New daily/ tow rig/ family hauler/ project

[swapmeet]

Some of y'all know I'm a car guy.

Well, for about a year I've been driving a company car due to some changes at work. Well business is picking up and it was time for me to get my own daily driver.

Ive been hunting for a 4th gen 4runner for about 4 months, but really heavy in the last 2. Like 'two times a day updating autotrader' heavy.

My wife actually liked the ones I was looking at so much that she wanted one for herself, and got a 05' 2wd limited model two months ago. I did a 2" lift/level on the front of that within the first two weeks of having it.

<~~~this is hers after the lift.

So, Thursday I picked this up for myself.



It's a 07 SR5, V8 4x4. 1 owner, 107k with very comprehensive maintenance documentation (which is HUGE on these.)

I'm much more excited about it than I thought I would be.
Yesterday I yanked the running boards and removed the pin stripes (yesterday's pic above.)

I'm planning on a 2.5/1.5" lift, and running these wheels in 17" with basically the same size tires as on my wife's. 265/70/17



Also want to put a decent exhaust system on it and plan on a stereo upgrade as I have a metric ass load of car stereo stuff lying around.

Anyhow... Very excited. Very very excited.

 

[chadman154]

how cute matching vehicles
in all seriousness.very nice!

 

[VXSXH20]

I love my 2006, I put the 265/70-17s on it, The 265/65R17 OEM dunlops that came on it were junk, They were terrible in rain and not even going to mention snow..

I have the K&N drop in filter and combo slotted/drilled rotors. just mild improvements. I love my yota. I have had 2 tacos 03 and 09 and a 06 tundra limited. All very nice but the 06 runner shes still my favorite, quiet and heavy but in a good way. Oh treat yourself to a fumoto valve for the oil changes. I was looking at the 4.7 iforces like i had in my tundra. but went for the 4.0 SR5 with timing chain..bullet proof... ( to an extent..) I have not heard rave reviews on the new bully dog programmers as they are still new to market for the toyotas..But You will love these trucks! I gave up american iron years ago and never looked back. those wheels are schnazzy!

 

[VXSXH20]

FYI I run a hitch hauler and can still see my tail lights (popo approved!!) so far so good with a heavy Polaris octane, a sj and what's under that there cover, the truck rides nice and steady no under steer..welcome to the club swap!

 

[swapmeet]

I love my 2006, I put the 265/70-17s on it, The 265/65R17 OEM dunlops that came on it were junk, They were terrible in rain and not even going to mention snow..

I have the K&N drop in filter and combo slotted/drilled rotors. just mild improvements. I love my yota. I have had 2 tacos 03 and 09 and a 06 tundra limited. All very nice but the 06 runner shes still my favorite, quiet and heavy but in a good way. Oh treat yourself to a fumoto valve for the oil changes. I was looking at the 4.7 iforces like i had in my tundra. but went for the 4.0 SR5 with timing chain..bullet proof... ( to an extent..) I have not heard rave reviews on the new bully dog programmers as they are still new to market for the toyotas..But You will love these trucks! I gave up american iron years ago and never looked back. those wheels are schnazzy!

Yeah, mine has the 265/65's... the 70's are widely available so I figure from a budget standpoint its a good choice. Plus i've seen trucks with 3"+ lifts running those tires and it still looks about right. Obviously you 'can' stuff something bigger in there, but if it looks good and runs good, why mess with it?

What is a fumoto valve???

Mine had the timing belt/ water pump/ CV axles swapped out at 97k, so I should be good for quite a while. Previous owner was great about maint from what I can tell.

I ordered a Flowmaster 50 SUV for it today. Supposedly removing the charcoal filter (?) gives more power, and a filter swap helps, I haven't seen any clear proof of Cold Air Intakes helping much. Definitely looking for ways to get more performance out of the V8. Kinda wish it was a LSX based motor...

But yeah, i'm really happy with it so far. I can see myself driving it for a long time to come.

 

[swapmeet]

FYI I run a hitch hauler and can still see my tail lights (popo approved!!) so far so good with a heavy Polaris octane, a sj and what's under that there cover, the truck rides nice and steady no under steer..welcome to the club swap!

