To 4WD or not 4WD

This coming Summer, I expect to finally pull the trigger on buying a new 4Runner.

I am currently driving an ‘06 Tundra SR5 Double Cab 4WD. I bought it brand new.

I used the Tundra’s 4WD a lot in ice and snow when I lived up in Michigan. But we moved to central Texas in 2013, and I’ve barely used the 4WD for anything down here in TX.

I do not go off roading or trail driving. So I’m thinking I won’t need 4WD in a 4Runner. I like the old school body on frame design, drive train, and looks of the 4Runner.

When I do get my 4Runner, most likely in a 2WD, I’d like to at least do a minor lift on it, like 2” at the most, and go to the next size up in tires, while still keeping the original rims. I see way too many 4Runners where the original tires look to narrow and small.

My question is- Are there any companies that make a minor lift kit for 2WDs, and how much larger of a tire can I get away with while still using using the stock aluminum wheels?

And how do you go about kicking the wheels outboard just a wee bit, I wouldn’t want the tires sticking way out beyond the wheel wells though. Are there spacers that can be bought to space the wheels outward just a tad more for better looks?

Any 2WD owners on this board that have done these type of minor mods on theirs? Also, my plans for tires would be to go with an LT rated tire, Load Range C. I won’t need the extra weight and expense of E rated.

Thanks for any input, especially regarding a lift of 1” to maybe 2”.

Rick.

 

Welcome to the forum. Sounds like you know what you want. If you don't anticipate 4wd being needed, a 2wd 4R sounds like it will work. Great vehicles.

As far as your lift question, I am not that familiar with lifting a 2wd, but I would think it's the same as a 4wd.

12 pages of suspension threads to peruse:

https://www.4runners.com/forums/suspension.19/

 

@glwood54 has you covered. I think there might be some different options for a 2wd, but it's basically the same stuff.

 

2wd model have 9.0in ground clearance vs 4wd have 9.6 ground clearance. Might be worth to get part time 4wd and use just 2wd.

4wd trims like SR5 and Limited have higher payload than TRD models.

As for tire size 17x7 SR5, TRD Pro wheels good for 275/70R17 tires. 17x7.5 TRD Offroad wheels good for 285/70R17 tires per tire manufacturers. But many run 285s on SR5 and TRD Pro wheels. If you buy Limited you can swap to 17in wheels with no issues.

Ton of lift options, so nothing to worry about that.

 

My uncle did a "pre-run" of the Baja for Mickey Thompson and Dick Cepek one year. He went along with Bill Stroppe in a 2WD Toyota P/U. The had a winch and that got them out of any jam they got into.

 

Yup, most baja bugs are 2wd…the so it shouldnt be a limiting factor for a lot of terrain.

I used to think why not just get 4wd since the option is not that much more expensive…. But the reality is, if you want to do a lot of miles, 4wd presents an ongoing cost in maintainance. It’s also not as simple, which matters more when the vehicle has 150k miles than it does when new.

A 2wd 4wagon has it’s merits. I coukd imagine it to be extremely durable.

 

I think you forgot a few words.

 

I'm in Georgetown with a 2runner. I don't go off road except for a fishing trip to Lake Buchanan or canyon lake to camp and still those are just dirt roads.

No reason for added maintenance on un needed transfer cases and extra weight for no reason.

 

Plus, a 2wd will never encounter the needle bearing issue or CV angles that are too steep, causing issues.

 

This ^^^^^

 

And also you can get away with the the front strut leveling kit with out issues. Puck on top of shock kit.

I'm still contemplating full spring/shock replacement to level but just me.

 

I would get the 4WD since the resale value should be better.

 

I never understood 2wd 4runners, even with the reduced maintenance it isn't worth the difference (in my eyes). I also dispute the MPG difference, it can be canceled out by driving habit from my experience with a 3rd gen. The point is moot, even a 2wd will return poor mpg, a 4runner isn't a thrifty vehicle when it comes to gas. But I wont fault a person for being pragmatic and buying a 2wd 4runner.

I cant say how much less it will get you when/if you sell it because all the ones in my area are 4wd. But no need to buy something for a 2nd owner if you plan to keep it a while. You can find lift kits for 2wd 3rd gen 4runners, so I wouldn't worry about finding one for a current 4runner.

 

Trigger finger lol

 

I think if the body style was a like an old school wagon, nobody would bat an eyelid. That’s basically what they are, like an old GM Caprice wagon, without it being gargantuan….or GM lol

 

I see that you added a bit.

I have done the same while texting. It's like I know I'm about to push the wrong button, but my finger is faster than my brain.

 

Right? What's wrong with a station wagon?

I almost never used 4wd in my first 2 4Runners. I could have lived without it. We had a 2wd Tahoe for a few years, and it was totally fine for hauling the boat, camping, etc.

