority of time it is empty anyway), I don't see the point of a rake like that.

I've also leveled every truck I've ever owned too. Sure - when I dropped a bunch of rock in the bed it squatted the truck down in the back... but again, it was so rare that I would rather have it look level for 99% of the time than worry about it sitting squatted for 1% of the time.

To each their own I suppose.

 

[Runn4est]

I regret not getting bigger tires from the start. I was too worried about what I'd need to trim on a new truck (Both my 4th and 5th Gen), and it wasn't until I had to trim a little that I realized it's really not a big deal.

Sometimes I wish I sprung for a long travel rear setup with a nicer front CO rather than piecing together my Frankenstein setup. Overall, I'm pretty pleased with what I have though.

 

[shrub1]

Every time I see this comment I have to pause and think to myself "what in the hell are these guys taking with them when they go camping?" I must do camping wrong... Heck, even with my actual camping gear instead of the backpack gear there is no where NEAR enough weight to squat those springs.

It took several huge boxes of stone for a construction project before I had enough weight to sit level with the original springs.

I guess since my gear doesn't weigh enough to squat the truck, and I drive it daily (so the majority of time it is empty anyway), I don't see the point of a rake like that.

I've also leveled every truck I've ever owned too. Sure - when I dropped a bunch of rock in the bed it squatted the truck down in the back... but again, it was so rare that I would rather have it look level for 99% of the time than worry about it sitting squatted for 1% of the time.

To each their own I suppose.

You must not carry much then, or perhaps you only go for 1 night? Most of my outings are 3-4 days. Water, firewood, and a loaded cooler are perhaps the heaviest items. Things get even heavier when I add shooting in the mix..ammo and steel targets are not light.

Leveled stance unloaded makes no sense for my intended purpose and use.

 

[Jetboy]

Rear OEM springs are about 180lb/in each or 360lb/in total. The rear suspension is a lot softer than the front. So weight in the middle will still tend to drop the rear about twice as much as the front.

Hitching up a 5000lb trailer will sit you almost level on its own.
A group of 4 people plus gear will pretty easily level it out.

Or even a typical setup for a few days off road - and by that I mean more than gravel roads. So you'll typically have
Hand tools 50lbs
A high lift ~ 30lbs
Recover gear ~ 30lb
Air Compressor 20lb
A spare axle assembly ~ 40lb
10 gallons of water 85lbs
Fridge/Cooler and food 100lb (For long trips without any services this can go up - my last trip of 6 days off the grid with 3 people meant my fridge plus a Yeti 45, so more like 200lbs of fridge/ice/food).
Cooking stuff (stove, propane, pots/pans) 30lb
Shovel and axe/chainsaw 20lb
Tent/sleeping bag/pad 25lb
Clothes 20lb / person.
36-12oz beer cans 60lbs

That's 500+lb of gear in the back not including people or any toys you'd want to bring along (cameras, bikes, ?) or people. And the absolute last thing you'd want to do is be riding on the bumps when you're loaded up going off road.


I keep it as light as possible and look pretty seriously at every lb I put in. But it's built that way for a reason that something like a Highlander isn't. If you're going to use it for offroading or extended back country trips, having the ability to haul 5-600lbs without squatting the rear end is a pretty important design factor. Even if 95% of owners never do any of those things. Function over form.

This is my 4runner with 3 people in it and 6 days of gear and stuff for a hard offroad trail.

vs empty

 

[md-lucky]

You must not carry much then, or perhaps you only go for 1 night? Most of my outings are 3-4 days. Water, firewood, and a loaded cooler are perhaps the heaviest items. Things get even heavier when I add shooting in the mix..ammo and steel targets are not light.

Leveled stance unloaded makes no sense for my intended purpose and use.

Each their own. You must haul that stuff often enough it makes sense. I don't pack wood or water for sure... but even then I just don't see it being worth planning for the 2% of the time and ignoring the rest.

I can literally count on 1 hand the number of drives I've taken where the weight was enough to sit the 4runner level with the old stance. I'll drive more times this week and not need a rake than all of the times I have needed it combined.

 

[md-lucky]

Rear OEM springs are about 180lb/in each or 360lb/in total. The rear suspension is a lot softer than the front. So weight in the middle will still tend to drop the rear about twice as much as the front.

Hitching up a 5000lb trailer will sit you almost level on its own.
A group of 4 people plus gear will pretty easily level it out.

