Convince me I need a 5th gen 4Runner

These threads are so if you dont like don’t get it, and if you do, do your research and go buy one. Simple as that

 

I've wanted a red car ever since the bright cherry red 1985 Supra my folks had when I was a teen. With the 4R red I think the wheel color and design will be especially important. IMO it goes well with the standard TRD OR wheels and even the base SR5 wheels, but maybe not the dark TRD wheels. You might want to try to check out combos in person before doing a mail order of a new wheel set.

 

LOL we're just having fun. And half this thread is about what color to choose, not whether to get one or not. OP has already made the wise decision to get one

 

It's awesome when you have your finger up before the window goes down very far and it's as if your hand was up flipping the bird before the window goes down so they see the rear window going down, wonder what's going on, and then get a fun surprise.

 

I try not to give anyone the bird. People are crazy.

 

I love the light silver color on my SR5.

 

Blows my mind the Taco still has rear drum brakes wth

 

I was in the same boat as you and actually traded my Tacoma for a Tundra. Loved the power and cab size of the tundra (it's like an apartment in the crewmax!) but eventually came to grips with the fact that I really missed the smaller size of the Tacoma.

I just traded my Tundra in for a 4Runner and am happy with the decision. I don't use the bed as often as I thought I would, and never tow anything. I love the OR capabilities of the 4Runner and like that someone over 6' can sit comfortably in the back seats, unlike my Taco.

 

Taco still has rear drum brakes, but I know what you mean...c’mon Toyota.

 

I have been searching around my local dealers for an ORP. Unfortunately the selection is limited due to COVID-19. Evidently the factory in Japan shut down briefly due to pandemic, and they’re playing catch-up on inventory.

I’m still vacillating on the color: Nautical Blue, Classic Silver, or Barcelona Red.





I also noticed that most of the available stock does not come with the rear cargo slide. This is a feature I think I would use often. Can the dealer install this as an option? Or does it have to be installed at the factory?

 

I think all three colors look good, but of the three, if it was me, I'd go Silver.

I looked into the sliding cargo deck and from what I read it's not practical to try to ad it after sale.

 

Thx! I like silver too.

Agreed. I would not try to add the cargo slide after the sale.

I was curious if it can be a dealer-installed option, or if you have to find one already installed as part of a package from the factory.

 

I wouldn't swear to it but my recollection is that the dealer can't add it. I do know for sure that it's not in Toyota's Accessories catalog.So I think you'd have to somehow procure one from another owner or a wreck, and be prepared to drill holes and saw up stuff etc to get it to work in a 4R that came without it. It doesn't look like it would be a big deal, but apparently it pretty much is.

 

PS, if you need to do this now I wouldn't get too picky on price. Inventory looks low and demand seems to be high. My local dealers have been selling them fast. Now, if you can wait a month or two you'll be able to check out the 2021s. Would be interesting to see how good the new standard OEM LED headlights are. From what I've read that's the only major change for 2021.

Well, they do add a new "Trail Edition," which is described as an SR5 with off road wheels, a Yakima roof basket and a Yeti cooler in hatch. Unclear to me if this replaces the Off Road. If it does that's an issue, since the SR5 doesn't have the manual transfer case etc. If not, then this is just a new and welcome variant on the SR5. As such, it doesn't stick you with the silly fake hood scoop.

 

I just checked with my local dealer sales rep. He says the slide out cargo tray can be added to any 4Runner as an option at the dealer. Of course he could just be trying to sell me a 4Runner. But he has historically been very accurate about all of the 4x4 Tacos and T4Rs with their various options.

I believe the Trail Edition is an additional package for the 2021 lineup. I don’t think Toyota is eliminating the OR, ORP, or Pro.

I really have no interest in the new Trail Edition anyway, since it based on the SR5 platform and doesn’t have any of the off road goodies of the OR, ORP, or Pro (rear locker, Crawl Control, Multi-Terrain Select, etc). Plus, I already have a Yeti (I would be interested in a factory-installed off road fridge though). I would delete the roof rack. And I think I prefer the OR and ORP wheels over the Pro and new Trail Edition wheels.

But it might be worth waiting until 2021 regardless, just for more stock and more negotiating leverage due to availability. LED headlights would be nice too.

 

That would be cool, but color me skeptical. I wonder if he's thinking instead of the various cargo covers, trays etc that are available in the Accessories catalog (I checked again, specifying a 2020 TRD ORP, and the sliding deck is not among the options in the catalog).

Here is a link describing the steps a 4R owner went through to install a deck himself, which he had to get from a 4R owner who didn't want his anymore.

 

I don’t think he misunderstood. I sent a photo. But he may still be wrong.

