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4th Gen 4Runner: Cross Country Runner

Still breaking in the new gears. Finally got 250 miles on them and they’re a whole lot better than the 3.73’s with 33’s were. It definitely likes to stay in OD and not search between 5th and 4th as much.

Wife and I were talking this morning and the current plan is to hunt down a small pop up camper to tow out west with this. The 4Runner is just way too small to carry us and 2 weeks of gear in it. The pop up will save us on rentals out west, and also give us a little area to keep some stuff.

We figured a 2 week camping trip with all of us and we’ll be towing a small trailer out anyways. So might as well snag one and turn it into what we need. It really doesn’t help that me, the wife, and my 13 yo son are all 5’10” and these are made for 4’8” Asians. :flipoff2:

Anyways, this fall the plan now is to eliminate all the electronic 4WD crap and swap in a large transmission cooler. I’ll also have to figure out a new way to carry the full size spare. Might also build out rock sliders for Utah next year.
 
FleshEater said:
Still breaking in the new gears. Finally got 250 miles on them and they’re a whole lot better than the 3.73’s with 33’s were. It definitely likes to stay in OD and not search between 5th and 4th as much.

Wife and I were talking this morning and the current plan is to hunt down a small pop up camper to tow out west with this. The 4Runner is just way too small to carry us and 2 weeks of gear in it. The pop up will save us on rentals out west, and also give us a little area to keep some stuff.

We figured a 2 week camping trip with all of us and we’ll be towing a small trailer out anyways. So might as well snag one and turn it into what we need. It really doesn’t help that me, the wife, and my 13 yo son are all 5’10” and these are made for 4’8” Asians. :flipoff2:

Anyways, this fall the plan now is to eliminate all the electronic 4WD crap and swap in a large transmission cooler. I’ll also have to figure out a new way to carry the full size spare. Might also build out rock sliders for Utah next year.
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Almost identical platform, but here’s my 5th gen and my camper that I built for a multi-week trip out west. Did Colorado, Utah, Wyoming for 2 weeks with it. Had 4.56’s, 35’s, and a larger trans cooler like you mentioned. The swingout for the spare just cleared the front of the trailer so I could get in and out of the hatch without unhooking. Trailer is 2,150 loaded down for the trip with the generator and a full fridge.
 

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YotaAtieToo said:
3rd gen 4runner/1st gen tacoma is basically the same size as all the real mini trucks like 80s and 90s Toyotas, Nissan, rangers, ect. 4th gen 4runner and 2nd gen tacoma bumped up in size. 6" wider maybe?
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3rd gen runner is right at 6" narrower WMS than a 4th gen runner. 4" shorter wheelbase too.
 
rockota said:
1000%
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I was just giving him shit.

I'm sure it will be fine, that 4.0 and 5 speed auto is a different animal. I was nerding out with a calculator and his 1st gear with 4.56s is lower than my first with 5.29s.

I think the 4.0 makes better low end too, but I've honestly never driven one that I can think of .
 
YotaAtieToo said:
I was just giving him shit.

I'm sure it will be fine, that 4.0 and 5 speed auto is a different animal. I was nerding out with a calculator and his 1st gear with 4.56s is lower than my first with 5.29s.

I think the 4.0 makes better low end too, but I've honestly never driven one that I can think of .
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I honestly never feel like this is lacking power. Ever. Even with 3.73’s and 33’s.

5.29’s and I would be SCREAMING down the highway. The 4.56 combo is perfect.
 
FleshEater said:
I honestly never feel like this is lacking power. Ever. Even with 3.73’s and 33’s.

5.29’s and I would be SCREAMING down the highway. The 4.56 combo is perfect.
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Fwiw

About 400 rpm at 80 mph.

Where 5th down to 4th is about 1100 rpm.

As long as the trailer doesn't catch a shit load of wind, you'll probably barely notice it.
 
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I ran 80 no problem with 4.56’s, 35’s, and that trailer.

I’ve had 4.56’s and 4.88’s both on 35’s and 37’s on the 4.0 / 5AT drivetrain and 4.56’s on 35’s was my favorite combo.
 
YotaAtieToo said:
How was it in hills and mountains?
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Drop it into 4th and know you’re going to run 70 in the right lane uphill and it’s fine. Trailer has brakes so I had no issues on the downhills either.

it’s tows like a lifted suv at 40% of its max tow capacity. You expect it to not be great or effortless, but it’s not a terrible experience considering the setup.
 
