I am very close to buying an FJ. Please help me decide. I have large dogs and travel with them ALOT.. I can get crates for the inside but just want to know what others think?
It may be hard for the large dogs to stick their heads out of the window unless you get the freedom window. The only other minor "con" would be the blind spots, but aware driving can take care of that. Other than that, will is the most fun vehicle I've every owned. Go for it!
If you have large dogs, a 4runner would be better. I have a great dane and he was more comfortable in my 4runner. I just take him to the dog park, so I went back to my FJ but if I had to carry him around a lot, I would have to get a 4Runner.
We have a 180 pound Bullmastiff. He gets the trunk to himself when he comes for a ride. He does fine if he figures out to put his head out the back window, otherwise he tries to climb over the seats. He loves having the windows down because the air blows right through the back. We also have a 4runner, and the roll down window in it is nice, but the trunk is not plastic and rubber like the FJ...
I had to decide yesterday weather to trade in my 12 FJ for a 14FJ or 14 the 4runner Trail and decided on the 2014 FJ. real tuff choice. (dealer putting in paper work now)
A little bit of me still kinda wish i choose the 4 runner. Maybe something will go wrong and ill get the 4 runner.
For me basically it came down to $$ and head room. I figure last year FJ i can always get good resale value and maybe the new 4 runner in 3 years will have more head room.
Depending on how large your dogs are, I'm thinking the 4Runner is the better choice. I've got a 110lb Newfoundland puppy and there is just barely enough room for her, my camping gear, and a passenger when I got on weekend camping trips. It would not be possible to fit another average sized dog in the back. So if you got an FJ, you'd pretty much need a roof carrier for your stuff any time you went on a trip.
Not sure about the 4Runner, but I took my mother's Siberian Husky with us on a road trip and the thing couldn't jump into the FJ on it's own. I got sick of hauling it's ass into the back seat against it's will. He seemed rather opinionated about my efforts. lol
I have one of these ^^^ and it's my favorite product that they sell. Great for pets or if you plan on packing the rear full of stuff and don't want it falling forward over the seats.
2 large dogs in the small trunk might not be enough room though, in the back seat with freedom windows would work or let one of them sit in the front seat?
FWIW....... I have my dog with me every day. To work, to everywhere. I have been doing this since 1992. Bubba was with me thirteen years, Mr. Frodo aka "Boss" for the past 8 years.
They love the FJ. Maybe they just like going with me, but they sure seem to smile more in the FJ's then they ever did in the Super Duty's I use to drive everyday.
Dog hair is just part of owning a dog. I vacuum a lot, almost everyday. :wink
I owned about 20 vehicles in my life and yes I'm 28 years old.
I've had jeep wrangler to bmw m3, all types of car but FJ.. this thing is so fun to drive... it's so unique and it gives you style.. only bad thing i would say is.. GAS.. GAS.. man my FJ drinks gas like its gatorade... mine is 6sp mt so its four wheel drive all the time.. best part is? reliability..
leaf blower for the win!
everyday the FJ or Frontier get blown out, 3m sticky rolls, and vacuum if necc. it`s just part of the routine of having Pets in your lives.
sitting idle and having the AC on for inside air, I can watch the dog hair float over to the underside of the AC plenum.:rofl:
what really made me laugh was the dog hair stuck to the grease in the door hinges, it looked like a fur coat...
greasing the hinges and latches are part of my LOF service...
My dog (40) lbs, prefers the Titan Crew Cab because the back windows are larger and roll down. He is constantly attempting to get in the front seat when the windows are down. I am considering the freedom windows for my FJ for this reason.
awesome ideas thank you all. I did get the FJ. I have a Rottie and a Lab that travel alot with me. I ordered a hitch OTTO step for them. The lab jumped in it like it was nothing. (then again they are show dogs and do agility). I am always traveling with them in crates so I ordered custom Suv crates so they will fit in the back with the seats down. I can also fit just one crate in the back with the seats up. something I could not do in my escape. So i am happy.
I was able to get two cages in mine - plus, if you are always going to have the cages in, you can actually remove the seats, it wasn't hard to do and can be done by one person. - it was probably the best dog vehicle I ever owned (until that damn 17 year old totaled it)
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