A ‘Maybe’ 4Runner Owner

Hello all. I just binge watched Cobra Kai, and luckily the name Chozen wasn’t taken yet so I scooped it up lol. I’m thinking of buying a new 4Runner before the 2025 turbo redesign but I’m not positive, so I bought myself 8 weeks to think it over by purposely putting a deposit on an Off Road Premium that’s still in production and 8 weeks from delivery.

Just having fun reading through this forum. I actually don’t NEED a 4Runner at all, I just WANTED one for a long time. I never off roaded or did any overlanding, but perhaps being a 4Runner owner would be good incentive to do so! Having said that, I know that I’m not at all someone who would try to rock climb and do aggressive stuff like that, the only ruggedness that would possibly interest me would be a type of ruggedness in order to just REACH areas with cooler scenery. If I even did that much. Sorry for the misnomer if that doesn’t count as overlanding lol. Regardless, my first order of business would still be rock sliders!! Mostly for the looks, and in case of getting T-Boned at 50 mph by some maniac. Secondary reasons are to function as a step (albeit a less functional one than running boards, which is fine), and for car door collision protection in parking lots. I keep eyeing up about 6 or 7 different ones, but I think I know which one I would go with, Hefty Fabrications (RSG in 2nd place).

 

Welcome!

I hope you end up getting a new 4Runner.

I’m hoping the new one will be another home run by Toyota, but the longevity of a turbo 4 might be suspect

 

I do not think you can go wrong with a 4Runner. They are reliable vehicles, comfortable and hold their value. Not much bad to say about a Toyota 4runner. Same can also be said about some other vehicles in Toyota's lineup.

 

Welcome! You won't regret getting a 4Runner!

 

If you don’t off-road buy a limited or gx460.. full time 4wd is easy to live with… don’t deal with the ORP’s quirks (manual 4wd lever)

 

Welcome to the forum!
There are regional forums here where you could meet some people to go out and do some offroading and learn from the group. By watching what they do with their trucks, asking questions and getting advice and encouragement from those you are offroad with, you will quickly gain confidence in the capability of your 4Runner. Most states also have offroad parks with courses (trails) with maps that are marked similarly like snow ski runs by degree of difficulty. Personally, I have had fun and learned at Hollister Hills ORV park in California. Being with a group of experienced offroaders can help prevent you from a bad situation, as well as get you out if you get stuck.

 

Welcome, you'll enjoy the 4Runner if you make the purchase.

 

Welcome. Window shopping leads to buying.

 

Welcome to the forum! There is a certain “Swag” you get from owning a 4Runner, not like I’m better than you, more like “damn, this truck is cool”!

 

Welcome, whatever you decide is fine.

Car shopping is all about what compromises you pick.

Have you test driven one yet?

 

Welcome. I'll admit I have never heard of Cobra Kai until I saw your post.

 

I seemed to have evolved into the grumpy old man who complains about anything new lol, so buying the last offering of the “Dinosaur 4Runner” before it’s modernized would be absolutely perfect for me!!

 

Yeah true, it feels like I don’t have much of a potential for a huge mistake. There’s a lot of other vehicles where I think a lot about the extended warranty, it doesn’t even cross my mind if I went through with buying the 4Runner!!

 

Man, I actually think that’s the coolest part!! I did own a manual transmission before, I’m bummed out how rare it is now to find anything at all with a manual shifter. But are you positive that it has the stick transfer case?? People are telling me different things, some have told me that it has the knob. I hope it’s the stick though!

 

I did, but not the trim (ORP) that I have a deposit on. I’m coming from a tiny car so it felt like a bus and I was a bit nervous lol, the dealership was in a congested area and I was actually trying to pass test ride. OMG there was such an old school feeling to how it drove, I was loving it. It’s been so long since I haven’t had a hybrid or CVT.

 

If you’ve seen the Karate Kid movies from the 80s, Cobra Kai is at the very least pretty funny, it’s basically the original main characters butting heads again after 35 years.

 

The Off-Road, Off-Road Premium and PRO trims have a manual shifter to engage the transfer case whereas the SR5, SR5 Premium and TRD Sport have the knob/dial.

 

Welcome

 

Welcome from Arizona!

 

@Yotaholic is going to be so happy for you

 

Well it looks like I’m leaning in the direction of buying the 4Runner. Since I just bought notoriously non-refundable rock sliders lol. I guess if I back out now, you’ll see me in the Marketplace selling new unused powder coated sliders.

So I kind of did, yet didn’t mess up on the order. They’re definitely the ones I like the most, but I didn’t realize as I checked out (again VERY non-refundable item even a second after you check out) that the company doesn’t even offer powder coating. Only option is bare metal, and you gotta have it done yourself. However the reason that I said that I also probably didn’t mess up is that I’ve seen several comments about how the powder coatings done by the manufacturer is usually a big letdown, and how you ARE better off getting them done elsewhere!

I went with Hefty Fabworks. It’s odd that they don’t have a single option for their sliders, all of them are the same…however that works for me because there was nothing that I’d wanna change anyway. Everything that they are is the options that I prefer anyway. I ordered them before even getting the 4Runner (still in production) because of the long lead times.

 

Welcome from Wisconsin! Did you get a 4Runner yet? Get the rock sliders yet? The thoughts with the rock sliders are well understood, but you'll be getting them re-done after you scratch them up. Ride on!

 

Sliders are not the best option for help with getting in and out of the T4R.

 

Hefty Fabworks is a great choice. I have their front bumper - zero complaints. Don't skimp on the powder coat - take it to a reputable place that will prep it, prime it, and get it right. The coating will get rubbed off as you use the sliders, and you can repaint with a rattle can, but the powder coat will continue to protect areas you wouldn't otherwise reach.

 

I have a 4Runner reserved, but it is still a few weeks out. I just bought the rock sliders because they take 4-8 weeks for delivery.

 

You ain’t lying. Although flat sliders with a tread plate are not too bad as steps, the Hefty sliders might even be a little worse because they tuck them up a little higher than most flat sliders. I will never get a lift, or get huge tires, so I wonder if I will even get the urge to plant my foot on it to get in. As for passengers, I can’t wait till someone says “These steps suck!!” lol

 

Ok thanks. I did notice some people talking about this rattle can for touch ups in here somewhere. Do you know what the exact preferred touch up can would be? Yeah I’m looking for a place with great reviews, there are a few close to me that look impressive!

 

All I'm trying to do is control the rust so I don't have to buy a new pair of sliders. They just get dirty again.

I put a wire wheel on the end of a driver and grind off the rust every season, tape newspaper to all the doors and body panels, and add a couple coats of black using whatever cans I picked up from the hardware store.

 

I like those sliders a lot. I like a more gradual kick out like that, and overall how they look! Is that RSG? RSG was my second choice.