It was shiny for about 30 seconds

I finally went and did it! After years of looking for some sort of 4runner, I finally pulled the trigger and got me a brand spanking new 4 runner Off-Road! My first true 4x4! And with that, we will retire the (still) trusty 2006 Sienna we’ve had since new.

I’ve been cruising the local dealers for the last couple of weeks looking for this trim in magnetic gray. Finally I saw that two came up for sale at a dealer about 100 miles away. I had the day off, so I went to check them out. Drove both of them about 45min a piece, function checked H4, L4, and locker on both, and ended up getting the one with 3 miles on it! Sweet.

After my test drives, the deal was done, and they prepped the car in an hour, and off I went with my brand new truck. I immediately baptized the bare underbody in briney road spray for most of the trip back (Sigh, I wish there was a wool wax application place in my area, would have driven straight there).

As fate would have it, nearing my home city, a severe snow storm was bearing down. For the last 30 or so miles, I needed to use H4 for effect. The roads were completely covered in 4 to 8 inches of, very powdery, very slippery snow. Not quite expecting a white knuckle drive home, but she pulled through just fine.

Today was no different, as I had to commute into work in a county and city that is known to save tax dollars by not really plowing. They got 15 inches over night, and it was still snowing during my drive. Most of that trip was in H4 as well! Every once in a while I encountered dryer roads stripped clean by winds, and shifted into H2, although it was still probably slippery enough to safely run in 4wheel drive without binding. Made it home safely, just in time leave for the dealership with my wife so I could pick up the Sienna I left there overnight. Well, after all the high stress driving these last couple of days, Im wiped out.

But at the same time, I find myself completely smitten with this 4runner. Love the ride, love the ergonomics, love how the engine and tranny work together, love the manual hvac that needs less adjusting than my wife's Highlander (seriously, the climate control in the 18 highlander is total garbage). Did I say how much I love the feel of this thing on the road lol?

I just wish it was clean, but it’s so dang cold here that Id be more afraid of freezing water breaking something. This thing may not shine again until spring if it stays this cold lol. And as much as I would have otherwise laid down under the 4runner to admire that old school construction , I cant bear to look at the underbody until it’s clean. That’s the problem buying in winter. But at least I’ll have my runner ready to go in spring!

 

Welcome! Love it.

 

Just think how that thing would perform with a proper set of tires?? Congrats on the new ride.

 

Tires? Let's see the first slammed 5th gen on 24's!
CONGRATULAAAATTTIIOOONS!!! Enjoy the ride
Any plans for it yet? Rock crawler, sand runner, offroader, "overlanding" or just another mall crawler? No shame mines a grocery getter LMAO

 

Haha, slammed TRD Off Road. Yeah, thanks but no. Makes as much sense as a Passat with with a 6 inch lift, which oddly I saw a day ago driving around (that was a real head-scratcher).

My plans for it are to start a 4runner youtube channel and maybe get rich...middle aged out-of-shape guys need a little more representation on the tube, just sayin

Ahem, Ok seriously... my best bud is a jeep guy and lived out in Colorado for a while and did all the non-suicidal trails out there. Just scenery stuff, no crazy rock crawling. For a while he’s been bugging me to follow him out there on my KLR650. I’d be lying if I havent held that as a dream for last decade or so. But Im too old and out if shape (see above) to do anything that far from home on a moto anymore. A few years ago I started talking 4runners, and he keeps mentioning taking a trip. Finally saved up enough pennies, and now I got my runner! Life’s crazy and tends to throw crap at you when you least expect it, but now at least I have the appropriate means of transport if an opportunity to go out west materializes. And of not, I still got my 4runner!

Edit: my other plan for it, knock wood, is to keep it for a long time. I’m still holding on to my first new car (99 Accord), so that should give you an idea of how much I love a solid car.

 

Grats! Hey, this was my first "new car" purchase. I waited my entire driving life to have something new. What did I do? Went out and put scratches alllllll down the side before it was even a month old. C'est la vie brother - these toys are meant to get dirty!

 

I think I could tolerate pin stripes if they were earned in battle. Badge of honor

Im sitting here at work, cant get thoughts of epic road trips out west. Thoughts of which sliders to get, when I can afford to get the front leveled a smidge, a nice set of KO2’s... This feels just like when I’ve gotten a new to me motorcycle. Anticipation of fun and adventure overflows.... must...stop...watching...youtube.

I cant wait until I can get underneath this thing just to stare at everything. Does that make me weird?

Edit: that reminds me, all of my jack stands are for puny little cars. I need some big boy stands as my first order of business

 

Not weird at all...matter fact I pull out some bers and the crawler every now and then too
Check out my album for some inspiration any questions or tips ask

 

Nope.. sounds just like me lol.

Yeah, that's what everyone says... "she's earning her stripes!" Still tough to stomach though when you remember the check you just wrote lol!!

 

Much appreciated!!! I think as I drive it a bit more and solidify my thoughts on the rig (Ooo I get to call this my “rig”!!!), I’ll be coming up with more questions.

I just also realized that I am surrounded by big ass snow piles and I have not yet articu-flexed on them. This will be remedied soon.

 

Welcome aboard good looking 4Runner.

I too have been playing in the snow. Retired early and have been cooped up in the house. We got a good foot of snow here which will probably be gone by this weekend. The 4Runner works awesomely in the snow. Even the 2wd traction control impresses me. Been playing the game, how far can I get up that hill before having to switch into 4wd.

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

We too purchased a magnetic grey trd off. The story sounds like mine. Drove home in snow and ice. Read your post and had to laugh.

 

Congratulations! I love mine!

 

Lol, TRD Off Road Frozen edition. Nice color choice

 

Yah left dealer friday night big storm rolled in while doing final paper work at dealer. First 200miles all in 4hi. Haven't even switch into 2wd yet. Well I guess that's one way to break it in.

 

welcome from sunny SoCali and Congrats.

 

Congrats, we bought the same one including color. In three days I will have had it a month, it just got its first rain since I have had it yesterday on my drive out lol. Not much snow in FL.

 

^LOL

 

So, i’ve racked up near 500 miles on the rig so far and was a little worried about of couple of things.

One was the rear locker, which didnt seem to want to engage. The light just kept blinking. Thankfully my jeep buddy educated me on that. He said the two wheels need to be turning at slightly different speeds to help some locking pins align with some holes. Alls you gotta do is turn the steering wheel a tiny bit and roll foward a foot or two. I did so, and from the back I heard a tiny “click”, and she was engaged. Bobs yer uncle. I did it like ten more times and it engaged perfectly each time following his advice. Sweet.

The other thing Im wondering seems to be possibly something Ive read about in forums. But im not sure if it represents a problem or a feature. Basically, sometimes I hear and feel a slight growl/howl (like the sound of a mud terrain tire on the street, just not super loud). Mind you, I have Duelers equipped on mine. This mild growling only happens in H2, and the pitch deepens the slower you go. It goes away if H4 is selected.

I would say that the growl is present in H2 half the time, otherwise H2 is quiet. Thoughts?

 

That’s probably the front diff needle bearing going out. Replace with a bushing and your golden. Nice ride!!!

 

Growl/howl could be front diff needle bearing. This is a well documented issue.

Search "needle bearing" and you'll find threads about the issue.

My 4Runner had this issue at stock height (many only have the issue after a lift). I replaced it with the ECGS bushing.

 

Is there a TSB or recall for the bearings?

 

Yes TSB. Replacing the entire front diff. They are no longer doing the bearings only.

 

Wow, that escalated quickly! Sheeesh.

I’ve noticed the subtle growling since about 100 miles on the odo. Gonna do some research on this issue

 

I had the same problem on my tacoma. But, only after I lifted it. I would take it in. Nothing to worry about. It's on toyota at this point. But if it wasn't, it's only about a 500 fix at a shop. I did mine at home for about 200 in parts, and a special tool from east coast gear supply.

 

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10154805-9999.pdf

 

Hmm. I’m definitely not hearing a cyclical nature yet, or grinding. Groaning might be more like it, but right now it sounds more like a quiet version of mud terrains. Im hearing it more when I am decelerating to a stop. Maybe Ill let the sound “mature” a bit before taking it in. Would there be any danger to other components if I did that?

 

If it's the bushing, waiting won't cause more harm. If I were you, I'd let some of that ice melt and see how she drives, before a trip to the dealership.

 

Nice post! Congrats!