There are advantages to the impulsiveness of youth. Like getting the kids grown early. And, yes, Ibuprofen is great.

I have no rig pics to offer since I'm still lookin4yota, but I did acquire this to tow to Alaska: http://www.golittleguy.com/cms/content/view/131/138/

I'll post a review of it after I get a chance to use it off road. And lots of pics!

 

Old Man Emu suspension would smooth out the ride nicely. I has on my 2nd gen- down backroads, its the most comfortable vehicle I've been in. You may be able to find a 4Runner with a factory locker already installed.

 

Buy the Xtrerra.




Now before you all go killin your Toyota God, hear me out. If we allow him to buy the Xterra, he will learn from his mistake when it breaks down 400 times, and thus will purchase a 3rd gen 4Runner, to stay away from push button 4wd.

 

Go with the Xterra. My dad got an 08 Xterra bare bones, six speed manual for right around 20 grand. Its a sweet ride. Rides more like the later 90s 4runners

 

That's the only forum I knew of too, and what a bunch tards. There were 3 knowledgeable people and the rest d-bags. No traffic, wait weeks for answers, and horrible structure. You don't have to lie to hang out.

 

xterra's are junk, my buddy's mom had one. the check engine light would come on every other week! had little power, and it was fugly.

 

Xterras are good cars, but when i think of xterras, i think of old people.. like, 70+, (cuz in san diego you usually only see old people drivin em). same principle as when i think of honda, i think of fat people. no idea why. an ex girlfriend of mine had one, rolled it down a hill (rolled completely 6 times) and still drove away. body was mangled, of course, but still.

 

My wife has an H3 and it is a bit wider then most midsize SUVs. I have never had a trail where I wished it was narrower. I did the majority of Moab in it, and did some moderate wheeling, but nothing too crazy. Its her DD. Shes likes to keep it half way nice, unlike my rigs. Unless you are going to be running some hardcore trails, 3 inches wont make the difference. With that said most obstacles you might want to avoid probably will have a bypass. You also will get a much better warranty with a brand new 4th Gen, not that you would ever need it.

 

i know i'm supposed to say 3rd gen, but i really like the older xterra's with the square headlights.

 

3rd gen definitely.
I have no experience with the xterra, but I've never seen a nissan that was particularly reliable. The 4th gen runners got to big and to ritzy IMO.

 

That's true, it seemed like every thread ended in a flaming match. And I do remember wanting to beat my head against the wall because it was always "my dads truck this and my dads truck that" I think they were all too young to drive. I guess not being on the site for over a year makes you forget all of the bad stuff. And now that I really think about, that Frontier sucked. Brakes and supercharger every 30k, and always some electrical BS screwing up. Had to have the engine harness replaced at 29k. And it was rusting like a mofo.

Get a '02 4runner. The only thing I don't like about mine is the VSC, it really sucks pulling into traffic and having the engine go to idle. And it's slow, plenty of low end power but no top end. But it's a truck so that doesn't bother me too much. However my next vehicle will be a '99 Land Cruiser! I'm 6'3" and my three kids are getting big so I'm going to need extra room soon.

 

Only skimmed through the thread, but my thoughts:

For an absolute off-road capable rig and enough budget to mod, 3rd Gen (99-00) with a rear locker without a doubt. They are solid reliable, capable, cheap and has tons of aftermarket support.

But that's not you. You're not going to be rock crawling or doing any extreme 4-wheeling. I believe your best choice is a 2005+ 4Runner with a V6 (03-04 V6's came with a 4sp transmission. 05+'s have a 5sp auto). It's true that the 4th Gen's don't come with a rear locker (except for the new Trail Edition, but that's way over your budget), BUT the ATRAC system works surprisingly well. For the trails that you'll be doing, I doubt that you will need a rear locker. The ground clearance is low, but a simple inexpensive OME lift (~$1000 pending you're handy) will take care of that.

As far as the size goes, if that extra few inches will be a hinderance on the trails you run, then you're better off buying a daily driver and building up a trail-only rig. There are TONS of 4th Gen guys running difficult trails.

The ride comfort is definitely tons better than the 3rd Gen. If you're going to be driving a long distance, 4th Gen is definitely a better choice. (If you don't believe me, go test drive a 3rd and a 4th and see what your wife says. ) Also, it is bigger so you have more cargo room.

The MPG is virtually identical to the 3rd Gen, but the 4.0L has more power, has a timing chain and the oil changes are a cinch.

For the expedition type of rig that you're looking for, get a 4th Gen, lift it with an OME (~2"), tires to 265/75/16 All-Terrain (BFG's, IMO) few other things like a roof rack, flood lights, etc. and you should be good to go.

Good luck with the adventures.

