3rd generation 96-02 3.4L 4runners have the least issues...
96-00 LTD 4runners have e-lockers. a must have for anyone who wants to go off-roading.
96-98 have the old dash with the cup-holders above the radio, 99-02 have the more desirable cup holders next to the e-brake...
LTD models have electronic transfercase actuators. 96-98 SR5 models have the old J-shifter transfercase. more reliable than the very reliable electronic actuator.

imo, 99 LTD is the model to get... has all the good stuff... E-locker, updated dash, auto climate control, 4WD open centre diff, 4WD locked transfercase... but 96-02 models are all equally reliable...

as mentioned, for those years, a 4Runner hands down.

the older pathfinder 3.3L engine has bad fuel economy, gutless, and maf airflow sensor failures are common.

The 2001+ ones with the 3.5L are much better.

Just expanding on what was mentioned in a couple posts above.

From what i'm seeing and assuming what people want I would go with a 3rd gen (96+) 4runner. They did not come with 4cyl motors, only the 3.4L. That motor has more power and better fuel economy than the gutless 3.0L pig.

I don't know of any real big problems with the 3rd gen, the only "real" issue that the 4runners ever had was the headgaskets on the 2nd gen 3.0L. The e-locker like mentioned was available on the limited models and I would highly recommend getting it, and then do the grey wire (confirm?) mod so that you can lock/unlock while in 2H/4H/4L. In reference to the electronic tcase, personally I would want the old school mechanical one but the nice thing about the electronic tcase is that you have an AWD mode which (once again assuming what you guys want out of the trucks) is "superior" in the snow.

Once again, that info and recommendation is for someone looking for a street friendly SUV that's going to see the slopes in the winter and some mild offroading/camping in the winter. If you wanted to build a SAS'd machine on 37's then my reply would have been different haha.

Don't forget about the intake sucking up the loose power valve screws :okay:

some inspiration:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...P1120067-1.jpg


:fullofwin:

Stop it. I miss my 4runner.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/attach...2890-large.jpg

:awwyeah:

clean and mean lookin

looks fuckin' bad ass!

saw this one on autotrader haha

http://ps3.cdn.autotrader.ca/Adsonli...pg?w=800&h=600

http://wwwa.autotrader.ca/a/Toyota/4...howcpo=ShowCPO

^that ones been up for a longggggg time.

been having trouble selling it. also its a ford 302 under there plus a shit load of other modifications.

personally i'd buy a stocker and build it from the ground up rather than buy something already worked on.

i'm sure its a capable rig but not my cup of tea.

20k for a second gen 4runner? I want what he's smoking cuz it's some good shit. That thing is worth AT BEST 9k. That's what clean sas's are going for. Hell, I could get something on tons for cheaper than that probably haha.

the 3rd gen WAS available in a 4 cylinder model from 96-00. although rare, they were avaiable... noticable differences body wise was the lack of wheel arch mouldings, black bumpers, and small piddly 15" wheels with tiny tires... i wouldn't waste my time on one of these... to slow to get out of its own way... very reliable engines though...

i've had two 2nd gen 3.0L 4runners as well... one i manual, one in automatic. i will never own one of these ever again... EVER! power of a 4 cylinder, fuel consumption of a V8, and the rear wheel arches tend to rust on them... oh, and if the tailgate window regulator fails, you can't get into the trunk unless u go thru the back seats...

dem BFGoodRich tires :ahwow:

How well do Michelin LTX AT/2 stack up against those?

I stand corrected! Honestly, I loved my 2nd gen. And people can harp all they want on the 3.0 as being slow and pigly but it's a reliable as heck motor (unless you suck water into it, the connecting rods don't like that). The regulators are relatively "easy" to fix as it is usually just a bad ground from what I have been told but yes a poor system to start with.

I have a 22re right now in my pick up and it's honestly your stereotypical Toyota engine. Thing is bullit proof, too bad the rest of the truck is poo

they're not a bad tire from the research i've done while looking for tires myself.


happy with my good year wrangler silent armors.

was also considering the bfg at/ta ko's.

also looked at cooper discoverer at3's.

next set of tires i'm getting will be MT's most likely.

Pfft, silly AT's... MT's are where it's at. If you want a streetable MT look at the Hankook Dynapro RT03's. I've had them on two trucks and they are pretty sweet. Or get duratracs, everyone loves those.

no point in MT's at the moment since i dont have a lift and my driving is 85% on road 15% off road.

after a lift then its a whole different story :ilied:


i'd like to get a set of bfg km2's in 255/80/17.

tall skinnies :fullofwin:

here's what they look like on a black trail edition

http://i465.photobucket.com/albums/r...E/IMG_1590.jpg

Holy shit, those hankook's are sooooo cheap:sweetjesus:

I've heard mixed reviews about the KM2's. When at first I did my readings I read nothing but awesomesauce but then started to read about other less desireable qualities. My friend has a set of 35's on this sas'd 4runner.

The RT03's are middle of the road, expense wise, but most if not all of the reviews I read are awesome.

KM2's are garbage. if you want an awesome MT get a new Goodyear MTR-K. Love mine!

BFG still sells KM2's based off of the reputation of the KO's being a bulletproof high mileage tire. Honestly the tire I've been most impressed with lately is the Interco TrXus MT. Used 35's of those year round in Ontario. Lots of sizes including 255/85 so quite popular on runners.

the tailgate window regulators would bend because the motor would push the regulator up against the glass, which would have rusty brackets, and as a result, over time, things wear out...

i put tailgate window regulators, motors, and glass brackets into both 2nd generation 4runners... easy fix, but still... u never have to worry about that on the 3rd gen...

the 22R is one of toyotas best engines ever... as u said, typical toyota engine...bulletproof, reliable, long lasting slug... i'm glad toyota put bigger, more powerful engines in their vehicles starting in the mid 90s...

If I didn't have my current Pathfinder id buy this

2000 Toyota 4Runner

5MT > AT

3rd gen runners have always conflicted me. You can't get a manual tranny in a Limited, but you can't get a bunch of the options I want in a Sport or SR5. Are leather, fulltime AWD and all around betterness (not a real word, I know, I'm tired) worth not having a manual and not having ugly side cladding? I dunno.