Considering the unthinkable

So I have been a Jeep guy for years. I live in Utah and have made the most of it. Now that my kids are grown, I find myself doing less of the rock crawling type trails and more of the mountain dirt roads and some fun in the snow. The Jeep has built axles, 5.13 gears, lockers, 37" tires etc. and is awesome, but the every day ride isn't that much fun and I'm considering the move to a 5th Gen 4Runner. The thought of a nice comfortable ride that is quieter is enticing.

Has anyone else made a similar move and were happy or are you still wishing you could take your top off on a nice summer day?

 

Welcome from Utah. There are a few people who have made the change and will hopefully chime in.

 

I have never owned one but you can't beat the Wrangler for offroad capability out of the box. As far as top off fun, you can roll the rear window down and open the moonroof (if equipped) to come close.

 

Never owned a Jeep, so never made this move. My two cents is to do you. If the attractions of the Jeep outweigh the drawbacks, in your mind, then proceed accordingly. Personally I've never wanted a Jeep. But I have put 650k miles on a combined three 4Runners since 1988 and haven't had one regret. My current 2019 has about 130k miles and the only failure has been the passenger-side headlight. That reliability is very attractive to me.

 

I have a 5G/4R "on order" (in transit, deposit paid).

I've owned four Jeeps (3 Wranglers) and am selling my JLR to buy the 4R. I've been "wheeling" for 35 years, much of it what some would call "hardcore".

My g/f had a 4R and it was a daily driver. I drove the Wrangler as my daily driver, got off work and the 4R was our main vehicle. There were a few times we ended up in the 4R on the weekend, out in the woods (we're in the woods once or twice a week). I didn't trust the 4R because I thought it was only a grocery-getter, but a couple of times I'd look down a Forest Service road and wonder where it went and finally the g/f said "go check it out". That lead to taking the 4R on more and more "easy" off road outings. That progressed though, and we ended up on a few pretty sketchy rutted out roads in bad weather and the 4R didn't skip a beat. At some point I started to realize the off road bits offered in the 4R weren't as basic as the Wrangler, but the techy version did as well or even better in some cases, especially in some of the shoulder-season/winter conditions we get. It's not a "rock crawler", but it does everything else. A-trac is pretty impressive and better than BLD. The crawl ratio kind of sucks, but then again, in most off road situations outside of rock crawling, a 100:1 crawl ratio isn't really a benefit (can't beat it in the rocks though). I don't need lockers most of the time, and the rear locker is the most important, which the 4R offers (A-trac is not a locker, but it's an aggressive way to provide "limited slip").

Anyway, long story short (isn't it annoying people put the "short" part of the story at the end), the 4R does about 80% of what the Rubicon does, but it does it more comfortably 100% of the time.

My 2022 JLR is for sale (if anyone is interested, let me know) and my 4R Off Road Premium (ORP) should be here mid to end of May. I'll put tires on the 4R and it'll take us to all of the places we really want to go, because we don't need a rock crawler anymore.

 

I think you’d be pleasantly surprised at how nice the 4runner feels with all windows and tailgate windows down, compared to a jeep with the top down. No annoying sun burning your head, but you still get to feel like you’re sitting outside.

It literally feels like the difference between sitting in the sun at a patio table, in the middle of a huge yard with no shade, versus sitting in a covered porch on comfortable rocker, with gentle breezes blowing around.

I prefer the covered porch with some nice sweet tea please

 

I don't own a Jeep, but I do own a FJ40 Land Cruiser. The wife and I each have 4Runners as our daily drivers. Daily Drivers is the operative theme there. We love the Land Cruiser. We've had it for years and plan to keep it forever. That said, if we had to decide between one of the Runners and the FJ40, we'd have to choose the Venture. It does most of what the FJ40 will do (other than look like an FJ40 and start conversations every place we park it), but it also is NICE on the road and is comfortable transport for long-hauls for 4 adults and gear.

I can't really recommend a 4Runner over a Wrangler - not for someone else. But I can say that if it was between my FJ40 and my Venture. I'd keep the Venture, probably pining the whole time - but resolving it via looking at the plusses/minuses with the Runner checking more boxes.