FleshEater said:
They’re not E rated, but are wearing well. IMO the snow traction is terrible until you air them down to 10-12 psi.

The Mickey Thompsons I have on my truck are far superior.
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Ive been looking at them in 265/75r16 for a 2000 4runner. Wasnt sure if the standard load option was up to offroad use. 42lbs vs 58lbs for the E rated. They look pretty good for an AT. Which ones are on the truck that you like better?
 
ToyodaAddict1980 said:
Ive been looking at them in 265/75r16 for a 2000 4runner. Wasnt sure if the standard load option was up to offroad use. 42lbs vs 58lbs for the E rated. They look pretty good for an AT. Which ones are on the truck that you like better?
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Fwiw, I've ran c, d and e rated tires on my 3rd gen 4runner. C and e in 285s and d in 35x10.50s.

The only time I really noticed a difference except for when airing down to single digits in snow. The c rated were very ballooned at 5 psi, where the e rated I had to go to 2-3lbs for the same effect.

Never had any durability issues with any.
 
ToyodaAddict1980 said:
Ive been looking at them in 265/75r16 for a 2000 4runner. Wasnt sure if the standard load option was up to offroad use. 42lbs vs 58lbs for the E rated. They look pretty good for an AT. Which ones are on the truck that you like better?
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I love the Baja Legend EXP. I run 32 psi in the winter on an E load and put them to the test a couple times this winter. Far superior.
 
Well, due to the floods in VT and potential issues in NH we just cancelled last minute. The 4Runner is headed out to South Dakota, in the northern Black Hills. :smokin:

2 weeks to prep. Guess I’ll get on ordering a transmission cooler. Not sure how the trans temp will be across the midwest with the 4.56 gears. Highest I’ve hit is 196 before the gears. I drain and fill new fluid after every trip.
 
Why the drain/refill every trip? Just curious.

How has it smelled? What color has it been?
 
rockota said:
Why the drain/refill every trip? Just curious.

How has it smelled? What color has it been?
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Smells like trans fluid, looks red. :flipoff2: :laughing:

Last trip out west I think I did a little over 6,000 miles in a week. It’s cheap maintenance and peace of mind.
 
13 hours across the midwest.

Hottest outside temp on dash was 86 (HUMID), and the highest transmission temp was 163. :smokin: Much better.

This probably shifted out of overdrive 4 times in 13 hours. Dash says 15.7 mpg, but the not searching for gears is great.
 
Update:

Transmission hated 86 mph, 3,000 RPM’s, and 90 degree temps across South Dakota. Had to drop it down to 80 mph.

Anyways, been here two full days. Spent some time in Deadwood yesterday and then hit the dirt.

We’ve done Cement Ridge Fire Lookout, Boundary Gulch, Tinton Road, Moses Hill, Crystal Cave Trail, and Bulldog.

It’s hot as hell out here and not much fun in the sun. Today on the way back from Bulldog, Sturgis was 89 degrees. :barf:

Anyways, pics…


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Spent the day at Deer Lake today. Also went up Flag Mountain for an awesome view.

Wife and I talked it over this morning…might do 2 weeks in South Dakota next year then drive down and do 2 weeks in Utah…1 whole month out west. :smokin:

So, plan is to hunt down a small enclosed trailer, and get the 4Runner more capable for some slightly harder trails.

Anyways, pics…

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Today we hit Camp 5 road. Headed in from the north end, and the wife refused to let me go over this obstacle. I got the look and a head nod, “No.” :laughing:

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So I recommended heading in from the south to explore the trail more. So we did that. She shot me down at this spot next.

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I was pretty certain we’d make it just fine. Her gut feeling on the second spot ended up working out, because as we got back to the FS road a nasty storm was rolling in as I was airing back up.

I asked her what would have to happen to make her more confident in hitting more challenging trails…and she said one of two things: either she’s not there with us doing it, or we stop wheeling alone.

Obviously it’s a terrible idea wheeling alone with two kids and the wife in a place that we are not familiar with. So I guess alone with adding skid plates, and carrying more spare parts with us, I’ll be looking to hook up with people on these trips for one or two days.

Weasel said he’d be willing to meet up next year. So now I just need someone lined up for Utah. :flipoff2:

However, Moab will have a lot more people wheeling. We spent a lot of time on Camp 5 and saw 2 people who were headed the other way…that was it all day. One thing I noticed is we almost never see people on these trails out here. If we do it’s a blip and then never see anyone again.

Anyways, one more day and back home we go.
 
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