I have a hitch hauler that I built many moons ago. I've been nervous about putting my chan on it though...

That looks an awful lot like a FX1

 

[hink320]

That SUV will be perfect to take your kids to soccer with too!

 

[VXSXH20]

You can check out T4R.com, if not already, I was nervous too at first w my hauler. Some tend to teeter side to side just a bit after some use. But after a few hauls and use I quickly became more ok with it, I would constantly check mirrors and proximity to guard rails etc.. Then I just got over it and reminded myself it's narrower and safer than a trailer! Toll rds are a laugh too! Only 2 axles buddy! The down side is if you need to access the back lift gate climb over the seats cause you're SOL. Anyways not a hitch hauler thread but these trucks are great, FYI by going up a size on the tire it was even cheaper than the oem size!

A fumoto valve is a quick drain oil plug with a sealed ball kinda like a compressor tank valve, they tuck up inside the skid plate and when Time just slide your catch pan and rotate the lever. A lot safer and proven than some of the cheaper knock off out there. Amazon it was like under 30 bucks If I remember..

- hink, I can't stand soccer argghh!! But my kids are babies in tumbling/gym classes, who knows what the future holds.. Just know I WILL NOT purchase a mini van!

 

[swapmeet]

Thanks! Yeah I'm on the 4runner forum (of course)

I hauled lots of skis with my hauler. But having my Chan, which cost a touch less than my friggen car, hanging off the back... No thanks lol.


@hink320 I have a 2y/o and a 3 y/o and they're the highlight of my life. If they play soccer, then that's where I'll take them.

 

[Quinc]

My mom has that same car! Have you found a downloadable repair manual for it? Need the electrical schematic so I can do remote start. =)

 

[swapmeet]

 

[Silver Surf]

Love the V-8. We had to sell ours to get a 3rd row suv. It pulled my 6x12 enclosed trailer to Wavedaze several times. Tow rating is lke 7500lbs I even put a ski inside once and one on the Raddudes hauler. I may have a rubber cargo mat for cheap if you are interested. I'm a member on T4R as well. I never lifted it because it was my wifes vehicle.
I picked up a Landcruiser. Thery drive the same just a little more room for the kids car seats. My daily Land Cruiser is lifted and my wife gave me the greenlight on lifting hers. I already have metaltech slidders and TRD Rockwarrior wheels for it. I'm still working on the lift.
Stay away from Ih8mud.com its a slippery slope. Alot of the guys started in 4runners and Fj's.

 

[swapmeet]

I looked at Sequoias, but the Landcruisers were well out of my budget, as much as I would love to have one. There are a few running around here with lifts and adapters to run Hummer H1 wheels. Pretty sick.

I'm looking to lift mine in the next 30 days. I've found that I can run a 255/75/17, which happens to be the size BFG Mud Terrain that comes stock on Jeep Rubicons. This makes factory take-off's easy to find and CHEAP.

I had a Flowmaster 50 series installed to let the motor breathe a little easier and hear the little v8 rumble. Also removed the hydrocarbon filter from the intake. I'll get a high flow filter pretty soon. I'm waiting to pull the trigger on the lift and wheels and tires until I sell a few things.

I'm definitely looking forward to getting it lifted and doing some wheeling.

 

[iangdesign]

After the first gen 4Runners, these are my fav. Good buy! The brand new ones look so sweet as well. Saw one at the car wash yesterday and couldn't stop looking at it.

 

[swapmeet]

I got to posting in the lifted truck thread, I guess I should update this one. Got my lift on Sat... put my lift on Sat.

Wheels and Tires are next. Trying to decide if I want satin black wheels or gray/ graphite.

What do ya'll think? Murdered out or go with Gray for some contrast to all the blackness?

 

[Joker]

Gray fo sho

 

[Dirtybird]

I say no to the black.

 

[iangdesign]

I say no to the black.

 

[Dirtybird]

Black rims are not for me, silver would look much better in my opinion.

 

[swapmeet]

+1 for iangdesign's use of gif's LMAO.

I think i'm gonna stick with black. Maybe paint the calipers red or something. I dunno...

I could go with matte bronze!