Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire toyota 4runner 2017

If I could have talked my wife into a 70's FWD wagon, I wouldn't have bought a 4Runner. We own a 2014 Trail Edition, and after 36K miles I'm still not in love. I fought the dealer down to $35K, but I kept thinking of the classic iron I could have purchased for the same coin. Oil changes are an absolute PITA, but it does get low 20's on the two lanes, and 18.5-20 on the Interstate.

I'd have rather spent $20K on a Camry and $15K on a tight FJ60................but I'm married.

My '97 Tacoma 2.7/5spd X-Cab has been a great little rig that I've never regretted buying. I wish they'd offered the crew cabs back then however.

Being pussy whipped shouldn't be so bad.. 😐

There are three 4-runners in my family. A 97 that I bought for my son (295,000 miles), a 2001 that my wife drives (225,000 miles) and a 2002 Sport Edition with a suspension lift that I bought for myself but some how my son drives it to college every day (234,000 miles).

All look and run great. I dig the 2018 model but I am a huge fan of the 3rd generation model.

I would love a new Tacoma or 4runner except for the cost. I have a 2 year old Outback, and a cherry Tundra with 150K miles, so I an probably good for another 10 years. The new Tacomas are really ugly, but I like idea of driving one. Good size for forest roads.

If you ask her, I'm probably inflexible, overly opinionated, and always get my way. Clearly the truth lies somewhere in the middle. In the meantime I've got a lifetime of PITA oil changes too look forward too.

On the plus side, I've got a '74 CJ5 that's Model T simple, and I can reach the filter standing up.

Actually I know the feeling. It took me eleven years of scheming to score the 4runner... and if I could find a CJ5 it would be an even better toy! 👍

Time was I would change my oil just to have something to do whether it needed it or not. After checking the OC for the 4r, it's a major undertaking.. requiring a lift, a bunch of tools and uses a replacement cartridge type filter.. not the simple screw on and off filter.

But hell, it's all chicken but the bone. 😜

The first oil change sucks the most. After that you'll just hate it. It takes me about an hour in the driveway going slowly enough not to make a mess.

Considering how the Japs engineer things to within a gnat's azz, the oil change regiment smells like a way for dealers to make money. Case in point, to grease the front drive line's rear universal joint, you'll have to remove a heat shield because the exhaust crosses from driver to passenger side right AT that U-joint. Coincidence?

If you can get my mind right before starting, it's a lot easier project, trust me. Otherwise you'll end up in a cuss-fest while calculating how many oil changes you'll have to endure before hitting 300K miles.

I don't do oil changes anymore unless the car/truck is on the lift.

Get any one made in the last 13 years and you'll be happy.

I have a 2008 4runner. Hands down the best vehicle I've ever owned. I only have three minor knocks on it, with a sunroof it has crappy headroom, it could use better HVAC flow to the back seats, they should have incorporated some storage under the rear seats. All minor "I wants".
I have 225K on it and it still runs like the day I bought it.

Compare that to my wifes 2014 F150 with 50K. Fuel diluting the oil, leaking roof, brake cylinders dragging.

They last a long time

LOL...that's the deal.

They have some strange things going on that don't seem to make sense, some of which were modified beginning in 2010, but still the same machine. If maintained, you will get tired of it before it get's tired of you.

I bought my 4th new last July. It is a 2015 Trail model. It now has 28k on it and has been flawless. It has taken us through long days of snow and ice, Forest Service 2 tracks and desert trails w/ ease.

If I hit the lottery today I would still have a 4Runner.


mike r

My wife drives 2005 with the V8 and full-time 4WD. We've only got 100k on it (bought it new). I actually like that body style better than the new ones.

It's only had one minor issue that griped me. The factory rotors were warping about every 25k. They turned them, replaced them, then turned them again (all at no cost to us). Finally, I spent $250 and went and bought aftermarket rotors (front and rear) and pads. Put them on in about 2 hrs time and never had another problem with the brakes.

We had a seat heater switch break. And, had the timing belt and water pump replaced at 95k. Other than that, it's been flawless.

And, I can't seem to get the thing stuck (I've actually tried a few times, ha). It'll go just about anywhere.

First vehicle I've ever owned that I can say I won't ever sell. It'll get driven until it completely dies. Which, may not be in my lifetime.

I bet the fenders on my 78 Land Cruiser are made out of better stuff than the bumper on that rig.

I have 2004 4runner with 147k on it, and I drive it every day. Toyota 4runner people consider that to be low mileage for these trucks...

Same here. Never heard that about the brakes, though.

Yeah, I hadn't either (except ours). Have a couple of friends with 4Runners of the same era and they didn't have any brake issues. I always jokingly told my wife it was her bad driving. But, not a single issue since we replaced them with aftermarket (and she reminds me of that too).

Probably so, but so what?

How many times have you replaced the timing chain?