A few pics of the 4Runner with the box on top...

**irish44j** · 08-24-2008, 08:24 PM

Nothing to exciting, but we picked up a Yakima travel box for the roof, to stow all the baby gear (crib, stroller, etc) in...

The 4runner is insulated so well and the box shaped aerodynamic, so there's virtually no wind noise. Mileage on the highway went from 22 to about 21 on a long highway trip this weekend..

Anyhow, we only put it on for trips, but I think it looks pretty good too. Too bad I can't drive into the garage wih it on, lol..

!PrjctMax! · 08-24-2008, 10:11 PM

mmmmmmm Rest Area

IHAVEA2KMAXIMA · 08-24-2008, 11:48 PM

very nice! I'm surprised how aerodynamic the box is.

*Tatanko* · 08-25-2008, 12:44 AM

All I have to say is traditional 4Runner slide-down rear window FTW! My friend's parents have ALWAYS had a 4Runner in the family since their first one in '88 and they all have that and I think it's sweet

*MixSE* · 08-25-2008, 04:52 AM

Looks good Irish. If you don't mind me asking, how much would one of those set ya back? Also, do they just latch to the bars?

Froggmann · 08-25-2008, 12:45 PM

4-Runner, nice ride. One of the nicest riding vehicles I have ever driven. As for the box you need to retrofit it for a flamethrower or something.

**irish44j** · 08-25-2008, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by !PrjctMax!

mmmmmmm Rest Area

with an 8-month old baby, you get to know rest areas every 2 hours or so on road trips

Quote:

Originally Posted by IHAVEA2KMAXIMA

very nice! I'm surprised how aerodynamic the box is.

yeah, much better than those big square ones that I see people with from Sears and such....and there are some that are more aerodynamic than mine..

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tatanko

All I have to say is traditional 4Runner slide-down rear window FTW! My friend's parents have ALWAYS had a 4Runner in the family since their first one in '88 and they all have that and I think it's sweet

Yeah, I agree, the rear window roll-down is sweet. I don't know WHY other manufacturers don't put them in. Hell, even high-end ones like QX56 don't havethem...wtf!

I always wanted a 1st-gen 4Runner with the removable rear roof, but most of those are rusted to hell by now.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by MixSE

Looks good Irish. If you don't mind me asking, how much would one of those set ya back? Also, do they just latch to the bars?

I think this one has a usual retail price of about $400....I work at a ski shop on weekends so I paid a bit less

Some boxes run in the mid-$200s.

This one has four quick-release feet that clamp over the bars (release from the inside of the box with it open). Takes about 2 minutes to take off/put on...On factory bars you're limited to about 100-150lbs total weight up top, and if you use Thule or Yakima bars you can carry a bit more. We put mostly light, bulky stff up there like stroller, fold-up playpens, and soft luggage with clothing....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Froggmann

4-Runner, nice ride. One of the nicest riding vehicles I have ever driven. As for the box you need to retrofit it for a flamethrower or something.

Yeah, after a weekend driving it, my maxima feels harsh as hell and super-noisy. 4Runner is so quiet on the highway...no road noise, no wind noise, no engine noise.....

*sciff5* · 08-25-2008, 07:47 PM

You and I are always on the same page my girlfriend just decided she wants to try and sell her maxima and buy an 03-04 4runner. She has been researching it for the last few days and I asked my boss today what it would cost to get one at the auction. While I was asking the question we were trading in an 04 Black 4runner with 75k on it. Kinda high mileage but we took it for a drive today and she loved it. Good news is we traded it for 11,200 so if it doesnt need any work it still may be a deal. I'll let her know you were getting 22mpg on the highway.. I think thats about the same as she was getting with her 5th gen.

I am pushing it because even the v6 has a 5k towing capacity.. Talk about a free tow vehicle for the Rx7 and plenty of room in the back for a set of R compounds or drag radials and some tools

**irish44j** · 08-25-2008, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sciff5

You and I are always on the same page my girlfriend just decided she wants to try and sell her maxima and buy an 03-04 4runner. She has been researching it for the last few days and I asked my boss today what it would cost to get one at the auction. While I was asking the question we were trading in an 04 Black 4runner with 75k on it. Kinda high mileage but we took it for a drive today and she loved it. Good news is we traded it for 11,200 so if it doesnt need any work it still may be a deal. I'll let her know you were getting 22mpg on the highway.. I think thats about the same as she was getting with her 5th gen.

I am pushing it because even the v6 has a 5k towing capacity.. Talk about a free tow vehicle for the Rx7 and plenty of room in the back for a set of R compounds or drag radials and some tools

yep..we were originally looking at 05-06s, but went with a new one since it came with all the side and rear airbags (safety a top concern with the baby).

Plus Carin liked the more rounded wheel wells on the 07-08 over the squared off ones on the earlier models. Women..

Yeah, the 5k tow capacity is nice, though I don't feel that the V6 has TONS of power, honestly. If I was planning to tow alot, I'd probably go for the V8, but the V6 is fine for occasional towing. the main downside to the V8 is that it's full-time 4WD, whereas the V6 can run in RWD only...

**irish44j** · 08-25-2008, 08:15 PM

I will note that your mileage with an 04 might not be QUITE as good, as I believe that's a 4spd tranny compared to a 5spd on mine, so you might have higher rpms on the highway, but I can't say that for sure.

75k is nothing on a toyota, from everything I hear.....and that sounds like a really good price.

*Tatanko* · 08-26-2008, 06:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irish44j

Yeah, I agree, the rear window roll-down is sweet. I don't know WHY other manufacturers don't put them in. Hell, even high-end ones like QX56 don't havethem...wtf!

I always wanted a 1st-gen 4Runner with the removable rear roof, but most of those are rusted to hell by now.....

My buddy had a MINT gray '88 with the removable roof that had about 160k on it a few years ago when it was given to him by his dad (the very car my buddy was taken home from the hospital in when he was born

) and that thing was SWEET. He totalled it before we ever had the chance to pull off the roof and enjoy it though

He rolled it and although the 4Runner was totalled he didn't have a scratch on him. Roll cage FTW I guess?

MorpheusZero · 08-26-2008, 10:35 AM

Definitely a good looking car.

RacerX1320 · 08-26-2008, 11:01 AM

Now that its all packed up, LETS GO TO WALLY WORLD!

**Cutler** · 08-26-2008, 06:45 PM

Carin can get 2 cars on the Dodge.....

**irish44j** · 08-26-2008, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cutler

Carin can get 2 cars on the Dodge.....

I will put your Miata in the roof box...

**Cutler** · 08-26-2008, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irish44j

I will put your Miata in the roof box...

I will put your jeep and your gt6 in my bed

Blown330 · 08-26-2008, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irish44j

Yeah, I agree, the rear window roll-down is sweet. I don't know WHY other manufacturers don't put them in.

Quite a few actually do. Old turbo diesel Tahoe had one...

**irish44j** · 08-26-2008, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blown330

Quite a few actually do. Old turbo diesel Tahoe had one...

yeah, I know some do, but not many. Old Broncos had them too.

let me rephrase:

"I don't know why ALL other SUV manufacturers don't do it"

*DaveVQ* · 08-26-2008, 08:36 PM

That should kill your fuel mileage......

So what other "mods" do you have planned?

**irish44j** · 08-26-2008, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveVQ

That should kill your fuel mileage......

So what other "mods" do you have planned?

next week replacing the factory base stereo (we didn't get the JBL setup) with the upgrade Pioneer deck (with ipod controller) from a Scion. Plug and play and reviews say it drastically improves sound quality, even using stock speakers. A very popular audio upgrade on the 4Runner forums, and it will still have the steering wheel controls and iPod plugins. I don't want to drop $400 on a decent aftermarket setup since my wife doesn't really care, and I only drive it on road trips.

Bidding on one, barely used, on ebay for $22 at the moment

Plus it looks alot better than my stock one and has multicolor/adjustable illumination.

Other than that, no other mods planned. The 4Runner is damn near a perfectly-thought-out vehicle IMO for regular driving with the options we got it with. My one and only complaint with it so far is the lousy base stereo, which has highs and lows but absolutely no midrange....

khantalha · 08-26-2008, 08:53 PM

a drop maybe?

danger300z · 08-26-2008, 09:05 PM

I like it better than the xterra...

!PrjctMax! · 08-26-2008, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irish44j

with an 8-month old baby, you get to know rest areas every 2 hours or so on road trips