What direction did you head when you outgrew your 4runner?

[icediver]

Getting to the point that my 5th gen 4runner is feeling cramped. It does a little bit of everything well (not great), but after getting back from a week long camping trip it's hard not to start looking elsewhere.

Family of 4. Two little kids that keep growing, a dog that has stopped growing (at 50lbs) and an active life. Fish, camp, snowmachine, ATV, ski, hike, etc, etc. I've kept the 4runner basically stock. Stock sized but more aggressive all terrain tires, slider steps, yakima cross bars, light bar and a trailer brake controller. With how well it does off road stock I haven't needed anything else. For a daily driver in Alaska its perfect. Starts to fall flat once you get into trips and towing. It tows my two place snowmachine trailer okay but I sure know its back there. It gets crap for range towing our army trailer with a roof top tent. And it gets real cramped packing for a trip.

I can't be the only one who loves the platform but needs a little bit more space, towing capacity, and fuel range (note: yea mpg matter. But range matters more to me). Which way did you go? Full size truck with a cap? Tundra? F150? Sequoia (if the new design had been out for a while I'd probably be in line, seems to check most of the boxes)? Tahoe? Embrace where I'm at in life with little kids and give up the "off road" look and get a suburban?

Thoughts?

 

[clintium]

I have a Tundra with an alu cabin canopy camper and it's pretty awesome. It would definitely be a logical progression for you.

 

[cruiserdude80]

I moved into a lightly used Land Cruiser from a 4Runner. I am curious as to how the new Sequoia is going to shake out vs the recently departed from the US Land Cruiser.

 

[billiebob]

1987 FourRunner to 1987 YJ Wrangler..... now on my 4th Wrangler..... 25 years later.

 

[86scotty]

Crewmax Tundra and Jeep JLU in the driveway. Occasionally I still miss the 4Runner though.

If you either prefer Toyota, or an SUV, or both, you about can't get a better value than a late model Sequoia though.

 

[Over The Silent Planet]

Tundra here. Family of 5 plus a dog. We were cramped in the 4Runner but now we all have loads of room. Considering a 2nd gen Sequoia as well for my wife.

 

[rustibarr]

That is a tough one. We are a family of 5 as well and have been running around in a GX with a trailer the last few years for camping trips. Kids are now 9, 7, and 5. Three across the middle row of the GX is getting a bit tight. My wife and I looked at a lot of different options and really wanted to stay in the Toyota family. In the end we ended up going with a 4x4 Ford E-350. We are going to spend the next year or so building it out.

 

[Todd780]

Depends.

How do you camp? What do you use the 4Runner for when not camping?

You mentioned little kids...

Do you foresee any changes in the type of camping you do as they get older / bigger?

Do you think you'd be better served with a truck box or an SUV that has a 3rd row if needed?

We've had both. Started of with SUV's. (owned several) Last two vehicles were / are full size crew cabs because for us, now a pickup box is more useful.

When we and the kids were younger an SUV with a 3rd row worked for hauling kids + friends.

 

[SDDiver5]

Not biased here but the F150 is a fantastic platform. I highly recommend. Going from a slow and under powered 4 runner, you'll be amazed at the Eco Boost Motor and the 10 speed transmission when you stomp on the pedal and you take off like a rocket ship and still get 18 MPG.

Don't flame me Toyota guys, just making a funny.

 

[icediver]

We tent camp or sleep in our roof top tent on a utility trailer. No real changes planned in that regard, maybe a small travel trailer but anything bigger then the 4runner would pull anything we'd get just fine. Pre-kids we had a Four Wheel Camper that we loved but outgrew. Maybe when they get big enough to sleep in a tent outside we'll go back to something like that.

I've had both SUVs and trucks. Obviously both have their pluses and minuses. SUV wins on the extra people hauling and climate/dust controlled cargo area. Trucks win on the fuel range (seems they only drop bigger tanks into the trucks, 2nd gen Sequoia would have been sweet if it had gotten the larger tank the Tundra got in later years). Also win on hauling the dirty stuff, fuel tanks, fish coolers, etc. I currently solve that dilemma by having my older beater Tacoma for dump runs and a 12' utility trailer for bigger stuff.

