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Need 3rd row. Load up SR5 with aftermarket add-ons instead of getting TRD?

Discussion in 'General 4Runner Talk' started by NorCal03, Dec 2, 2020.

  1. Dec 2, 2020 at 8:16 PM
    #1
    NorCal03

    NorCal03 [OP] New Member

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    This question may not be in the correct location (new to the forum) but here goes:

    I could have bought a 4Runner at any time over the last 15 years but to be honest I was waiting for Toyota to essentially offer what we ideally wanted which would be a TRD Pro, but with 3rd row seating.
    I know it might sound crazy but we have visitors from time to time plus each year our nieces/nephew come to stay with us for the summer which means each year we have to rent a mini-van or some type of 3rd row SUV for our travels in California and nearby states. We have had all the rental favorites: Caravan, Durango, Volvo XC90, etc


    They all worked out wonderfully to be honest so no complaints however I’m not sure that any of them say 'Ownership' to me
    i.e. “lets go camping, and trail running, and skiing, etc”. Back in the day, I had my old gen 1 4Runner and it was great for going to ski locations, or throw the mountain bikes on/in and going to ride or go to rock climbing locations and climb and then get some sleep in the back. I yes, I’m older now and MANY YEARS have been wasted because I just didn’t buy one that met some of my needs 10, 15 years ago (STUPID) but I had convinced myself that as the SR5 had the 3rd row option it would maybe be just a year or even two before Toyota allowed folks to have that model but still get all of the off-road goodies of a TRD Pro or TRD Off-road or get the TRD Pro with a 3rd row option. How wrong I was!! and now life has passed while my thinking was proven flawed (yep, each year I told the wife, don't worry Toyota will have the 3rd row in next years model). Yes, the wife and I looked at various other options but each had it’s deal breaker flaw. Should have just gotten a an extra job or two and saved up for a purchase of a Land Rover LR3 or LR4.


    So, feel free to call me a numb skull, it fits. I just didn’t want to compromise on the outdoor capability (locking dif, etc) in order to get the 3rd row. And I definitely didn’t want to have to spend good $$ to buy an SUV and then still have to rent a mini-van or Durango for the summer each year. Before you know it, time has passed…

    Since Toyota Will Not offer a 3rd row in the TRD models, Is it possible to take an SR5 model and via the aftermarket, add on all of the things needed to be a true capable SUV? Or… am I going to have to spend Way Over Budget and purchase the most unreliable vehicle you can possibly buy ! ‘Defender’
     
  2. Dec 2, 2020 at 9:02 PM
    #2
    Antman

    Antman New Member

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    NorCal
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    2021 4Runner off-road premium, 2022 Tacoma
    2021 4Runner: King Coilovers King rear shocks Camburg UCA’s Spc rear Trail arms Icon 52700 rear springs Icon panhard bar SCS Ray10’s Rci Sliders Rci Full Skids 2022 Tacoma Offroad: King Coilovers King rear shocks Deaver leaf springs Camburg UCA Scs Gen 5 Bamf front hybrid bumper Rci Full Skids Rci Sliders
    Do you need a locker?

    get the sr5 premium. Change some body panels. Add skids, sliders and get kings. Along with some Spc ucas and if need be a rear locker.
     
  3. Dec 2, 2020 at 10:45 PM
    #3
    4runningMan

    4runningMan New Member

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    The SR5 is arguably 98% as capable as the pro. Seriously, it’s a highly capable 4wd vehicle and will handle just about anything and everything you throw at it.

    Is the Off Road not available with 3rd row? If it is, there’s your bingo. And yes, you can add most of the pro appearance stuff and suspension to an Off Road if you so desire.
     
  4. Dec 3, 2020 at 9:37 AM
    #4
    trlhiker

    trlhiker Lazy Bum

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    Unless you absolutely need a locker and crawl control, then you will have to do without the 3rd row. But if you don't then the SR5 or Limited is your answer. And both can be made into very capable vehicles for much less money than buying a pro.
     
  5. Dec 3, 2020 at 10:28 PM
    #5
    NotaTRD

    NotaTRD It’s my wife’s 4R, she just lets me drive it

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    Feel free to ask
    Unless all your visitors are children or people of small stature, I don’t see how anyone would be comfortable back there for very long. I’m 6’0, 175 lbs and I can’t imagine sitting in the 3rd row for more than 20-30 minutes. My 5’4ish, 120 lbs mother-in- law even seems a little uncomfortable back there after about an hour. Having to climb in and out through the back all the time seems fun though...

    My advice to you is to find a 3rd row SR5 and try it out to get an idea of how an adult might feel be back there for any length of time. If you’re ever in SoCal, you’re welcome to try mine out and check out the “off-road goodies” I’ve added.
     
    Huzer21 and 4runningMan like this.
  6. Dec 3, 2020 at 10:46 PM
    #6
    flyinhoot

    flyinhoot When in doubt, Throttle out.

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    Monochrome everything. LED reverse lights.
    I’m just curious why the whole thing was written in Italics.

