4Runner to PW

[VTski4x4]

Hi all - just joined after lurking for many months. While I originally planned on waiting a while to get back into a truck, the wife has decided to speed up the plan. Not new to the offroad world (Raptor, JLUR), I am new to the HD truck department. Currently in a 2024 4Runner TRD Pro which I absolutely adore, but with a second XL dog in the family, the wife wants more space for our trips up North (ME/VT). After the electrical nightmare that was my JLUR - I'm a bit turned off by Stellantis, but the PW is the only HD truck that will fit in our tandem driveway (Ford and chevy too long).

Anyone else make the move from a 4R to a PW? Any regrets? I've always wanted a Cummins, but with all the emissions issues, it wouldn't work for my daily commute. I don't tow at all, but might get a small camper down the road. I do use my long bed F250 for work (diesel engine/gen sales), but none of our units would exceed the payload of the PW. I ski 40ish days a winter, and we have a place in Northern Maine, so snow performance is key. I'm not worried about that.

Only real plans for the PW would be topper, sliders, 35s, and maybe a swing out rear bumper & lights.

Any opinion on the electronic transfer case vs the manual lever? I like the full center console, but I also love the manual lever in my TRD.

Cheer

 

[Rockcrawlindude]

Hi all - just joined after lurking for many months. While I originally planned on waiting a while to get back into a truck, the wife has decided to speed up the plan. Not new to the offroad world (Raptor, JLUR), I am new to the HD truck department. Currently in a 2024 4Runner TRD Pro which I absolutely adore, but with a second XL dog in the family, the wife wants more space for our trips up North (ME/VT). After the electrical nightmare that was my JLUR - I'm a bit turned off by Stellantis, but the PW is the only HD truck that will fit in our tandem driveway (Ford and chevy too long).

Anyone else make the move from a 4R to a PW? Any regrets? I've always wanted a Cummins, but with all the emissions issues, it wouldn't work for my daily commute. I don't tow at all, but might get a small camper down the road. I do use my long bed F250 for work (diesel engine/gen sales), but none of our units would exceed the payload of the PW. I ski 40ish days a winter, and we have a place in Northern Maine, so snow performance is key. I'm not worried about that.

Only real plans for the PW would be topper, sliders, 35s, and maybe a swing out rear bumper & lights.

Any opinion on the electronic transfer case vs the manual lever? I like the full center console, but I also love the manual lever in my TRD.

Cheer

I’m a big fan of the manual transfer case and bench seat with large fold down armrest console. I have had a few trucks with big center floor consoles and I really prefer the open floor/ bench.

I think the power wagon is the natural progression from Tacoma/4runner people who need more payload/towing but want off-road capability out of the box. I wanted a PW but ended up with the regular 2500 because of the 10k GVWR it was a better choice for me

 

[zazmatazz]

I drive a gx460 and just bought a 21 pw. Pw has obviously a lot more space but also required me to drive differently. Back into parking spots, extra wide turns, 3 point turns but still happy overall given the new comfort and future capabilities. My gx460 on 34s get 14 mpg. The Pw gets about 12 on 37s. Steering is a lot more numb in the pw and you can tell its not an ifs but rides pretty well. I do have the full carli system however.

 

[VTski4x4]

Thanks for the input guys - for the record - not worried about parking or driving it. Had a 14 CCLB Silverado, a CC Raptor, and have an F250 extended cab 8' bed for work. Frankly, I love the 4R and would like to keep it, but I can sell it for more than I paid and put a huge chunk of $$$ down on the PW vs selling the wife's car that is basically at break-even. The 4R works for me, but we have a working dog (74lb Golden) and a 105lb Great Pyrenees, and with the two of them in the 4R, there's no room for gear. The PW allows me to keep the offroad performance (and increasing it in some areas), but also have the bed for our gear while the dogs enjoy the platform in the cab.

Appreciate the input on the manual transfer case - that's the route I'm hoping to go, but finding a low mileage truck that's as new as I want with it is tough. If people haven't had an issues with the electronic transfer switch - that would be nice to know as well.