Good luck and BTW - that's a good looking Wrangler you've got there. No chance to keep it and add a Gen 5 Runner?

 

Definitely a consideration. Two biggest considerations are it taking up driveway space and the fact that I don't like car payments. I generally pay in full for my cars and it is a bigger nut to cover if I don't get rid of the Jeep.

 

Apples/Oranges but came from a Moredoor Bronco with Sasquatch package (35's locked f/r 4.70). Don't really miss the ability to take the top off off as the moonroof + rear window is good enough and less of a hassle to operate. The doors off, I do miss that, but my wife hated it and the general road noise. I miss the offroad goodies in the Bronco but don't miss the lack of reliability. But like the OP I too am not doing the rock crawling thing these days, mostly FS roads with dispersed camping/backpacking or hot spring hunting.

That said I got a reminder of how I don't like dust in my rig, which the Bronco was good at acquiring. But after doing a dry dusty trail, I opened all the windows in my 4runner and it was like that Big Lebowski scene with the ashes in the wind. Don't do that as you don't have a wash out interior in the 4Runner.

 

I could live with a Jeep on the daily when I was younger. Or even now as a secondary vehicle to use from time to time.....they are fun. Like others have stated, the Jeep is superior for the very most difficult trails but the 4Runner is far better at everything else. While fun is a subjective term, IMO the Jeep is a much more fun vehicle when it's being used top down on a sunny day or when it's a Jeep that's truly needed to navigate a trail. The 4Runner can feel boring at times but enjoys reliability and practicality. The 4Runner can also be fun too seeing how much it is capable of and getting you to and from your adventures.

See if you can rent a 4Runner for a week or so to get a better picture of what it will be both on road/highway and take an off road trip as well.

 

I sold my 2004 TJ Rubicon in 2019, along with a 2013 Tacoma 4x4, both with extremely low miles, in order to buy the current 2019 4R Off Road I'm driving today. I had lost the urge to go crawling, the ride on the highway in the TJR was not great, so I didn't look forward to heading to Colorado any more with that. The Tacoma was fine on the highway, and pretty capable off road also, but was an access cab, so passengers were not a possibility other than the front passenger seat. My TJR was not built anywhere near what you're describing, but the times I've looked back on selling it to get the 4R and missing it I can say can be counted on one hand. I drove Jeeps for 30 years, and was pretty much over the top down experience.

Good luck with your decision. I know it's tough thinking about selling something you've put so much into; I don't think you'd regret getting a 4R, especially if you get one of the last 5th gens. The build quality of my 2019 is so far superior to any vehicle I've ever owned, and I've owned a lot. I still pinch myself now and again to make sure I'm not dreaming that I am able to own and enjoy one of the best 4x4 vehicles ever made...not to mention the fact that you can actually enjoy the trip to the trails...

 

I had a JLUR on 35s and then 37s before my 4R PRO. There's some things I miss about the Jeep, but I'm thoroughly enjoying the enhanced reliability, quiet interior, better build quality, and not getting 12MPG on the highway.

 

My neighbor has JK and TJ. Even last weekend he was chatting with me that wish his wife had a 4Runner instead of the Jeep while he was fixing it. He is seriously considering to buy a 4Runner for his daughter. But the 5th gen used are stupid expensive. But remember 4Runner will be capable upto some extend but no where to the capability of a Jeep.

 

With respect to the "top off on a nice summer day" this ^^^^

Before I got my 4Runner I never had a vehicle with a sunroof/moonroof, much less a convertible. I had heard people rave about the roll down rear window in the 4Runner - but really just thought - yeah that will be great, whatever. My wife has had a few cars/vans that had a moonroof - they were fine, none of them ever leaked, and opening the moonroof when getting in the hot car really helped cool it down - but driving around with the moonroof open was really no big deal to me. Then I got my 4Runner. I bought it in January - so it took a few months before it got to open window weather. Driving in the 4Runner with the moonroof open, all the windows down, and the rear window down is unlike every other vehicle with a moonroof I have ever driven/ridden in. Its definitely the rear window being able to be lowered that makes it unique. The air just flows through the vehicle. Anytime I am driving around like that I always have a big smile on my face.

