Off-roading a 20 Year Old 4Runner! - 3rd Gen Review and Trail Test

[@danielstewart7369]

The Tundra brake upgrade was about the best thing I did on my gen 3 4Runner. Huge improvement! Nice video guys -

[@hernanruiz6683]

I sure enjoyed mine, I bought it brand new in 2001 and lost it almost 2 years ago in a car accident, I miss it a lot, It was still running very well after 340 thousand miles, good video. 👍

[@jasonrotairo]

Love the 3rd gens. I’m on my second 3rd gen. It’s a 2000 5 speed Highlander Edition. No lockers so not a unicorn, but super reliable.

[@runnerxa]

Great example of a maintained 3rd gen 4Runner that is not a rust bucket. My 24 year old 1999 4Runner is still my preferred daily driver despite owning a 200 series and a GX. It is just very practical (seats can be easily removed unlike the GX and 200 series), scoots around town pretty easy (especially after it is supercharged), easy/cheap to maintain (I learned how to work on cars on it), gets decent fuel economy (compared to the GX and 200 series), and off-road pretty well in stock form (I only have 32" AT tires on it). I thought about selling it and had many people come up at gas stations/shopping centers asking how much I want to sell it. In the end, I get more value out of using it than having to spend another $40-50k on a replacement. I just went over 250,000 mi with 170,000 mi of that supercharged. It is light weight compared to the bigger/heavier GX and 200 series which made it float over some difficult terrain. 4000# compared to 5000#/6000# on the big boys. I have the rear locker option, added the TRD supercharger with 2.2" pulley and URD 7th injector, IPT valve body upgrade for the transmission, Tundra 13WL 231mm brake upgrade (not the smaller 13WE 199mm caliper), Doug Thorley headers, Radflo 2.5" adjustable coilovers with no lift (keeping the 4Runner close to stock geometry, maintain downtravel, but with much beefier shocks), OME 901 springs (same height as my 99 rear spring but stiffer), and a transmission cooler. Super reliable on the original engine and transmission that I supercharged back in 2008. It has been driven on Moab, Death Valley, bunch of OHVs in California, Oregon, lots of sand dunes/beach driving (fresh water wash afterward everytime to prevent rust), and on original CV axles (I did have to replace torn CV boots once). Keep up the preventive maintenance (including the supercharger), use synthetic fluids, and it will run forever. Same with my other cars. It already went through two timing belt/water pump/bearing/thermostat replacements. I replaced the radiator once (due to age and to avoid the pink milkshake trans/coolant mix issue), rear axle seal replaced once, and lower ball joints replaced once at 150,000 mi (as part of preventive maintenance and cheap insurance to just replace it with a new OEM part), and supercharger rotor replacement (due to teflon coating wearing out and age). Mine is garage kept, stock looking (no one knows it is supercharged) and maintained by myself. It has no rust issues because I PM the underbody every winter so working on it is fairly easy due to no rusted out bolts/nuts. In fact my GX and 200 series are also rust free so it really depends on how the owners take care of their vehicles. I plan to pass it down to my kids once they start to drive.

[@2manyhobbies76]

265K on my 2000 Limited 3rd Gen. Love it and daily drive it. Bilstein 5100's 3 inch lift with BFG KO2's. 4xinnovations sliders and bumper. LifePo4 dual battery, Renogy dc/dc charger with solar controller and 600W inverter and 12v fridge makes camping/overlanding a joy.

[@carycarlile4617]

Still running? Looking at buying a 99 sr5 with 240k wanting something to take out this summer wheeling and camping

[@david4903]

1 of my favorite vehicles of all time love to have one totally rebuilt would be a dream

[@gregoverley5349]

Chad’s 4Runner is a beast! What a fun day that was!

[@willmill7422]

Just picked up a great deal in January on my 3rd gen, 160k miles, one owner, super clean for 7k. I searched over a year for a deal like this and it was like finding a needle in a haystack lol, the only issue is dealing with WI rust

[@SammyKurts-ku2ht]

I have a 2000 4Runner lifted 5 inches on 33 inch Mickey Thompson tires ! I’m out of Baltimore county Maryland !!

[@Stormtrooper_98Trd]

I got 2 3rd gens and a 2nd gen. I'm out of harford County maryland!

