chop_suey

well im new to the forums obviously, i gonna be in the market of buying a new (well used but new to me) 4x4 SUV as soon as i sell my chevy tahoe 4x4. my question is why did you guys choose a 4runner b/c im in between a 4runner(90-up) and cherokee(97-99) and i really just dont know which one i want b/c both are capable offroad. so that said convince me that the 4runner is what i want! Thanks in advance

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wormhole

I came close a number of times before I bought my 4runner to buying a Cherokee (97-01) but after test driving a couple of 4runners my mind was made up to get a 4runner.

The quality and fit and finish on the 4runner was just better and it just felt better to drive. Both have good engines and from the research that I did the Cherokees engines is one of the better things it had going for it. 4wheel drive wise they are pretty much on par with capabality. Unless, you get a 3rd gen with the locking rear diff. then it's the 4runner all the way .

What it comes down to is what you want. What fits your needs better and what just feels better to you (look at the 3rd gen 4runners )



Is that enough whats? I could go on.

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2000 Toyota 4runner auto, 4x4, elocker, budbuilt skid, Sonoran Steel 7.2, 265/75/16 Yokohoma Geolanders AT-S

Just call me "T"

1990Runner

go ahead and buy a cherokee. we have plenty of JEEP RECOVERY VEHICLES here to help you out

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1990 SR5 4-Runner 5spd 4X4 stock trim for now Aisin manual hubs

Albert.G

TRD ...hhahToyota recoovery device hhaaha

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Snoyota...thirtee tree's lifted and locked

chop_suey

lol, funny you say that, i joined a jeep forum a while back to do a lil research on the cherokees, and they said the same thing about toyota recovery trucks, lol i though that was funny.

i driven a 94 yoda pickup for a lil while, i like it it was fun to drive , but it had no room whatsoever, it was a single cab, ill prolly go look at some 4runners when i have a chance

AZkid

Don't all cherokees have uni-bodys?

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Belize Off Road Team

One Reason:



And how about that the 4runner will last you longer between repairs you won't have buy new engines all the time like the Jeep. it's all how you drive and take care of your rig.

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-Phyl
1991 Hilux Surf SSR-G Petrol 3.0L V6 200,000kms l Rancho RS5000 l 31"x10.50"xR15 Pro Comp Xterrain l K&N Air Filter l PP 1" Lift Coil Springs l Optima Blue Top l 12" JBL Subs l Alpine Type R l 80/100W Hella H4 l 1st Gen Roll Bar Mod l FT/RR Diff. Breathers l Smittybilt XRC8 Winch l ARB Bull Bar l

1990Runner

So they say they are yota recovery vehicles? HA, hahahahaha, ill take a stock jeep on any day and i guarantee stocker vs. stocker the yota would be on top.

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1990 SR5 4-Runner 5spd 4X4 stock trim for now Aisin manual hubs

GatorTaco

Drive them, and you will immediately see. Fit and Finish doesnt compare, reliabilitty doesnt compare, stock performance on and off road, again doesnt compare. You said the last Yota you drove was very small... If you need any room at all, don't forget about the huge spare tire in the back of the Jeep. Takes up a lot of valuable space. Just imagine how much more clearance could be had on our Trucks if we put the spare in the back and flatten out the gas tank...

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-Chris
'99 Taco V6 4x4 3" Toytec, 31" Wild Country's, Rear Lockright, Need sliders
'97 'Runner V6 4x4 33's

hurley842002

I've owned 2 built cherokees and while they were both very capable, I finally got smart and purchased an 86 4runner. Its basically stock with a mild shackle lift in the rear and 31 mt's but its already outshining the Cherokees in many ways, and the mod's haven't even begun.

YotaFun

Yes they do!
I found this out the other weekend and was dumbfounded to actually look under and start laughing hysterically.

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CC_yota

I was looking at Cherokees before I got my Runner. The thing that turned me off was the huge amounts of money that have to dumped into those things to make them any more capable. A buddy of mine has put 5 or 6 grand into his Cherokee just to get his on 33's and have some decent articulation.

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95 4Runner- 3vze- A/T- 4.88's

Currently
LC Coils
BJ Spacers
SAW T-Bars
32x11.50 BFG A/T's
15x8 black Rockcrawlers
Marlin Crawler rear bumper

John LTD

My dad has a grand Cherokee v8 4x4 and my 4runner destroys it in every way except for the v8. So if thats what potentially makes the difference?...... basically just get the 4runner!

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2000 4runner LTD, removed running boards, LED Dome and map lights, DRL Mod, Hella 500's(driving beam) Bridgestone Dueler 695(265/70-16
), Yellow fogs(Lamin-x), more to come....

isaac338

and they're ugly as sin! call me vain if you will; i think cherokees are on par with azteks. maybe it's cause the ones around here are always beat to hell and haggard looking, but even rusty 4runners look sexy

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1994 Xtracab pickup, 180,000km
1987 4Runner, 510,000km

chop_suey

hows the aftermarket for 4runners, mainly the 2nd and 3rd gens?

eightnine

ii guess im not the only one that thinks grand cherokees look like azteks

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1989 Toyota 4runner Special Edition
- Rebuilt 22re bored .20 over 4.30 gears, - Magnaflow Performance Exhaust with Magnaflow Hi Flow Catalytic Converter, Monroe Sensa-Tracs Shocks all around, 4runner AALs, Custom Checkerplate front skid plate, Kayline Soft Top , Clear Corners and Turn Signals, Eagle Alloy Rims with 31x10.5x15 M/T tires, 2 12" JBL Subwoofers / MTX AMP, Pioneer Premiere Speakers, JVC KD-G730 MP3/CD/Bluetooth

X-AWDriver

3rd gen with the rear locker is more capable in stock trim by far than a stock Cherokee plus you can fit 32" tires under a 3rd gen with no lift. On the street I think it's a wash but the V8 Cherokees do have a little more oomph.

