In the spirit of livening things up a bit I'll start a topic on 4Runners and their off road capabilities. I was wondering if others could comment on their off roading experience with the various generations of 4Runners. I currently have a 92 which qualifies as generation 2 I think and although it has great ground clearance and looks the part it is not particularly a great off roader in stock condition with no traction control system and an open rear differential. I think $1200 bucks or so for an ARB air locker would cure this problem but was wondering if it was worth investing in such an old 4Runner or if I should consider upgrading to a newer one. Of course with only 141,000 miles it is showing no signs of giving up but is a little under powered. I believe the 3rd generation 4Runners, 96 thru 2000 were available with optional locking rear diff. Any one have one of those and want to comment? How about generation 4? 2001 to current? I don't believe they have a locking rear diff option but I think they do have a traction control system. Anyone taken one off road? And by off road I mean Grade 5 or higher jeep trails in Ouray, CO, Moab, UT, etc. The new FJ Cruiser may be an option some day down the road but hate to buy a new one especially with the way they are pricing them right now. I'm not real crazy about the lack of visibility in the back. A case of style over functionality I think. Ok, I've given you a topic now discuss. :-) Thanks, Dan

HI Dan, We have a 97 4 Runner and it does have the locking rear diff sw ... I believe you are restricted to 7 mph with it engaged. But would suspect if you need to lock the rear, 7 mph would be a good thing at that point!! :) Unfortunately we have not really used it off road. :( Howard

I have '98. The only time I've been off-road with it was two weeks after getting it. I was going camping with my wife and saw a line of Jeeps. We started following them and ended up asking (at a gas station they stopped at) if we could join them. They said sure and put us between them on the trail. They winched me over a few obstacles and at one point they tell me I had the thing on one wheel - the winch line standing between me and rolling off a steep hill. My wife bailed out at that point but I can't say I blame her. We had fun. As for functionality, as opposed to war stories, I get the sense the older the better. That is to say the 1st generation are more capable than the 2nd which are more capable than the 3rd etc. One of the main factors beyond the lockers you mentioned is the solid axle as opposed to the IFS. With serious rock crawling 7mph should be more than enough and if you have lockers you shouldn't need the 4wd when going from obstacle to obstacle. Just some thoughts. Have fun, -Paul

Now that's what I'm talking about. :-) Dan