 

I would most definitely consider the 4th gen. I can hardly believe that the three inches in the width is going to make or break you in the mountains. I have an 05 sport edition 4runner with the 4.7 and i would never go back to the 3rd gen. I love it on road and i love it even more off road. The sport edition has the CENTER DIFFERENTIAL LOCKER. Which in my opinion works great. Yes there is more mods for the 3rd gen but that doesnt mean there is non at all for the 4th gen guys. You just have to look a bit harder. My 4runner has a 3" lift with 285/70/17 and it is still great on road and now even better off road. Plus it looks SOOOO much better than the 3rd gen. Sorry guys. I love the 3rd gen as I used to own one, but i honestly believe the 4th Gen is the 4runner to beat and it will only get better as more and more parts become available.

 

First off, I'm glad you are not considering the Xterra anymore. My mom used to own an '02 Xterra supercharged and we had considerable problems with it. In the end we just got rid of it at a loss so that we wouldn't have to deal with it anymore. Plus that thing was just slow, you had to run premium fuel, AND it was a gas hog. My '98 4Runner is faster and gets better gas mileage. Now she drives an '08 Highlander

Anyway, as to 3rd or 4th gen, I don't have any experience with the 4th gen, but IMO Toyota got it right with the 3rd gen. Not too cushy, rugged, and I honestly think it looks a LOT better than the 4th gen. Either way though, you can't go wrong. If you're looking for refinement, I'd say stick with the 4th gen, but if you want to customize a little down the road, go with the 3rd gen.

 

After carefully considering all the great input from you guys I have finally decided that the best way to go in my circumstance is the 4th gen.

I had a couple of misconceptions about them, including how much it would cost to get one. There's an '05 SR5 V8 that I'll be looking at in a couple of hours. Maybe that's the one? Thanks again!!!

 

Make sure you get that locker, its the best offroad modification you can do, by far. Sadly, the 4th gen doesn't come with a OEM locker as I'm sure you already know.

 

Just to clarify, all 4Runners from 01+ has a center diff lock, not just the 4th Gen nor the Sport Edition. With the CDL locked, it's basically the same as any part time 4WD system found on other 4Runners, so it's not that special. The advantage with the CDL UNlocked is that you can run on dry pavement, which is a big plus.

The 4.7L V8 is a great engine, but I would only get that if you were going to tow or haul on a regular basis. I test drove both the V8 and V6 and other than the initial pull from the extra torque of the V8, they're both plenty powerful engines. The V6 does have a timing chain and an oil filter relocation from the factory. It also has a selectable 4WD system whereas the V8 only has a full-time 4WD option. If you wanted to run full-time 4WD on the V6 like the V8, simply hit the 4WD switch. I prefer the V6 myself, but either should be a good option. The V6 does get 3-4MPG better, too.

 

Found my Yota!!! Woohoo! (Now I need to change my forum name.)

I have the V8!! 2005 SR5 4x4 with only a few unnecessary options.

I got an excellent deal through my friend at the dealership. Near perfect condition, meticulously detailed, only 42K miles, and Toyota certified with extended drivetrain warranty & roadside service.

$16,200!! About $3000 below loan value! The total with all fees and taxes was $17,627, so I'm comfortably below my maximum budget of 20K.

Why the V8? Mostly because it was available today at that price, I couldn't find as good a deal on a V6, and I need a ride NOW. My friend tried to find me an '05 or '06 SR5 V6 at the lease auction today and couldn't come close to the same deal.

Apparently, since gas prices have come back down demand has been rising for used 4th gens. The dealer had acquired this one off lease last fall when prices were at the bottom. I figure the $2000 or so I saved would more than cover the small difference in mpg.

2nd, because I do intend to tow my LG Rough Rider a lot, including mild off-road situations. Loaded it could weigh around 2000#. Wouldn't be a problem for the V6, either. I've also considered purchasing a small travel trailer or toy hauler someday — the superior hitch and V8 grunt give me that option.

And, 3rd, it's a V8!! To many in my generation that's enough reason in itself.

I hope to end this thread with a pic or two tomorrow. THX again everybody!!!

 

Congrats on the purchase. I'm sure you'll love the truck. Post some pics and keep us updated on any mods you do

 

Come visit me! j/k
in 2000, when I was 10, my mom, 2 of my sisters, me, a 110lb dog and nearly 500 lbs of stuff drove from Florida to Alaska in a Mercury Villager mini-van. We stayed over night in KY! ha.....
That trip was rather fun... Canada is beautiful. What are your plans for Alaska?

One of my friends got a good deal on an '04 SR5 with the 4.7L back in '06. It had 33K miles. I've ridden in it quite a bit and its nice! I think you'll like owning one