There are greater than three,000 tales in Journey Journal’s archives, most of that are evergreen, and infrequently we put the most effective of them again on the house web page for brand spanking new readers to see.—Ed.
I’m Steve, recovering former Vanagon proprietor. For the higher a part of a decade, I owned a 1990 Volkswagen Westfalia Syncro Vanagon camper. Someplace in there, we carried out an AJ reader ballot and requested what you guys thought was the final word journey automobile. The Syncro camper—VW’s four-wheel-drive mini RV—got here out on high, which I admit was fairly satisfying. In fact, the general public who voted for the Syncro have by no means owned one, and even then I knew in my coronary heart of hearts that the final word journey automobile would by no means be one which was so unreliable that each journey into the wilds was an expedition of doubt and anxiousness. Ultimately, I gave up on Vanzilla and offered it. (You possibly can learn my characteristic on this, The Economics of Vanlife, in AJ08.)
That left me with a conundrum: What the heck to drive? Van life is a style that you could by no means actually get out of your mouth, and the power to go deep on 4 wheels has been a high precedence for many of my adultish life. Although my determination to promote the van was unemotional and with out remorse, I knew that no matter got here subsequent must stoke each my sensible thoughts and my ever-hungry coronary heart. A Camry wasn’t going to chop it.
This, then, was how I proceeded.
Priorities
I knew from the bounce that Vanzilla’s successor must meet particular standards:
It needed to be dependable, and I don’t imply dependable by Vanagon requirements—I imply it needed to have above common reliability in comparison with fashionable automobiles.
It needed to have four-wheel-drive. Rock crawling isn’t my factor, however it might want to have the ability to deal with ledges, ruts, sand, and the like. All wheel wasn’t going to be sufficient. And floor clearance needed to be good. Method and exit angles negotiable.
There needed to be sufficient room to sleep inside full stretched out.
I needed to love its vehicular aura—the best way it regarded. My spouse and I’ve a rule: No matter you purchase, it’s important to adore it. We realized that lesson by means of garments, having purchased items that had been “okay” however that we then by no means actually wore. Now we apply to rule to the whole lot, together with and particularly objects that price hundreds of dollars.
It might be my each day driver.
It might be used. My oldest child was about to start out school and I wasn’t prepared to make a secondary main monetary leap.
Secondary Issues
Whether or not new or used, there needs to be a neighborhood of householders. I cherished being part of the Vanagon neighborhood and located the Vanagon boards a supply of knowledge and inspiration.
There needs to be a robust components aftermarket for customizing, modding, and making it your individual.
Narrowing It Down
My standards filter the world of autos fairly rapidly, leaving largely pickup vehicles and SUVs, and I’ve realized through the years that I’m an SUV man. Entry to the whole lot within the rig with out getting exterior is essential to me. Love pickups, particularly previous Fords, and Tacomas are kinda superior, however I do know what I learn about myself.
So, then, SUVs.
Jeeps…I just like the aesthetic, don’t adore it, and know an excessive amount of about their unreliability to belief one. Additionally, I as soon as owned a CJ5 and the engine caught fireplace one night time on the highway to Stowe in 15-degree climate. I bought the hearth out, however the engine was achieved and so was my time with Jeeps.
Nissans…had two Pathfinders. They’re okay. The brand new ones are simply big station wagons. The Xterras are inexpensive and likable, however slightly small for my wants.
Land Rovers…effectively, now, that is the place it will get extra attention-grabbing. Love the aesthetic of old style Vary Rovers. Love the Discos. It goes with out saying that I really like the Defenders (most individuals with a pulse do). Functionality is incredible. Aesthetic…increase. Path cred, sure. Aftermarket, sure. Neighborhood, sure. Heritage, sure. Reliability, um…erm…emphatically not.
Mercedes G-Wagens…let’s not speak about the fee but. These are superb autos, with off-road capabilities as legit as their luxurious appointment. Their silhouette is butch however elegant. Should you gave me one, I’d drive it. However there’s the extraordinarily excessive d-bag issue—douche wagens, as so many individuals name them—and the extraordinarily excessive price. Used with cheap mileage we’re speaking $50Ok. My pal Scott Brady, proprietor of Overland Journal, has one and it’s superb. However he’s badass and may pull it off and I’m not and I couldn’t.
You see the place that is going, proper? All paths just about result in Toyota. Reliability alone leads me to Toyota. Which introduced me to: 4Runner, Land Cruiser, FJ Cruiser?
