So are you classifying a 4th Gen with those cars?

 

Not at all. I do feel however that there are enough of these wanna be SUVs and there are fewer and fewer actual truck based rigs left.

 

It's stock in the sense that you can buy it at a Toyota dealership, stop by a tire shop for some MTR's and drive to JB or Rubicon and run it. I defy you to take a truly stock 3rd gen with e locker through there without similar results. BTW if you want to talk about optional equipment, you can forget about having the e locker on your 3rd gen for that trip. It was not standard either.

And as far as the banged up undercarriage and a tug, thats just wheeling.

Don't get me wrong. I love the 3rd gen. It can be modified to one of the best if not the best Toyota offroaders. It's just that the other stuff they make are no slouches either. To address the OP's question, getting another 3rd gen really doesn't help him if high mileage is his issue. He can dump his and get another with maybe 90K if he is really lucky but 140-150K being more likely. So he needs to think about a newer gen which are still quite capable or perhaps keep what he has and rebuild when the time comes. As I mentioned earlier, he at least knows his own truck and probably has poured some of himself into it.

 

I agree with you on that, but the 4th and 5th Gen 4Runners are far from "wannabe's".

 

I dont feel they are in theat class but rather they are leaning towards it. I like the new4Runner but it's cost puts it out of many people's league. Even if you could afford it, would you be comfortable taking a $40,000 through brush etc?

 

Personally? No, I don't have that kind of cash to spend on fixing up a brand new rig. But the question at hand is, they are JUST AS CAPABLE as the 3rd Gen's (in stock trim). Pure rock crawling...the size is the limiting factor for the 4th and 5th Gen's and I'd give the nod to 3rd Gen's. For what 99% of the people do on here? 4th or 5th Gen will do just fine.

 

True enough. Always a tough question if you would really wheel a new vehicle. At least they are moving towards something we want and not all about the soccer Moms.

Also another well built 4th gen. Actually the one I wanted to post before but the pics were not working.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/foru...ad.php?t=33771

 

I think stock 3rd gens are good platforms, but I agree they aren't anything special straight off the showroom floor. Neither are normal stock Wranglers for that matter (except for the SFA). The 2010s just look more to me like you should be picking up a kid from a piano recital in it rather than mobbing up a muddy hillside.

I've haven't driven one yet, so I don't know if I'll like it or not off road, maybe I'll be surprised. But one thing I can say for sure is I haven't come across a traction control system that I like better than my own 2 feet.

 

Better aftermarket support with the 4th gen. Go for it.

 

You're assuming plastic clad on the outside means flimsy drivetrain parts... it ain't so.

 

No I said I am not worried about it mechanically I am worried about it cosmetically.

 

Sadly the 4runner seems to follow the ford explorer with axle type.
They both started with a solid axle front and rear
Then they both went to independent suspension front solid axle rear
Now the explorer is independent suspension front and rear.
Maybe toyota will do the same then we can have a real suv for off road.

 

I don't like the look of the 4th Gen either but much of the running gear is stronger than the 3rd Gen. Motor, Brakes and front axle dif and CVs are stronger. The FJC uses 4th Gen parts all over. I had a stock FJC follow me on John Bull too and the bumpers almost went home in the trunk.

How about considering a used GX. They look cool and built on the same parts.

 

Nice pic Lars!

 

I'm not sure what to think on this one. I do love my 3rd gen, its been the best vehicle I have ever owned. I could mod it out lightly, little 3"lift with some bead locks and 32/33's. I do drive it often for meetings and such for my job, so I can't have some monster pull up, and then me jump out in dress slacks..