This is mine with just larger tires.

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'99 4Runner Highlander 4wd
E-locker,rear diff and deckplate mod * 265/75/16 Nitto TerraGrapplers * Yakima Load Warrior rack * clear corners/signals * Tacoma skidplate * Silverstar lamps/fogs
Alpine CDA-9831,Bazooka EL Series 250w amp,MTX 10" sub

Mcdoggy2000

I was originally looking for XJ and find my '93 4runner (only$2500, excellent shape)..to be honest.
Prior to this 4runner, I had '89 P/U, ext cab, SR5, V6, 5spd, 4x4.
The P/U was great, but I wanted more power.

In my opinion, stock 4runner is more capable and reliable.
Even 2nd Gen, Especially 3rd Gen.
However, huge attraction on XJ was "Straight Front Axle" and "4.0L engine"
Other than these two 4runner is better.

Depends on what you want to do with your truck. I think.

Good luck.

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93 4Runner, 3.0, AT, 2"BL, 1.5 BJ spacers, OME901HD coils, F-open, R-lockright, ISR, 305/70/16 BFG KMs, 33x12.50x15 Swamper TSLs for trail.

crolison

runner, you can fit 32's stock.

I have owned both, but my cherokee was a pos from the begining 210,000 miles on the 2.8 v6, holy crap bad gas milage and super slow.

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97 4runner, 2.7 5speed 4wd, 5.29, 33 horns
armor
locked
lifted
heavy SOB
broken front and rear swaybars
My Profile..

89silverpu

I think it all depends on what you're going to be doing, XJ's have a lot more aftermarket options and can be built up to be very capable off road for pretty cheap. But if you're not going to be rock crawling there is no need for the SFA of the Jeep...

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'89 Beater Jeep Eater in progress
4.88's, TRD e-locker, Dual Cases, 33's, Armored,

Tread Lightly

Mixchallenge.info

AppleJack

I find it so strange that so many had a different experience than I did. I had a '93 XJ 2dr with a 4.0 H.O. I put a MOPAR mid range cam in it, and it flat screamed!! Honestly the build quality of Toyota's are better, the truth is the Cherokee is WAY cheaper to build into a capable trail vehicle than an IFS 4runner. 3-$400 for a 3in. lift to fit 31's, $80 for sway bar disconnects and you've left a stock 4runner at the gate, locker or not. I know this. I've learned to appreciate the build quality of Toyotas and that enough for me. Yes 4runners are capable, but to give you my un-biased opinion, if it's cheap trail worthiness your after, buy a Cherokee, if it's pep, buy a Cherokee, If you want something that feels solid and is solid with a superior reputation of reliability, buy a 4runner. I loved my Cherokee it was a great rig but, after my 4runner, the little details of quality had me won over.

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Fires, Friends, and Books Decree
Wisdom, Strength, and Controversy.

To believe with certainty, one must begin doubting.

Skrillah

Good post!

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1997 Toyota 4runner 4x4, 2.7L, Auto, 146k miles, KC Slimlites, Bilsteins, OME 881/890s, Custom Westin Push Bar, Brembo/Hawk Pads, Yakima Gear, Midland CB, 265/75/16 Bridgestone Revos, Limited 5-spoke rims (Custom),Herculined Rocker Panels, Diff. Breather mod,Deckplate mod,4.56 gearing, Pioneer head unit w/Ipod connection and Sirius Sat. Radio.

Greg_Canada

My bud has a jeep a few years older than my 4runner and it looks 15 years older... things just fall apart.
Oh and his oil gauge maxes out when he hits the gas... says it's normal.. LOL

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http://www.cardomain.com/ride/1147271/1 My 1989 Toyota 4runner

aviator

you can fit 31s under a 4runner stock no lift lol...
Generally speaking Toyotas will be far more reliable, and if you take care of the basic service far cheaper in the long run. If you break something in the rear on the trail you can just unbolt the rear drive shaft take it out, put her in 4wd and drive home no worries... heck you can drive for almost ever that way if you have to lol, not so with the jeep.
Plus the toyota forums [like yotatech] are much more fun then any jeep forum.

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Silver 1994 Hilux Xtra cab 4x4 3.0
K&N cone filter, ported MAF, advanced timing, oversize exhaust, free flow cat, "rumble" muffler
custom covered SR5 seats, map lights, factory AC

tv4184 style black interior conversion started

mods to come... header,
custom centre console, stereo upgrade
tinted windows

Founding member 1972TLC fan club - Get well soon Mary

Toyota Hilux... Get in or Get out of the way.

flatland4runner

I've owned both. The Cherokee was a nice ride and had plenty of power and was actually not to bad on the trails in stock trim. When I came down to buying another SUV about 18 months ago (after my Blazer was thankfully stolen) I was blown away by the 4Runner. I drove vehicles all across the price range I was in which included mid to late 90's GM's and Jeeps. The last drive was my '91 4Runner. You could tell the difference in quality as soon as you sat down even my co-pilot (my dad came to scrutinze for me) hopped in and said "this is the best one yet" and that was before I even turned the key. Overall, I've learned that I should have held out for a 3rd gen w/ the 3.4 (my 3.0 is a little lacking) and maybe a e-locker but in all honesty I will likely never be without a toyota SUV in my driveway simply a great made, super reliable vehicle.

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'91 4Runner SR5- 3.0 -5spd-Aisin Manual Hubs-ISR mod