Best Toyota for expedition/world travel. Tacoma, Tundra, 4runner or FJ?

[sourdough]

I too was thinking of buying a new Tundra. Found I like the 1st generation much more. After much searching found a '03 Limited xtra cab 4x4 with 65,000 miles. Very happy with my choice. I've owned an L.C. 55 and 40, a Highlander and 1st gen Tacoma. All great but this is my favorite Toyota to date.

 

[scratchzilla]

This thread got me thinking. I've got an 08 tundra dc 5.7 right now, super low miles. I've been trying to justify getting rid of it and building a van or 4runner, but that tundra just out performs everything I've ever had (loved my 04 runner). The tundra out pulls my excursion, looks great, fits five adults just fine, and still gets 16 mpg with my driving (a bit aggro). Might be time to find a camper for it and make it look cool...

Ps the certified used tundras are low mileage and have a warranty, an way cheap. I got a spotless 08 with only 32k miles last year for a touch over $20k.

 

[t4rman]

One consideration I haven't seen mentioned in the previous posts is accident safety. All of the vehicles you've mentioned have airbags, etc. and would appear equally safe. However, the 4runners and Sequoias combine cargo and passenger space while the Tacomas and Tundras separate cargo and passengers.

My wife had a serious rollover accident in our previous Tacoma (tailended by a drunk driver) while carrying a lot of heavy gear. Some of the gear busted the fiberglass shell as it flew around in the 60+mph rolls, but the passenger compartment wasn't affected and she walked (well, woobled) away from the wreck. We're both convinced that had the gear been inside the passenger area, she would have been seriously injured. I don't think we can confidently restrain heay gear enough to prevent injury in a serious accident so I prefer to have the cargo and passenger areas separated when carrying expedition gear for a long trip. We don't have children, but if we did I'd be more concerned.

Howard Snell

To the OP, it sounds like you have decided on a tundra. That sounds like a good plan. Howard brings up a good point about cargo restraint. I own a 4th gen 4runner and love it (v8, boxed frame, lots of cargo space.) I don't have kids and I am still concerned with cargo coming loose in the event of a significant accident. Keep in mind that in an SUV, your kids heads will be the closest thing to the cargo area.

The tundra has size too. My father was t-boned by a honda accord in his lifted H3 with 37" tires. The honda bounced off the sliders and was taken away on a flat bed. The hummer drove away without a scratch (seriously). A year later he was driving my mom's mini cooper and was hit by a texting teenager at parking lot speeds. The mini accumulated an $8,000 repair bill and sent my dad to the hospital. Size matters.

Just some thoughts. Good luck with the search!

 

[Falkon]

2 Kids? 1st Gen Tundra. Space, reliable, capable. I have 2 boys in seats, 1 & 5, and I started off looking at Tacomas. The cab space did not work for me. Rode a Double Cab Gen 1 and never looked back. The length/turn radius/approach & depature angles are not as good, but it has not stopped me yet.

Being a married man, I am sure the OP understands compromise and with kids even more so. Sometimes we have to prioritize, and I know for me at least, making 98% of my time in the truck comfortable was more important than having better XYZ 2% of the time.

Good luck!

 

[drkddl]

No kids here, so take my opinion with a grain of salt, but I actually enjoy the smaller cab space of my Double Cab 1st gen Tacoma vs a full-size.

I find I tend to accumulate as much stuff as space will allow in the cab. All my previous vehicles were fullsize (from a fullsize Bronco to 1/2 ton trucks to a Crew Cab F-250) and I would carry as much gear as I could cram under and behind the seats.

Having less interior space means I have to prioritize what I want to keep in the truck. I've pared down the recovery and survival gear I carry to a bare minimum and I'm finding this mentality carried over into the planning of my expo build.

 

[2025 deleted member]

Hey another tulsa guy. Welcome.

 

[p nut]

Have you considered a Land Cruiser? My 100 is a great family road trip machine and is the most comfortable vehicle I've ever owned. Stout and very capable in stock form (like many Toyota trucks). You can get these for great prices. One downside is gas mileage. Worth it for me, for the comfort, capability, and I'm guessing better parts availability world-wide...

 

[Chaplain]

I just switched from a built 3rd gen 4runner (search "FUNrunner") to a 1st gen Tundra dbl cab. Along with what other pro tundras have said above.

4runner has way more rear leg room but less elbow room. Can lock stuff up in the cab but good luck loading up even a little pit bike in it. 4runner rides super nice down the road but without stiff coils and bumps it will beat you up off road. Tundra 4.7 gets 16-19 mpg with AC on while 4runner only got 12-16mpg with AC OFF (running same tires).
4Runner was way more fun to drive while tundra is way more enjoyable if that makes since.
Bottom line you'll never wish you had less cylinders with a tundra but you'll always wish you had more power/torque with a taco/4runner. I wouldn't EVER consider another 4runner unless it was a 4th gen 4.7.
My experience and $0.02



Sent from my eyefone

 

[soonenough]

i just finished a youtube series about a couple guys that took a tacoma from prescott az up to Tuktoyaktuk in the Northwest Territories, if your not sure where that is it's up in the arctic circle, one of the furthest most places north you can get, now that looks like a fun but cold trip.

That guy's been known to hang around here from time to time (note: if you want to avoid Tacoma mod bug fever, do not click the following links)
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/6-Expeditions-West-2004-Tacoma
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/17-Expeditions-West-Tacoma-FAQ
http://www.expeditionswest.com/vehicles/ewvehicles/tacoma/index.html

just curious about something, i know i can go overboard, but that's not what i'm aiming for. what would be a good dollar amount to have set aside to put into the truck when i get it. i'm thinking enough for front bumper, winch and onboard air

Bumper: $800-1,500 depending on which vehicle and what type of bumper
Winch: $350-1,500 depending on what size (which depends on vehicle obviously) and which brand
OBA: $50-750+ depending on CO2 vs compressor, duty cycle, brand, tank or no tank, etc...you can get a Chinese made compressor for $70 or less that will air up tires (link), you can get a complete CO2 setup for around $350 (link), and you can also buy a $500+ constant duty compressor (link) with tank, pressure switch, manifold, etc that will air up tires and run most air tools nonstop...and there's many more options in between.

 

[day42]

I know a lot of people have weighed in and it sounds like you've made up your mind, but I'll throw in my two cents as well. I have 3 kids, ages 5, 3, and almost one. I recently traded in my 2006 Tacoma Double Cab short-bed for a 1st gen Tundra Double Cab. The ONLY reason I did it initially was the extra width of the back seat. Now all the kids can fit in there legally/comfortably (5 year old is in a booster, 3 year old in a front-facing seat, and the little guy in a rear-facing toddler seat). I've only had it for a little while, got a sweet deal on it, but it has me liking it more and more all the time. The overall size of the Tundra is not much bigger than the Tacoma...it's like it is Goldilocks-certified (just right). The gas mileage is similar, the size of the bed on the Tundra is longer & deeper and all metal (as opposed to composite inside on the Taco), with greater towing capacity and cargo capacity. And man, that V8 is SMOOOOOOTH! Like previously mentioned, the aftermarket is nowhere near as plentiful as with the Taco, but the important stuff is there to find. My only other suggestions would be the Land Cruiser (100 series), the 1st gen Sequoia, or the Taco Double Cab (if your kids fit comfortably). Test drive them all and then choose. Good luck.

 

[Laxaholic]

Currently have a 100 series land cruiser, hoping to find something more efficient. Like tacos, but 4runners seem to fit my needs a little more, even if it is a sin to not have a truck here in south GA.
Out of the 4x4 3rd gen 4runners, what kind of mpg could I expect out a stock one? Any easy improvements that can be done, even if minimal? Do they all have the roll down rear window? Are heated seats possible?

Thanks for your help

 

[p nut]

Currently have a 100 series land cruiser, hoping to find something more efficient. Like tacos, but 4runners seem to fit my needs a little more, even if it is a sin to not have a truck here in south GA.
Out of the 4x4 3rd gen 4runners, what kind of mpg could I expect out a stock one? Any easy improvements that can be done, even if minimal? Do they all have the roll down rear window? Are heated seats possible?

Thanks for your help

All 4Runners had the roll down rear glass. Heated seats can be retrofitted easily. I had 2 3rd Gens before my 100. The MPG was ~21MPG on the freeway, 100% stock with P-rated tires. Move to 32" AT's took it down to 19. So still better than the 100. They've also got a ton of aftermarket support and parts are half the price of 100 counterparts. And of course, cheaper repair items.

With that said, I can't go back to a 3rd gen. Mainly because of wife and kids. The 100 is just so much more comfortable and spacious. The rig feels much more solid as well. Thus, rides nicer and I don't feel as beat up after long 10 hr road trips. This, for me, is worth the 4MPG hit. It's my second vehicle anyway, so the difference in mpg doesn't add up to much.

If I had to go back to a 4Runner, I'd get a new Trail Edition or at least a 4th Gen.

 

[Laxaholic]

My budget is low, and it's getting difficult to afford the 100 in college.
Plus, I only have one vehicle.

 

[p nut]

What the heck are you doing with a 100 in college? I had an old econobox 4-cyl. Lots of good memories and CHEAP maintenance. You're on the right track getting a cheaper vehicle. Although I would opt for a 4-cyl variety, and a single-cab Taco....and dare I say, even a 2.4L 2WD? Keep the stock tires on there for maximum MPG, keep the rest stock, and have lots of fun. Mods can wait until after college. In fact, I went on more road trips and further destinations in my FWD econobox than my current rig. Sad.

 

[Containerized]

My budget is low, and it's getting difficult to afford the 100 in college.
Plus, I only have one vehicle.

Get a 4WD first-generation Taco. The 4WD does, in my opinion, give enough extra capability and confidence to be worth the (slight) premium in used prices and (somewhat) worse fuel economy.

Never own a vehicle that puts you only one major repair away from financial problems.