    Also if third row seating is key then just get a limited or SR5. The A-trac system is damn good and you can easily do what all the other sr5 owners do and make it look like a pro for pretty cheap o_O:cool:
     
  7. Dec 4, 2020 at 12:26 AM
    #7
    flyinhoot

    flyinhoot When in doubt, Throttle out.

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    Monochrome everything. LED reverse lights.
    Theres aways the $90k land cruiser too :eek:
     
    Trekker likes this.
  8. Dec 4, 2020 at 8:01 AM
    #8
    SlvrSlug

    SlvrSlug Slightly bent.

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    2017 4-Runner SR-5 P. Kings, Built Right uca’s, Durabumps, RSG sliders
    I went with an SR5 P and added some mods. I’m happy with it, and it takes me where i want to go.

    E119B506-D1CF-4139-B9CA-51A7A1185CB8.jpg
     
  9. Dec 4, 2020 at 8:32 AM
    #9
    kmeeg

    kmeeg LionRunner

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    My SR5 has the same trim panels as my TRD ORP so no mods needed for adding full skids and sliders.
    My Limited how ever have different trim panels that would need to be modified if I have to add sliders. Even for the skids I see some sort of plastic vents that rout air to the front skid as the front bumper is low and blocking lot of air. As for the front and rear bumpers SR5 and TRDs have same clearance and Limited got less clearance on front and rear bumpers. And obviously you need to upgrade the 20 in wheels to 17 in ones if you want to take a Limited offroad.

    As for lockers I was looking in to adding front lockers to my TRD ORP and there were 2 options. e-Locker and air locker. E-locker was quoted $1500 parts + labor and Air locker was quoted $3000 parts + labor (including the air compressor). So for a SR5 you can add front and rear without any problem. (I did not add the front locker yet as I'm somewhat concern about the strength of the front axle.)
     
  10. Dec 4, 2020 at 1:23 PM
    #10
    SlvrSlug

    SlvrSlug Slightly bent.

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    I think with a front locker is when you start breaking stuff,JMHO.
     
  11. Dec 4, 2020 at 1:38 PM
    #11
    kmeeg

    kmeeg LionRunner

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    Yep, that's true. It was something like "What if.., Just in case.." type of thing I looked at having poor driving skills. LoL..

    Kind of gave up that plan for now since A-trac is more than enough for the trails we drive as a family. I got full skids and sliders and I have no damage on them but some trail rash under the rear bumper. One time when I was driving over a rock it didn't touch a single skid or a slider but had to kiss the rear bumper.. LoL.
     
    SlvrSlug[QUOTED] likes this.
  12. Dec 4, 2020 at 2:20 PM
    #12
    WIwhale

    WIwhale New Member

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    Im 6-0 and 170 lb. i tried to sit in backseat 3rd row. Dont think i would try that again. So small.
     
  13. Dec 4, 2020 at 2:24 PM
    #13
    kmeeg

    kmeeg LionRunner

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    True it would be hard for a 6'. I'm small 5'5" and this is how I fit there.

    https://youtu.be/RnbNDRR9HiQ
     
  14. Dec 4, 2020 at 3:03 PM
    #14
    Huzer21

    Huzer21 New Member

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    The third row is kid friendly and average adult emergency use only. You can get a little legroom in the third row if you slide the seat in front of you forward a bit. I'm 6'4" and the only way I would fit is if I was headless. Even then, it'd be tight.

    I regularly have 4 adults and my son in the 4Runner. He's more comfortable in the third row, rather than being squished between two adults. Once he gets in his teens, though, I imagine the third row becomes useless.
     
    BlueRidgeRunner21 likes this.
  15. Dec 4, 2020 at 3:07 PM
    #15
    totmacher

    totmacher New Member

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    done some stuff to it
    My SR5 with 3rd row has been fine offroad. As good or better than Tacoma was due to shorter wheelbase on 4R.
    Has 1.5 inch lift on 33" tires and did fine on trails. ATRAC is good enough that it still pulls through spots with only 3 or 2 wheels on the ground. Readjusted to 2.5" lift and it's about perfect.
     
    BlueRidgeRunner21 and SlvrSlug like this.
  16. Dec 5, 2020 at 10:56 AM
    #16
    Sixgunz

    Sixgunz Gold Member

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    Kings front and back, RSG sliders, GOBI ladder BFG AT 285s, OEM phone dial wheels, KDSS
    I was in the same boat as the OP when I bought mine. My last rig was a 100 series Cruiser and I didn't use the 3rd row often, but there were times when I either used them, or we had to take 2 vehicles.

    I knew I was eventually going to switch out the suspension & wheels/tires. And, speaking in terms of usefulness to me, I don't care for the roof rack on the Pro. The only thing the PRO has that I wanted was the locker, but I needed 3rd row seats more.

    Like others have said, ATRAC is pretty damn good & I can't think of single instance where it wasn't enough.
     
    4runningMan likes this.
  17. Dec 7, 2020 at 6:30 AM
    #17
    dimag333

    dimag333 New Member

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    just got a third row limited nightshade, have to say great family hauler so far and feels as capable for what I do as my old Taco

    steve
     

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