Now I'm One Of Those People

I never really cared too much for people who posted to forums asking questions that I thought they should answer on their own....

However I find my self in need of advice.  
I'm considering buying either a '08 Nissan Xterra or '08 Toyota 4Runner.  Although I'm new to owning my own 4x4 I've driven friends 4x4 and been riding dirt bikes and quads off and on over the years.  

I like everything about the Xterra except the drivers seat!!  The 4runner is very comfortable to sit in but to be honest it sits low and I haven't found a place locally that would put a lift kit on it.  The Xterra boasts that it has a very strong frame and I'm not sure about the 4runner...?

I'm planning on using it to maybe go on a few club sponsored trail rides up here in the Norhtwest part of the country and to tow my jetski and quad.  And just some general exploring....on back roads / trails that I may find....

Any advice on how / where lifting the 4runner / it's strength would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Bill  

Both the Xterra and 4Runner are reasonably capable off-road rigs. The Xterra's suspension design is a little simpler with rear leaf springs. The 4Runner has coils in the rear. 4WD&SU has done project builds on both. I would say overally, the 4Runner probably has a little better fit & finish and refinement, whereas the Xterra is a little more bare-bones, relatively speaking. I'd probably go for the Nissan, because I've had good experiences with them, and I just like the fact they tend to drive a little sportier than Toyotas, which are generally tuned more for comfort and quietness. Probably doesn't help much, but I hope it did a little.  

i dont know about the newer model 4runner, but i have a 99 and i love it. i was in a similar situation as you though i was looking for older ones, i found that i liked what the 4runner had to offer better. it seemed that the body of the runner wasnt quite as tall so the center of gravity is a little lower which is important when you get off camber. also you cant beat toyotas history of quality. that is just my opinion so take it for what its worth  

Any particular reason you have narrowed it down to just those two models?

-Alex  
Current JK & KK owner, former YJ & XJ owner.

He probabley doesnt want to pay 15-??? grand for a jeep only to have to spend another 5 to modify it to keep up with what he could have got to begin with.  

The Xterra doesn't enjoy the same level of aftermarket support as the 4Runner, but both are good vehicles.

The Xterra has a lame 6-on-4.75-inch bolt pattern. As such, aftermarket wheel choices are severely limited.

PRG Products has some cool stuff for the Xterra--as well as other Nissans.

I drove an '05 Xterra for a little while--overall it was impressive.

After driving the Xterra, I had the chance to test an '03 4Runner. I liked the styling on the 4Runner better, and the aftermarket support is much more extensive. The wheel bolt pattern is a common 6-on-5.5 inches. The power output of the 4.0 Toyota V-6 feels about the same as the Nissan 4.0 V-6, although Toyota claims 235 hp and Nissan claims 265. I don't have both torque numbers handy.  

When it came time to buy, I found a clean used '04 4Runner. I really like the 4.0 V-6 in mine, but you can get the '03-'09 4Runner with a V-8 as well.

You can run 33's on a '03-'09 4Runner using fairly mild modifications. I used  Sway-A-Way adjustable bolt-in coilovers up front with a two-inch lift. In the rear, a two-inch lift coil and a matching Sway-A-Way shock bolted directly in place of the stock coils and shocks.

To fit 33's with the adjustable coilover, you'll need to do some front fenderwell modifications, and you'll need to cut back the body mounts on the frame and plate them in. The fenderwell mods you need include trimming the fender liner up front (33's will hit the liner) and trimming the stock plastic fender flares at the lower rear corners. You won't need to trim the outside edge of the fender flares, just the part that's inside the wheel well. You may also need to trim the front bumper cover.

The cool part of this approach is that you won't need to mess with the front A-arms or the steering rack. You won't need a body lift either.