quote:

Originally posted by dbgeek:
I put a console safe in mine- fits great, works well. As mentioned above, if you go with 3rd row, it barely fits small children and elevates the cargo floor ~6 inches when folded. My work neighbor has a TRD Pro (mine is Limited), and she has the cargo tray. It doesn’t look terribly useful to me, though.

And the cargo space is a comical 6 inches deep with the 3rd row up

Solid vehicles. My wife had a 2017, it got totaled by someone crashing into it after snowstorm. We replaced it with a 2024. My son also got a 2024 on advice of not being the tester for the 6th gen. Also don't like the forced induction/extra complexity of the turbo 4.

Properly maintained that 5th gen will last you forever (accidents aside). That's what I'd choose.

I had a 4runner with the sliding cargo tray. I considered it a gimmick and would prefer a flat floor with no 3rd row or slider.

The sliding cargo looks like it will be handy if you keep a 65 quart ice chest in the back most of the time like I do.

quote:

Originally posted by dbgeek:
I put a console safe in mine- fits great, works well. As mentioned above, if you go with 3rd row, it barely fits small children and elevates the cargo floor ~6 inches when folded. My work neighbor has a TRD Pro (mine is Limited), and she has the cargo tray. It doesn’t look terribly useful to me, though.

Can it hold a firearm?

I have a 2018 Off Road Premium and it has been great. We have been discussing getting a new one to replace our FJ but don’t want a loan at the current rates.

My only advice to do a fluid film or similar treatment for the underside and frame. The factory corrosion treatment is crap.

quote:

Originally posted by sig 226:

quote:

Originally posted by dbgeek:
I put a console safe in mine- fits great, works well.

Can it hold a firearm?

Yes, it is large enough to hold at least a couple full size pistols. it occupies the entire console, and is bolted to the bottom. The one I have looks like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-O...E-SAFE-/283438908988

We have a 2022 with 22K on it. So far trouble free, I'd definitely buy another. The new Land Cruiser is of interest to me, the local dealer has them marked up $10K, it'll be a long time before I'll see one a t MSRP.

I had a 2015 Trail and now have a 2017 Limited. Both have been excellent vehicles. The only reason the Black/black Trail got traded was because I fell in love with the look of the pearl white Limited with redwood leather. Neither had third row seats which I do not need. The trade in value on the Trail with 35K miles was 100% of what I paid for it new which is unreal, but it never even saw the dealers' lot. Detailed, serviced and out the door to a waiting buyer. I have 65K miles on the Ltd. and it will be needing brakes and tires soon, otherwise other than service it has cost me nothing. For my area, the Limited with full time 4wd.is a much more tractable vehicle in Winter snow/ice than the Trail was.

I am not looking to change but if I recall from a Toyota ad the new ones coming out are electric or hybrid. Toyota does hybrid better than most but I don't think it is a good choice if you are actually going to take it off road at all (which truthfully most will never see). Iffor some reason I have to purchase another, which I would, personally I would stay with internal combustion even if that meant buying used. Iowa is not a good area for battery power due to distances and temperature extremes.

Thanks all for the additional feedback..

I was looking at the 5th gen to avoid the 4 cylinder w/turbo for long long term durability. I tend to keep cars at least 10 years..

I am looking at a Pro for some light off roading/gravel/mountains in western VA..

Are running boards a good idea? If so, factory? after market?

4th gen guy here, the best ever

quote:

Originally posted by sig 226:
Thanks all for the additional feedback..

I was looking at the 5th gen to avoid the 4 cylinder w/turbo for long long term durability. I tend to keep cars at least 10 years..

I am looking at a Pro for some light off roading/gravel/mountains in western VA..

Are running boards a good idea? If so, factory? after market?

I think the running boards are standard, but you can great aftermarket running boards if you want to blow the $$. They look neat, but more important, are a functional improvement over OEM. I'm tall, didn't do a lift, don't need them for any special use, and took them off. The vehicle still looks great without them.

If you are going to do any off roading, do not get running boards of any type. They will be bent, torn off or do damage to the body. These trucks are not so tall that unless you are extremely height challenged you will have no difficulty with entry/exit. A set of skid rails to protect the rocker panels which can also be used as a pseudo step make more sense.

Pro may come with predator step or rails. They are port addon junk

I put RSG rails on my Pro with kick out 15deg tilt (the also make flat ones). I had a semi shed a retread in front of me on I-10, the kick out saved my rear quarter. Paid for themselves right then

2017 Limited here- 92K no issues, no repairs- just consumables such as tires and brakes as well as regular maintenance. Replaced the battery at 85K. No squeaks, rattles or broken anything, impressive given the number of bumpy dirt roads I drive on.

I have a 2023 TRD Off Road Premium with the XP Predator Package and KDSS. I only have 10k miles on it, and love it so far. According to all of my research, and as others have already said, it really is a reliable, proven, bullet-proof platform and drivetrain. I love the old-school feel of the interior, the big/clunky A/C knobs, manual shifter for the 4X4, etc.

A lot of detractors talk about the lack of power, sluggish response to the throttle, etc, but that stuff didn't matter to me - I'd driven a friend's, test drove this one, and it does what I need it to do.

