What model or year is best for mountains?

[Draayer]

I had a 96 4runner "The Zombie" and loved it. It had about 250K miles and after blowing the second head gasket, sold it. I'm looking to get another 4runner and am wondering what is my best option for the mountains?
I loved the 3 generation but most of those have a ton of miles. Right now I'm looking at an 05 "this has the 5 speed trans" or an 07 TRD. What does the TRD have that a normal 4runner doesn't have? What generation is best in the mountains? I know they can all perform great out of the box and can do better with a few mods but "in general" whats the best mountain generation?
Thanks

 

[mscot]

In regards to snow? Buy one with AWD and not part-time 4wd. If you're looking for an older gen (i.e. not 5th) then get one with a V8.

Part-time 4wd becomes tedious when driving in snow as you're constantly in and out of 4wd. The V6s just don't have enough torque to make driving in the mtns pleasant.

 

[Yo_Hec]

Didnt even know there was a part time 4wheel drive, interesting.

 

[mesooohoppy]

In regards to snow? Buy one with AWD and not part-time 4wd.

my 99 has the awd mode and it is awesome. i used it last weekend in 1-3" of snow and never had to put it in 4wd.

if youre buying a 3rd gen, youre going to want one with a rear locker for what you plan to do. i suggest getting a 99 so you get the awd mode, but avoid all of the new crap introduced in 00-01.

 

[JAXJeremy]

Didnt even know there was a part time 4wheel drive, interesting.

P/T 4wd is any system where you have to engage the transfer case to get power to the front wheels.

 

[Draayer]

What year is best

I'm not overly concerned about the full time 4wheel drive vs part time because when I head to the hills, it's not an issue to put it in 4wheel drive.
I like the idea of the 6 cyl because i don't need to worry about timing belt replacement.
Whats the scoop on the TRD model? Does it have a different suspension?
I don't think I can get a 3 generation model because most of them have high miles. Probably looking at a 4th maybe a 5th generation.

 

[Ripper238]

I'm not overly concerned about the full time 4wheel drive vs part time because when I head to the hills, it's not an issue to put it in 4wheel drive.
I like the idea of the 6 cyl because i don't need to worry about timing belt replacement.
Whats the scoop on the TRD model? Does it have a different suspension?
I don't think I can get a 3 generation model because most of them have high miles. Probably looking at a 4th maybe a 5th generation.

Get a 5th gen which is still current. Just got my 2019 TRD and i love it. Has rear locker and all the 4 H-L off road features for off roading. I even got mine with KDSS which is a must if your not going to overly mod the suspension.

 

[spartacus]

They are all capable in 4x4 with good AT Ttires. Driving up mountain passes they all struggle but over drive off and it's fine.

 

[Draayer]

5th Generation vs 4th

My 3rd generation seems so much smaller "easier to maneuver in the hills" than the 5th generation. The 4th seems to be in between the two, that's why I'm leaning towards the 4th. Is there a better year? I've heard good about the 5 speed trans that starts in 05. I wish there was a manual out there.
Anyone out there that can tell me about the TRD?
Whatever year I get I had planned on lifting it about 3"

 

[Horsethief]

My 3rd generation seems so much smaller "easier to maneuver in the hills" than the 5th generation. The 4th seems to be in between the two, that's why I'm leaning towards the 4th. Is there a better year? I've heard good about the 5 speed trans that starts in 05. I wish there was a manual out there.
Anyone out there that can tell me about the TRD?
Whatever year I get I had planned on lifting it about 3"

I see you're in Utah. You have real mountains out that way. I'd go with a V8 if you get a 4th gen. Yeah, the timing belt sucks, but the 4.0 V6 is kind of a turd, and is going to feel really underpowered, especially at altitude.

I bought a 5th gen earlier this year, and I'm at sea level. Even driving it up in our 3k feet elevation mountains, I was really disappointed in the lack of power. You have to rev this motor to the moon to get any power out of it, so your foot will be deep into it and the rpms screaming a lot of the time.

