Background:
- I used to have a 99 Limited with e-locker, lift, and some armor that I took to Moab and some other places. I sold it before getting married and got a car for commuting.
- A couple years ago we ended up buying an 01 4Runner Limited that we still have. It's in pretty amazing condition and only has 119,000 miles on it. Only things I've done so far are some 265/75s and Bilstein 4600s.
- The original plan was for the wife to drive it and haul our kid (and future kids) around in it and we'd just keep it for forever until I would start modding it when we outgrew it kid wise. What's actually happened is I drive it most of the time and she drives our Camry which gives us basically the same amount of kid hauling space for now.
- We did a 4-day mini-overlanding trip through the Uintas and loved it, but now I'm itching to wheel more and modify it to make it more suited for trips like that.
- I hate the VSC/TRAC and miss having a locker and am considering selling the 01 and buying a 99/00 with e-locker.

Questions:
- Keeping in mind my uses below, is it worth modding the 01 and dealing with the VSC/TRAC and lack of locker OR am I better off selling it and getting a 99/00 with the e-locker and none of the fancy electrical systems? Maybe I'm just spoiled from the 99 and the luxury of the e-locker, but I do feel like it gives some extra security on trips where we may end up in remote locations and/or on our own (i.e. less likely to get stuck)

Main Use:
- Overland Trips
- Local Trails/Exploring (Rocky, Loose)
- Daily Driver
- Camping

Things I Won't Use It For:
- Rock crawling (except maybe some of the easier trails in Moab)
- Extreme 4x4 Trails/Mudding

TL;DR:
- Should I sell my 01 4Runner Limited with low miles and buy a 99/00 that will most likely have higher mileage and a locker, but won't have VSC/TRAC? (or does my use case not even require a locker and I could handle the vsc/trac with the andy mod 2.0).

 

Consult the Boss !!

Divorces are very expensive !!

 

Haha, she doesn't care. Just wants me to make the decision.

 

Bigfishallday retrofitted an elocker axle into his '01, great and involved reading in his build thread...maybe try somewhere around page 30 as a start http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...d-trd-scd.html if it interests you read at least to the difference in axle seals- and so so much more. His thread is awesome! Lots of info and insight.

or

something new (okay, older)!

 

Back in 09 my wife and I were set on buying a 2003 4Runner limited with the trd e-locker, so we went to check it out....then at the same Toyota CPO lot my wife saw a few vehicles down, a 2005 LC.....2 months of searching daily and I ended up with a 2002 LC.

In her words: it's more comfortable, I "like" it more, an adult can kinda fit in the 3rd row and it reclines, lastly it's got a tailgate!

I'm ok with the ATRAC in my Hundy. Does the job and I hear it's just as capable as the rear locked only Hundy....which I'm sure you know has a weak link front diff that seems to break on non-hardcore off-roading if not paying attention. Just that repair is a pricey one. You can have both ATRAC and a locker too. If you're gonna do a real part time locker, might as well regear while in there and up your tires too = $5k in any 4wd just for the axle work.

IMO the 4Runner has its place. It's more nimble and gets better gas mileage. But it's too small for MY family, so I know I couldn't go there unless it's a non DD. Also the LC has a TAILGATE!

 

Like Habanero said, retrofit an e-locker diff into the 2001 4Runner. There was also a guy in here who replaced the rear axle with an axle with e-locker.