 

[el_barto]

I drive a gx460 and just bought a 21 pw. Pw has obviously a lot more space but also required me to drive differently. Back into parking spots, extra wide turns, 3 point turns but still happy overall given the new comfort and future capabilities. My gx460 on 34s get 14 mpg. The Pw gets about 12 on 37s. Steering is a lot more numb in the pw and you can tell its not an ifs but rides pretty well. I do have the full carli system however.

I test drove a new gx460 about a year ago. I was massively underwhelmed by the drivetrain. For all the talk toyota boys make about it being a V8, it felt underpowered and transmission was reluctant to downshift; when it did it required a lot of throttle input for the kickdown.

OP: assuming you are looking at 2019+ models, the ZF transmission will be a treat for you. The 6.4 in the 7,000# truck isn’t a rocket ship, but it’s smooth and isn’t a slug.

Also, The infotainment and dashboard felt very out of date and clunky on the GX.

OP: I think you will be happy in the PW. It’s certainly a different vehicle than the 4R, but I think the things people generally like about the 4R translate well with the Power Wagon. It’s tough and uses heavy duty components, fairly simple and reliable/proven drivetrain; interior is comfortable and well laid out, buttons and knobs for everything; capable offroad but still pleasant on the highway.

 

[VTski4x4]

Thanks for the info. I have experience with the ZF8spd in my JLUR that I had - but my god was that thing an electrical nightmare. It left me stranded 3x - which is the one thing that is making me hesitate on the PW.
I really love the 4R - it does everything I need and it's fairly (compared to other vehicles I've had) comfortable for long roadtrips. Definitely beats the JLUR on 35s and 37s.
I actually test drove a 2020 PW right before COVID and ALMOST bought it - just couldn't make a deal that I was happy with so I walked. Ended up buying an Audi S6 and putting RS6 turbos on it - 680WHP. Drank so much 93oct that it would make a PW blush.

 

[CoOffroad]

Good move to stay away from diesel if your needs don’t require it. I went from a 1500 rebel to a 24 4Runner ORP more or less out of nostalgia and the reliability of the 4Runner. It lasted 6 months. It was a great vehicle, but just didn’t scratch the itch or put a smile on my face despite the lift and mods I put on it. I have a 19 jlur well built for beating on the rocks and no matter what the 4Runner would never measure up. Fast forward, I picked up a 24 PW with the Lunar package to replace the 4runner and smile every time I fire it up.

 

[VTski4x4]

Good move to stay away from diesel if your needs don’t require it. I went from a 1500 rebel to a 24 4Runner ORP more or less out of nostalgia and the reliability of the 4Runner. It lasted 6 months. It was a great vehicle, but just didn’t scratch the itch or put a smile on my face despite the lift and mods I put on it. I have a 19 jlur well built for beating on the rocks and no matter what the 4Runner would never measure up. Fast forward, I picked up a 24 PW with the Lunar package to replace the 4runner and smile every time I fire it up.

Nice 4R and gorgeous PW. This is the kind of thing I want to hear!!!

 

[UglyViking]

I'm in NH and drive a 2019 2500 Cummins that I've decked out for wheeling/overlanding in the northeast and North America trips. I looked very seriously into a 4runner multiple times, because overall they are just awesome rigs in the looks and function department, but decided it was too many cons for me personally.

I'm not 100% sure what feedback you're looking for here, so if you're only looking for feedback from guys who moved from a 4runner, I can't give much. I can say that I did previously own a jeep jk unlimited, and while I loved the thing, I have absolutely no issues with my decision. Bought my wife a jeep wrangler jl unlimited a few years back, and while I do miss certain aspects as a daily, I don't miss how small it was on the interior.

I'd recommend checking out some FB groups like https://www.facebook.com/groups/fullsizeoverland, as there may be more guys that came from 4runners and also use their rigs for the purpose you're looking for.

 

[el_barto]

Yeah I mean unless there is anything specific that someone with experience with both can offer, the only negatives of the PW vs the 4R:
- worse fuel economy, but not really that much worse if you’re comparing a lifted 4R with bigger tires
- size makes city driving/parking more of a headache and limits offroad manuverabilty. Also limits what trails you might fit down/feel comfortable committing down. High hood makes offroad forward visibility challenging as well, the forward camera is very helpful in this respect.
- 4R will be a bit more comfortable on the highway due to suspension, but it’s not like going from a Cadillac to a 3500. The PW is surprisingly smooth, and the 4R is definitely on the rougher side of SUVs.
- Parts will be more expensive and there’s not as much diversity/options on the market. Less options on the aftermarket means less competition and higher prices. Plus parts tend to be bigger & heavier, and therefore more expensive.