Just my .02. The power is relative, it depends on what else you've driven. I've heard some call the 4.0 "powerful", I assume they came from a Yaris or similar, lol.

 

[mteolus]

You can also look at a Lexus GX470. It has the V8. I know the new GX460 all have KDSS, not sure about the 470.

 

[T4R2014]

You'll appreciate the V8 on steep grades.

 

[techno]

... Right now I'm looking at an 05 "this has the 5 speed trans" or an 07 TRD. What does the TRD have that a normal 4runner doesn't have? ...

There's no such thing as an 07 TRD. The only TRD options for the 4th gens is the dumb crap like filters, oil filler caps and brake pads.
If you were happy with the 3rd gen performance, then you will be very pleased with the 4th gen V6. All 4th gen V6's came with the multi-mode transfer case too, which gives you the options of 2wd, 4wd unlocked center diff (Hi and Lo range), 4wd locked center diff (Hi and Lo range), and if you get an 08 or 09 model you get the factory Traction Control Off switch which gives you even more options including Auto LSD when in 2wd mode.

 

[Draayer]

07 not a TDR

The 07 i'm looking at has TDR stickers on it, so If I'm understanding correctly, the TDR stickers mean nothing??? I just placed an offer on a 05 so I'll see how it goes.
Thanks,

 

[techno]

Yep, the stickers are just for show and would have been put on only by a previous owner. There use to be a TRD cat back exhaust option, but that's long gone now, Maybe it has that? That exhaust was not popular because it sounded lousy.

 

[Ripper238]

The 07 i'm looking at has TDR stickers on it, so If I'm understanding correctly, the TDR stickers mean nothing??? I just placed an offer on a 05 so I'll see how it goes.
Thanks,

Well the stickers them selves mean noting other than Toyota Racing Division. But the TRD versions usually have additional off road features like Crawl control or multi terrain select, rear locker. Find out if its a real TRD or he just put stickers on it. I'm not well versed with older 4R's but i don't think they had a TRD in 05?

Ether way do some more research on the 4R you are looking at before making a bid. lol

 

[Danraabe]

New to the forum. Am considering a 2020 4runner pro. Can you share pros and cons? After the warranty is up what are the most likely repairs? Thanks in advance for responding. Dan Raabe

 

[jrm]

the 5sp begins in 05 and the leaking head gasket ends in 06' on the v6s. 06 thru 09 is the way to go. Theres also the 09' trail edition with rear locker. the wanker that owned my 4runner before me plastered TRD emblems/stickers on the truck. It took sometime but i got um all off...

 

[Trail4me]

I didn't noticed that the truck is under powered in the mountains. We must drive a different vehicle. Sure, it's not that great at low RPM's on overpasses, but all you have to do is put that gas pedal down and it moves with a bit of engine noise I took it up to 8K feet about 5 times since I got it and had no problems whats so ever passing or keeping up with traffic. Yes, its a bit slower than my 337HP sedan but it's a 5K pounds truck and i expected it to drive like a little brick. Not as nimble as my old Pilot either. I got my 4R with KDSS and i'm glad i did since i don't plan to modify the suspension much and it makes a difference on the curvy mountain highways in Utah. I also use 85 gas, since i find acceleration being more responsive with it at altitude.

 

[gainman]

I'm not overly concerned about the full time 4wheel drive vs part time because when I head to the hills, it's not an issue to put it in 4wheel drive.

I like the idea of the 6 cyl because i don't need to worry about timing belt replacement.

Whats the scoop on the TRD model? Does it have a different suspension?

I don't think I can get a 3 generation model because most of them have high miles. Probably looking at a 4th maybe a 5th generation.

Trd model has 2 main difference, both very good ones. First is a rear locker where you can lock the rear differential to apply equal torque to both rear wheels when one of them has no traction.

The other is atrac. Atrac is an electronic system that uses the abs system to apply brakes to only the wheel that has no traction. It kind of acts like a locker in a sense. It actually works really really good

Personally I prefer the v6 over the v8. The v8 doesn't have much more power over the v6

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