First, the FJ. Folks love them or hate them. I really like them, sorta, however am offended by the outside dimension to inside dimension ratio. The FJs are fairly large vehicles with ridiculously little usable house inside. Enjoyable to drive, will go anyplace, however are costly for what they’re. Just like the G-Wagen, if you happen to’re giving me one, I’ll take it, however in any other case, nyet.
Second, Land Cruiser. What’s there to say? Probably the most succesful off-road autos of all time. A stunning truck regardless of which era we’re contemplating. Drives nice, tons of house. You possibly can goal for Ushuaia and by no means look again. You may as well choose up the Lexus model figuring out that it’s 1) tremendous luxe and a pair of) in all probability by no means been within the dust.
However: price. Once I was purchasing, mid-2000 fashions with 150,000 miles had been going for $20Ok and up. There’s additionally the dimensions issue, as they’re not as maneuverable, and the MPG, which in the actual world is within the low double digits.
So, no Land Cruiser. That leaves simply the 4Runner, and, if you happen to’re something like me, a considerably obsessive fan of off-road driving and the autos that take you there, the 4Runner would probably be on the high of the record from the very starting. Inventory, it sports activities unbelievable off-road chops. It’s a Toyota and can run without end. There are bazillions on the highway. Aftermarket, oi—the place do you begin?
For me, although, the query was which era? The primary and second had been too previous. The fourth, whereas nonetheless succesful, doesn’t stir my coronary heart—I like them, however one thing about their traces feels, I dunno…delicate, I assume.
That depart the present era, the fifth, and the third. New 4Runners are absurdly succesful. If I’m shopping for a brand new truck, that is the one. The “indignant” grill and aggressive edges completely don’t get my coronary heart racing (why does the whole lot need to appear to be a Transformer now?), however if you wish to roll off the lot and drive around the globe in consolation and confidence, few match the 2018 4Runner. The TRD Professional is finely appointed with manufacturing facility off-road specs, to not point out one customized paint scheme yearly, and there’s one thing straightforward about shopping for it fully and spending your time having adventures as a substitute of working in your truck.
OTTH, TRD Professionals price about $50,000, even used. A extra inexpensive choice, if you wish to do the work, is purchase a inventory Path version and effective tune it your self. Which may be the place I find yourself subsequent, nevertheless it wasn’t this time round.
Thus, we come to the third era. That is the workhorse of the 4Runner bloodline. Tens of millions are on the highway. A pal who works with Toyota informed me their engineers assume that is the most effective constructed truck they’ve ever made. Correctly maintained, the 5VZ-FE V6 engine will simply plug 200,000 miles, and 300,000 is widespread. There are some points, for positive. The dreaded “pink milkshake” happens when corrosion within the radiator lets the engine and transmission coolants combine, ruining the tranny. However that’s atypical and simply addressed with upkeep. The decrease ball joints can fail, however once more, atypical and simply fastened.
The record of plusses is way longer:
Dependable
Succesful
Big aftermarket
Big neighborhood
Simply modded
Beautiful (it’s embarrassing how lengthy I can stand at look admiringly at a third gen)
As soon as I made my selection, it took my three to 4 months of Craiglist and web searches to search out what I wished: a white, 2001 SR5, 4 wheel drive with 130,000 miles. It was in Denver and on one among my journeys to Boulder for the press test of Journey Journal in print, I drove it, paid $9,000, and headed south, fortunately.
The drive dwelling was a lot enjoyable. The 4Runner dealt with nice, purred alongside, and did the whole lot I requested it to. I crossed the Superstitious Mountains on dust with out a hiccup. When parked, I ogled it like a rube. Me joyful.
It’s been slightly over a 12 months, and I’ve made the T4R mine. (I’ll speak extra about that in different tales—concerning the Dometic fridge I put in, or the KO2 tires that turned its capabilities to 11.) It’s an incredible truck, and I’m thrilled with it in nearly each means however one: This spring, I took my first journey with it reasonably loaded with gear—gasoline and hello carry jack on the roof, full fridge inside—and I realized simply how anemic that V6 is. On lengthy grades by means of the Mojave, it strained at Four,000-Four,500 RPM simply to hit 60 mph. Gasoline mileage, loaded down on the freeway, barely cracked 17. (New 4Runners have the identical mileage with much more energy.) Round city and on day journeys, it’s the whole lot I may need after which some. However with two individuals and quite a lot of gear…not a lot.
It’s a reminder that, in the long run, there isn’t any good journey automobile, only a entire lot of them that come actually, actually shut. Except after all you discover a V8 to drop into this 4Runner. Hey, now that’s an thought…