 

[VTski4x4]

Not really looking for anyone to offer insights - more seeing if anyone made a similar move and regrets it. Doesn't sound like they do - so I will look forward to reading/learning more until I find a PW that fits the bill. Cheers!

 

[UglyViking]

Not really looking for anyone to offer insights - more seeing if anyone made a similar move and regrets it. Doesn't sound like they do - so I will look forward to reading/learning more until I find a PW that fits the bill. Cheers!

Ah, yeah if that is the question I'd just look in general for people moving from mid-size to fullsize/HD and regretting.

I will say that I've explored downsizing a few times, and I had thought pretty seriously about a mid-sized truck before my last, but I always ended back here. I've done a lot of reading and I hear of exceptionally few people regretting the move from mid-size to full/HD.

Good luck with your explorations.

 

[Hayduke]

We have a 22 power wagon and a 22 4Runner TRD off road. Family of 4 plus a 70 pound dog. Both have been reliable rigs after about 100k miles combined with many miles of wheeling, dirt roads and towing. We run a GFC camper on the PW and KO2s on the 4Runner but otherwise have kept everything stock. We actually encounter a lot of situations where having 2 'bad road capable' cars is helpful and the vehicles are pretty kindred spirits. With the GFC I see 12-14 mpg on the PW and maybe 18 on the 4Runner.

IMO the front console area on the 4Runner wastes a lot of space, I generally prefer the interior layout of the PW. The transmission hump does intrude on passenger foot room though. The dog rides in the cab on the PW with the fold flat rear floor and in the cargo space on the 4Runner where she loves the roll down rear window. I slightly prefer the seats in the 4Runner but we're not super tall and I know taller folks sometimes complain about the 4Runner seat ergonomics.

The 4Runner has some quirks and older tech (eg transmission hunting for gears in cruise control going up hill, crawl control makes a racket) but it's also stupidly reliable and as low-tech (in a good way) as you can find these days and everything just works. The ZF transmission in the PW is really excellent and I think the PW was actually a really good value for all the offroad goodies that come with it. I've towed up to 5k with the 4Runner and 11k with the PW, both vehicles handled those weights well.

If you run loaded most of the time you'll probably find yourself wanting to upgrade the PW suspension pretty quick. The shocks are pretty weak and struggle to control sway from high center of gravity loads (even a GFC) and porpoise on highway expansion joints. I have some Bilstein 5160s waiting to be installed that I hope will help and I swap in sumo springs when towing heavy.

I think you're on the right track for vehicles, happy to offer any other comparisons you'd like.

 

[SolidAxleorBust]

Not exactly my story. But I went from a 2005 Nissan Titan to a 2018 PW. Waiting on paint to be made so I can order a 2025, lol maybe 2026 at this point? My move was based upon needing a bit more heavy duty for work, towing and so on. Also something more fun. Is it 100x less reliable then the Titan? Oh hell yes, basket case by comparison so you pay a price. At the same time it made us realize how bad our 2015 TRD 4 Runner really was off road, and we quit building it immediately after a 6K winch install. All that plastic chopping. We decided the 4 runner was never going to impress after the PW despite its size. Then the Ineos Grenadier came along with the same axle ratios, transmission, solid axles, factory winch, and extreme durability as the PW, with far greater reliability then the PW or the new Toyotas. Hell we even run the exact same tire. So now we run a PW and a Grenadier.

 

[Riz!]

@VTski4x4


Just incase you didnt know…

You can order/find a tradesman with the Powerwagon package. Comes with all the PW goodies… hidden winch, 12” screen, 360 cameras, tradesman level 1 or 2 interior, tradesman grill, the center “bench” seat with the flip up console, the 4wd lever, swaybar disconnect, front and rear lockers, 4.10 rear, PW rims and tires, PW factory lift and the best part is it costs like 25/30 g’s less. It also doesent say POWER WAGON all over it. I find it to be more appealing and a better value than the full blown PW.

