What have you done to your 5th Gen 4Runner today?

Not disagreeing with you as all vehicles drive different. But my 4R is not pleasant to drive, and hiways and with winds or without are unsafe. I’ve made up my mind to buy something else. Sure it has a ton of capabilities, but hiway driving is not one of them.

 

Wow never had any real issues driving or towing boat. The only issue towing boat W/ my last TRD OR was W/front raise 0.085 W/Eibachs to level it. It would float & when tractor trailer would pass it wasn't as planted on the road like when it wasn't towing.

 

I’m actually visiting my Toyota dealership tomorrow to pick up a radiator hose for wife’s 2011 RAV, I’m going to talk with service coordinator and set up the alignment appointment. Either way the Nitto’s are coming off at 11:30 and alignment check after the new Michelins. I”ll post my opinion on the difference on the highway after both are done.

 

I’ll likely get rid of the 4R even though I’ve always wanted one. It’s such a terrible hiwway vehicle that I can’t stand it.l I wanted to love it, but alas, I’m not a fan.

 

Great time to sell a 5th Gen. I’m keeping mine, at least that’s the plan.
Edit: First new vehicle I’ve owned for almost a year, not one single known new car issue. No technical SB’s, no recalls.

 

It's a bit curious why you post about getting rid of the 4R...it's obvious no one is going to change your mind.

 

How much are you looking to sell that $10,000 death trap for?

 

We did both front seats..... Screw the people in the back though! Haha

 

You do realize this body style has been around since 2010...14 years. We are all aware of the strengths and weakness of the 4Runner. I have driving my lifted 4Runner from CO to CA and Back. From CO to Montana and back. From CO to AZ and back. Is it the best...no. But it works, sometimes you have to push her a little bit. This V6 likes to be in the higher RPMs, it is where it makes it power. Does it get great gas mileage...no? But 140k miles and counting and she has been dead reliable.

 

Ok.

So, you're expecting someone to fork over $47k for a vehicle you consider worthless?

Amazing.

 

I’m curious what you think is a better road trip vehicle? The main reason we own a 4Runner is for road trips. The rear storage space is bigger than most other mid size SUVs and there’s also a lot of rear seat leg room compared to others. The mpgs are what you should expect from a heavy body on frame SUV. If you go bigger like a Tahoe or suburban then mpgs will be worse. The new Sequoias rear storage is horrendous. The new LandCruiser rear storage sucks due to the hybrid battery. The GX550 is nice but the engine may seize up. The new Armada could be a contender. What else is there?

 

Just go away already.

 

Lol you bought a slow square brick that isn’t made for comfort. It’s not the trucks fault.

 

The new defender is an XL rated tire. Stiffer sidewalls. I've had them for a few months and the first thing I noticed was the truck felt more "planted" on the highway. It's subtle but if you pay attention to such things, you'll notice a considerable improvement. They're also "stickier" than the previous version of the tire. You'll know what I mean when you actually put your hand on the tread. They're fantastic in wet/slippery conditions.

 

I've driven 1300+ mile road trips in my 4Runner and I was comfortable

 

I think these whiners are expecting a body on frame SUV with a solid rear axle to ride like their mom’s luxury sedan. I would love to see them drive any pre 2000 vehicle or something with a solid front axle. Or even better something with front leaf springs.

 

That's interesting.

My friend bought one after seeing mine and had a similar complaint about high speed cruising.
I drove it and it did have some "wander" on the freeway. One max caster alignment later and that thing drives straight as an arrow now.

Personally I love driving the 4Runner on road trips. Its been from Louisiana/ Arkansas all the way to California multiple times. Cruises great and super comfortable interior. A good alignment goes a long way for drivability.

 

Took her on our first road trip of the year. Took the family to stay at a cabin in Forks. Gonna do all the cheesey Twilight things.

