Traded my Land Cruiser for a 2008 4Runner

[Bergger]

Off road, it disappointed. It handled the fire roads with ease, but had trouble just driving over even small branches and I had trouble over even the most minor obsticles. To make matters worse, I major problems getting 4L to work. At one point, I had the gears grinding like crazy, like it was half engaged and half not. I hate that stupid electronic 4WD dial. I'm sure a lift and taller tires would transform it, as others have done and said. I'm not saying this can't be a great off road platform. Many have proven that it is with some mods, but with the stock set up, its pretty worthless on anything other than graded roads. Again, the problem seems to be mostly ground clearance and the front skidplate, which is way too low.

I wonder if something was wrong with it or if there is just a big difference between the V6 and the V8. I have no experience witht the V6 but the V8 has done nothing but impress me. The first time my buddy took it off road he did not know how to put it into 4Lo so he drove the entire Medano Pass trail in 4H. This was up over the pass and through about 14 sandy/muddy water crossings up 24" deep then throught the sand road at the Great Sand Dunes. I was behind him in one particular water crossing and he accidentally bumped the transmission into neutral! I was wondering what he was doing. All of a sudden he just gunned it out of the stream and boy did the water fly! Once in the parking lot I showed him how to put it in 4Lo then we did the trail in reverse. As far as I know since this generation came out they all have a listed 9.1 inches of ground clearance. With good tire placement he's been able to take his on some pretty tough trails with very minimal scraping. I don't know maybe it's the added power and torque of the V8 that makes the difference. He did tell me that he test drove a V6 and "it just did not feel as capable and put together as the V8." so he bought the V8.

 

[DaveInDenver]

So the pedal itself appears to be electrically controlled somehow, which appears to mean that if you lose all battery power.....that could be really bad.

Interesting. Sure seems like that would be a huge safety issue and so that seems very un-Toyota (not to mention un-DOT, un-insurance friendly, etc.). I know the throttle on the 4th gen 4Runner is by-wire, maybe the brakes are, too? The brakes have this latent failure-wanting-to-happen and the removal of the easy to work hand brake, man what a combo.

 

[Brian894x4]

My bad...I'm an idiot. The brakes don't work like I thought. They're just fine.

I did real world test, forcing the shifter into neutral with the bypass button and ignition off and the brakes still work. At least enough to stop it rolling down a hill. What I thought was the pedal going to the floor was definantly an increase in brake stroke, with the engine off, but it still worked fine, no matter how many times I pumped the pedal.

So, the brakes are actually safe. I should have known better. Still not a fan of the foot e-brake, though.

I would love to try a V-8. Even with the V-6, I never felt a need to put it into 4L either. I just wanted to test it out. There is so much reserve power, I was climbing steep logging roads, like it was a rally car.

What would be cool about the V-8 is being able to add some weight in armor, tires and gear and hopefully have about the same, more than adequate performance, of this lightweight V-6 version.

 

[Redline]

Correct, the current Gen 4Runners are very low, but still amazingly capable. In addition to calling my Runner a 'Mall Crawler' I also like to refer to it was the 'Low Rider' (even with a lift it’s not as tall as my stock height 1996 F350 .

It is possible that the 2008 models are lower but I doubt it. You are correct that all the 4th Gen Runners (03-08) are notably lower than than the previous generation. For very little money an OME lift takes take of this as and can add carrying capacity/spring rate at the same time if you need it.

I again have been dreaming of doing Rubicon Trail over the past couple days and surely my 05 LJ Rubicon was the proper vehicle to drive on that road. Even though the Mall Crawler would be a challenge to pilot through the Rubicon, I still prefer driving this 'car' over the Jeep for almost all uses short of difficult rock crawling (axle articulation).

..........SNIP

One thing about ground clearance. I compared this 2008 with a few earlier models, but same generation 4runners, and it looks to me like this 2008 is much lower to the ground. It's definately much lower than the previous generation. So, I'm thinking Toyota must have lowered it overall, probably to help prevent roll overs, kind of like what Jeep did with the Liberty.

I noticed in the owner's manual, there's a height control option on the upper scale models, using a compressor and airbags, I think. This one didn't have it.

 

[Brian894x4]

I have to give Toyota credit, because other than the ground clearance issue, I think the 4Runner is an overall, very well designed and awesome vehicle. Even with my clearance complaints, Toyota did do a reasonable job trying to protect the underside.

I've nit picked it to death on some issues, but overall, it's a fine vehicle and I wouldn't mind having one in the stable.

My only two regret's is not testing out the highway mileage in 2 wheel drive. I'd be interested to see what it's best highway mileage would be...and...that I just had to turn it back in tonight, so I get to drive home in my very boring Honda CRX instead.

Oh ya, my false impression that my Land Cruiser had a lot of power has been shattered too...darn it.

 

[Terracoma]

... so I get to drive home in my very boring Honda CRX instead.

I wouldn't mind taking the yellow pocket-rocket off your hands...