Own a lot of Toyotas, is the 4runner worth it?

Ok so as the post says I've been owning Toyotas since 2000. I've had corollas, rav4s, Tacomas and tundras. So here's my question. I do have a camper it's a fairly light one but I'm probably going to be actually downgrading to a pop-up. First choice of vehicle for me so far as experience would be tundra but the new tundra's have been nothing but headaches so I sold that. I currently am driving a 2020 Tacoma off-road. Despite what I try I cannot stand the engine lag and shift points on that truck. I do a lot of daily driving so it drives me nuts. I'm trying to come up with something that feels a little bit better than a truck but can also somewhat tow like a truck. So I thought about trying out a 4runner off road model. My question is how do they handle as a daily driver? Since they seem to cost just as much as a fully loaded Tacoma is it worth it in your opinion? Anything I should look out for? Thanks guys.

 

Yes, but I don’t tow with mine so I can’t comment on that.

 

How many pounds is 'fairly light'? I came from a gx470 and would tow my 18' aluminum bass boat(~2800lbs with all the gear) without feeling it. I know it's there with the runner, but it does the job well. I wish it had more power, torque, and at least a 6spd transmission. Although the silver lining is that it should last a lifetime with the current powertrain.

 

The camper I have now I would not trust to have the 4runner pull as even though it's. Hybrid dry weight is around 4k unless I'm going on flat land and less then 40 miles away. My Tacoma struggles to pull that camper. Obviously the tundra I felt hardly anything back there. But I'd like to downgrade to a pop-up that's less the 3k.

 

I traded my 2017 Tacoma for a 2020 4Runner for just the same reason you are talking about. I have enjoyed the 4Runner but I do miss the pickup. You are restricted with space to carry lumber and larger things and I do not like my bikes bouncing around on a bike rack in the rear view mirror on the 4Runner but the 5 speed and 4 liter motor are the difference. You may look into reprogramming the computer on the Tacoma thru one of the advertisers on this site. There are several threads with the people who have completed the reprogramming on the site.

 

The 4Runner will tow a pop-up just fine. It will tow a small travel trailer, also, as long as you're not in a hurry. If you are okay with going 60 miles an hour, and tow in S4, you will be fine.

As far as how they are as a daily driver, I went from a 4runner to a Tacoma and back to a 4Runner, and I feel that the 4runner has a better ride. But, everything is subjective, so your best bet is to try to find one on a lot and drive it. New or used, they pretty much all ride the same, with the exception of the limited and the TRD pro.

Edit:. Another thing to consider is to get the Tacoma OV-tuned, if you like it overall. The tune is supposed to help with the shifting, and will gain a bit of power.

 

There’s a few directions you can go with the Tacoma.

You can try a new tune out. Tuners can reprograms the truck to your liking. Higher MPG, more torq, change shift points, etc.

You can try a Pedal commander or pedal grenade.

Then there’s the Magnuson Super Charger. Which also requires a new tune.

I have both a 18 Tacoma TRD OR and a 22 4Runner. The 4R definitely has more power and is a little more comfortable in the cabin but it doesn’t make up for not having a truck bed. The 4R has about 1800 less lbs of towing capacity as well.

I like them both. The 4R is great one of my best vehicles I’ve owned and great for family trips but I wouldn’t want to not have a truck either.

 

You could rent a 4Runner for a few days and see for yourself.

 

I've had several Toyotas in different figurations (as well as experience with owning or driving a dozen other 4WDs). We currently have a RAV4 (wife's AWD) and a 2019 SR5 Premium 4Runner. I don't tow but have loaded the "Runner" down for 2-to-3-week road trips, often at higher elevations and over passes. This has included Washington winters (east side!) and crossing Cascades, Sierras, Rockies in summer, fall, and early winter. No problems and a great ride. Only drawback, I feel, is the lack of a truck bed.

 

I solved the lack of a truck bed by picking up a 2003 Tacoma. Great little truck.

 

I came from owning a 2nd gen tacoma (2007) to a 2016 4R Trail. Here's my truck on tacomaworld... https://www.tacomaworld.com/media/back_from_the_farm.171/. I hauled a lot of 2x4s, sheetrock, a 1000lb pile of pavers, etc. I miss that truck.

I was going to buy a 3rd gen tacoma but my research paid off and I noticed the gear hunting on mild uphill roads during my test drive. I also test drove a manual 3rd gen tacoma but I didn't get it because of the rev-hang which was very noticeable when slowing down and shifting gears.

This is how I ended up with my 4R. I love the security it provides for my stuff. The build quality is superb. The styling is timeless. The drive is like my 2nd gen tacoma, and so much better than the 3rd gens I test drove. I don't think the 4R will be a good vehicle for towing a 3-4K trailer (depending on where you live and travel to).

My family loves our roadtrips and camping trips. I have 2 grown kids and we've driven thousands of miles in a sienna, a 4R and a 2019 civic. Both my wife and I work from home now and I look forward to be working on the road. I really want a sprinter van for convenience in looking for parking spots but those things cost a lot but can really only sleep 2 people comfortably, and I don't like the idea of having a single-purpose vehicle. So instead, I just ordered a 2023 Sequoia for towing a travel or modified cargo trailer on our future travels.