 

if you do not want 4wd , do not buy and waste money on gas by buying old school vehicle in new shape , shop something else .
real wheel 2wd are not good in rain and difficult condition , these can slip .
if you want to buy 4runner , simply buy SR5 with 4WD , its comes with A-Track which is all you need when you get stuck .
lift : you can go up to 2 inch lift with no issues on 4runner , 4wd or 2wd , does not matter .
for wheels , use spacer for the look , do not wast money on wheels .
off road tires will eat your gas 2 miles per gallon and because 4runner is not air dynamic its a bad vehicle for local drive , i get 12MPG local and some times easily get 6 to 8 MPG .
My friend save money on Gas , Gas is going to be more expensive its just a drama that Gas is getting cheaper .
you can go with 275/70/17 with out any issue ( factory size 265/70/17) but if you lift you can go 285 size but you need body mount chop but its all about your aliment , if you want cast high to make your steering wheel straight then you need body mount chop , big tires will take more gas ,and will create few issues in long run .

 

My next door neighbor moved from TX to MD with a 2WD SUV and he could not sell it because no one around here wanted a 2WD SUV. He ultimately sold it, but for much less than he expected. We historically get about 18 inches of snow annually in this part of MD. Not a necessity to have 4WD here, but every soccer mom in these parts have 4WD SUV's too!

 

You realize that if you get one that is only 2WD, you’ll need a 4WD?

 

This is truth. You may think you don’t need 4wd now, but you might regret not having it later. When I bought my Tundra, I bought a 2wd thinking I wouldn’t need 4wd because I already had a built YJ for my adventures with my son. We outgrew that Jeep quickly. Now we have our 4R and no Tundra and no Jeep. A shame because that Tundra was way more comfortable over long distances.

Anyway, I guess my point is, better to have it and not need it, blah blah blah. You never know what direction life is going to take you. Besides, I really don’t even get the point of a 2wd 4Runner. There are so many better choices if you are looking for a 2wd SUV

 

Would you happen to have any suggestions then for an alternative quality body on frame SUV without upsizing to a full size SUV?

I want the “trucky” look for my SUV, not one of those mom-mobile looking unibody vehicles. To me, the 4Runner satisfies the trucky look, and, I will be towing a tandem axle 12’ utility trailer from time to time.

The only thing I can think of is a Tacoma pickup truck, and perhaps putting a cap on it to give it a bit of an SUV look, but I’m not that happy about the Tacoma’s drivetrain.

By the way, I’m not worried about the near term resale value of a 2WD, as I tend to hold on to my vehicles for a long time if I like them, evidence my 2006 Tundra. I’m 67 years old. If I like the 4Runner, it could conceivably last me practically the rest of my driving years, if it doesn’t get wrecked, and provided they don’t quit making gasoline.

I really don’t need 4WD where I live. I don’t go off-road. I’ve never used the 4WD on my Tundra since 2013, when we moved from Michigan to central Texas.

 

Just buy what you want. At the end of the day, opinions on the forum are just that, opinions.

 

+1. Or let me spin it a different way: If you are never going off-road, never driving in snow- why a 4Runner? For the same money you can get MUCH more comfort, economy and better road manners in a lot of other vehicles.

If you need to carry a lot of people, a Highlander, the new Honda Pilot (trail sport looks more trucky than minivan), Chevy Tahoe, Cherokee/Wgoneer, etc all get you a lot more seats for the money. If you need to tow (a 4Runners tow rating is no more than a Highlander btw)… again Tahoe, used Sequoia, Tacoma, Tundra, any full-size big 3 pickup, etc.

 

Hello all, I am really appreciating all the worthwhile / knowledgeable responses here. I neglected to mention anywhere above that I am apparently a Toyota loyalist / enthusiast from way back.

Over the years, my wife and / or I have owned: ‘77 Corona station wagon,‘78 Celica GT hatchback, ‘85 Celica GT/S hatchback, ‘87 Supra non-Turbo, ‘88 Camry, ‘93 Camry, ‘95 Lexus ES 300.

Simultaneously, pickup trucks I have owned (and purchased brand new by me) during those time periods included: ‘93 GMC Sierra 2WD, ‘97 Dodge Ram 2WD, 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 4WD, and currently my 2006 Toyota Tundra SR5 Double Cab 4WD. The Tundra has been a real champ, and currently at 187,XXX miles, relatively low mileage for an ‘06. I just have new truck fever right now, and feel like I want to transition from a pickup to an SUV. I’m just not sure I want to try to hang on to the ‘06 Tundra for the remainder of my driving days.

FYI, that ‘97 Dodge Ram was hands down the biggest piece of dog sh_t vehicle I have ever owned. Paint problems, cooling system leak problems including radiator, water pump, intake manifold gasket. Electrical problems up the kazoo, transmission problems. Engine had a knock in it when I traded it in on the Silverado. And it got oil changes routinely. All my vehicles are cared for and looked after.

That was my first and only Chrysler / Dodge product I’ve ever owned. I would never touch a Chrysler product again, including any Jeep products. Jeeps are out for me. Oh and guess where that Dodge Ram was built- you guessed it- Mexico.

As such, I am skeptical of any Tacomas coming out of Mexico, and fearful that the next gen 4Runners may come out of Mexico.