 

Having the top completely removed with the doors off would probably make you smile such that by the end of the drive your face would hurt, just sayin'.

 

Keep them both if you can. I feel like I have the best of both worlds each built for different purposes.

 

Really nice YJ!

 

I've had lots (!) of jeeps - from beater CJs, restomod'ed Grand Wagoneer, new Grand Cherokees... My most recent (10 yrs ago) was a frame-up build of a CJ8... then I switched to Toyota. I just got tired of things breaking/failing - mainly the electronics. The CJs and older Wranglers are a different animal - just not as many opportunities for Chrysler to blow it.

They're fun... but the novelty wears off fast sitting on the side of the road.

 

I've got a buddy with what seems are unlimited funds.
He has his Jeep.
an 80 series on 37s.
a 100 series on 35s.
Each serves its purpose but I think you get a lot of fun and conversations out of your Jeep. It is so well positioned for a lot of off-roading. Keep it if you can while adding to your fleet.
I've personally had a TON of fun setting my T4R up for it's own kind of offroading. I can say that with a good set of tires, there is SO MUCH FUN to be had wheeling a 4Runner to its absolute limits, then driving it home 200 miles at highway speeds in relative quite. Every time I take the T4R up a trail that I couldn't hike or an off camber that feels like it should have flopped, or when I give the old Toyota IFS Wave and still keep climbing on 3 or 2 wheels, I look back and say, How did my mall crawler even do that????

I add one vote to the Get Both if you can camp.

 

Welcome from Arizona!
Good luck whatever your decision.

 

Keep the jeep and buy a 4Runner. Topless is the life but I don’t like long trips in the jeep.

 

Having driven both a 5th gen 4Runner and a new Wrangler, I'd pick the 4Runner for a daily hands down. For fun I'd pick the Jeep.

Even though it wasn't asked, I just wanted to add I wouldn't ever consider the new Bronco. I had that for a rental for a week and hated it. Felt like I was driving the most rickety shitbox ever.

 

Thanks. It's flat towed behind my RV to the trails. I don't want to drive it any distance on the highway for more than 30 minutes because it's topless 365 days out of the year. Just finished a 2000 road trip over 8 days in the 4R with off-roading thrown in every day. I can't do that in my YJ regardless of how much I love it. I hope keeping the Jeep and getting a 4R is an option for you.

 

I just traded in my Jeep Wrangler JK. It was so much fun but I gotta say the 4 Runner is so much more comfortable. I don't do that much off roading, it was mostly about snow. My wife is so much happier and that leads to bigger and better things

 

Shocks are Falcon and they were done by Teraflex which is right near where I live. No idea yet on what I am thinking for the Jeep.

 

I recently made the switch, traded in my 2020 Rubicon unlimited for a 2024 4runner TRD pro. I was planning on waiting another year or two but I wanted a 4 runner and having zero interest in a 4 cylinder version I bumped up my timeline. I kept the suspension stock in my Rubicon and I agree with you, as a daily driver it was rough to say the least. I also decided it would be a great idea to break my leg in a few spots, one thing led to another and I ended up with some herniated discs to boot.

I can't speak for the other trims but I will definitely say the TRD pro has been a far more comfortable drive on road, but as my back is still healing it will be a little while before I hit even the dirt roads. As far as the soft top goes, I did have a bestop trektop that looked amazing and was incredible in the summer, but we haven't exactly had the summer weather yet for me to miss it. I will say though it does become a PIA to switch out the hard top for soft top every other season up here in Canada, but I think I'll be fine with the push of two switches, one for the sunroof and one for the rear hatch and all the air flow you could want, not quite as much sun though, but way more straightforward.

Its only been a few weeks for me but I'd say I'm very happy to have made the switch.

 

Whoah whoah whoah, are.yoy getting better fuel economy in your 4r than your JLUR? I'm having the opposite experience in the few km's I've put on so far, and I had much more aggressive tires on the wrangler. I did have the 3.6l v6 with etorque, not sure if that makes it better or worse,..I will say the Jeep had more pep that my 4r pro