Would like input on buying 5th Gen 4Runner or LX470?

[Wandering Snowbird]

I've been looking for 3 months for a well priced 5th gen 4runner Trail or TRD without much luck, and a 2000 LX470 popped up locally with 90,000 miles for $13,000 USD. Appears to be in very good shape with all service records since new. My conundrum is this;
Intended Use: Overlanding, back country twin track and forestry road exploring. No heavy duty rock crawling as this will also be my daily driver and sole source of transportation. I would like to pull it behind my Class C motorhome for full time travel throughout the US and Canada. Will be using the motorhome as a base camp and using the 4runner/LX for exploring farther into the back country for 1-3 day trips. The motorhome is V10 gas and already close to max GVW and tow rating, but is the extra 650 lbs of the LX going to be the tipping point? The mods I was intending for either vehicle are modest at 2 +/- inch lift, 33 inch BFG KO2, 10,000 lb winch and roof top tent. I'm not sure how well the Atrac works in the 2000 LX as it doesn't have lockers, which will be costly to install if the Atrac is ineffective. The 5th gen 4Runner with TRD or Trail pkg comes with rear locker and a very good Atrac. I will still have about 1/2 as much invested in the LX if I have to put front and rear lockers in it as opposed to the cost of a newer 4runner. IS it smart to choose a 20 year old low mileage off roading Icon over an essentially new 4runner Trail or TRD? Thanks in advance for your input.

 

[Washingtondave]

How about a GX470. I really like mine. I was looking for a 4 runner but they were very high priced with lot of miles. I am not sure how extreme offroad you plan to do? I was a heavy jeeper with lockers and front and rear winches, ect. I do more expedition wheeling now and really lime the GX. 13k can get you a decent ride.

 

[phsycle]

Do you need 4 seats? If you can do with 2, I’d go with a Tacoma single or ext cab, mainly due to your GVWR. (Better yet, a TJ or JK Wrangler, which are one of few cars that can safely be flat towed.

Between the two, I’d go with a 4Runner, but a base SR5. Get a set of maxtrax and maybe a winch, if you feel the need depending on your terrain. Cruiser is nice but way overkill for your needs.

 

[Tex68w]

If you're going to be pulling it with a gasser that's near max GVWR I wouldn't choose the heavier vehicle. The LX is about 800lbs heavier than the 5th Gen, it is also wider and longer. While the 100 series has some distinct advantages over the 5th Gen I don't think I'd want to flat tow a full-time 4WD vehicle either, if it were to slip out of neutral it wouldn't be pretty so the only fail safe there would be to remove both drive shafts while towing and that's not ideal.

I would continue to look for a 5th Gen with the part time t-case or possibly look into a different vehicle altogether like a Jeep TJ/JK/LJ etc. In regards to the LX470 itself, they are fantastic vehicles and in no way would I not suggest buying one, especially one with such low miles like you found, but for this particular use I would look elsewhere.

 

[Wandering Snowbird]

How about a GX470. I really like mine. I was looking for a 4 runner but they were very high priced with lot of miles. I am not sure how extreme offroad you plan to do? I was a heavy jeeper with lockers and front and rear winches, ect. I do more expedition wheeling now and really lime the GX. 13k can get you a decent ride.

I considered the GX but don't like the side opening rear door/hatch.

 

[Dalko43]

I wouldn't consider pulling either 4x4 behind your motorhome...neither is a "light" rig, though the LX is considerably heavier.

As for the buy old vs buy new issue: I'd get the 4runner, hands-down. Here is why:

• The older LX may cost less to buy, but it will cost more to maintain. Toyota's are reliable, but beyond a certain age/mileage limit, they do require more input to keep them going properly. Assuming the LX was well maintained, I didn't foresee any major problems, but a newer 4runner is going to be so much easier to deal with by comparison.
• It sounds like you want a light, nimble vehicle to scoot about and explore from your motorhome base camp. The 4runner is perfect for that: light, nimble, easy to drive and handle, okay on fuel (certainly better than the older LX's and LC's).
• A stock 5th gen Trail or TRD Pro (versions with the locker) is capable enough in stock form that you really don't need to add anything. Between the ATRAC and rear locker, you can get through most terrain without an issue. A winch might be a good insurance policy, but only if you really intend to explore technical areas by yourself.

I've taken my 5th gen trail all over the place...keep telling myself I'm going to modify it. But so far, everywhere I have pointed that thing, it has gone without issue. Unless you're looking for a long-range, self-sufficient overland rig to go into remote areas, I wouldn't bother adding much to a 5th gen 4runner.

