Talk Me Off the Ledge: Tundra to 4runner

Hey Y’all,

Long story short, I purchased my 2024 Tundra a few months ago, as we needed a vehicle that was more comfortable than my mid-size truck and had the capability to occasionally (once a month) tow our 3500 lb square drop trailer. Although I love how the Tundra drives and the extra room in the back for my kids, I am doubting the build quality and long-term reliability of the vehicle.

I’ve already had a window seal replaced three times, and it seems like every other day, a new rattle or noise pops up. I planned on keeping this truck for at least the next 10 years, but I just don’t know if it will hold up. Mechanically, the vehicle has had no issues, but I’m questioning if Toyota can actually fix a future mechanical issue if they can’t remedy a simple window seal problem.

I test drove a 4unner TRD Off-Road Premium when I was in for the third window seal replacement service, and although the powertrain is underwhelming, the fit and finish of the vehicle was superior to the Tundra and super comfortable.

I’m pretty torn on what to do. Trade in the Tundra or keep it and see how things pan out?

I appreciate the responses in advance!

 

Get a gen 2 Sequoia? Best of both worlds: large SUV with all the space and truck-like towing.

 

I can't speak to the relaibility of the 3rd gen, but from a financial context jumping to a different vehicle this quickly would likley be expensive (assuming you financed). If you like or need a truck, go with a 2.5 gen, though we also have a 5th gen 4Runner (wife's daily), I expect it will outlast my Tundra. While the 4Runners platform is a little aged, it's unbelievably solid.

 

I have had 3 4runners over the years and you can’t go wrong with it, I currently have a 2024 tundra limited and really do like it but the Japanese built 4runner is light years ahead in fit and finish with a bulletproof drivetrain. My 2cents

 

Two thoughts:

1. Window seals, while annoying, do not make a vehicle reliable or unreliable. I do agree that a TTv6 drivetrain is inherently more complicated and despite the insane cooling system designed to make it last as long as possible, it will need probably need maintenance $$ down the road sooner than an older v8 design. But @Eurodriver has at least 138k miles on his 3rd gen, and despite running into things and shooting it with his guns, it’s holding up.

As an analogy to the window seals: my truck is nearly bulletproof but if I do so much as look at my interior plastic, it scuffs. Annoying? Sure. Does that make my truck unreliable? Not in the slightest.

2. Say you make the trade. You’re in a 4Runner. 4.slow & a 5 speed. It has better fit and finish because it’s a Land Cruiser Prado built in the same factory in Japan with different badging. Aged dinosaur, yes. Nearly bulletproof drivetrain, also yes—just like the late 2nd gen Tundras and Sequoias. It can tow 5k lb, so it’ll handle your little trailer.

In a few years, you will post here and say, “My 4Runner has given me zero problems, but boy is this thing a slug with the v6 and 5 speed. Plus, my kids are growing, and they fight more in the backseat because they’re so close together. I’m thinking of trading this in for a bigger vehicle like a Tundra, plus it will be able to tow even more if we need it. What do you think?”

TL;DR: If you want to trade into a midsize with limited towing so that you can get back into something bigger as your kids grow, by all means, go for it. Seems like a gigantic waste of cash that could be working for you in other ways.

 

Yeah, I will take bath trading in. And although I have the extended warranty, I don’t have the patience to take the truck in every other week…

 

Really solid post. Thank you!

 

This. Happens all the time in my Volvo, which has about same space for passengers like 4Runner has. In Sequoia they have a personal row. Well, their little sister shares the 2nd row, too, but it's like a hallway in 2nd row.

Sequoia pulls like Tundra. Bulletproof like Tundra. MPG is about same like 4Runner has (big V8 and 6 speed with 3 overdrive gears do help). All time 4x4 with Torsen, not clutch. In fact, the only two reasons anyone would want a 4Runner are: aesthetics and external dimensions. Apparently, 4Runner would be better on tight offroad trails.