[@JasonSmith-wj2ht]

These things are a beast! I just did Engineer Pass in Colorado last week. Forgot to put it in 4wd.

[@johnwebb2232]

Love my 2016 4runner trail with kdss. No matter what the year is, you can't go wrong with a 4runner.

[@jasonmessick4689]

That’s a beautiful 4Runner! Amazing shape! Keeper and great find! 😍

[@classicrocker81]

Definitely a clean example for what it is! I also did the Tundra brake upgrade on my Tacoma, but I think next time I do brakes on it im going to put 5th gen 4Runner brakes which dwarf the First Gen Tundra ones.

[@lkajiess]

I have a near perfect 2001 with a nice 2" lift, 265/75/R16 KO2's, and it's about all I could ask for in a truck. They're getting old, so you gotta take care of little gremlins as soon as they popup to stay ahead of things, but the overall reliability is bombproof. I've driven 3rd gen 4runners for almost 20 years now and I have never had one leave me stranded or needing a tow trucik. I often borrow my dad's 22 TRD Pro and it's a fantastic truck, but it feels big and lumbering compared to my 3rd gen. The view is so much different too. The modern 4runners feel like you're in a bank vault, my truck feels like you're in a hot air balloon by comparison.

[@damonm3]

Got mine from original owner with 238k miles. 02’ $2500.. was 4 years ago so. Runs great! Need to do fluids and front rotors but it’s good otherwise..

[@ddemier]

In the 2024 car market a 4wd 3rd gen sport edition probably a solid $13,000 here in the midwest with aprox 210,000 miles give or take. Depends on maint and frame rust.

[@oldterm6978]

Great review. Have a 2000 SR5, 5sd,, upgraded + frt & r lockers. Very happy with it

[@cordel666giglesworth6]

i picked up mine for 2k and put 12k into it from suspension to supercharger to bumpers and armor now the brake up grade lol love the video

[@solodenco293]

Great video guys, I love the 3rd Gen Toyota 4Runners !!!!

[@Chiefbuddha]

Tires look huge for the truck, how’s the rub?

[@elipricefitness]

Slapped my snorkel on my 2000 sr5 tn, love it

[@alexmoran2460]

Great video. You should make more of the 4Runner. Greetings from Iowa.

[@ben2687]

Awesome ride man. I like how clean it is and you didn't do anything crazy to it. Just what it needs. QUESTION: What did it cost for you to get the engine rebuilt? Also, what kind of mpg are you getting? JW Thanks!

[@txrunroutdoors]

3rd gen=best gen

[@dat2ra]

Bought mine new in '02. Tricked out nicely. I'll keep it forever.

[@666-y8w]

$5,000-$8,000 for a good condition 4runner? That's what beat up 4runners are selling for everyday and twice on Sundays. You want one in a truly good condition, it now costs roughly $10,000. I don't think good cars become more abundant as the years go by and I highly doubt manufacturers are dusting off, plugging in, and cranking up the time machine to make a bunch more gen 3's because the supply is dwindling. Maybe out in the sticks you can find em for $2,000-$8,000 but not in a truly good condition.

[@terrybogard21]

I agree; only reason I was able to get a Oregon Rust Free 99 4x4 with 330K miles on it for $1500 running was due to the car being out in the middle of nowhere. Also the owner needed rent money...their lost my gain I guess. Easily flip this thing for like $5-6K in today's market.

[@jacksonkramer9230]

Just bought mine today for 1800 and it has a oil leak

[@damyis_100]

I got my 99 4runner with 138k miles for a trade of my 2010 camry

[@damyis_100]

@@jacksonkramer9230they all have oil leaks lol, just update the gaskets on the oil cooler, vale covers, and oil pan

[@CaptainFALKEN]

The K02s will go through anything!

[@chrischillin5762]

i have a 2001 sr5 4wd with 98k miles. It looks and drives like new.

[@samkurts1236]

I live in Baltimore Maryland I got a 3rd gen on 33s 5 inch lift

[@Stormtrooper_98Trd]

I live in harford with a 98 with 410k miles

[@christopherbrown5338]

Your interior is like new!

[@Skybusdriver]

Great rig! Could you tell me which OME springs/coils you went with for your 4Runner? I’ll probably pursue your built!

