Well the time has come to say goodbye to my 82. I love my truck, and the thought of not having a truck to haul stuff around really bugs me but, I now have a son and need more than a two seat 4x4 to get to our camping spot. I was thinking a 4runner should do the trick just nicely. I will be able to carry more than 1 passenger and the seats fold down so I can still pretty much use it as a truck with a camper shell (which is the set up I currently have). I figure that I can just get a 4x4 trailer to haul all the gear when I take "the family" camping. My questions is what year 4runner should I get. 1st gens had solid front axle and are more like my truck, 2nd gens have independent front suspension and ride better but more $ to lift and mod. 3rd gen well don't know much about them as they are newer and I kind of like the older gens. Now some information to help you understand what I may need. I am not a hard core 4x4 enthusiast. I don't belong to a club, nor go on runs every other weekend. I do however, hunt, fish, and camp. And would like to have a vehicle that can get to places that a stock "SUV" couldn't. So I guess some mild to moderate 4x4 stuff. Any information would be helpful and greatly appreciated.

 

i would roll witha 1 gen but there kinda rare if someone has one they aint trading for a pickup they already have the bad ass rig unless you got cash well thats just around here and to me ifs is junk and a pain to work on compared to solid

 

I would say 2nd gen, I've got an '82 longbed and a '90 4Runner, I use the 2nd gen as a DD and a camping truck (twin size air mattress in the back).

I like the 1st gen 4Runners but I knew only having 2 doors would bug me. I only paid around $300 from WabFab for my lift kit so I could clear 33"s, not too bad I don't think.

I'm sure alot on here will say 3rd gen but those are pretty expensive and I personally prefer the stylings of the 2nd gens better.

Overall I'd highly recommend a 2nd gen.

 

Well you don't want the 3.0 V6 get a 3.4 liter.

 

He doesn't really want a 3rd gen he said, and I doubt he wants to do an engine swap. I've had good luck with the 3.0, 230,000 and going strong, and its a lot more powerful than my buddies 22RE. I am however aware of the problems others have had with the 3VZE (head gasket!), so all in all I'd say go with the 22RE 2nd generation 4Runner to be safe.

That' my vote!

 

You are correct. I don't care much for the look or the price of the 3rd gens. I found a 92 Runner locally that has already been built up with Solid axle swapped onto the front, 5.29 geared axles front and rear, 3 link front and rear suspension,2.63 chromoly forged Ballistic joints, 2" DOM links, Hydro assist. My the guy wants $5000 for it. Seems a bit over priced to me but it looks pretty beefy and like it could climb a wall. The body is in ok shape, has a leak in the sun roof , and the interior, well its a 1992. Sitting on semi-new 35' BFG's What do you guys think?

 

Hello all, I have a to get up grade the seating of my 82 truck to seat 3(me,wife, and new son) Well he's 5 years new anyway. He now goes camping and will soon be going hunting with us so I need to have more room. I am not looking forward to getting rid of my truck but such is life. I am looking for a 4runner and have decided that a 2nd gen is what I want. Thanks to the folks who chimed in on my previous post on similar subject. My question to you is. I found a 92 Runner locally that has already been built up with Solid axle swapped onto the front, 5.29 geared axles front and rear, 3 link front and rear suspension,2.63 chromoly forged Ballistic joints, 2" DOM links, Hydro assist. My the guy wants $5000 for it. Seems a bit over priced to me but it looks pretty beefy and like it could climb a wall. The body is in ok shape, has a leak in the sun roof , and the interior, well its a 1992. Sitting on semi-new 35' BFG's What do you guys think? Any advice would be helpful and appreciated. Thanks in advance.

 

mileage? 22RE or 3.slug? auto/stick? single or dual case? Armor?
depending on overall condition, $5k is not that bad..

 

30k on rebuilt 3.0 6cyl. Manual trans, single case, front brush guard, and sliders. Overall not bad condition.

 

Sorry for what appears to be a weird response to my own post. I posted the above in a different area but apparently it was moved and merged with my first post, that was also moved here.