WTB: 05+ V8 or V6 4WD 4runner With or W/O Mods <100K miles

[MikeInNH]

Either engine will be fine.

If you do a lot of heavy towing...then the V8...otherwise I'd prefer the V6.

I tow a LOT with my V6. But I'm only towing 3500lbs. It handles it easily. Truck now has over 260k miles and still runs PERFECT. Plenty of torque...easy to work on....and don't have to worry about a timing belt change every 100k miles. Although I might have to do a timing chain change in the next 100k miles.

 

[TOY2G]

I'm assuming you mean "4.0" not "3.0." The last 4runner with a 3.0 was the 2nd gen. :

Also the 4.0 was introduced in 2003 not 2005, with the 4th gen. There are plenty of 4.0 with lots of miles on them in 4runners, Tacos and FJ Cruisers.

I did in fact mean 4.0 and I fixed it, thanks. Also you are correct, the 4.0 was introduced in the 4th gens in 03 another over-site on my part. :cowboy:

My point is no different given my mistakes. The 4.7 has 6 years and hundreds of thousands of miles head start on the 4.0. Again, I did not say the 4.0 was bad (I own 2 5th gens with it) I am just saying the 4.7 has had far more time to prove itself and collectively has more miles. Factory in that towing can have a serious negative effect on the 4.0, the V8 is the safest bet when buying used in regards to reliability. IMO

 

[MikeInNH]

Factory in that towing can have a serious negative effect on the 4.0

I see no negative effect with my 4.0 V6. I do a LOT of towing. 20+ times a year. I probably tow 5-10k miles a year. My popup fully loaded weighs about 3500lbs. The 4.0L V6 has MORE TORQUE and MORE HP then my 1972 F-150 V8. Just because it say's a V6 does NOT mean it can't tow. If towing was causing a problem with the V6 I'd be seeing by now. After 260k+ miles - engine is running PERFECT.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Factory in that towing can have a serious negative effect on the 4.0, the V8 is the safest bet when buying used in regards to reliability. IMO

Depends on what you're towing. I got my 4.0 specifically because my 3rd gen sucked at towing a small trailer.

IIRC the 4.0 equipped T4R is rated to tow up to 5,000lbs (with proper hitch and brakes, of course.) Puliing a 1,000lb teardrop trailer with no brakes has been great in my V6. I've even gotten decent MPG pulling this combo (18 MPG pretty regularly, an occasional 19.) Thousands of miles pulling that trailer with no ill effects. :shrug:

The power difference between the V6 and V8 is a relative thing. If you're used to big trucks or big engines, it can seem significant, but coming from a 3rd gen with its underpowered (for these days) 3.4, even the 4.0 feels like a rocket. I test drove both the V6 and V8 models and while the V8 was more powerful, the difference was not huge, and I didn't like the idea of being in 4wd all the time.

About the only drawback to the V6 I can think of is that because it does have the 2wd option, it has ADD, which the V8 does not have. This adds another potential "point of failure" to the 4wd system.

Honestly, if I was King of the Universe, I'd outlaw electronic shifting 4wd entirely. Give me a by-god 4wd shift lever on the floor and manual hubs and I'd be happy. :jump:

 

[TOY2G]

Depends on what you're towing. I got my 4.0 specifically because my 3rd gen sucked at towing a small trailer.

IIRC the 4.0 equipped T4R is rated to tow up to 5,000lbs (with proper hitch and brakes, of course.) Puliing a 1,000lb teardrop trailer with no brakes has been great in my V6. I've even gotten decent MPG pulling this combo (18 MPG pretty regularly, an occasional 19.) Thousands of miles pulling that trailer with no ill effects. :shrug:

The power difference between the V6 and V8 is a relative thing. If you're used to big trucks or big engines, it can seem significant, but coming from a 3rd gen with its underpowered (for these days) 3.4, even the 4.0 feels like a rocket. I test drove both the V6 and V8 models and while the V8 was more powerful, the difference was not huge, and I didn't like the idea of being in 4wd all the time.