If I had to sell 2 our vehicles, I would sell Volvo and Tundra, and drive the Sequoia.

 

So I currently have a 2024 tundra that I trade my 3rd gen Tacoma in on. Was needing more room for the family and a longer bed for business needs. Go to the 3rd gen Tacoma page and you will see people complaining about engine failure too. People run to the forums to complain about problems, not to praise their rig when things are going right. I have no doubt the 3rd Gen tundra will be just a solid as my two 3rd Gen Tacomas that I had (a 2017 and a 2021). While it is still a new platform there are a certainly a few of them getting up into the higher mileage and are still going strong. there is always uncertainty in a new powertrain but I still love my 3rd gen and have no doubt it will get me to any destination I am going to whether it be around the corner or another state.

Also to add, my wife has a 2022 4runner and If I need to take that for some reason I get in it and feel like I’m squinting to see the screen. I love the 4runner but even compared to the 3rd gen Tacoma, that thing is slow! I know it will be reliable and last a very long time but it is dated inside. Build quality is solid but I mean I haven’t had any issues with my tundra. But I went into it knowing it’s a truck and it will have wind noise, bad fuel economy (even with the hybrid), and wasn’t built to be luxurious like a Mercedes or Lexus, and I’m ok with that. I think people tend to set expectations way too high and expect everything to be better than what they were expecting.

Life is short though and stressing over minor problems will only make it shorter, so if you want a 4runner and are ok with the hit on the trade, then send it!

 

I am not a big guy and cannot fit in the smaller rigs comfortably. Find a clean 2nd gen

 

this is a great post. I went from a 2014 4Runner to a 2019 tundra. The only reason I did was because the 4Runner was totaled by someone running a red light.

The 4Runner IS a slug…….and I mean that in the most respectful way. It was a bulletproof suv - absolutely zero complaints. Except that it was a slug. Slow, meandering and just always left me wanting more especially while towing. That said, I had it almost exactly five years and 100k miles and had ZERO issues. Like nothing at all. I will have had my tundra for 5 years in August, and it’s at 90k miles. Aside from the rear axle being out of spec from the factory and replaced under warranty I have ZERO issues with it either.

I think this boils down to recency effect. We can always talk ourselves into something nicer but the root of it is this:

Are you truly worried about build quality because of a few rattles, a window seal and others experiences with the new drivetrain? And if the answer is yes, does the 4Runner assuage those concerns? Again if the answer is yes to both, peace of mind might be worth it. At that point you would have to determine if it makes financial sense (doesn't sound like it does from your post above). My .02 = your tundra is likely under factory warranty for at least another year or two? If you’re worried about it, would it make more sense to extend the warranty coverage?

 

Related anecdote:

My 2012 4Runner (same drivetrain) developed the dreaded “rumble strip” torque converter chatter at 130k-ish miles. I had towed a small utility trailer occasionally with it. Never more than 2k lbs. But imagine my surprise when I found out it didn’t have a proper dedicated external transmission cooler. I never monitored temps, so I don’t know what it got up to when I towed or when I drove highway speeds on long grades. This issue wasn’t exactly uncommon at higher miles on the 4Runners or FJs with that drivetrain.

Now ask me what the first thing I installed on my 2021 Tundra was…

 

A driver side grab handle?

 

This phrase seems mostly to be used to justify making questionable financial decisions.

“Life is short; buy what makes you happy in the moment.”

BUT, and this is probably unpopular, I think it should be taken as:

Life is short. You only have so much time to be productive and earn money. Why dig yourself a bigger hole, requiring you to work more to pay your way out of it, when you could be setting yourself up for the future?

 

Very true. When I was writing that I was in the mindset of a person trading a brand new vehicle for another brand new vehicle. Surely if you are even debating doing that you have plenty of money to not worry about it.

 

How is your load when camping? My wife and kids pack so much crap i need a full sized bed(with trailer in tow). Id much rather drive a tacoma or 4runner but zero chance we could fit all our junk when camping

 

Roof basket + Yakima EXO solved that for us. https://www.tundras.com/threads/on-...k-but-im-in-a-major-city.139472/#post-3519591

I prefer camping in Tundra, solo or with my older one, but when 5 of us go - that's the Sequoia.

 

The load pretty is sizable, but nothing crazy. If we’ve got the square drop and camping for more than 2 nights off grid, it’s typically two 7 gallon aqua tainers, each person with a duffle/bag, a few hiking backpacks, some firewood. Everything else fits in the trailer.

 

This. I absolutely love my 4R (2015) and Tundra (2014), but if I had to have only one I'd take a Sequoia.

 

My next NFA purchase will be a full auto. I think I’ve almost convinced the wife to just consider it an investment I’ll never sell and pass down to my son when I die haha. Nothing puts a bigger smile on your face like shooting full auto (except when you realize the cost of ammo)

 

One would think so, but these days people marry the payment and date the vehicle. Constantly trading in. Same payment that never leaves (and is in fact extended into the future with each new purchase).

 

I was looking for a used 4runner when I found this pampered 2018 Tundra with only 32,500 miles on it at a Ford Dealer. This dealer also had 3 used 4runners with similar miles and year but were much more expensive.

The bullet proof nature of the 4runner is why they sell very well on the used market. I heard the carecare nut on youtube, who was a Toyota tech for many years say he has never been inside of the 4runner motor. That speaks volumes.

I still have the itch to pick up a new one before they stop making them for these reasons but the 2018 Tundra is really more practical for me and I wouldn't pick up much mpg either. I'll wait for the next generation 4runner to come out and if prices of the last of new ones drop, I may trade in if I can can get a good deal and low interest rate because it will last but will be boring compared to all the new high HP/TQ turbo & hybrid models plus the gee golly tech in the new ones. I do believe the convenience and over coming staring at their cell phone driver tech is going to kill long term & high mileage reliability across the board. Can you handle boring though?

To your issue, wait. Don't hurt yourself financially. It may turn out to be very reliable once they fix the nagging issues. It's not like you had a motor replacement.

 

1. if you want a dog slow to move 4runner get the 5th gen. unless you get past 1/2 throttle, its a dog to move. perky at 4k rpm and better
2. if you want best toyota has to offer get a 5th gen 4runner, they are still made in the best top rated factory toyota has, tahara plant (read lexus primarily built on this line)
3. in my 10 yrs, going on 11 yrs, the only thing that has gone bad on it was the oil sending unit decided to crack and shit the bed causing an oil leak.
4. blower motor squeaks during cold winters (probably lack of lube on the blower housing/axle) very easy to replace that motor though
5. the limited trim full time 4wd is nice for winter time, but it hinders mpg. best long term avg i got was 21-22 mpg, normal long term avg i get around 15-18 mpg during winter/summer
6. if you can get the non 3rd row T4R, its great, 3rd row is very cramp outside of small kids (read pre-teens)
7. i have a 2014 limited and hate the hvac layout, but not as much as i hated my 4th gen hvac layout (worst ever)
8. still on my oem shocks/struts and the xreas system has no issues after 10 yrs/105k
9. current versions have better software tech and more modern led lighting, but i retro-fitted lasfit low beams and they are great
10. replaced all internal lights with led's, just be very careful on the overhead map lights, improper removal with metal will short out your BCM very easily. the socket is hot and plenty of people have shorted out the reflector to the housing and frying the BCM.
11. the 4wd of the limited is great, you can lock the center diff up to 50 mph and its a torsen system. i think ive only used 4 low once in real life situation outside of engagement to keep it lubed


personally i am waiting for tomorrow's reveal of the 6th 4runner. i will be putting a deposit down this fall for a new 2025 4runner limited hybrid max.

if you want an idea of the interior of the new 4runner, go look at the new 24 tacoma, its been pretty much confirmed the interior front dash layout is a mirror of the tacoma.