 

[DaveInDenver]

The GX rear door seems to be a tolerate-or-hate situation. I don't know if anyone really loves it.

Even though I'm a Toyota fanatic I have to agree with the Jeep recommendation, it makes more sense for what you're trying to do.

 

[phsycle]

Flat towing: Here is the official list put out by Toyota.
Only very few auto trans can be flat towed (no 4Runner, LC, or Tacoma). And even at that, only at 55mph and max of 200 miles at a time.

Basically, get a Jeep.

Site Maintenance in progress

 

[Wandering Snowbird]

I seriously looked at JK's and came very close to buying one until I found out that it needed a pinion seal (which I know is nothing but was the final red flag) and already had to have an axle seal replaced with only 20,000 highway/city miles. This confirmed how I had always felt about Jeeps and their quality, or lack there of (no offence to Jeep owners), which was also confirmed when I posted a long term quality concern question on a local Facebook Jeep page and many Jeep owners confirmed that they have a much higher than average repair incidents even when used for basic/normal on road use,,,, and I refuse to support a company that has a repair incidents rate comparable to what their competitions repair rates were 20+ years ago. Basically they're saying to their customers that they're only going to put the minimum amount of effort into quality control because we know you're going to buy a Jeep anyways..........Sorry for the rant, it just really bugs me when a company treats their customers with such contempt.

I have researched and determined that both the LX and 4runner (Trail or TRD edition only with manual transfer case shift c/w neutral) can be flat towed, despite Toyota's official position that they can't be. The owner of Slee offroad has towed his Land cruiser 100 for thousands of miles and I consulted 2 different Toyota experts; 1) a close friend who has just retired from being a Toyota Tech for 25 years who confirmed that the 4Runner with manual transfer case is ok to flat tow and 2) a retired Toyota engineer.

 

[phsycle]

I have researched and determined that both the LX and 4runner (Trail or TRD edition only with manual transfer case shift c/w neutral) can be flat towed, despite Toyota's official position that they can't be. The owner of Slee offroad has towed his Land cruiser 100 for thousands of miles and I consulted 2 different Toyota experts; 1) a close friend who has just retired from being a Toyota Tech for 25 years who confirmed that the 4Runner with manual transfer case is ok to flat tow and 2) a retired Toyota engineer.

If you are ok with doing that, you can also look at 2010-2012 4Runner SR5's. They also came with a manual transfer case lever. (Someone can correct me if that is incorrect).

Also, don't forget the FJ Cruiser.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Not sure where you're finding information that counters Toyota, but the reason that mini trucks (79-95 pickup and 4Runner) and the Tacoma can't be flat towed is that the input shaft is what slings oil so you risk burning bearings without sufficient lubrication unless you disconnect the rear drive shaft. This is the case even with manual shifted transfer case trucks. With it in neutral you're still starving the transfer case.

It would depend on which of Slee's trucks you're talking about. Some of them have part time 4WD conversions, some have rear hub locks. So if you have an IH8MUD (I assume) thread to link I'd appreciate reading it.

The manual on my 1991 pickup IIRC said a maximum of 50 miles and 30 MPH for an emergency flat tow and that was with the caveat of everything in neutral. It had a manual tranny, manual t-case, front hub locks. I also seem to remember that it said after 50 miles you were supposed to stop tow and drive the truck, which would apparently be intended to lubricate the drivetrain.

My 2008 Tacoma flatly says no to dinghy towing. It has no way to put the t-case in neutral.

 

[phsycle]

There are driveshaft disconnect kits out there. But that just introduces complexity to the system. I wouldn't bother with one, personally, but that is an option.

Drive Shaft Coupling - New Replacement Drive Shaft Building

After a visit to Superior Driveline in Des Moines, IA, your rear-wheel drive vehicle will have a safely installed mechanical clutch to make it simple to tow.

www.remcodsc.com

 

[Tex68w]

I agree here with @DaveInDenver, I wouldn't do it or recommend it.

 

[wanderingthataway]

Can relate to. Have been looking for a good automatic transmission vehicle that can be flat towed behind a motorhome. The Jeeps and 4Runners are overpriced. The GX470 sounds interesting. Sure wish it had come with higher gas mileage like a Honda CRV (30mpg), which up to the year 2014 could be towed all 4 wheels down. The drawback of the CRV though was you can't do offroading with.