Out of the American built full size pickups, I do like the looks of the Ford F-150, but suspicious of the quality. The Dodge Ram looks great, but, I’ve sworn not to buy another Chrysler product ever again. (Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me sort of thing) I don’t want GMC or Chevy, and I don’t want a compact pickup truck. I don’t want a big hulking Tundra or Nissan Titan. I’ve ridden in AND driven a friend’s new gen Nissan Frontier. I didn’t say anything to him, but I was not impressed. I didn’t care for the way the automatic transmission shifted in the Frontier, kind of wishy washy / erratic shifting so to speak.

I don’t know- I might wait to see what the next gen Tacoma looks like and drives like. Or the next gen 4Runner for that matter. But again, this Mexico assembly plant thought is a real issue for me.

My antique ‘06 Tundra is just running and looking too good yet. An old friend. Here’s a recent pic of my Tundra SR5 4WD. Never been wrecked- just some very minor scrapes, scratches, dents, and little boo boos over the years, which I’ve always religiously had repaired.

My wife is somewhat concerned about the fuel economy of 4Runners. To me it’s no big deal. I tell her look, it’s not going to be any worse than my Tundra is now with its 4.7L V-8. I am also retired now, so it’s not like I’m having to drive to work 5 days a week. There’s days now where I may only take the Tundra out 2 or 3 times a week. I can live with the 4Runners fuel economy, if, IF these idiot morons don’t raise gas to 7, 8, 9, or $10.00 a gallon, or God knows how much.

My wife drives a 2019 BMW X1. It’s kind of a baby SUV. We really like it. We bought it new. It’s fast, lol. But it requires premium fuel.

So ya anyways that’s a bit about me. I like Toyotas. Thanks for reading, and again thanks for all the responses.

 

Just go with the 4WD. You'll be glad you had it when you need it. Watch out for the next Stevie Ray Vaughn Texas Flood. When we had flooding in New Jersey during Hurricane Sandy, I had to cut across a few mushy, soaked front lawns. I started off in RWD, but I put it in 4WD after getting stuck. The 4WD got me out of that bad situation. You might only ever be in this bad situation once, but you'll be damn glad you had the 4WD when you needed it.

You're not going to find much that's not a mom-mobile as you described it. I don't know the last time you went car shopping, but things changed a lot since the great recession. When I was shopping for my 4Runner in February 2020, I was shocked by how homogeneous most vehicles have become. SUVs really became puny things.

And I hear you about the Chrysler crap. Nobody wants to want a Jeep Wrangler more than me, but Chrysler/Fiat-Chrysler/Stellantis has gone to crap. Like, more crap than before, and I was already burned by their less crappy crap. I hope their EV ventures pan out. I could see myself driving a Jeep Recon if it's decently reliable.

 

My scenarios when buying 4runner and I want 4WD
1. Not daily car. I use it to pick up my kids just to have the car exercise. 1 or 2 days/week
2. It's my backup in case there are flood, snow , etc.
3. Camping
4. Future Off-road

 

Hi Rick.

Im not sure why you started this thread. You have been presented with logical and well reasoned arguments for getting 4WD, yet you resist them. The 4Runner has a reputation for being reliable and long-lived, but it’s not unique in those qualities. It also has its foibles. It is dated in many ways compared to more recent designs. It sucks down gas. It lacks many comforts commonly found on newer vehicles. Yet those of us who own one are happy to put up with those things for one reason: the 4Runner is in the upper echelon of vehicles in terms of off-road capability. You obviously like the idea of owning and driving a 4Runner, but you would buy a version of it that would deny you its best feature. And for many of us that’s hard to understand.

Yours is not a rational decision. It’s an emotional one. I don’t mean that in a critical way at all. Most of us are the same at times. Blackout emblems. Replacement wheels. Painting the valances, etc. These are emotional decisions, made for the sake of fashion rather than function, and that’s totally fine. And it’s totally fine that you want a 2WD 4Runner. But your decision is an emotional one. You obviously like the idea of owning a 2WD 4Runner. So get one. Since your decision to get a 2WD version is an emotional one, asking us about it is akin to asking us what color you should get.

 

Geez, guys..

What's so wrong with not wanting to pay for and maintain a bunch of extra parts you don't need?

As far as practicality, most 4runner owners will never take them off-road anyway. Buying a 4Runner is impractical for all of those people as well.

The OP has explained that having a body on frame SUV, and the overall look of the 4runner is what's appealing to him.

Obviously, when you ask a bunch of randos on the internet for their opinions about your decision, you're going to get their opinions. But, I don't personally see anything wrong with buying a two-wheel drive 4Runner if that is what you want, and it serves your needs.

 

I specifically went looking for a 2WD. I already have a Tacoma Off Road with a hidden winch, on-board air, and a few other goodies. Main reasons I wanted the RWD 4 Runner are; build quality, the SR5 has a simple suspension, and maintenance is easy. It gets 17.1 mpg in normal driving which is fine. And it looks great.