4Runner or Half Ton Pickup?

[TaperPin]

This is definitely eye opening, I thought that the four runner had much more space in the back than it seems like it does.

Compared to a jeep it’s not bad, but it’s only about as much as many SUVs.

 

[Uncle Goonie]

Don't overlook the first gen tundra, find a low mileage 4x4 with the 4.7 and drive that thing until the wheels fall off...which is typically a very long time. Set aside a little bit of money for suspension/wheel bearings/brakes/timing belt every 100k ish.
F150 with the 5.0 V8 is pretty good, some years had iffy transmissions.

 

[Yooper]

Thanks all for the responses! I think I have decided that I want a 1/2 ton instead of the four runner due to the space and just ability of being able to throw gear in the bed and have a sliding topper on it and I can lock all my hunting stuff in there without as much worry about it being stolen in dorm/apartment parking lots. Follow up question for all, assuming a Tundra may be out of the price range as one that I would be able to get with low enough miles would cost an arm and a leg, what 1/2 tons would you all recommend that may have good enough reliability to trust for the next 7-10 years? What trucks have y'all had good luck with?

Not to change your mind, but if security of gear is an issue there isn't a topper/tonneau cover out there (even the fancy ones) that couldn't be pried open in seconds if someone really wanted it. The 4Runner has the advantage on securing gear IMO.

 

[CorbLand]

Thanks all for the responses! I think I have decided that I want a 1/2 ton instead of the four runner due to the space and just ability of being able to throw gear in the bed and have a sliding topper on it and I can lock all my hunting stuff in there without as much worry about it being stolen in dorm/apartment parking lots. Follow up question for all, assuming a Tundra may be out of the price range as one that I would be able to get with low enough miles would cost an arm and a leg, what 1/2 tons would you all recommend that may have good enough reliability to trust for the next 7-10 years? What trucks have y'all had good luck with?

Trusting a camper shell is pretty bold and risky. They arent hard to break into for someone that doesnt know what they are doing and very easy for someone that does. I wouldnt trust leaving gear in one. Especially consistently and overnight.

As far as 1/2 tons/pickups.
F150 with 5.0 would be a good option. The 2.7 and 3.5 are pretty notorious for needing turbos around 150K. Thats not a cheap thing to fix.

1st generation Tundra would be what I would look for. The hard thing is finding one with low mileage. If you can find a double cab with 150K on it, you would be set for a bit.

2nd or 3rd gen Tacoma if it fits your price range.

Giving us an idea of how much we can spend for you would really help.

 

[CadeM22]

Trusting a camper shell is pretty bold and risky. They arent hard to break into for someone that doesnt know what they are doing and very easy for someone that does. I wouldnt trust leaving gear in one. Especially consistently and overnight.

As far as 1/2 tons.
F150 with 5.0 would be a good option. The 2.7 and 3.5 are pretty notorious for needing turbos around 150K. Thats not a cheap thing to fix.

1st generation Tundra would be what I would look for. The hard thing is finding one with low mileage. If you can find a double cab with 150K on it, you would be set for a bit.

2nd or 3rd gen Tacoma if it fits your price range.

Giving us an idea of how much we can spend for you would really help.

Looking to spend about 28,000 max more than likely. Not completely sure as it isn't up to me but I would imagine anything at or below that price range would work.

 

[CorbLand]

Looking to spend about 28,000 max more than likely. Not completely sure as it isn't up to me but I would imagine anything at or below that price range would work.

Any of the three I listed would fit with in that price range and not have tons of miles on them.

 

[StuckInTheEast]

Not to change your mind, but if security of gear is an issue there isn't a topper/tonneau cover out there (even the fancy ones) that couldn't be pried open in seconds if someone really wanted it. The 4Runner has the advantage on securing gear IMO.

...how long it take to break a window???
Unless your putting some kind of secure, anchored down lock box in it nothing is secured by glass.
Some of the high end hard/locking tonneau covers are quite secure and more importantly keep things out if sight and therefore out of mind.
Either way, leaving any expensive gear anywhere in an unattended vehicle is always a bit of a gamble.

OP...what's the budget? That will be the deciding factor on what you can get into 1/2ton truck wise

 

[cjdewese]

For 28K you can buy any 1st gen tundra you find most likely.

Also probably have a decent chance of finding a newer Tundra that would fit your needs and last the 7-10 years you are hoping for.

 

[Scoggin12]

1/2 ton pickup and never look back

 

[sololearn9]

More room in the 4runner for traveling and more comfortable.

 

[Uncle Goonie]

$28k will get you a nice 2nd gen tundra or a cherry 1st gen with money left over, 2015 and newer have bigger gas tank, get the 5.7 if you can but the smaller v8 is a great motor as well.

 

[cjdewese]

I have a 5th Gen 4Runner with 156K of worry free beat the hell out of it miles so far. I lifted it and added skid plates, sliders, roof rack and bumper to it within the 1st 5K miles of it and it's been great. The only thing I would say is if gas mileage is what you are after don't do any of that. In stock form it will do 95+% of what you want it to.

We are a family of 4 and have traveled all over the country car camping. I have spent many nights in the back of it by myself, with my wife, one of my boys or with my dog using a drawer system and platform I built and have loved it all.

I pull a 19' tracker pro team with it all the time and have no issues. I also pull a small utility trailer or a 10' dump trailer with it as well.

For most things the cargo area and the roof rack is more than enough, I have hauled quite a bit of lumber over the years on the roof rack with no issues. For anything bigger I just use a small unltility trailer with no issues.

However, there is something to be said about just throwing stuff in your truck bed if needed. Also very nice to pull a bigger trailer but honestly so far it's been less than 10 times I have wanted/needed a bigger truck and even then for $19.99 a day you can rent a home depot flatbed that can.

 

[Swervingtrouts]

Another + for the Toyota Tundra. Will be my next purchase also.

 

[Fatcamp]

Tundra is an awesome vehicle but no way I'm driving a truck that big that can't haul real weight.

 

[johnw3474]

I’m not sure if times have changed, but man a 4 runner rear seats down, in college? Say no more! Not even close second which way I’d go!

If you need a clarification

Its Texas ATM.... He will be filling the back seat with dudes in painter outfits, not cheerleaders at least not female ones.

 

[Dr.Spaniel]

2007 GX 470

 

[Jason Snyder]

For 28k you can certainly find a Tundra. I bought one with 84k miles on it and I now have 165k. It’s a great pickup.

I’ll go against the grain and say a 1/2 ton is just fine for most folks. It rides far better on rough roads. It may or may not get better mpg. It may or may not be cheaper to maintain.

There isn’t much I need to do my Tundra won’t. If I need to haul a lot of rock or bark, I go rent a dump trailer. It pulls my 24’ travel trailer just fine. The licensing fees are the same for this as they would be for a HD pickup.

 

[Smerritt84]

Truck

 

[Dos XX]

Get a truck. It's Texas.

 

[sveltri]

I smoked a deer with my 23 Tundra a couple nights ago, could be out of commission for a couple months. I have to have a vehicle and wasn't interested in renting one. I got lucky and found a 2001 4 runner with 261K miles that is almost perfect in every way. Interior doesn't smell nor are there any rips/tears in the seats, no dents and very little rust on exterior.. No more beating my truck up in the mountains and running around town just got a lot cheaper and easier. Best of both worlds for me.