No hate on the F150. My friends that have them love them. And a crew cab, large gas tank and rear locker would check about every box. My wife is very prone to motion sickness, and something in the dash layout of the F150 we test drove prior to getting the 4runner trigged it. May be worth taking a handful more for test drives though and see if it was just that particular one. I've no special rose colored glasses on Toyota reliability anymore. In the 50k miles I've put on my 4runner (bought new) its needed a new water pump (started puking coolant everywhere), and a new throttle body that when it went left me and the kids on the side of the road. Got it towed to the dealer where it sat for a month waiting for parts because covid.

Part of the reason I bought the 4runner was the fact that its the newest old tech vehicle I could buy off the lot. I liked the lever for four wheel drive, a real rear locker, 4.0 engine (even if they did take the oil filter away from the top of the engine, no more 5 min oil changes), and a real frame under the body. And its a fantastic all season daily driver. If/when I sell it I will miss it I'm sure. I've thought about adding a larger vehicle for trips and keeping the 4runner as a daily, but at some point its just too much. I'd like that mythical do it all vehicle please.

Seems like I need to drive some Tundras and F150s. I've arbitrarily set a goal fuel range of 300 miles worst case (so towing at 10mpg) which knocks the 2nd get Sequoia out. I like the cushion to be driving on a trip, realize a wildfire or landslide has closed the highway just before the next fuel stop, and being able to turn around and drive back to the last town. It was an uncomfortable surprise when our fuel light popped on at 250 miles on our last trip. (It seems a common complaint that the fuel gauge hangs out above half for a long time, then drops the last half like a rocket ship).

thanks everyone

 

[motovan_mn]

How about an AWD Transit, or older 4x4 E-Series? Plenty of space in both. The latter will be more capable off-road, the former will have better on-road driving manners and get better gas mileage.

 

[Todd780]

We tent camp or sleep in our roof top tent on a utility trailer. No real changes planned in that regard, maybe a small travel trailer but anything bigger then the 4runner would pull anything we'd get just fine. Pre-kids we had a Four Wheel Camper that we loved but outgrew. Maybe when they get big enough to sleep in a tent outside we'll go back to something like that.

I've had both SUVs and trucks. Obviously both have their pluses and minuses. SUV wins on the extra people hauling and climate/dust controlled cargo area. Trucks win on the fuel range (seems they only drop bigger tanks into the trucks, 2nd gen Sequoia would have been sweet if it had gotten the larger tank the Tundra got in later years). Also win on hauling the dirty stuff, fuel tanks, fish coolers, etc. I currently solve that dilemma by having my older beater Tacoma for dump runs and a 12' utility trailer for bigger stuff.

No hate on the F150. My friends that have them love them. And a crew cab, large gas tank and rear locker would check about every box. My wife is very prone to motion sickness, and something in the dash layout of the F150 we test drove prior to getting the 4runner trigged it. May be worth taking a handful more for test drives though and see if it was just that particular one. I've no special rose colored glasses on Toyota reliability anymore. In the 50k miles I've put on my 4runner (bought new) its needed a new water pump (started puking coolant everywhere), and a new throttle body that when it went left me and the kids on the side of the road. Got it towed to the dealer where it sat for a month waiting for parts because covid.

Part of the reason I bought the 4runner was the fact that its the newest old tech vehicle I could buy off the lot. I liked the lever for four wheel drive, a real rear locker, 4.0 engine (even if they did take the oil filter away from the top of the engine, no more 5 min oil changes), and a real frame under the body. And its a fantastic all season daily driver. If/when I sell it I will miss it I'm sure. I've thought about adding a larger vehicle for trips and keeping the 4runner as a daily, but at some point its just too much. I'd like that mythical do it all vehicle please.

Seems like I need to drive some Tundras and F150s. I've arbitrarily set a goal fuel range of 300 miles worst case (so towing at 10mpg) which knocks the 2nd get Sequoia out. I like the cushion to be driving on a trip, realize a wildfire or landslide has closed the highway just before the next fuel stop, and being able to turn around and drive back to the last town. It was an uncomfortable surprise when our fuel light popped on at 250 miles on our last trip. (It seems a common complaint that the fuel gauge hangs out above half for a long time, then drops the last half like a rocket ship).

thanks everyone

I drove both the '22 Tundra and '22 F150. They are both nice vehicles if you are looking at fullsize trucks.