 

Get your tacoma tuned by kdmax. The lag disappears and the shift point improve.

Also I like my 4r more then my old 3rd gen taco. Its just more comfortable all around.

 

Honestly the 4R is nearly as bad, if you dislike gear hunting in the Taco, you'll probably hate it in the 4R too. The 4R drives decently, I think the stock (soft) ride is nice, and I think the steering is great. They're also practical, very reliable vehicles.

That said, I do not think they are worth the current MSRP. I personally would not buy another at these prices.

I also could not imagine towing anything much over 3k with one either, I feel like it has enough trouble getting out of its own way as it is.

Have you considered a previous gen Tundra or Sequoia? They'll tow much better with the 5.7L, and real world probably won't be that much worse on fuel.

 

Same. See my reply here, haha.

 

Tundra or Sequoia for towing. More Tundra’s on the market and they are significantly cheaper than the Sequoia.

 

4runner is not about ownership, it is love

 

4R is fabulous, but not for everyone. If you don't like your Tundra or Taco then this may not fit (but you'll know once you drive it I suspect). The 4R will haul what a Taco will haul, but I wouldn't carry anything heavy.

 

I came from a Taco in 2013 to a FJ then a T4R and never regretted the move!

 

Experience only towing a 2016 king quad 750 with a 5x8 carry on utility trailer with the runner
-MPG is not much better vs my old Tahoe towing it
-I know it’s there, my 4 runner gets weird random driveline vibrations it seems like with towing & passenger seat shakes a lot
-says it can tow 5,000 but I would never want to do it
-not a smooth ride depending on wind speeds / condition of roads and speed.

however my 4 runner in the wind empty is a bitch to keep in a straight line anyways and some people probably thought I have a nice buzz on at times. This is coming from someone who thinks they got a lemon but is giving the honest opinion.

 

Good point about the wind. It was super windy in my ride into work today, it took a conscious effort to keep it between the lines. It was also downshifting here and there to maintain 65 into a headwind. It was unpleasant enough that I regretted not taking my Volvo wagon in today.

To be fair, it IS basically a box on wheels though.

I also can def see how a Tahoe would be a better experience towing. I spoke with someone once who had a few different SUVs, he said his Suburban was his favorite tow rig, he felt the weight and long wheelbase made it feel very stable.

 

My Tahoe drove and towed smooth as silk until my steering box gained a lot of play, and apparently it’s hard to find a tight steering gear box (on the 5th). Love that old vehicle though. I chalk the choppy ride in the wind to as you stated the things a brick & is higher off the road. Some people said to adjust caster but my alignment is perfect. She’s just drifty lol

 

Last year we went down Hwy 395 and they had it closed to all but passenger vehicles (no trailers or semis)=saw 3 semis and a large travel trailer lying on their side. A little trouble staying in the lane. I would say we had some trouble with wind on the trip (2700 miles through OR, CA, AZ, NV. NM.CO, & UT) but nothing worth remembering! And we have a roof basket with hi-lift + shovel to catch some wind.

 

+100 on the previous suggestions to tune the Taco. I had a 2018 (before someone murdered it in an intersection) and with an OV Tune, it was a completely new truck. I just tuned my 4Runner and I have to say that I might tune every stock vehicle I get from here until the day I die.

 

I went from a 13 Tundra to a 21 Tundra just to avoid to bugs and issues that always pop up when a new generation comes out. Yep, the interior and technology seem to be upgraded, but it’s a truck. No regrets at all picking up the 21 Trail Edition. Towing anything of any weight is much better in the Tundra versus the 4Runner. I’ve pulled a 21’ bass boat with each, and while the 4Runner will get the job done, it definitely does not have the same giddy up go or stopping power of the Tundra.

 

I don't really know too much about the tuning of these. Would that have any long-term effects on the longevity or reliability of the truck?

 

Thanks for the info, I figured it was something like that.

 

Regearing and tuning go hand in hand.

Your truck is tuned for stock gears. You change them you want to change the way the truck is tuned.

You can pick what type of tune you want. MPG tune, Horsepower, just the shift points in a stock setup, etc.

A tune doesn’t always mean more stress on your drivetrain. It depends on what you want out of your tune.

 

Not that I am aware of but I can't say for certain. You do ideally develop a little more power so there must be some additional wear and tear but is it enough to make a difference? I don't believe so. It's not like tuning a sports car that is already pushing the engine.


EDIT: For some reason when I logged in, I wasn't seeing all of the new posts. I do think that a tune and a regear would be optimal if you are running bigger tires as mentioned in previous posts. One of the biggest benefits on the tune is changing the shift logic. My 4runner drives and shifts smoother that it did before the tune and doesn't hold lower gears unnecessarily. MPG's are slightly improved as well, likely because of this.

 

Gears and tune together is the proper way. No way around it. The computer is program for factory gears. Does it work by changing just the gear yes your vehicle will work but it’s not programmed for what you have done to it.

 

Then why doesn’t the EDU learn to shift correctly in a Tacoma after it has adapted to your driving style? Oh yeah because the parameters it was tuned to only allow certain things.

You realize Toyota tuned the truck right?