Ordering a New 4Runner from the dealership...?

Good choice!

 

I have a silver 2018 off-road, there is a shop here in Phoenix, Westcott Designs that built mine the way I wanted, custom roof rack, sliders, RCI skids,Fox suspension w/ OME read springs, dual battery system and twin on board ARB compressor, Jeff is the owner and is great to work with.

 

That’s a great looking rig. Thank you for the shop suggestion as well. I’ll check them out when I make it up to the Phoenix area.

 

Well...the day of truth has arrived. My local dealership called and they have the exact 4Runner I want in stock. Do I take the financial plunge and trade my F-150?

 

Yes.

 

Has anybody here every contacted Jeff Teague (aka Toyota Jeff) of Fred Anderson Toyota in Raleigh NC? He has a lot of great videos and info on all 4Runners and seems to know his stuff big time. Apparently, he sells vehicles across the country, so I would assume he would order a special one as well. Just curious if anyone has done business with him? I am very impressed by his videos and my initial impression is that he is a stand up guy.

 

When we were buying ours he was the first person we reached out to. Let me just save you a headache. His personality for YouTube is that. It’s for views. Irl he is very to the point and can’t be bothered with a lot of questions.

 

Well Joel, did you make a final decision?

 

Heading there now to take a look at a white TRD ORP w/ KDSS. Still undecided.

My Dave Ramsey financial sense is screaming at me right now. But my desire to have a rig that lasts for 20 years is overwhelming too.

My wife says I can buy a new 4Runner or an airplane (I’m trying to build my flight hours to switch from being aircrew to being a pilot at work). You can buy a pretty nice C172 for $47k.

My one worry with the 4Runner is loading deer and/or elk bits in the back. Might have to buy an old Army trailer...

Decisions, decisions...

 

Or build you a trailer lol.

 

My buddy bought one of largest trailer hitch cargo racks available for his pickup. He puts his deer on that to keep his new truck clean plus he does not have to lift the deer as high. Just a thought. I have seen him use it twice and worked good.

 

Very nice!

 

For his pickup truck? I guess it makes sense for the lift height. My F-150 has a 3” lift on 35s and it can be a pain sometimes to load things in the back.

 

And they have a green TRD Pro here too...

 

I did put a $500 deposit just to lock in on a white 2021 TRD PRO on the stuff I want on it. I did this 10 days ago. The good thing is once it gets here I can test drive it look it over. If I like it I’ll take it. If I hear and see anything I don’t like get my $500 back and leave. They won’t have a problem selling it that’s for sure. Just hoping and praying it’s all good. Just hate the waiting game.

 

Have you heard about trouble with the white paint? There is a thread somewhere about possible issues. Do some research.

 

Go green...........buy the army green one I mean........the white paint suks

 

Yes I have... Just have to wait and see. I have gone out in the past to view some 4Runners and Tacoma. I have seen some crappy paint jobs on a few new ones. I want the 4Runner crazy bad. I been fighting with the 4Runner and Jeep for 2 years.

The good thing like I said if I don’t like it get my $500 back let the guy behind me have it.

 

I ordered this 2021 Pro when I called the dealer who knew the build date. Not many options to order, but I ordered blacked out emblems, door guards, running boards (would rather have trail edition), cargo cover. Arrived 6 weeks after build date.

 

Nice...

 

Picked up a 2021 Venture in White. Had contacted the dealership as they showed on their website. Was told it's on the way. A few weeks later it finally arrived. Went down to the lot to "just look". Drove it, liked it, bought it but was also considering a 2018/19 GX460. Traded in a 2017 Tacoma TRDOR for $3k less than I paid in 2017, plus came out pretty good on the 4Runner. Approx. $4500 off MSRP. Was prolly one of the best sales process that we had been through. They only had 4 4Runners on the lot. Now trying to decide which small lift and tires. Love the 4R as my daily so far.

 

Congratulations on the new ride. Does the Venture with that rack fit in your garage? Gosh I had a 4Runner in my garage last year and it was close with the normal rack let alone the Yakima rack

 

Yes it fits in the garage. Most of the time my FJ resides inside do to a leaking windshield.

 

An Army Green 4Runner pulling a green M101A2 military trailer would look damn cool!

 

Very true.

 

Anyone have experience fitting two car seats in a 4Runner? This is the practical side of buying this thing that I didn’t really think about until a coworker said something about them trading their 4Runner for a Sequoia because they couldn’t fit two car seats in the 4Runner. He’s 6’1 said it was very cramped. I’m 6’ so it is a consideration with a little one on the way.

Anyhow, I put a deposit on the ORP and I have to let them know by Thursday/Friday if I’m going forward.

It really is an awesome rig though...

 

If I had the $$$, I would have upgraded to the bigger Sequoia. definitely. With 2 car seats,it's a no brainer, that or the Land cruiser

 

True. At that point we’re hitting the stratosphere of vehicle price with the Cruiser. The Sequoia is within reach but, in my opinion, is a step down in off road prowess in comparison to the 4Runner and my F-150 (with how I have it setup).

 

I'm 6'2" and have run a full size convertible car seat in both the drivers and passengers side. Sure, it's no minivan, but it's more than doable. As your child starts to reach the limits of the car seat they may get a little cramped, but there is still room. The drivers seat is fully adjustable (8 way IIRC) so you can drop it down. For me this helps a lot to provide head clearance while not putting the seat too far back. Where you may run into issues is the passenger seat. It is only 4 way adjustable so the only way to gain more head room is to recline the seat back. That's the only area I could see you having issues. A rearward facing car seat may not give you much room to lean back. You could also buy a 4Runner without the moon roof to gain another 1-2" of headspace.

 

Thank you very much for your experience and perspective on this. Much appreciated.