Home Forums Gear Hunting Trucks and Four-Wheel Drives 4Runner hunting rig?

It's a salvage..

Thanks, but that's a bit further than I would want to travel. Seems a little pricey for a salvage? I guess that shows how desirable they are!! Hahaha

Sweet!

within a 300 mile radius of where I live


If you want to fly and drive one of these might be interesting

Have a 2005 Tundra that has had zero problems. However, look and you will see they had a frame recall with a rust issue.

Bad enough and they will replace the frame. Minor and they spray it with a coating. Mine just received the spray, but they have replaced at least 5 at the dealership. Saw a truck yesterday delivering additional frames.

My nephew got in on the Tacoma frame recall a few years ago. They could see light through pinholes in his frame so they put it on the lift for a closer look. When they lifted it the frame broke. He'd just driven it on a 3000 mile trip the week before. That could have happened at 75.

They gave him within $2k of what he'd paid for it 6 or 7 years earlier. He came out great on the deal.

No longer going with giving out the big dollars.

With the Tundra, it is a new frame or spray if only surface.

Interesting to watch them tear one down and replace a frame. Mechanic told me they have it down to around 36hours.

He also wants to buy mine with 75,000, but not ready to give it up yet.

Spent a weekend driving around in friends new Chevy. Pretty nice ride.

I have a 99 4Runner and they don't need schit to make them a good hunting rig. For three guys I'd fold down one rear seat for a little extra room.

The cab of a similar Tacoma isn't going to give you much extra room. The bed will be nice but the leg room is going to be a draw and the 4Runners can be found for cheaper than the Tacomas.

The range on them sucks if fuel is a concern.



Travis

That's going to be true of a Tacoma too. That's my number 1 gripe on my Frontier, even averaging 19-20mpg I can only get ~350 miles out of a tank. With the camper in tow and 14 mpg it's downright burdensome having to stop for fuel all the time.

Yes.




Travis

I do love my 05 Tacoma but its just not big enough for more than 2 guys. You can make 3 guys work but its very tight. When I get the funds Im going to buy a Tundra or something similar sized just for the fact to give clients more leg room. I have the EMU suspension on my Tacoma it helped it alot.

If you are a guide, I would be looking at a gas powered Super Duty 07 and up. Likely crew cab what ever bed you want 4x4.

I have a Tundra and it is a good truck but it has some short comings. The single biggest is it does not have a limited slip. I know Toyota claims there is one but there is NOT. It has a traction control device that applies the brakes to the slipping wheel in hopes that the other wheel will gain traction. What this does is wear on your brakes and causes unnecessary torsional rotation on your axle shaft that is have the brakes applied.

Having used my truck in the mud and snow, it is at best marginal. A factory Ford (or any American company) LSD works much better. I would guess that this truck will spend a bunch of time in the dirt and that is something to consider.

I said a 07+ Ford because of the solid axle and coil spring suspension Ford uses. The 05 and 06 gas motors with 3 valves could be... finicky. They went to a new 6.2l in 08 with the then new body style, an 07 or 08 might be fairly inexpensive. The suspension is really good off road, the cab is big to keep clients comfortable.

You decide you want to get rid of it, drive it next time you head to Less Traveled Road and I'll be there with the $$$... Heck I'll even buy dinner at O'Bryans!!

I have a '97 3rd gen 4runner, no lift but with the limited package it has an electric rear locker, and with 285's it's been anywhere I've wanted to go. In fact if it had more ground clearance it'd go further.

We had a rubber floor liner. For carrying stuff add a roof rack.

Fuel mileage is not good. Front brakes take a beating, and the v6 is prone to head gasket issues. Still though the idea of replacement is a quandary. The closest replacement would likely be a Tacoma crew cab with a camper shell.

my daily driver, as well as my off road/hunting vehicle, is a 1988 4Runner. 22R engine, with the fuel injection. Auto transmission, 4X4, 15/235/R15 tires.
I put a lot of highway miles on it, and a lot of miles in sand, mud and swamps. 23 mpg on the road, and a smooth ride. Goodyear Wrangler tires (brand new ones now, third set). 350,000 miles, but there are a LOT of new parts. Front end, hubs, brakes, Power steering, alternator, O2 sensor, shocks, drive shaft.

Sam,

I am always a little envious when you guys post pics of you're 4Runners with huge milleages on them!

The winter salting of our roads tends to kill a lot of older vehicles over here, although the anti-corrosion work on modern vehicles has improved the situation a good deal.

Regards,

Peter

Around here the Methheads and Headbangers.. all unemployed with too much time on their hands...will steal an old 80s 4 Runner or Toyota Pickup quicker than they would a new Corvette....

then take them out, trash them and then scrap them out for parts or just push them off a mountain side...

a year or so ago, I had someone try to steal mine.. while I was sitting in the drivers seat on my cell phone...

stoned idiot was so high, he didn't even notice me sitting in the drivers seat as he was trying to jimmy the passenger door...

rapped on the window and held my hand like I was holding a gun... guy pissed himself and then ran off screaming...

For all around utility, ride and handling, my 2000 Tundra extra cab V-8 4x4 w/ work shell and rack suits me so well. Its quality is very evident after owning Yukon, Suburban, F250, Explorer and Land Cruiser 4x4's.

I've been hunting and wheeling a 2003 4Runner with the V8 since 2008. You simply won't find a better or more capable rig IMO. I consistently shock the Jeep guys when my 4Runner walks right through rough sections that they thought I couldn't make. I've put some money in it for suspension and bumpers. Incredibly reliable, runs great, smooth ride. Love it.

If I hired a guide and he showed up with a 4runner and said I had to ride in the back seats. I would ask for a refund.