I did see that write-up. I can definitely do the install, I just don’t want to have to source the slide and all the miscellaneous parts.

On a different note, I know the factory-tires on the OR and ORP are trash. Tires will probably be my first upgrade. Will a set of 275/70/17 BFG ATs fit on a factory suspension with factory ORP wheels? No rubbing?

 

I'm pretty ignorant on the off road stuff (I bought a Limited LOL!) but I recently saw threads on the tire size and rubbing issues. So you should see the answers there.

Good luck with the sliding deck project!

 

everything I’ve read says 275/70/17 KO2s will fit w/o rubbing. That’s good news. By far my favorite tire. Itching to upgrade to them.

 

Yes, it's pretty confusing.

Toyota introduced the 4Runner Trail Edition package in 2008, with A-TRAC and rear locker. For the 4th gen to 5th gen model change in 2010, they also added Crawl Control and Multi-Terrain Select to the Trail Edition package. That Trail version is the precursor to the current TRD Off-Road and TRD Off-Road Premium. For the 2017 model year, the "Trail Edition" name was changed to "Off Road" but the 4WD goodies were essentially the same.

However, the newest 2021 Trail Edition is based off the SR5 package. It adds some cosmetic additions and accessories, but it will not come with the extra 4WD features included on the OR, ORP, and Pro. Specifically, Crawl Control, Multi-Terrain Select, and Rear Locker. I think a more accurate description of the 2021 "Trail Edition" would be "SR5 Ultra-Premium" or something similar. Its 4WD system is not as capable or as sophisticated as the previous Trail Edition 4Runners.

 

No, it’s only included/available on the OR, ORP, Pro, or Venture. You can’t add it as an option.

But you can always add an aftermarket rear locker.

 

I like all 3 of those colors. Think about what modifications you plan on doing, if any. Nautical blue was at the top of my list, but I went MGM as it was at the dealership and they offered me a great price on it. Now that I have a all of the black accessories and wheels, I think the MGM was a better choice for me.

If running stock with stock wheels, the Nautical blue is still my favorite color.

 

Yeah, I have the TRD Pro 4Runner wheels on my Taco.

I think I will keep the Off Road wheels when I get a 4Runner. To me, the silver wheels are complimented best by blue or red. On a silver truck, it’s too much of the same color.

 

Agreed! I’m fairly confident 275/70/17 KO2s will fit stock ORP wheels and stock suspension without rubbing. I think it will even fit under the truck for the spare.

 

Yes, the spare will fit. I have my 285/70/17 Toyo AT3 crammed in under there.

 

Well, I found a Nautical Blue OR at Toyota Huntsville in East Texas. They offered a really good deal on trade-in, but the truck does not come with the rear cargo slide. Sales rep for Toyota Huntsville says the slide cannot be added.

How picky should I be about the cargo slide? I know it’s fairly straightforward to install after the fact...if you can find one. I do think I would use it regularly.



Thoughts?

 

To my knowledge, it can absolutely be added - it's just typically expensive and maybe a bit of a bear to do. The sliding tray is a very love it or hate it item on the forum.
If you get a good deal on the 4R, I say absolutely pull the trigger, tray or not. The biggest benefit of the tray from what I've read is that it levels the floor when the rear seats are folded.

I don't have a tray and I don't think it's really necessary; shouldn't be a dealbreaker IMO.

If you want to add it after the fact, your best option is to find someone to swap parts with.

 

How badly do you want it?

It sounded cool to me, but I can't really see a benefit for MY uses. In fact, it would be in the way.

However, you will use the 4runner differently than me. You should imagine what you'll be doing with the cargo area, and decide if a slightly higher, sliding floor is better, or a lower, stationary floor.

This probably sounds silly. But, I think just visualizing this will help you decide.

If you've already decided that you need it, please disregard this post.

 

Sliding cargo deck wasn't an option for me once I settled on three rows (which have the added advantage of lengthening the cargo area, because the second row seat bottoms don't need to fold up against the back of the front seats, which robs a good half foot of space). But if I'd wanted only two rows, I definitely would have preferred having this tray. As has been noted, it has the added advantage of leveling the load floor when the second row seats are folded down. You only lose 2-3 inches of height in the cargo area for that advantage. Plus, being able to slide heavy cargo in or out, or to pull out the deck to sit on / for tailgating. That seems pretty cool.

Only you know what's most important to you, but I guess my bottom line recommendation is not to buy a 4R without one based on the assumption you can add it later. That might turn out to be very difficult, especially getting all the parts from some other owner. You could be living with the truck for months or years before you could pull it off.

Given that the 2021s will be out soon, and they will come with (hopefully good) LED headlights standard, if it was me I'd consider waiting for a 21 that comes standard with the sliding deck.