 

My first SUV was a 1987 Suzuki Jimny SJ40. Leaf springs all around, 45 bhp carburatted engine and 2 speed 4wd transfer case. It drove like Fred Flintones cart on road but was a mountain goat off it. Kept it for 10 years.
Followed by a 2nd Gen 1991 Mitsubishi Pajero. The most recognized Pajero world over. It was the original bad boy for offroading, but again on road you drove it with alight foot. Then a 1994 Y60 4th Gen Nissan Patrol. Again, one of the finest off-roaders still and probably the best handling on road Patrol for it's time.
So I know a thing or 2 about 'real' SUVs and how they drive on road specially Japanese 4x4s.
The 4runner is what it is. Does great off road, tackles unpaved roads very well but is average at best on highways. Infact the one word that describes the 4runner as a highway car is fatiguing.
It has a purpose and it does that well but that's it. It is a poor vehicle choice for highways and that's okay, it comes with it's character and construction.
But to ignore this and insist it is commendable for highways is nothing but foolhardy.

 

SCS F5 8.5/-10/17
Ridge Grapplers 275/70/17
Eibach Pro lift 2.5" Front
Icon rear springs 2.0"

 

I have AutoZone calipers on the front, O'Reilly's on the rear. Those were found to have seized pistons while changing pads, so I had to get what was in stock locally.

If I had the opportunity to be prepared, I'd probably have gone OEM. I went with another O'Reilly's to replace this stuck one due to having the lifetime warranty, so the replacement is free. Otherwise I'd have ordered OEM.

The O'Reilly's reman in $91 assembled on the bracket with new pins and hardware, I did a quick search and found OEM listed for as little as $160.

Bleeding the rear is really easy, you just turn the key on and touch the brake pedal, no pumping necessary as the ABS pump automatically sends fluid through. Bleeding the front is done the conventional way.

Just be careful to not let the master cylinder the get too low, the pump moves fluid fast.

Lots of good YT vids on this.

Oh, when you do the front, don't even attempt it without a propper line wrench for the fitting. It's a 10mm, IIRC.

 

My dad used to have a early 2000's F-250. It was a very jarring ride unloaded. At the time, I had a Cadillac with air ride suspension, real leather power seats with heat etc... Complete opposite of the F-250 and way too soft for my taste. With my 4Runner lifted and on E-rated tires, I still feel the ride quality is a nice in-between.

 

I love my 4R. It is just about perfect for what I bought it for - which is to cruise the back roads, both paved and (mostly) dirt. But when it comes to long road trips I take my F150. Quieter in the cab - less wind noise, less road noise. But mostly because of the engine. The torque that 3.5 Ecoboost puts out is nearly twice what the 4R's engine has, and whereas the 4R shifts down on every hill the F150 never needs to shift down, even across I-80 in Wyoming where the elevation is anywhere from 6500 to nearly 9000 feet. Just effortless cruising at highway speeds. I make multiple cross country trips (3000 to over 6000 miles per trip) and I always take the F150. Much more relaxing.

 

Unfortunately elevation is not a naturally aspirated engine's friend.

 

Just got home with new Mickey Thompson Baja Boss AT's. Perfectly balanced first try. Helps that they have a Road Force balance machine. Took them straight to the highway, no shimmy. Alignment done as well, seems perfect.

 

Good to hear! I'm actually considering a EB F150 for that reason, I spend way more time on the highway than anywhere else.

Even the 2.7EB sounds good, my buddy raves about his and gets the same if not better mpg than my 4Runner.

How's your reliability been?

 

I traded a 2021 Raptor for my 4R - 3.5 EB (but hopped up) with the 10spd.
MPG on the highway is basically 20 flat from 70-80mph (and that's on 35s but 93 Octane required)
Extremely common Issues - Cam Phasers, Wastegate Actuator, Transmission failure
Extremely common issues Ford will ignore - Panoramic Sunroof failure requiring complete replacement (and they won't warranty it up front) - this happened to me and 4 other people I know in my own Town.

 

Really?! I spent 20 years in the military and drove pretty much everything except tracked vehicles. An LMTV drives better than my 4R does.

 

Sounds like you need to go buy an X5.