Lmao! Ain't that the truth! I also had 2.5 Foxes and considered them junk. I can't say the same about the Fox DCS though. Went Kings and never looked back for the Tacoma and 4runner.
Valvetrain is different. 2nd gen tacoma has bucket style lifters where the 4Runner 10+ has hydraulics roller rockers. Only thing the same is the engine code, internally it's a different motor.
I walked on the cross bars when I'm cleaning the roof. No issues. Also no issues either when I had my ARB awning mounted at 3 points on the Sherpa but then again I didn't mount to the side panel. I mounted it to the cross bars using the sherpa awning mounts.
Going through the mountains and switchbacks at Bishop I upgraded to a Derale tranny cooler. Best thing I ever did for the transmission. Temps never saw more the 195 degrees in ambient temperatures of mid 90s. Seeing the temps steady in my Scanguage prove the money spent was worth it.
The...
Agreed 285s rub slightly on the Kdss sway bar BUT doesn't interfere with the function. I tested my 285s first under it then tried it with my 255s which cleared with plenty of space to spare.