In fact I had a deposit on an inbound Lunar Rock SR5 TRD crewmax before I ended up going with the Ford.

if you end up going truck it sounds like perhaps you could sell the 4Runner and Tacoma.

 

[sn_85]

I drove both the '22 Tundra and '22 F150. They are both nice vehicles if you are looking at fullsize trucks.

In fact I had a deposit on an inbound Lunar Rock SR5 TRD crewmax before I ended up going with the Ford.

if you end up going truck it sounds like perhaps you could sell the 4Runner and Tacoma.

Curious what your thoughts were on the Tundra vs F150? I test drove a Tundra and liked it but didn't love it. I think if I went with the 1500 platform it'd likely be a F150 because at this point I think they have their reliability and *hit put together more than Toyota. The new Tundra is going to have and already going through growing pains and early year model issues. The problem with anything nowadays is availability and price. I feel like we're another 3 years away from having "normal" inventory when it comes to vehicles on the lot at a fair price.

 

[bkg]

Curious what your thoughts were on the Tundra vs F150? I test drove a Tundra and liked it but didn't love it. I think if I went with the 1500 platform it'd likely be a F150 because at this point I think they have their reliability and *hit put together more than Toyota. The new Tundra is going to have and already going through growing pains and early year model issues. The problem with anything nowadays is available and price. I feel like we're another 3 years away from having "normal" available when it comes to vehicles on the lot at a fair price.

anecdotally, as I haven't driven a new Tundra... They seem to be having so many quality issues these days, I'd wait at least a year. UBJ's coming apart, rear axle retainer nuts backing out, turbos, etc... just crazy stuff.

Of course, my f350 has had 4 recall notices, including one for "ripping" the rear spring perch off the axle...

I'm starting to think anything built since late 2019 is having more than fair share of issues.

 

[Todd780]

Curious what your thoughts were on the Tundra vs F150? I test drove a Tundra and liked it but didn't love it. I think if I went with the 1500 platform it'd likely be a F150 because at this point I think they have their reliability and *hit put together more than Toyota. The new Tundra is going to have and already going through growing pains and early year model issues. The problem with anything nowadays is available and price. I feel like we're another 3 years away from having "normal" available when it comes to vehicles on the lot at a fair price.

Same. I liked the Tundra but didn't love it. What swayed me is the features we would use weren't available on the Tundra in Canada.

(We don't have the same option packages as US models. The SR5 TRD only comes 1 way for example.)

The features we liked that Ford offered that Toyota didn't were:

Max Tow package.
Trailer Tow mirrors (Why is this not an option in Canada??)
Gear ratio options,(Tundras only come with 3:31)
Tailgate Step
OnBoard Scales with Smart hitch
Backup Pro Assist
360 Cameras
Remote start not part of extra cost monthly subscription package that will be an extra cost after free trial is over (this one irked me - what a cheap move by Toyota)
Oh and the F150 had front tow hooks......

As you can see towing options were high on our use case scenario.

I did find the Tundra rode very nice and did like that it had the composite bed which meant I wouldn't have to pay for a spray liner.

The Tundra also offers a heated steering wheel in the SR5 Off Road pkg which is nice. Ford doesn't offer this until your in Lariat 502a money. $$$

And of course the roll down back window. Love that feature and wish other manufacturers would copy it.

I was all set to go on the Tundra but figured I should drive the Ford anyway.

Glad I did. There is no comparison between an SR5 TRD Off Road and a XLT 302a F150 in terms of features.

But to each their own. I wouldn't let the wastegate issue or anything bother you on the Tundra. I think it's been blown way out of proportion.

Ford has had it's share of issues with the '21+ F150 as well.

I ordered mine so availability so was able to negotiate because I was willing to wait (took 5 months to get it) and not take unit off the sales floor.

This also allowed me to get only the options I wanted and not pay extra for stuff I didn't.

As a side, in Canada if you require financing, Toyotas rate is 5.49% and Fords is .99%. I'm sure that would affect a few decisions.