Mine does have the cargo tray - I could take it or leave it. I've found it useful a few times, and it still has a nice, flat surface in the cargo space.

I hate the "Predator Steps" that are included on a lot of the off-road packages, and was able to talk the dealer into removing those and crediting me for them. I installed some of the Go Rhino RB20 on mine. But I also agree that you don't really need any kind of steps or rails if you're not doing serious off-roading. And in that case, you need sliders or rock rails (not steps or running boards) which are attached to the truck frame. I really liked the clean look of no steps/boards, but ended up doing the RB20's for my wife and others getting in and out.

Unless you're dead-set on the TRD Pro, check out the TRD Off Road Premium w KDSS and the XP Predator Package (very similar, aesthetically, to the TRD Pro - same wheels/tires, heritage grill, blacked out badging, etc). You mentioned "light off-roading" - not that I do lots of off-roading, but this package will probably do all you want, and more. Also, one of the main selling points for me was that it was about $5-7k less than any TRD Pro's that I could find. Currently, if you look at CarGuru and Autotrader, there are many new 4Runners with my set-up listed for under MSRP...not so for the TRD Pro's...the dealers are still pretty proud of those.

If you go the route of the TRD Off Road Premium, in my opinion, specifically look for the KDSS, as they don't all come with that option.

Good luck!

I've been staring at 4Runner for a bit, thinking a 5th Gen would be a good addition to the motor pool here at Casa de vthoky.

Toyota does offer a "certified used" program -- toyotacertified.com is where I've been spending time looking. The information for a given vehicle isn't super detailed, but the site does at least offer contact info for the relevant stocking dealer. I'm still a few months away from being ready to buy another vehicle, but that's where I'll start when the time comes.

two notes:
- if you're taller, you can buy seat jackers for the front seat that will tilt the seat back so your thighs will rest on the cushion.
- any 4wd 4runner will handle light or medium offroading, no problem. Limited, sr5, etc. The Pro gets a small lift in the front (1 inch?), if I remember correctly.

My office neighbor with the Pro told me she paid more than 10k more than I did for my Limited because dealers wouldn't move on the price, and I negotiated for 3 months with a group of dealers until one of them got to my number.

I have a 2002 4Runner I bought new. Over 212,000 miles now. Regular maintenance and tires and I seem to recall replacing a turn signal bulb and maybe a set of new headlights. No repair issues. Found this on the CARFAX report for that year and model.

Avg. Price on CARFAX
$9,613

Original Base Price
$26,845

It has survived El Paso/ Las Cruces summers and full-blown Canadian Winters. Tough and reliable.

'91 Gen2 4R w/ 3.0L V6 and 5S manual, purchased used.
'04 Gen4 SR5 4R w/ 4.7L V8, 4WD fulltime, auto, purched new and still owned at 190,000 miles
'23 Gen5 SR5 4R w/ 4.0L V6, 2WD in primary mode, purched new winter '22 for full MSRP, no add-ons, $44.5 out the door all-in, 15,000 miles now. Had been searching for months, on wait list w/ deposit, got lucky seeing this on a different dealer's floor and drove away in it.

I'm a fan as you can see, and buy vehicles with the intent of being the last respectable driver of them.
Gen2 was the favorite; classic small and light early Toyota truck, wide stance, and fantastic in snow with the manual. Which we used to get in Wisconsin.

Gen4 w/ auto took a while to get used to, seemed too refined moving up from the Gen2, but grew to love it. Its purchase coincided with a larger boat, a growing family, and various outdoors activities; camping, skiing, fishing, hunting, etc... This truck is still a daily driver for the now teen boys, dependable, still tight, quiet cabin, and respectable appearing. Typical maintenance required, but some additional corrosion challenges due to our climate and salty road treatments. Brake lines (lost brakes twice!), power steering lines, and underbody is downright frightening! But onward she drives, with relatively low miles still at 20 years old.

Gen5 barely a technological step up from Gen4, so was quite familiar. Literally, I got in the truck, and immediately noted that many of the steering column stems are the same as an 18 year older vehicle! I'm guessing there won't be any surprises. But I quickly realized that the 4.7L V8 spoiled me, and understand much of the grumbling a select cadre has about the 4.0 V6 being underpowered. This is the clearly the largest vehicle of the 3, and the space is appreciated, with grown boys, and outdoors activities. It tows (3000# single axle 18' Boston Whaler Outrage) good to excellent, but without the immediate acceleration of the V8, great breaking, good cargo. Of course, its also incredibly tight, heavy built, and quiet.
The 2WD primary mode was a disappointment, though I see higher trim models have full time 4WD. I like that on my Gen4, and recommend, would likely reconsider model based upon that alone, and pending size of upcharge.

All of these get worst-in-class milage, that is known. I often attribute this to weight, and build "solidity", but thats just projection without some research.

I added aftermarket step rails to access my roof racks; skis or bikes depending on season. Easier to stand on those than put feet onto door sill, scuff up interior, body hung outboard to reach up. That Gen5 roof is way the hell up there!

The trucks admirably serve the exact purpose I buy them for.