[@terebrate]

9:39 "one hundred twenty volt...." Yeah, that is surprising, heh heh

[@SammyKurts-ku2ht]

I’ve had my truck going on 4 years .. love to meet up and trail ride !

[@lovenliberty5708]

Very nice ride! It would be super helpful to know: which OME springs were used on this build?

[@lkajiess]

It looks a touch taller than my truck that's on 880/906's so I'd guess 881/890's on this rig.

[@koo08]

I see you got Maryland tags may I ask which trail this is located at?

[@SentinelGhost]

I'm seriously considering a 98 I found for sale. I really want a good reliable 4x4 I can occasionally take offroad and can handle when the weather gets bad. But I have one concern. A stock 3rd gen is pretty anemic at a tad over 180hp especially with their weight. I'm also looking at jeep XJs which are only a little more powerful but they are also lighter. So my question is how do they do on the highway traveling? Where I am in texas highway speeds are typically between 75 and 80mph.

[@joeydubois]

Im canadian so I drive in kilometres but my gas mileage plummets when i go more than 120 KM, About 70 ish miles. For the amount of speeding in texas you’d be doing it probaly is not worth it unless you are not concerned about filling up every other day or so.

[@generalcaeser9176]

I've had 4 of the 3rd gen 4Runners and EVERY time I sell one, I regret it! NOT going to sell this latest one! EVER!

[@andyking4701]

Amazing Truck!

[@markmcneal6667]

what size tires are you running?

[@donaldkerns2180]

Great video

[@arronpallick3976]

What size tires you running? Lifted at all? I just bought a 3" lift and 285/75 tires for mine!

[@TrailPass]

265/75 R16 so basically a 32" with a small lift from the Bilstein 5100s.

[@txrunroutdoors]

@@TrailPass perfect size tire for these rigs. Gives you plenty of meat without having to regear or anything

[@kolton52]

anyone know what trunk hydraulics he got on amazon??

[@LonelyTigerGrowl]

Hey I found a 2000 4Runner with 107k miles. Would it be dumb to trade in my new model sports car with less miles ? They’re ask 17k and that’s what my cars worth. Is 17k too much?

[@TrailPass]

If it's in great shape and with low mileage like that, they bring a big price premium. 3rd gens are really desirable

[@chofyam3466]

Wow

[@SammyKurts-ku2ht]

And I have 286k miles running like new ! Dosent leak or burn a drop of fluids !

[@Art-cq1zy]

What was wrong with the old engine?

[@TrailPass]

The crank bearings were ground up in the oil pan when Chad went to replace the oil pan gasket. Looks like the 4Runner skipped some oil changes in its lifetime.

[@rembcarr]

I would gladly pay $25K for something so simple. Specially manual, 4x4 and the last year 2000. Hard to find one with low miles say around 100k.

[@Yyyyyyyyyypppppppppp]

2002 was the last gen 3 year

[@elviscamacho2784]

I regret selling mine with 300 000 miles

[@CaptainFALKEN]

My back window doesn't wanna go down all the way haha.

[@ogopogohunter69]

My grandma's 41' Subaru could make that obstacle... haha, 300k on mine.

[@dat2ra]

Rebuilt engine...new oil. No kidding.

[@dat2ra]

You mean three 12-volt outlets, not "120 volt". 😅

[@mtyota]

These things are weak. Took my 2000 with less than 200k miles off road and came out with loose upper ball joints. Then my rear bearings went out.

[@txrunroutdoors]

Should probably inspect those things before you decide to off road in a 22 year old vehicle. Maybe the vehicle hasn't been maintained very well in the past. Most owners know to inspect ball joints especially before wheeling their rigs. Sucks to hear. Get those things fixed and the rig will take you wherever you want to go. Mine has been extremely reliable and I hit trails pretty often. Not rock crawling or anything but rough trails.

[@cecilnoriega7276]

I wouldn’t trust anything stock over a third Gen 4 runner. My Jeep friends are always down due to breakdowns that would not occur in a well maintained 4 runner. As far as driving in snow (on and off road), I wouldn’t trust anything else over a third Gen 4 runner.

[@TheAngryFishh]

I just found a BEAUTIFUL '02 SR5 with 125k on it, was about $12,800 (dealer was asking $14,995 for it) . I have plans for this thing.

[@TrailPass]

That's a great deal!