Man, I don't know why you need to be right about the V6 being better. I said it was fine, but the V8 would be a better option if you were going to tow. I have owned more 4runnes than any member on this board to the best of my knowledge. Furthermore, I have pulled the same trailer with both the V8 and the V6 and the V8 handled it much better. AND the V8 is more proven, and has I Iron block as apposed to the aluminum block that has been known to cause issues when towing and or overheating.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Man, I don't know why you need to be right about the V6 being better. I said it was fine, but the V8 would be a better option if you were going to tow. I have owned more 4runnes than any member on this board to the best of my knowledge. Furthermore, I have pulled the same trailer with both the V8 and the V6 and the V8 handled it much better. AND the V8 is more proven, and has I Iron block as apposed to the aluminum block that has been known to cause issues when towing and or overheating.

I never said the V6 was "better" than the V8, but I will say that the overall package of the V6 equipped 4runner was better for me. YMMV. :shrug:

Glad you love your V8 but I don't think it's necessary, unless you are pulling a really heavy trailer (and in that case, a Sequoia or Tundra might be a better vehicle anyway.)

As for the V8 being more "proven", I think that's a wash - both engines have been around for over a decade and had plenty of miles on them. Both have proved to be as reliable as an engine can be these days. There's nothing mechanical out there that can't break and that includes Toyotas.

As for the V6 being "known" to cause issues or overheating, I don't "know" of any such issues. Certainly I've never experienced any issues in 2 years and ~15,000 miles of pulling our Teardrop all over the Mountain West, including a number of 10,000' + passes. The only thing that really gets hot is the transmission and that's why I always recommend an external cooler (I think anything that tows should have an external cooler, just to be on the safe side.)

Some people seem to forget that the FJC and Taco both use the 4.0 and there are a lot of folks pulling trailers with Tacos and FJC's. If the engine had any 'weaknesses' related to towing, they would have made themselves manifest by now.

 

[TOY2G]

I never said the V6 was "better" than the V8, but I will say that the overall package of the V6 equipped 4runner was better for me. YMMV. :shrug:

Glad you love your V8 but I don't think it's necessary, unless you are pulling a really heavy trailer (and in that case, a Sequoia or Tundra might be a better vehicle anyway.)

As for the V8 being more "proven", I think that's a wash - both engines have been around for over a decade and had plenty of miles on them. Both have proved to be as reliable as an engine can be these days. There's nothing mechanical out there that can't break and that includes Toyotas.

As for the V6 being "known" to cause issues or overheating, I don't "know" of any such issues. Certainly I've never experienced any issues in 2 years and ~15,000 miles of pulling our Teardrop all over the Mountain West, including a number of 10,000' + passes. The only thing that really gets hot is the transmission and that's why I always recommend an external cooler (I think anything that tows should have an external cooler, just to be on the safe side.)

Some people seem to forget that the FJC and Taco both use the 4.0 and there are a lot of folks pulling trailers with Tacos and FJC's. If the engine had any 'weaknesses' related to towing, they would have made themselves manifest by now.

OP was asking for opinions, not to reopen the debate of v6 vs v8 for the millionth time.

can we just agree that I have had both and pulled trailers with both and found the v8 to be more suited for pulling a trailer IMO..?

I do think the extra 6 years of use the V8 has does prove it's worth again IMO.

And yes the v6 does fail when it gets hot...

Here's one

Another

And another

Again

One more

I am super happy you have not problems with your 4.0 and I hope you never do, I also hope I never do. However.... the V6 has 6 years less time to prove itself, and it has shown it can be prone to head failure, something the V8 has not shown. Not to mention (but I will) I speak from extended experience.. how many times have to towed that camper with a V8 to compare it to the V6??? :tsk:

The OP has never even been back here to check his replies...MODs this is turning into one of those V8 against V6 threads again....it's partly my fault for getting sucked in :banplease:

 

[4x4runnerAZ]

Wow a lot of great responses!! Still haven't made a purchase yet, but I think I'm leaning towards the v8. Thanks guys!! Realistically it doesn't matter both engines are solid just trying to find the right one!!

 

[toyo]

If someone does not know the added benefits of a V8 w/iron block vs a V6 w/alum block is in denial.

What the heck is with so many people saying they don't like the fact they are always in 4WD. Ummmm, downside please?

 

[Icepuck72]

Just look at my avatar!!!! :high5: