"I'm Not your typical 4Runner Owner" build

After evaluating my down-sizing options for a 4wd SUV with 'real' 4wd, I was almost sold on a Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk, but hubby says "Have you even looked at a 4Runner?" I had not, as I thought it was going to be out of my price range. Surprisingly, it was comparable in price to the Jeep, and WOW SO MUCH MORE VEHICLE!! Not even in the same league. I was immediately SOLD and couldn't stop dreaming of it. Now, Normally I am a "red" gal. Love Red vehicles, was so disappointed when we bought our 2007 Suburban Z71 because they did not have red that year Suffered for 10 years! LOL But I fell in LOVE with the Blue. The 2016 Red was just not hitting me like red normally does, but the Blue..... Oh the Blue

So, here I am, at 52, no kids at home to worry about, and a great husband helping me out with it. We don't plan to do much technical off-roading but plenty of Colorado high country roads and lots & lots of SNOW! We went with a Pro Comp 2.5" leveling kit which gives it a stance I just love. NFab nerfbars/steps. Husky Liners. TRD Rims w/KO2's 275/70/17. Put the Dog Fence in the back to keep the fur-kids back where they belong and not in my lap, and gave them a nice Kong bed that fits perfect in there.

Next on my list is a front bumper. Just have not found one yet that I like. I keep an eye on the forum with all the goodies on it. I really need to get the windows tinted, just trying to dry out and find the time to do it. I ordered the "TRAIL" Shapeways logos in yellow and plan to do my front T logo in yellow along with maybe the 4Runner on the tailgate. (Blue & Yellow are my new favorite colors as they are also the primary colors on my Husqvarna FE250 dirt bike And to that point, the motorcycle hitchrack works great and didn't drag that rear end down much at all.)

I am so happy to have bought the 4R. I can see myself still driving it at 65! Grocery Getter, Bike Hauler (MTB and Moto), Real 4WD and my Toy for playing off road! Nothing extravagant, but still makes me feel cool.

And here he is (and I just realized I need to take some more/new photos!)


This photo was last Wednesday!

 

My hubby and son went to work on my next little mod. Installed photos to come soon.

The Trail emblem is from Shapeways that I found in another post here. We painted the R red ourselves

 

Welcome and congrats!

 

Welcome to the forums.

Regarding bumpers, do you want a large front full bumper, or a smaller hybrid bumper that still gives shackle points and a winch mount, without changing the look of the truck?

Once you figure that out, you can factor in the weight of the bumper and how it might affect your suspension stance.

Looks great so far! Keep it up.

 

Got this one on - totally dig it!

 

I ordered some of these months ago and they never came and now I can't remember where they were.

 

Try This email: service@shapeways.com

 

Thank you..

 

Our first tow and it went great. Even with the 275/70/17 BFGs we still got 17.5 MPG running on the hwy at 73mph (the happy spot) with jaunts up to 85 and the 2 major passes -Vail and Eisenhower. Really happy about this. 3 rail bike trailer with 3 bikes. Estimate 1,000#

 

Have done some moderate 4wheeling but last weekend I hit a pretty hard trail, in spots, and the Toy really performed. Let me preface this with I took Hub's Raptor out a few weeks before on some gnarly trails (unfortunately for him, he tore his Achilles so he has to suffer with my driving his brand new Raptor off road and yes we have jumped it already) and we experimented with the 'O-shit-Ometer' on some off camber stuff, so that helped.

So I went up FS 505 from the town of Eldora, CO up to Caribou. Very narrow in places and some good exposure and technical climbs. At one point I had my left foot against the door frame to hold me upright. Got some pretty good scratches from branches as it's very over grown. Overall a great trail and glad I did it, scratches and all. Now to get my son to take care of those - he's a whiz at that stuff.

Recommend this trail, but air down some. I didn't and wish I had.

 

Almost 25000 miles and still super happy with my Toy. Winter’s here and can’t wait to get back into deep snow driving. Love where we live and drive.

 

Nice truck. You are just a little up the road from me. I am in Crescent Park.

 

25k in 7 months? Damn. You got me beat, I also bought in April and I'm at 20k now...

 

Actually 25k miles in a year and 2 months. I bought it in Oct 2016.

Current upgrade is a Pedal Commander. I will write a more formal review but as of right now it’s the best upgrade for the money I’ve ever made to a vehicle. It doesn’t add power but it sure makes use of what’s there already, which is a lot more than that EPA BS allows Toyota to do. All I can say is WOW am I happy with this and if you are in the CO Front Range and want to try it, hit me up.

 

thank you, you have sold me on the 275/70/17 KO2s looks great

 

Here’s my latest addition. BAJARACK Love It! Carry my gas cans and extra stuff when we go ride Moto. Will reach 90,000 miles tomorrow and still love driving my T4R!!!

 

Oh and my son got this a few months ago on a killer trade/deal. He’s got it running pretty good now! He’s totally psyched about it!

 

Nice rig, like the color.

 

Awesome! 2 4Runners in the driveway!

Agree about the blue, as well. That's an awesome color.

 

Looking good

 

How do you like those tires in the snow and icy roads? What kind are they?

 

I live at 9,000’ in Colorado and have tried different tires and always come back to the BFGs. Every tire has strengths and weaknesses but these always seem to get the job done. Not wasting any more money or time trying anything different.

 

Very nice setup, i lived in Coal Creek Canyon for 12 yrs. This was 1970’s to 1980’s, such a great area, i was down behind the Wonderview cafe a bit, I don’t know if it is still there or not?

 

Yep Cafe is still there and just changed owners. I am up behind there off Camp Eden road. Don’t get as much snow as we used to but still enough to require real 4wd!

 

how is the wind noise on that baja rack? awesome runner!

 

There’s noise. I don’t drive with the sunroof open much anyway. But definitely not on the highway. Fashion over Comfort

 

And after a few years of being kicked to the curb, I’m back in the garage!

 

The yellow Toyota badge really looks nice with the amber fog lenses. Did you leave the yellow and red badges off the sides?

 

Mine had no side badges - 2016 Trail Premium was incognito.
Correction - I never put the side badges on. Totally forgot about those. ‍♀️

 

Show off that Pcar!