What model or year is best for mountains?

[04rnr]

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.

OMG thats ound:Ive had a 99, 2004 V8 and now an 2007 V6 so what I say comes from experience, in daily driving, wheeling in the mountians, on dry streets, wheeling muddy mountain trails, rock crawling and yes driving in snow and snow wheeling.
Being had a few 4runners that statement "The V6s just don't have enough torque to make driving in the mtns pleasant" is a JOKE.... and all it takes to pu them into 4WD is to turn a switch, if turning a switch is "tedious" then those people are some of the most lazy, people on the planet..
Yes a 3rd gen is more narrow and IMHO better for wheeling tighter trails, but the 4th gens are so comfortable and does everything (on the trails) my 3rd gen did with no issues.

So [MENTION=87991]Draayer[/MENTION] when you ask whats the "best option for the mountians" that really doesnt tell us much.. Are you going to hit trails? if so are you doing senic trails, mild trails are you hitting the harder trails??? IMHO any 4wheel drive 4runner with a few mods will do good but you havent mentioned TIRES, that makes a HUGE difference..
Like Ive said, Ive had a few 4runners now and for the wheeling and daily driving I do, I love my 07 V6

 

[Draayer]

More clarification

The 4runners role would be fly fishing trips, and taking the family for rides in the mountains. It will be used in mud and snow on narrow trails from 5k feet elevation to around 10K. I understand tires are a huge part of the equation and will take recommendations there too. I also have a 71 international scout but really like the modern brakes, steering, etc. Based on all the comments, I'm looking at an 07 right now.
Thanks,

 

[02SE]

Another fellow Utahn. You may recall I gave you some advice Re: Your headaskets on your 3rd gen. I rode with your cousin a few times, and went on his memorial ride. My sincerest condolences on the loss of him and later his son.

I recently sold my unicorn 3rd gen V6, 5-speed, e-locker, factory leather, moonroof, etc. with 134k, and bought a new TRD Off-Road Premium.

No 4Runner is ever going to be fast, even the V8's with the add-on TRD supercharger aren't fast. Faster than stock, but not fast compared to a fast car, or especially a sportbike.

Anyway, there was no TRD model in '07. So what you are seeing is just stickers that someone put on an '07. There was a Trail Edition in '09, that has a rear diff locker. But that was one model year, and then the 4th gen ended.

Regarding the 4th gen: If you are tall or long in the torso, sit in one first. I never bought a 4th gen, because it had less headroom than my 3rd gen, and less headroom than my new 5th gen. I just didn't fit comfortably.

Regarding the power of the V6. The 4th gen has more power than the 3rd gen V6, but less than the 5th gen. In the mountains here in Utah the 5th gen does fine, you just need to rev it on occasion. Which is what you had to do with any of the previous generation V6's. It's A LOT better than the old 3.0 V6 in the 2nd and 1st gens.

Good luck in your search.

 

[mscot]

OMG thats ound:Ive had a 99, 2004 V8 and now an 2007 V6 so what I say comes from experience, in daily driving, wheeling in the mountians, on dry streets, wheeling muddy mountain trails, rock crawling and yes driving in snow and snow wheeling.
Being had a few 4runners that statement "The V6s just don't have enough torque to make driving in the mtns pleasant" is a JOKE....

I came from an SUV that actually had am engine with good torque (3.0 TDI). The 4.0 in the 4R is a turd compared to any decent engine.
You've just settled for less and made do with it. Don't get your panties in a bunch when someone bursts that bubble.

 

[04rnr]

I came from an SUV that actually had am engine with good torque (3.0 TDI). The 4.0 in the 4R is a turd compared to any decent engine.
You've just settled for less and made do with it. Don't get your panties in a bunch when someone bursts that bubble.

obviously, so did YOU.... or did you forget that YOU also, own a 4runner?

 

[Burt]

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...

I agree, 06 thru 09 V6. Got and 08 that I run over 13K passes here in CO while towing sometimes, with no problems. No major repairs after 141k miles.

 

[mscot]

obviously, so did YOU.... or did you forget that YOU also, own a 4runner?

Your point?
Of course I did. I’m just realistic about the trucks failings, which are unfortunately magnified in the mountains, which is what the OP asked.



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[04rnr]

Your point?

You're a Hypocrite

 

[mscot]

:bored: and you're delusional

 

[rob_dixon]

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

Hi Danraabe, welcome! The 2020 has a few more pros than the previous 5th gen years of rsure, far and above being adaptive cruise control. A push start and a bigger info screen and better dash screen are others. The cons are all the same: its a slow pig, has almost no tech features (some insist this is a "pro"), and poor MPG. The sound system sucks too, but that is subjective. (I replaced mine).

But, most likely repairs are far and few between. You wont have many repairs. I don't even know what the common problems are and I've been stomping around in these forums a while.

I know one is a squeaking noise easily fixed with some doublesided tape or new clips.

You cant really go wrong with one as long as you don't care that its slow and gas mileage sucks.

 

[mesooohoppy]

You cant really go wrong with one as long as you don't care that its slow and gas mileage sucks.

good god is this one of the truest things ive read on here. these rigs are great but these are the two things that drive me crazy.