Or even a typical setup for a few days off road - and by that I mean more than gravel roads. So you'll typically have
Hand tools 50lbs
A high lift ~ 30lbs
Recover gear ~ 30lb
Air Compressor 20lb
A spare axle assembly ~ 40lb
10 gallons of water 85lbs
Fridge/Cooler and food 100lb (For long trips without any services this can go up - my last trip of 6 days off the grid with 3 people meant my fridge plus a Yeti 45, so more like 200lbs of fridge/ice/food).
Cooking stuff (stove, propane, pots/pans) 30lb
Shovel and axe/chainsaw 20lb
Tent/sleeping bag/pad 25lb
Clothes 20lb / person.
36-12oz beer cans 60lbs

That's 500+lb of gear in the back not including people or any toys you'd want to bring along (cameras, bikes, ?) or people. And the absolute last thing you'd want to do is be riding on the bumps when you're loaded up going off road.


I keep it as light as possible and look pretty seriously at every lb I put in. But it's built that way for a reason that something like a Highlander isn't. If you're going to use it for offroading or extended back country trips, having the ability to haul 5-600lbs without squatting the rear end is a pretty important design factor. Even if 95% of owners never do any of those things. Function over form.

What you just described is the top 5... maybe 2% of use.

If I need 160 pounds of food and beer for my trip, someone else better be helping haul some stuff.

 

[Jetboy]

What you just described is the top 5... maybe 2% of use.

If I need 160 pounds of food and beer for my trip, someone else better be helping haul some stuff.

For me that's 5-10 times a year doing something similar. Usually only 2-3 times that I'd be out for more than 4 or 5 days. Hauling 15 bags of concrete from the hardware store is more common. My 4runner is a utility vehicle and gets used like a truck a lot of its miles.

But if you're not doing that - why would you own a 4Runner? A Highlander is a lot better at driving to work and taking your bike to the trail head.

 

[N2TRKYS]

Every time I see this comment I have to pause and think to myself "what in the hell are these guys taking with them when they go camping?" I must do camping wrong... Heck, even with my actual camping gear instead of the backpack gear there is no where NEAR enough weight to squat those springs.

It took several huge boxes of stone for a construction project before I had enough weight to sit level with the original springs.

I guess since my gear doesn't weigh enough to squat the truck, and I drive it daily (so the majority of time it is empty anyway), I don't see the point of a rake like that.

I've also leveled every truck I've ever owned too. Sure - when I dropped a bunch of rock in the bed it squatted the truck down in the back... but again, it was so rare that I would rather have it look level for 99% of the time than worry about it sitting squatted for 1% of the time.

To each their own I suppose.

X2. I'm setting my SUV up for what I'll be using it for 99% of the time. There's no way I'm keeping the factory rake. I hooked my trailer and zero turn lawnmower to it the other day and didn't notice much difference in stance.

If I'm gonna haul a bunch of weight, I'll put in my 3/4 ton diesel.

 

[md-lucky]

For me that's 5-10 times a year. Hauling 15 bags of concrete from the hardware store is more common.

But if you're not doing that - why would you own a 4Runner? A Highlander is a lot better at driving to work and taking your bike to the trail head.

Yeah... so for those 5-10 times per year... I guess the 4runner that has a load in it is going to look like it has a load in it until it is unloaded... for 5-10 times a year.

The 4runner does fine for 90% of the trails and roads around here. If it's actually "off-road," I'm taking the old bronco instead.

The thought of hauling an elk out on a highlander is kind of funny. I'm afraid it wouldn't make it to camp.

I guess that's the biggest problem with these rigs. They do everything "pretty well," but they aren't great at much.

 

[salong53]

Biggest regret:
E Load 275 BF Goodrich KO2. I would've been much better off with C Load in the factory size. Better yet, I wouldn't have bought the KO2 at all. They're horrendous in the rain, and have gotten louder as they've worn. These trucks do not need E rated tires unless you're off-roading very frequently.

 

[davecon5]

Rino liner is at the top of the list...

 

[PeoplecallmeIan]

I regret getting the 4runner in general. I wanted the tacoma but it didn't fit the car seat. Now that my 1 year old big enough, he doesn't even fit in the rear facing child seat. Now I wish I had bought the taco.

I may eventually trade it in or keep it for a mild adventure vehicle and buy a tacoma for a prerunner build that I really want. Seems like way too much custom fab work to make the 4runner a prerunner.

Overall though, I love the 4runner and is probably the best vehicle I've ever owned. It totally shits on the Jeep JK i had previously. Just on reliability alone.

 

[cbielat]

I wish I had a stock 4Runner again.

 

[WabdaQ]

I wish I had a stock 4Runner again.

Liar!