 

[el_barto]

@VTski4x4


Just incase you didnt know…

You can order/find a tradesman with the Powerwagon package. Comes with all the PW goodies… hidden winch, 12” screen, 360 cameras, tradesman level 1 or 2 interior, tradesman grill, the center “bench” seat with the flip up console, the 4wd lever, swaybar disconnect, front and rear lockers, 4.10 rear, PW rims and tires, PW factory lift and the best part is it costs like 25/30 g’s less. It also doesent say POWER WAGON all over it. I find it to be more appealing and a better value than the full blown PW.

Depends on the year…iirc 2019-2022 tradesman PW were still pretty base spec, and honestly not a great value, I think 2023 the “tradesman PW” became closer to the “base trim” PW of years prior. I considered getting a tradesman PW when I was shopping for my truck in 2019, but adding options the price stacked up quickly (trailer brake controller, tow mirrors, ac outlet, 8.4” uconnect, parking sensors, etc) and I couldn’t get it with some of the options I wanted (eg: heated seats and steering wheel, power driver seat, Alpine sound system). MSRP on my tradesman build PW vs level 1 PW at the time was like $5k, and you got a lot more on the trim-level version (powdercoat bumpers v chrome; led lights, black vs beige headliner, premium instrument cluster, nicer interior door cards with storage, nicer dashboard with upper glovebox door, laminated acoustic glass etc)

And FWIW for 2025 the manual shift transfer case is NLA.

 

[VTski4x4]

I'm going to pick up a 2022-2024 unit. I'd prefer the manual TC, but if I can only find electronic TC for the prices/distance I want to shop in, then so be it.

 

[el_barto]

I'm going to pick up a 2022-2024 unit. I'd prefer the manual TC, but if I can only find electronic TC for the prices/distance I want to shop in, then so be it.

I have the manual tc. It’s satisfying to shift, and makes the truck feel a bit more “old school”; but at the end of the day the electric one probably works just fine, and doesn’t take up center console space. My understanding is they are mechanically the same inside; one has a mechanical linkage the other has an electronic solenoid

 

[VTski4x4]

I have the manual tc. It’s satisfying to shift, and makes the truck feel a bit more “old school”; but at the end of the day the electric one probably works just fine, and doesn’t take up center console space. My understanding is they are mechanically the same inside; one has a mechanical linkage the other has an electronic solenoid

It wouldn't surprise me if the manual one doesn't even have a manual linkage, but actuates a solenoid- that's how the "manual" tc on the 4Runner TRD Pro works lol

 

[GoAWOL]

Hi all - just joined after lurking for many months. While I originally planned on waiting a while to get back into a truck, the wife has decided to speed up the plan. Not new to the offroad world (Raptor, JLUR), I am new to the HD truck department. Currently in a 2024 4Runner TRD Pro which I absolutely adore, but with a second XL dog in the family, the wife wants more space for our trips up North (ME/VT). After the electrical nightmare that was my JLUR - I'm a bit turned off by Stellantis, but the PW is the only HD truck that will fit in our tandem driveway (Ford and chevy too long).

Anyone else make the move from a 4R to a PW? Any regrets? I've always wanted a Cummins, but with all the emissions issues, it wouldn't work for my daily commute. I don't tow at all, but might get a small camper down the road. I do use my long bed F250 for work (diesel engine/gen sales), but none of our units would exceed the payload of the PW. I ski 40ish days a winter, and we have a place in Northern Maine, so snow performance is key. I'm not worried about that.

Only real plans for the PW would be topper, sliders, 35s, and maybe a swing out rear bumper & lights.

Any opinion on the electronic transfer case vs the manual lever? I like the full center console, but I also love the manual lever in my TRD.

Cheer

I made the move...a 2021 4Runner to a 2022PW. My reasons were primarily towing related. Although extremely competent off-road, the 4Runner is not a great platform to tow with, especially in the mountains and at altitude. What I really remember is the feeling when I first sat in the 4Runner (kinda meh) new on the lot and when I first sat in the PW, which was all together game-changing. Now all I have to complain about is the MPG but I console myself with the fact that the 4Runner had the same miserable MPG when towing. To answer your question, no regrets whatsoever.