First truck was a low-miles, used '83 Toyota SR5, 4clydr. Towed an 18+foot jet boat with a 454 (everywhere in northern Ca). Fun times. Worked out of it making calls on customers from CA to TX. Texans laughed - until they saw the boat. '-) It wasn't fast or powerful, but it never let me down. Some A$$hat stole it and destroyed it or I'd probably still have it. It was an incredibly useful vehicle.
Bought an '05 4RNR, V8. 7,200lbs towing capacity. Used it to call on customers, tow a Mastercraft and to hunt out of - mostly in northern mid-west for whitetail. Fished out of it too. Loved it. We parted ways when it got totaled in an accident with 16,000 trouble-free miles. I had no plans to sell it. In fact, I planned to drive it into the ground, as that model with a V8 is not replaceable.
Bought a '14 4RNR, V6. 4,700lbs towing capacity. It won't completely replace my '05 in terms of towing or general power/torque, etc. But in today's market, I made some compromises. I don't tow a heavy boat anymore (maybe a lighter fishing boat is in my future), but I think I will end up with a teardrop or some other trailer.
I looked at some Lexus GX models during my search, since they still had V8s. Sadly they also didn't seem to fair as well as the 4RNR. Every one I looked at had front axle bearing issues and went through brakes (both pads and rotors) regularly. Maybe they were just that much heavier than the 4RNR. I couldn't get comfortable enough to trust one.
I've had many sedans and started out in Corvettes. Fished and hunted out of all of them (buy what you want boys...'-). Gas mileage/cost hasn't ruled my decision making, but I agree that the V6 isn't much better (if it even is at all) than my V8s. I'd of gotten a V8 model, given the availability at the time.
Just my experience. It sucks that we can't get V8s (good ones), in smaller SUVs and trucks anymore.
